geopolitics of the oceans

• Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) are areas in which a coastal nation has sovereign rights over all the economic resources of the sea, seabed and subsoil, up to 200 nautical miles from the coast.
• how far do EEZs extend?

  up to 200 nautical miles from the coast
• who prescribes EEZs?

  the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
• what does EEZ stand for

  Exclusive Economic Zones
• Sovereign

  having independent authority over a territory.
• Global commons - resources that are shared and accessible by all, with no single governing country or power.
• what are the 4 notable global commons?

  • the high seas
  • the atmosphere
  • outer space
  • Antarctica
• Almost 90% of all oil reserves under the sea fall under a country's EEZ.

  98% of worlds fishing regions all fall within an EEZ.
• Delineation - the action of indicating the exact position of a border or boundary.
• What is the purpose of delineating EEZs?

  To prevent conflict between nations, enable resource management and conservation and military placement.
• what is the main loophole regarding EEZs?

  what actually counts as a nations territory - for example, Rockall
• maritime zones

  
• potential problems with EEZs:

  disputes, conflicts, and what constitutes as a countries land.
• examples of conflict over EEZs:

  • Cod wars in the North Sea between UK and Iceland from 1958, 1972 and 1976.
  • Spratly islands dispute.
  • The Liancourt Rocks dispute.
  • Rockall disputes.
• Spratly islands dispute

  There is an ongoing dispute over the Spratly islands (south China sea) that are claimed by China, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
• Liancourt Rocks dispute:

  a territorial dispute between Japan and South Korea. Both countries claim sovereignty over the rocks, in the Sea of Japan.
• Rockall:


  a tiny rock in the North Atlantic ocean which has been claimed by Ireland, the UK Denmark and Iceland. There are ongoing disputes over this but it is currently in British ownership.