Sociology | Mercantile Law | International Law | International Relations

Article 55 of the UN Convention on Law of Sea states that; “Exclusive economic zone is an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea, under which the rights and jurisdiction of the coastal State and the rights and freedoms of other States are governed by the relevant provisions of this Convention”.

Article 57 further states to define the breadth of EEZ; “The exclusive economic zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured”.

Purpose of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
It was the state of Kenya which for the first time raised the idea of EEZ in 1972. This was for the purpose of ensuring primary benefits for the people of a state and for having right over the natural resources in order to explore and exploit them.

Rights of State in EEZ
In accordance to the Article 56 of the said Convention a state has following rights in EEZ;

• Sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources and with regard to other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of the zone, such as the production of energy from the water, currents and winds.
• Establishment and use of artificial islands, installations and structures
• Marine scientific research
• Protection and preservation of the marine environment.