Glossary

Exclusive Economic Zone

Deutsch: Ausschließliche Wirtschaftszone / Español: Zona Económica Exclusiva / Português: Zona Econômica Exclusiva / Français: Zone Économique Exclusive / Italiano: Zona Economica Esclusiva

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the maritime context refers to a sea zone prescribed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which extends up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) from a coastal state's baseline. Within this zone, the coastal state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, including energy production from water and wind. The EEZ is distinct from the territorial sea, where the state exercises full sovereignty, and from the high seas, where no state has sovereignty.

Description

The concept of the Exclusive Economic Zone was established to allow coastal nations to have greater control over the natural resources found in waters adjacent to their shores. Within its EEZ, a coastal state has exclusive rights to:

  • Exploit Marine Resources: This includes living resources like fish and non-living resources such as oil, gas, and minerals located on or under the seabed.

  • Conduct Marine Scientific Research: The coastal state has the authority to regulate and authorize scientific research activities within its EEZ.

  • Manage Environmental Protection: The coastal state can enforce environmental laws and regulations to protect the marine environment from pollution and other harmful activities.

  • Build and Use Artificial Islands, Installations, and Structures: The state can authorise the construction and operation of structures for purposes such as oil rigs, wind farms, and other energy projects.

However, the EEZ does not grant full sovereignty over the waters themselves, as it would in the territorial sea. Instead, it grants sovereign rights for resource exploration and exploitation. Other states retain the freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as the right to lay submarine cables and pipelines, provided these activities do not infringe on the rights of the coastal state.

The concept of the EEZ was introduced to balance the interests of coastal and landlocked states, offering the former a significant degree of control over nearby resources while allowing the latter continued access to maritime routes and certain freedoms under international law.

Application Areas

EEZs play a significant role in various maritime activities, including:

  • Fishing and Aquaculture: Coastal states regulate and manage fishing activities within their EEZs to prevent overfishing and ensure sustainable use of marine resources.

  • Oil and Gas Exploration: Many EEZs contain significant oil and gas reserves, making them valuable for energy production and a critical area for exploration and extraction activities.

  • Renewable Energy Development: EEZs are increasingly being used for the development of renewable energy sources, such as offshore wind farms, tidal energy, and wave energy projects.

  • Marine Conservation: EEZs allow states to establish marine protected areas and implement conservation measures to preserve biodiversity and protect endangered species.

Well-Known Examples

Notable examples of EEZs include:

  • The United States EEZ: The United States has one of the largest EEZs in the world, encompassing approximately 11.4 million square kilometres, rich in resources such as fish, oil, and gas.

  • China’s EEZ in the South China Sea: China’s EEZ claims in the South China Sea are a major source of geopolitical tension, as they overlap with the claims of several neighbouring countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei.

  • Australia’s Great Barrier Reef EEZ: Australia manages a large EEZ that includes the Great Barrier Reef, where strict regulations are in place to protect one of the world’s most significant marine ecosystems.

Treatment and Risks

The management and regulation of EEZs come with several challenges and risks:

  • Geopolitical Conflicts: Overlapping claims between countries can lead to disputes, as seen in the South China Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean. These disputes can escalate into broader regional tensions.

  • Environmental Threats: Exploiting resources in EEZs, such as deep-sea mining and drilling for oil and gas, poses environmental risks, including pollution, habitat destruction, and harm to marine life.

  • Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing: Coastal states face challenges in monitoring and enforcing fishing regulations within their EEZs, leading to significant losses in revenue and depletion of fish stocks.

Similar Terms

  • Territorial Sea: A maritime zone extending up to 12 nautical miles from a state’s baseline, where the state exercises full sovereignty.

  • Continental Shelf: A legal concept under UNCLOS that extends the coastal state’s rights over the seabed and subsoil beyond the EEZ, up to 350 nautical miles from the baseline in some cases.

  • High Seas: Areas of the ocean beyond any national jurisdiction, where no state has sovereignty, and all states have freedom of navigation, fishing, and scientific research.

Weblinks

Summary

The Exclusive Economic Zone is a crucial maritime zone that extends up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state's baseline, granting special rights over marine resources while allowing other states certain freedoms. It plays a key role in resource management, environmental protection, and economic activities like fishing, energy production, and scientific research. However, the management of EEZs can be fraught with challenges, including environmental risks and geopolitical disputes, making them a focal point of international maritime law and diplomacy.

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