EeZ

An exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is a sea-area defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It extends up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state's baselines. Within the EEZ, the coastal state has sovereign rights for the exploration and exploitation of natural resources in the water column, on the seabed and subsoil, and for the production of energy from these resources. It also has jurisdiction over the establishment and use of artificial islands, installations, and structures, as well as for marine research and the protection of the marine environment.

The EEZ is not equivalent to territorial sovereignty; other states retain freedom of navigation and overflight, and may conduct certain activities such as laying cables, subject to regulation. The coastal state may regulate fishing and other economic activities and may grant or restrict access to resources in the EEZ according to its laws and international obligations.

Boundaries: The 200-nautical-mile limit is measured from baseline. If the continental shelf extends beyond 200 miles, the state may claim rights to the seabed and subsoil on the extended shelf under UNCLOS Article 76, potentially up to 350 nautical miles or more, while the water column remains within the EEZ. Overlapping zones and disputes are settled by negotiation or judicial settlement, including ITLOS or arbitration.

EEZs are central to a coastal state's economy and governance, governing fisheries, energy development, seabed minerals, and environmental management. They also influence international law and maritime security and require ongoing cooperation and dispute resolution.