Meripiirid

Meripiirid are the sea boundaries and the accompanying legal regimes that define a state's rights and obligations in maritime spaces. The concept is grounded in international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and it covers how far a state may exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, and control at sea, as well as how navigation and passage are allowed for other states.

The maritime zones that constitute meripiirid include several defined areas. Internal waters lie on the landward side of baselines and are under full national sovereignty. The territorial sea extends up to 12 nautical miles from baselines, where the state has sovereignty but foreign ships may enjoy innocent passage. The contiguous zone reaches up to 24 nautical miles, allowing the coastal state to enforce regulations concerning customs, immigration, sanitary matters, and fiscal controls. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends up to 200 nautical miles, where the state has sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing natural resources, while other states retain freedoms of navigation and overflight. The continental shelf concerns rights to resources on and under the seabed, typically up to 200 nautical miles or beyond if justified by geological criteria.

Delimitation with neighboring states, baselines, and the use of straight baselines in archipelagic contexts are key aspects of meripiirid. Boundary issues are often resolved by mutual agreement, negotiation, or international dispute settlement under UNCLOS. In practice, meripiirid influence resource management, fisheries, environmental protection, navigation safety, and scientific research, shaping how coastal states interact with each other and with the wider international community.