Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) refers to a maritime zone prescribed by international law that extends beyond a country's territorial waters. It is an area where a coastal state has special rights and jurisdiction over the exploration and exploitation of natural resources, both living and non-living resources, as well as the management of certain activities within that zone.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), an exclusive economic zone can extend up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state's baseline. However, if the continental shelf extends beyond this limit, the zone can be extended further. The primary purpose of establishing an EEZ is to facilitate the country's economic development by granting the coastal state sovereign rights over the activities taking place in this zone.
Within the exclusive economic zone, the coastal state retains the right to explore and exploit living resources, including but not limited to fish, as well as non-living resources, such as oil, gas, minerals, and other natural reserves found beneath the seabed or within the region's waters. Additionally, the coastal state has the responsibility to conserve and manage these resources sustainably, ensuring their utilization benefits present and future generations.
While the coastal state enjoys special rights over the EEZ, other countries enjoy freedom of navigation and overflight within this area peacefully. However, they must adhere to the laws and regulations prescribed by the coastal state, particularly to protect the marine environment and prevent any unauthorized economic activities.
