Contiguous zone

Definition

The contiguous zone is a maritime zone that extends up to 24 nautical miles from a coastal state's baseline, where a state can enforce laws concerning customs, immigration, and sanitation. While it is beyond the territorial sea, the contiguous zone allows states to exercise limited control to prevent and punish violations of their laws occurring within their territory or territorial sea. This area serves as an important buffer between the high seas and a nation's sovereign territory.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The contiguous zone is defined by international law, particularly under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
2. A state can enforce laws related to customs, immigration, and sanitation in the contiguous zone, but it cannot exercise sovereignty like it does in its territorial sea.
3. Incidents such as smuggling or illegal fishing that occur in the contiguous zone can lead to enforcement actions by the coastal state.
4. The contiguous zone acts as a transitional space between a country's territorial waters and international waters, allowing states to safeguard their interests.
5. While foreign ships have the right of innocent passage through the contiguous zone, they must comply with the coastal state's laws pertaining to customs and immigration.

Review Questions

• How does the contiguous zone differ from the territorial sea in terms of a state's rights and enforcement capabilities?
  • The contiguous zone differs from the territorial sea primarily in that it allows for limited enforcement capabilities rather than full sovereignty. While within the territorial sea, a state has complete control over all activities and can prevent any unauthorized actions. In contrast, in the contiguous zone, states can enforce specific laws related to customs, immigration, and sanitation but cannot exercise total sovereignty. This distinction helps balance state control with rights of navigation on the high seas.
• Discuss the implications of having a contiguous zone for coastal states' security measures and law enforcement.
  • Having a contiguous zone provides coastal states with additional security measures that extend their law enforcement capabilities beyond their territorial sea. This area allows states to detect and address violations such as smuggling or illegal fishing before they escalate into more significant issues within their territorial waters. As enforcement actions can be taken in this zone, it effectively acts as an early warning system against potential threats to national security, helping states maintain better control over their marine resources and borders.
• Evaluate the role of international law, particularly UNCLOS, in defining and regulating the use of contiguous zones by coastal states.
  • International law, specifically through UNCLOS, plays a crucial role in defining and regulating contiguous zones by establishing clear guidelines for their extent and permissible activities. This framework promotes cooperation among nations while recognizing each state's right to protect its interests beyond its territorial sea. By setting limits on how far these zones can extend and outlining enforcement rights, UNCLOS helps prevent conflicts between states regarding maritime boundaries. Additionally, it ensures that rights related to innocent passage are balanced with coastal states' enforcement capabilities, contributing to stable maritime governance.

Related terms

territorial sea: The territorial sea is a maritime zone extending up to 12 nautical miles from a coastal state's baseline, where the state has sovereignty and exclusive rights.

exclusive economic zone (EEZ): The exclusive economic zone is a maritime area that extends 200 nautical miles from a coastal baseline, granting the state special rights to explore and exploit marine resources.

baseline: The baseline is the line from which the breadth of the territorial sea and other maritime zones is measured, usually following the low-water line along the coast.