territorial sea
Sovereign coastal zone
The territorial sea is the belt of ocean extending from a nation's coastline over which it exercises full sovereignty.
International law generally recognizes twelve nautical miles as the limit: Foreign vessels have the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
Beyond this lies the contiguous zone, then the exclusive economic zone.
Legal coastal water crossing
- shipping lanesDesignated ocean travel paths
- freedom of navigationRight to traverse international waters
- merchant shipsVessels for transporting goods
- warshipsMilitary combat vessels
Standard for comparison
- delimitationFixing of boundaries
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
- limitMaximum allowed extent
- borderOuter edge or limit
Supreme independent authority
- coastal stateState with ocean access
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
- immigrationRelocating abroad permanently
fishing rights · exclusive rights · patrol · coast guard · legal framework · regulations · legislation · prosecution
Land-water boundary
- continental shelfSubmerged perimeter of landmass
- bayPartially enclosed water
- gulfPartially enclosed sea
- straitConstricted marine passage
estuary · archipelago · island · reef · lagoon · headland · peninsula · inlet
Designated waters for catching
- marine resourcesUsable materials from seas
- mineral rightsClaim to underground resources
- economic exploitationProfiting through others' disadvantage
- hydrocarbonsCarbon-hydrogen organic compounds
oil drilling · fish stocks · aquaculture · continental shelf
innocent passage
Legal coastal water crossing
- shipping lanesDesignated ocean travel paths
- freedom of navigationRight to traverse international waters
- merchant shipsVessels for transporting goods
baseline
Standard for comparison
- delimitationFixing of boundaries
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
- limitMaximum allowed extent
border · outer limit · boundary line · median line · equidistance
sovereignty
Supreme independent authority
- coastal stateState with ocean access
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
immigration · fishing rights · exclusive rights · patrol · coast guard · legal framework · regulations · legislation · prosecution · authority
coastline
Land-water boundary
- continental shelfSubmerged perimeter of landmass
- bayPartially enclosed water
- gulfPartially enclosed sea
strait · estuary · archipelago · island · reef · lagoon · headland · peninsula · inlet · sound
fishing zones
Designated waters for catching
- marine resourcesUsable materials from seas
- mineral rightsClaim to underground resources
- economic exploitationProfiting through others' disadvantage
hydrocarbons · oil drilling · fish stocks · aquaculture · continental shelf
territorial seainternational waters
Ocean beyond national jurisdiction
high seas · open sea · freedom of the seas · continental shelf · airspace
territorial, sea, territory, territories, territorially, territoriality, terrier, terrain, terra