Damon Mcknight
Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends from 12 nautical miles to 200 nautical miles from its coastline. Within this zone, Australia has sovereign rights to explore, use, conserve and manage its natural resources, including minerals and fish. The EEZ is an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea, which is a belt of water not exceeding 12 nautical miles in width, measured from the territorial sea baseline. Australia's sovereignty extends to the territorial sea, its seabed and subsoil, and the airspace above it. The Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) covers Commonwealth waters, generally from 3 nautical miles to 200 nautical miles from the Australian coast. So, how far does Australia's jurisdiction extend into international waters?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Territorial waters | 12 nautical miles from the coastline |
| Territorial sea baseline | The line from which the seaward limits of Australia's Maritime Zones are measured |
| Territorial sea | A belt of water not exceeding 12M in width measured from the territorial sea baseline |
| Exclusive economic zone (EEZ) | 12-200 nautical miles from the coastline |
| Total area of EEZ | 8,148,250 square kilometres (3,146,060 sq mi) |
| Additional area claimed by Australia | 2.5 million square kilometres of seabed beyond the limits of Australia's EEZ |
| Maritime boundaries | With Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, New Caledonia (France), Solomon Islands, and New Zealand |
| Maritime boundary extent | From the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean |
| Maritime boundary treaties | Treaty Between Australia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Establishing Their Maritime Boundaries in the Timor Sea |
| Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) | Waters adjacent to each external territory within the outer limits of the EEZ, excluding coastal waters and internal territory waters |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Australia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ)
Australia has the third-largest exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the world, only behind France and the United States. Australia's EEZ was declared on 1 August 1994 and extends from 12 to 200 nautical miles (22 to 370 km) from the coastline of Australia and its external territories. The total area of Australia's EEZ is 8,148,250 square kilometres (3,146,060 sq mi), which exceeds its land territory.
The EEZ is an area of the sea in which a sovereign state has exclusive rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, including energy production from water and wind. Australia's sovereignty extends to its territorial sea, its seabed and subsoil, and the airspace above it. This sovereignty is exercised in accordance with international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The territorial sea around certain islands in the Torres Strait is 3M.
The outer limit of Australia's EEZ is the same as the outer limit of the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ), except in the Torres Strait and in the waters adjacent to the Australian Antarctic Territory. The United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) confirmed in April 2008 that Australia has rights over an additional 2.5 million square kilometres of seabed beyond its EEZ. This confirmation increased Australia's rights to an area of seabed that exceeds the size of its land territory.
Australia also claimed additional Continental Shelf past its EEZ from the Australian Antarctic Territory, but these claims were deferred at Australia's request. The EEZ claimed by Australia as part of its Antarctic Territory is approximately 2 million square kilometres (770,000 sq mi).
Applying for a Medical Card in Australia: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Maritime borders with Indonesia, PNG, East Timor, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and New Zealand
Australia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) extends from 12 to 200 nautical miles (22 to 370 km) from its coastline and that of its external territories. This zone does not include areas where maritime delimitation agreements exist with other states.
Indonesia
Australia and Indonesia share a maritime border in the Indian Ocean between Australia's Christmas Island and Indonesia's Java. The border was established by the 1997 Australia-Indonesia Maritime Delimitation Treaty, which settled disputes over sovereignty of the seabed and ownership of resources in the water column. The treaty separates ownership of the seabed and the water column, with Australia having sovereignty over the former and Indonesia over the latter.
Papua New Guinea (PNG)
The maritime border between Australia and PNG starts at the tripoint boundary with Indonesia in the western entrance to the Torres Straits and runs through the Arafura Sea and Coral Sea to the Pacific Ocean. The Torres Strait Treaty, signed in 1978 and ratified in 1985, defines the maritime boundaries between the two countries and protects the ways of life of the traditional inhabitants in the Torres Strait Protected Zone (TSPZ).
East Timor
The Treaty Between Australia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Establishing Their Maritime Boundaries in the Timor Sea, signed in 2018 and brought into force in 2019, settled a long-running dispute and established permanent maritime boundaries in the Timor Sea. The treaty also laid the foundation for a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries, allowing for joint development of the Greater Sunrise gas fields and providing economic opportunities for Timor-Leste.
New Caledonia
Australia has a maritime border with New Caledonia, a French territory in the Pacific Ocean.
Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands shares challenges and solutions with Australia and PNG in managing their maritime borders. The Torres Strait Treaty covers matters such as immigration, border control, environment, fisheries, law and order, health, maritime safety, and traditional inhabitant matters.
New Zealand
The Australia-New Zealand Maritime Treaty, signed in 2004, formally delimited the maritime boundary between the two countries. The treaty defines the boundaries between the exclusive economic zones and continental shelf claims of Australia and New Zealand. It establishes two separate maritime boundaries, both approximate median points between the territories of the two countries. The first boundary separates the North Island and Three Kings Islands of New Zealand from Australia's Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. The second boundary separates Australia's Macquarie Island from New Zealand's Auckland and Campbell Islands.
