UNCLOS III: Areas of Limitation
                     UNCLOS III: 
Areas of Limitation
VICTOR OLERSKIY
Member of the Board of Directors at
Russian Fishery LLC
Victor Olerskiy
" Contiguous Zones and Exclusive Economic 
Zones
UNCLOS III is the 
name given to the Contiguous zones extend a fur-
ther 12 nautical miles, and nations 
third Conference on have the right to enforce laws on 
the Laws of the Sea pollution, immigration, customs 
held by the United and taxation in these waters. Ex-clusive economic zones cover 200 
Nations, the results nautical miles from the baseline 
of which convention and mean the coastal nation has 
exploitation rights over all natu-
came into force in ral resources in the exclusive eco-
November, 1994. nomic zone (EEZ).
Internal Waters and Archipelagic Waters and 
Territorial Waters the Continental Shelf
The convention establishes the Archipelagic waters define areas of 
rights of nations over their internal the ocean away from the baseline 
waterways and territorial waters, but surrounding islands, while the 
which are those lying up to 12 nau- continental shelf is the greater of 
tical miles out from the baseline. 200 nautical miles from the base-
Foreign vessels have no automatic line or the natural prolongation of 
right to sail internal waters, but in- land territory to the outer edge of 
nocent passage is allowed in terri- the continental margin.
torial waters.
Victor Olerskiy
Victor Olerskiy
Learn more about UNCLOS by visiting the 
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