Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Maritime Zones are crucial aspects of international law and geopolitics, governing the rights and responsibilities of nations concerning the world’s oceans. These zones, established primarily through the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982, define the limits of national jurisdiction over marine areas. Understanding these zones is vital for managing marine resources, ensuring freedom of navigation, and resolving maritime disputes. The increasing importance of the oceans for trade, energy, and strategic competition necessitates a thorough grasp of these legal frameworks.
Understanding Maritime Zones
Maritime zones are established from a country’s baseline – usually the low-water line along the coast. From this baseline, various zones are demarcated, each with specific legal implications.
Types of Maritime Zones
- Internal Waters: These are waters enclosed within the baseline, treated as part of the state’s land territory. The state has full sovereignty and control. Examples include harbors, gulfs, and bays.
- Territorial Sea: Extending up to 12 nautical miles (nm) from the baseline, the territorial sea is subject to the state’s sovereignty, but with the right of innocent passage for foreign vessels.
- Contiguous Zone: Extending up to 24 nm from the baseline, the contiguous zone allows the state to enforce laws relating to customs, fiscal matters, immigration, and sanitation.
- Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): Extending up to 200 nm from the baseline, the EEZ grants the coastal state sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or non-living, of the waters above the seabed and the seabed itself.
- Continental Shelf: This zone encompasses the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas adjacent to the coast, extending beyond the territorial sea and EEZ. The coastal state has sovereign rights over the continental shelf for exploring and exploiting its natural resources.
- High Seas: Areas beyond the EEZ are considered the high seas, open to all states for navigation, overflight, fishing, scientific research, and other peaceful purposes.
India’s Maritime Zones
India has claimed a territorial sea extending 12 nm, a contiguous zone extending 24 nm, and an EEZ extending 200 nm from its baseline. India’s extensive coastline and numerous islands contribute to a large maritime zone. However, disputes exist with neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan and Bangladesh, regarding the delimitation of maritime boundaries.
Challenges and Issues
- Maritime Boundary Disputes: Delimitation of maritime boundaries remains a significant challenge, leading to disputes over resource exploitation and navigation rights.
- Piracy and Maritime Security: The increasing incidence of piracy, particularly in the Indian Ocean region, poses a threat to maritime security and trade.
- Illegal Fishing: Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing depletes marine resources and undermines sustainable fisheries management.
- Environmental Concerns: Pollution, climate change, and habitat destruction threaten the health of marine ecosystems.
UNCLOS and its Significance
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides the legal framework for all ocean-related activities. It establishes a comprehensive regime for maritime zones, navigation, resource management, and dispute resolution. While not universally ratified (notably, the US is not a party), UNCLOS is widely accepted as customary international law.
| Zone | Extent (from Baseline) | Sovereign Rights/Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|
| Internal Waters | Within Baseline | Full Sovereignty |
| Territorial Sea | Up to 12 nm | Sovereignty, Innocent Passage |
| Contiguous Zone | Up to 24 nm | Enforcement of Laws (Customs, Fiscal, etc.) |
| EEZ | Up to 200 nm | Sovereign Rights for Resource Management |
| Continental Shelf | Beyond Territorial Sea/EEZ | Sovereign Rights for Resource Exploitation |
Conclusion
Maritime Zones are fundamental to international law and the sustainable management of ocean resources. UNCLOS provides a crucial framework for regulating activities within these zones, but challenges related to boundary disputes, security threats, and environmental concerns persist. Strengthening international cooperation, promoting responsible maritime practices, and upholding the principles of UNCLOS are essential for ensuring peace, security, and prosperity in the world’s oceans. India, with its extensive coastline, has a significant stake in maintaining a stable and rules-based maritime order.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.