Exclusive Economic Zones

An Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a sea area up to 200 nautical miles (about 370 kilometers) from a country's coastline, where that country has special rights over natural resources. This includes fishing, oil, gas, and minerals beneath the seabed. While other nations can navigate and overfly the EEZ, only the coastal country can exploit these resources. EEZs help manage and protect marine resources and are established under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Essentially, EEZs balance the interests of coastal states with those of the international community.