The UNCLOS is an international treaty established by the United Nations in 1982, which sets legal guidelines for maritime nations regarding ocean usage, marine resources, and territorial limits.
Think of UNCLOS as a rulebook for a game. Just like how a game has rules about what players can do and where they can go, UNCLOS provides rules for countries about what they can do and where they can go in the world's oceans. It helps to prevent conflicts and ensure fair play among all participating nations.
Territorial Waters: This refers to the area of sea up to 12 nautical miles from a country's coastline, over which it has sovereignty.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): An EEZ extends 200 nautical miles from a country's coast. Within this zone, the coastal nation has special rights to explore and use marine resources.
Continental Shelf: This is an underwater landmass that extends from a continent, leading to deep parts of the ocean floor. Countries have rights to resources on their continental shelf even if it extends beyond their EEZ.
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