Lazada Shipping to Australia: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Territorial Sea Baseline (TSB)
The Territorial Sea Baseline (TSB) is a term used to refer to the line from which the seaward limits of Australia's Maritime Zones are measured. The breadth of the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, and, in some cases, the continental shelf are all included in these Maritime Zones. The territorial sea baseline varies depending on the shape of the coastline in a given location.
The normal baseline, which aligns with the low-water line along the coast, including the coasts of islands, is one type of territorial sea baseline. Low tide elevations, which are naturally formed land areas surrounded by and above water at low tide but submerged at high tide, can be used to draw a normal baseline under the Convention as long as they are completely or partially within 12 nautical miles of the coast.
Straight baselines are another type of territorial sea baseline. They are made up of straight lines connecting distinct points on the low-water line, usually referred to as straight baseline endpoints. When the coastline is deeply indented or cut into, or when there is a fringe of islands along the coast nearby, straight baselines are employed.
Bay or river closing lines, which are straight lines drawn between the low-water marks of the natural entrance points of bays or rivers, are another type of territorial sea baseline. Waters on the landward side of the baseline are considered internal waters under international law. Coastal Waters is a belt of water between the limits of the Australian States and the Northern Territory, and a line 3M seaward of the territorial sea baseline.
The Territorial Sea is a belt of water that does not exceed 12M in width and is measured from the territorial sea baseline. Australia's sovereignty extends to the territorial sea, its seabed, subsoil, and airspace above it. This sovereignty is exercised in accordance with international law, with the main restriction being the right of innocent passage for foreign ships.
Grass-Eating Creatures in Australia: Who's Munching Down Under?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ)
The Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) was first declared in 1979 and covers Australian waters, generally from 3 nautical miles to 200 nautical miles from the Australian coast. The AFZ is established through the Fisheries Management Act 1991, including amendments made by the Maritime Legislation Amendment Act 1994. It relates only to the use or protection of Commonwealth fisheries.
The AFZ covers an area of over 8 million square kilometres, making it the third-largest in the world. It includes the waters adjacent to Australia and its external territories within the outer limits of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). However, it does not include coastal waters or internal territories, and certain 'excepted waters' as proclaimed in 1992, such as the Torres Strait and waters adjacent to the Australian Antarctic Territory.
Within the EEZ, Australia has sovereign rights to explore, exploit, conserve, and manage natural resources, including fisheries, oil, gas, and minerals. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is responsible for managing and ensuring the sustainable use of fisheries resources within the AFZ and combating illegal fishing activities. AFMA officers are empowered to enforce fisheries laws, make arrests, and carry defensive equipment.
Australia's territorial sea extends 12 nautical miles from its coastline, and its sovereignty includes the airspace above it and the seabed and subsoil beneath it. This sovereignty is exercised in accordance with international law, which allows for the innocent passage of foreign ships. The contiguous zone extends up to 24 nautical miles from the territorial sea baseline, within which Australia can exercise control to prevent and punish infringements of its laws and regulations.
Clover in Australia: Where and How it Grows
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Maritime boundaries with Timor-Leste
Australia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) extends from 12 to 200 nautical miles (22 to 370 km) from its coastline and that of its external territories. The Territorial Sea is a belt of water not exceeding 12 nautical miles in width, measured from the territorial sea baseline. Australia's sovereignty extends to this area, with the right of innocent passage for foreign ships being the main limitation on its exercise of sovereignty.
Australia and Timor-Leste share a maritime boundary in the Timor Sea. The two countries signed a historic treaty in March 2018 in New York, which came into force in August 2019, establishing permanent maritime boundaries and settling a long-running dispute. The treaty was the result of a nearly two-year conciliation process initiated under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The treaty's main features include a southern boundary that approximates a midpoint between relevant coastal features, and a straight-line western lateral boundary extending from the 1972 Australian-Indonesian Seabed Boundary to the median line. The eastern lateral boundary comprises several segments that extend further east and northeast than the 2002 treaty, giving Timor-Leste greater entitlements over the Greater Sunrise field.
The treaty also establishes a special regime for the joint development and revenue sharing of the Greater Sunrise gas fields. While the treaty outlines an 80/20 or 70/30 split in favour of Timor-Leste, the exact arrangement remains unresolved, with Australia pushing for 80% of revenue to flow to the Timorese. Timor-Leste has gained 100% access to future upstream revenue from existing oil and gas fields previously part of the 2002 Joint Petroleum Development Area.
Gluten-Free Fanta: What Australians Need to Know
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
International waters begin 200 nautical miles from the Australian coast.
The AFZ covers Commonwealth waters, generally from 3 nautical miles to 200 nautical miles from the Australian coast. The AFZ was first declared in 1979 and is established through the Fisheries Management Act 1991.
Australia's EEZ extends from 12 nautical miles to 200 nautical miles from its coastline. Within this zone, Australia has sovereign rights to explore, use, conserve and manage its natural resources, including fish, oil, gas and minerals.
The Territorial Sea is a belt of water not exceeding 12 nautical miles in width, measured from the territorial sea baseline. Australia's sovereignty extends to the Territorial Sea, its seabed and subsoil, and the airspace above it.
