Q. With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements:
- A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
- Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
- The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2022)
Answer:
1, 2 and 3
Notes: The correct answer is
[D] 1, 2 and 3. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), adopted in 1982, defines the rights and responsibilities of nations regarding their use of the world's oceans.
- Statement 1 is Correct: Under UNCLOS, every state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baselines determined in accordance with the convention. The coastal state exercises full sovereignty over this belt.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea. Passage is "innocent" as long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order, or security of the coastal state.
- Statement 3 is Correct: The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea. It shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. In this zone, the coastal state has sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing natural resources.