Merioikeudet

Merioikeudet refers to the maritime rights and regulations governing the use and jurisdiction of the sea. These rights are typically defined by international law, most notably the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and also by national legislation. Merioikeudet encompass a wide range of provisions, including the delimitation of maritime zones, the rights and responsibilities of coastal states, and the freedoms enjoyed by all states at sea.

Key maritime zones established under international law include internal waters, territorial seas, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and the high seas. Internal waters are fully under the sovereignty of the coastal state. The territorial sea extends up to 12 nautical miles from the coast, where the coastal state exercises sovereignty, subject to the right of innocent passage for foreign vessels. The contiguous zone extends a further 12 nautical miles, allowing the coastal state to enforce certain customs, fiscal, immigration, or sanitary laws. The EEZ, extending up to 200 nautical miles, grants the coastal state sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing natural resources, both living and non-living, of the waters, seabed, and subsoil. Beyond the EEZ lie the high seas, which are open to all states for navigation, overflight, fishing, and scientific research, with certain restrictions. Merioikeudet also address issues such as the continental shelf, the protection of the marine environment, and the settlement of maritime disputes.