USA Maritime Borders & EEZ Quiz
Territorial seas, EEZ, offshore rights (10 questions).
USA Maritime Borders & EEZ Quiz: Quick Study Notes
Understanding the USA’s maritime borders and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is crucial for comprehending its economic interests, defense strategies, and environmental responsibilities. These zones define the nation’s rights and jurisdiction over vast ocean territories, impacting everything from fishing and oil exploration to international relations.
Key Maritime Zones
Full sovereignty extending 12 nautical miles from the baseline, covering airspace, water column, and seabed. Foreign vessels have the right of innocent passage.
Sovereign rights up to 200 nautical miles for exploring and exploiting all natural resources (living and non-living). Other nations retain freedom of navigation and overflight.
Extends from 12 to 24 nautical miles from the baseline. Allows the coastal state to enforce customs, fiscal, immigration, and sanitary laws to prevent violations within its territory.
Rights to seabed and subsoil mineral resources and sedentary species, extending beyond the EEZ to the natural prolongation of its land territory, or up to 350 nautical miles.
Key Takeaways
- The US asserts extensive maritime jurisdiction, largely in alignment with UNCLOS principles.
- Its Territorial Sea provides full sovereign control within 12 nautical miles.
- The vast US EEZ (approx. 4.5 million sq. miles) grants exclusive resource rights up to 200 nautical miles.
- Offshore rights are vital for fishing, energy extraction (oil/gas), and scientific research.
- The Contiguous Zone acts as a buffer for national laws, extending up to 24 nautical miles.
- Different maritime zones dictate varying levels of national authority and international freedoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a territorial sea and an EEZ?
The territorial sea extends 12 nautical miles from the coast, granting a nation full sovereignty over its waters, seabed, and airspace. The EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles, granting sovereign rights primarily for resource exploration and exploitation, while allowing freedom of navigation and overflight for other nations.
Why is the US EEZ so important?
The US EEZ covers approximately 4.5 million square miles, providing exclusive rights to vast marine resources, including fisheries, oil, natural gas, and minerals. This is critical for economic prosperity, energy security, and scientific research.
Does the US recognize the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)?
While the US respects and follows most provisions of UNCLOS as customary international law, it has not formally ratified the treaty. However, its maritime claims largely align with UNCLOS principles.
What are “offshore rights” for the USA?
Offshore rights refer to the sovereign rights the US exercises in its maritime zones, primarily in the EEZ and continental shelf. These include the right to explore and exploit living resources (e.g., fishing) and non-living resources (e.g., oil, gas, minerals) of the seabed and subsoil.
What is the Contiguous Zone?
The Contiguous Zone is a strip of water extending from 12 to 24 nautical miles from a nation’s baseline. Within this zone, the coastal state can enforce its customs, fiscal, immigration, and sanitary laws to prevent infringement within its territory or territorial sea.
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