With reference to Maritime Zones, consider the following statements
- The territorial sea extends seaward up to 12 nautical miles (nm) from its baselines.
- The contiguous zone is an intermediary zone between the territorial sea and the high seas.
Select the correct statement.
Explanation:
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982 divides marine areas into five main zones namely- Internal Waters, Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the High Seas.
- Baseline is the low-water line along the coast as officially recognized by the coastal state.
- Internal waters are waters on the landward side of the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
- The territorial sea extends seaward up to 12 nautical miles (nm) from its baselines.
- A nautical mile is based on the circumference of the earth and is equal to one minute of latitude. It is slightly more than a land measured mile (1 nautical mile = 1.1508 land miles or 1.85 km).
The contiguous zone extends seaward up to 24 nm from its baselines.
- It is an intermediary zone between the territorial sea and the high seas.
- The coastal state has the right to both prevent and punish infringement of fiscal, immigration, sanitary, and customs laws within its territory and territorial sea.
- Unlike the territorial sea, the contiguous zone only gives jurisdiction to a state on the ocean’s surface and floor. It does not provide air and space rights.
Each coastal State may claim an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea that extends seaward up to 200 nm from its baselines.
- The ocean surface and the water column beyond the EEZ are referred to as the high seas.
- It is considered as “the common heritage of all mankind” and is beyond any national jurisdiction.
- States can conduct activities in these areas as long as they are for peaceful purposes, such as transit, marine science, and undersea exploration.
Hence both statements are correct.
By: Shubham Tiwari ProfileResourcesReport error