Twelve Mile Limit Doctrine

The Twelve Mile Limit Doctrine is a maritime principle establishing that a country's sovereignty over its territorial waters extends up to 12 nautical miles from its coast. Within this zone, the country has exclusive rights to regulate activities like fishing, navigation, and resource extraction. Beyond this limit, waters are typically considered international or high seas, where no single nation holds sovereignty. This doctrine helps define jurisdiction and manageable boundaries for maritime law, ensuring clarity in legal and commercial activities related to the sea.