As a maritime law expert with extensive experience in international maritime boundaries and regulations, I am well-versed in the intricacies of maritime law that govern the world's oceans. The concept of international waters is a critical aspect of this body of law, which is designed to ensure the peaceful and cooperative use of the world's oceans.

The term "international waters" generally refers to areas of the ocean that are beyond the jurisdiction of any single country. These areas are governed by international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which was adopted in 1982 and came into effect in 1994. The convention provides a comprehensive framework for the use of the world's oceans and their resources, and it is considered the "constitution for the oceans."

According to UNCLOS, the maritime zones that extend from a coastal state's baseline are as follows:


1. Internal Waters: These are waters on the landward side of the baseline of a coastal state. They are considered part of the coastal state's territory and are under its sovereignty.


2. Territorial Sea: This is a belt of coastal waters extending at most 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi) from the baseline of a coastal state. Within this zone, the coastal state has full sovereignty and jurisdiction over the waters, the air space above, the seabed, and the subsoil.


3. Contiguous Zone: This zone extends 24 nautical miles (44.4 km; 27.6 mi) from the baseline. While not a part of the territorial sea, the coastal state can exercise control necessary to prevent and punish infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration, or sanitary laws and regulations.


4. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): This zone extends up to 200 nautical miles (370.4 km; 230.2 mi) from the baseline. Within the EEZ, the coastal state has sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing natural resources, both living and non-living, in the water column and the seabed.


5. Continental Shelf: This extends beyond the EEZ to where the continental margin naturally ends, typically at depths of around 2,500 meters. The coastal state has sovereign rights over the natural resources of the seabed and subsoil.


6. High Seas: These are all parts of the ocean that are not included in the above zones and are not under the jurisdiction of any state. The high seas begin where the EEZ ends, typically at 200 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal state.

The high seas are where international waters truly begin. On the high seas, no single state may claim sovereignty or jurisdiction. Instead, these waters are governed by a set of international rules and principles designed to promote freedom of navigation, overflight, and the peaceful use of the world's oceans. The high seas are a common heritage of mankind, and all states have the right to sail on them, fly over them, and fish in them.

It's important to note that the delineation of maritime zones can become complex due to various factors such as overlapping claims, disputed territories, and the presence of features like islands and reefs that can generate their own maritime zones. Furthermore, the rights and responsibilities of states in these zones are subject to the provisions of UNCLOS and other relevant international agreements.

In conclusion, the concept of international waters is a fundamental aspect of maritime law, ensuring that the world's oceans remain open and accessible to all states for peaceful purposes. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides the legal framework that defines and governs these waters, balancing the interests of individual states with the collective interests of the international community.

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Territorial waters or a territorial sea, as defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is a belt of coastal waters extending at most 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi) from the baseline (usually the mean low-water mark) of a coastal state.read more >>