UNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea UNCLOS I: 1958, Geneva, Switzerland UNCLOS II: 1960, Geneva, Switzerland UNCLOS III: 1973, New York. UNCLOS IV: 1982, New York Definitions of maritime zones

Internal Waters Waters that are so nearly surrounded by land as not to be considered part of the sea for measurement of the territorial sea zones

TERRITORIAL WATERS Extends 12 nautical miles Considered “sovereign territory” of the state One restriction – foreign vessels must be granted the “right of innocent passage” Submarines must surface and show flag Airplanes do NOT have right of innocent passage in this zone

CONTIGUOUS ZONE Extends 24 nautical miles from coast The state may exercise the control necessary maintain control of its –Customs –Fiscal regulations –Immigration concerns –Sanitary regulations

EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE Extends up to 200 nautical miles from the coast Awards control over “living and non-living resources” (aquatic, sea bed, and sub-soil) Allows the state power over “exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing” these resources

Doubling the US Territory

CONTINENTAL SHELF Defined as sea-bed to a depth of 200 meters “natural prolungation of land territory” States have sovereignty for exploring and exploiting the shelf even beyond the territorial waters May extend beyond the EEZ Rights this far from the mainland are still being debated, conventions between concerned states currently govern most of these situations

HIGH SEAS Areas of open sea beyond the EEZ of any state 2/3 of all the world’s waters No more “freedom of the seas” as the high sea is governed by international law and various international conventions

Chile and mar presencial 1991 Chile took action to protect the resources in its EEZ Chile assumed an enhanced “presence” in an area beyond the EEZ (mar presencial) Objectives: to watch and get involved in actions undertaken by other states on the high seas off its coast; to promote national economic development and make sure those other countries aren’t interfering in Chile’s development (this is mostly fishing related) Legal validity of mar presencial in debate – other states are protesting

Mar presencial claim by Chile

OTHER TERMS Baseline is the line from which the seaward limits of a State's territorial sea is measured. Normally, a sea baseline follows the low-water line of a coastal State. When the coastline is deeply indented, has fringing islands or is highly unstable, straight baselines may be used. Archipelagic Waters: Baselines can be drawn from the outermost point of one island to the next provided that it is less than 100 nautical miles Strategic Chokepoints: Narrow passages, such as a strait, through which shipping must pass; a point of congestion or obstruction.

Suez Canal chokepoint

Panama Canal chokepoint

Gibraltar chokepoint