Territorial Waters Law

Territorial waters are areas of the ocean that extend up to 12 nautical miles from a coastal state's baseline, usually measured from the low-water mark along the coast. Within these waters, the coastal state has sovereignty, meaning it can govern activities like fishing, shipping, and resource exploration. Other countries can navigate through these waters, but the coastal state can enforce its laws. This concept is a key part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which establishes guidelines for how nations use ocean resources and share marine spaces.