MONTEGO BAY

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

How are the seas and oceans territorialised according to the Convention ?

International waters not under the direct authority of any State and where the principle of maritime freedom applies in full (55% of the ocean surface).

Legal concept allowing a State's EEZ to be extended to 350 nautical miles depending on the presence of a continental shelf.

A coastal State may prevent and suppress any infraction in this zone, particularly with regard to border controls, health and migration.

Extension zone of the continental shelf

Area where a coastal State exercises economic sovereignty, including the subsoil. Other States may navigate and fly over it, and lay cables and pipes.

Coastal maritime area over which a State exercises full sovereignty.

Exclusive economic zone

High seas

Contiguous zone

Territorial sea

Sovereign rights of the coastal State over its natural resources

NO

YES

nautical miles

Fishing boat

Oil rig

YES

YES

NO

YES

YES

Contiguous zone

Territorial sea

Continental shelf

Coast

Extension zone of the continental shelf

Exclusive economic zone

High seas

How are the seas and oceans territorialised according to the Convention ?

International waters not under the direct authority of any State and where the principle of maritime freedom applies in full (55% of the ocean surface).

Legal concept allowing a State's EEZ to be extended to 350 nautical miles depending on the presence of a continental shelf.

A coastal State may prevent and suppress any infraction in this zone, particularly with regard to border controls, health and migration.

Area where a coastal State exercises economic sovereignty, including the subsoil. Other States may navigate and fly over it, and lay cables and pipes.

Coastal maritime area over which a State exercises full sovereignty.

Sovereign rights of the coastal State over its natural resources

NO

YES

nautical miles

Fishing boat

Oil rig

YES

YES

NO

YES

YES

Continental shelf

Coast

Application of the text is consolidated by the creation of an International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. It established an international framework for law over all ocean space, its uses and resources. Moreover, ​ the convention requires states to fight against the transport of slaves and piracy. It gives landlocked states a certain degree of access to maritime biological resources.