Avomeriä

Avomeriä is a Finnish term that translates to "open sea" or "high seas." It generally refers to the waters beyond the territorial waters of a coastal state, where national jurisdiction does not extend. In a broader sense, it can also describe the vast, open expanse of the ocean, often evoking a sense of remoteness and the power of nature.

The concept of avomeriä is significant in international law, particularly in discussions concerning maritime boundaries, resource management, and navigation rights. Coastal states have sovereignty over their territorial waters, which extend up to 12 nautical miles from their baseline. Beyond this limit lies the contiguous zone, followed by the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) where the state has sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting natural resources. The avomeriä encompasses areas beyond the EEZ, often referred to as the high seas.

These areas are considered the common heritage of mankind, accessible to all nations for navigation, overflight, fishing, scientific research, and the laying of submarine cables and pipelines, subject to certain international conventions and regulations. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the primary international agreement governing activities in the avomeriä. Environmental protection and the sustainable use of resources in these international waters are ongoing concerns addressed by various international bodies. The term can also be used more poetically to describe the feeling of being amidst a vast and boundless body of water.