Contrasts: Territorial Seas, Archipelagic Waters

Aug 24, 2023

Law of the Sea:differences between territorial seas, archipelagic waters, and the high seas:

Aspect	Territorial Seas	Archipelagic Waters	High Seas
Extent	Up to 12 nautical miles from baseline	Enclosed by the outermost points of islands	Beyond territorial seas, archipelagic waters, and other national jurisdictions
Sovereignty	Full sovereignty of coastal state	Sovereignty with rights similar to territorial seas	No sovereignty, international waters
Passage Rights	Innocent passage allowed for ships of all states	Archipelagic sea lanes passage allowed for certain ships	Freedom of navigation and resource-related activities
Resource Exploration	Coastal state has control over resources	Archipelagic state has rights over resources	Freedom for all states to explore resources responsibly
Environmental Control	Coastal state's laws and regulations apply	Archipelagic state's laws and regulations apply	Limited international regulations for environmental protection
Jurisdiction	Coastal state exercises control over waters, airspace, and seabed	Certain rights with archipelagic state's laws and regulations	No coastal state jurisdiction, subject to international law

This table provides a concise overview of the key differences among these maritime zones, helping to clarify their distinct characteristics and roles in international maritime law.