Students are required to identify the 5 maritime zones established by LOST 1982 and

briefly explain their spatial limits in relation to the baselines of the coastal states.
Nurul Fitrah Fatihah Fatin Salleh
AEU130018
The maritime zones include internal waters, the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the
exclusive economic zone, the continental shelf, the high seas and the Area as recognized
under international law. The boundaries of these maritime zones between coastal nations
are established through international agreements entered into by those nations. According
to The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 there are
seven divisions of Ocean Areas as stated above.
5 maritime zones established by LOST 1982:
1. Territorial sea
The Territorial Sea is an area extending from internal waters to the seaward side.
According to the Article 3 of UNCLOS declares that a nation may establish a territorial
sea that extends up to 12 nautical miles from the baselines. Within the territorial sea, a
nation has exclusive sovereignty over the water, seabed, and airspace. In addition, the
treaty established that all nations have the right of innocent passage through the territorial
sea of another nation and that, outside certain conditions, the nation laying claim to the
territorial sea cannot hamper innocent passage of a foreign vessel. Moreover, UNCLOS
adopted the basic concepts of the territorial sea and the right of innocent passage that has
been codified in the Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, but the
new treaty went a step further by establishing the limits of a nation's territorial sea.
By the late 1960's many nations recognized a 12-mile limit to the territorial sea. At
the start of the UNCLOS, only twenty-five nations maintained the traditional claim of 3
nautical miles. Sixty-six nations were claiming 12 nautical miles, fifteen nations claimed
between 4 and 10 nautical miles, and eight nations were claiming an astounding 200
nautical miles.

2. Contiguous zone
The Contiguous Zone is a region of the seas measured from the baseline to a distance of
24 nautical miles. Within this region, a nation may exercise the control necessary to
prevent the infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and
regulations within its territory or territorial sea, and punish infringement of those laws
and regulations committed within its territory or territorial sea.
3.Exclusive economic zone
The Exclusive Economic Zone or "EEZ" is a region that stretches a distance of no more
than 200 nautical miles from a nation's baselines. Within its EEZ, a nation may explore at
exploit the natural resources (both living and inanimate) found both in the water and on
the seabed, may utilize the natural resources of the area for the production of energy
(including wind and wave/current), may establish artificial islands, conduct marine
scientific research, pass laws for the preservation and protection of the marine
environment, and regulate fishing. One of the primary purposes behind establishing the
EEZ was to clarify the rights of individual nations to control the fish harvests off their
shores. The 200-mile limit established by UNCLOS is not an arbitrary number. It is
derived from the fact that the most lucrative fishing grounds lie within 200 nautical miles
from the coast as this is where the richest phytoplankton (the basic food of fish) pastures
lie.
4. Continental shelf
The continental shelf is a naturally-occurring geological formation. It is a gently sloping
undersea plain between the above-water portion of a landmass and the deep ocean. The
continental shelf extends to what is known as the continental slope, a point at which the
land descends further and marks the beginning of the ocean itself. It is host to most of the
world's oceanic plant and animal life and plays a vital role in energy production, from
offshore oil and gas reserves to renewable energy resources.
5. High sea
Waters beyond a nation's EEZ are considered to be the high seas. The high seas are still

governed the "freedom of the seas" concept, albeit a modified version. Just as with the
classical version, no nation may lay claim to any portion of the high seas. The high sea
are open to the all states, whether coastal or land-locked. In addition, nations are
permitted freedom of navigation and overflight, freedom to lay submarine cables and
pipelines, freedom to construct artificial islands, freedom of fishing, and freedom of
scientific research. Other provisions regarding the high seas include a prohibition on the
transport of slaves, piracy, illegal drug trafficking, and the suppression of unauthorized
radio or television broadcasting.