Sea
High Seas
The high seas are governed by several fundamental principles. First, no State may purport to
assert sovereignty over any part of the high seas. Second, all States have the right to exercise
the freedoms of the seas, including freedoms of navigation, freedom of overflight, freedom to lay
submarine cables and pipelines, and freedom to conduct marine scientific research. Freedom of
fishing was a traditional high seas freedom but fishing on the high seas is subject to restrictions
as set out in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is generally agreed
that freedom of the seas also includes the right of all States to use the high seas for military
purposes, including weapons testing and naval exercises.
Exclusive economic zone
Coastal States are permitted to claim an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of up to 200
nautical miles from the baselines from which the territorial sea is measured wherein they have the
sovereign right to explore and exploit the natural resources of the sea and of the seabed and
subsoil. The EEZ is neither under the sovereignty of the coastal State nor part of the high seas. It
is a specific legal regime in which coastal States have the rights and jurisdiction set out in
UNCLOS, and other States have the rights and freedoms set out in UNCLOS. Other States have
the right to exercise high seas freedoms in the EEZ of any State. With respect to jurisdiction over
matters outside of economic activities, the principles of jurisdiction governing the high seas apply
in the EEZ.
Deep Seabed beyond the limits of national jurisdiction
The natural resources of the deep sea bed beyond the limits of national jurisdiction are vested in
mankind as a whole under the principle of the common heritage of mankind. No State may claim
or exercise sovereignty or sovereign rights over any part of this area or its resources and it is
governed by the International Sea Bed Authority (ISBA) No State or natural or juridical person
may appropriate any part of the area or its resources except under the authority of the ISBA.
A Conversion at Sea: International Incident
In the book “International Incidents for Discussion in Conversation Classes”, in relation to this subject, L. Oppenheim wrote in 1909: On July 4th and 6th, 1904, during the Russo-Japanese war, the Peterburg and the Smolensk, vessels belonging to the Russian volunteer fleet in the Black Sea, passed the Turkish Straits, flying the Russian commercial flag. They likewise passed the Suez Canal under their commercial flag, but after leaving Suez they converted themselves into men-of-war by hoisting the Russian war flag, and began to exercise the right of visit and search over neutral merchantmen. On July 19th the Peterburg captured the British P. and O. steamer Malacca, for alleged carriage of contraband, and put a prize crew on board for the purpose of navigating her to Libau.
A Pickpocket at Sea: International Incident
In the book “International Incidents for Discussion in Conversation Classes”, in relation to this subject, L. Oppenheim wrote in 1909: An Italian passenger on board the French mail-boat Le Nord, plying between Calais and Dover, picks the pocket of an Englishman while the boat is two miles out on her way from Dover to Calais. The thief is arrested in Calais. Can England claim his extradition?
SEA and the European Union
Resources
See Also
- International Environmental Law
- Environmental Law Violations
- Pollution
- Environmental Law
- Environmental Policy
Resources
See Also
- Single European Act
Hierarchical Display of Sea
Environment > Natural environment > Geophysical environment
Law > International law > Public international law > Law of the sea
Environment > Deterioration of the environment > Pollution > Water pollution > Marine pollution
Environment > Natural environment > Natural resources > Resources of the sea
Sea
Concept of Sea
See the dictionary definition of Sea.
Characteristics of Sea
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Resources
Translation of Sea
Thesaurus of Sea
Environment > Natural environment > Geophysical environment > Sea
Law > International law > Public international law > Law of the sea > Sea
Environment > Deterioration of the environment > Pollution > Water pollution > Marine pollution > Sea
Environment > Natural environment > Natural resources > Resources of the sea > Sea
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