Exclusive Economic Zone facts for kids

An Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a special area in the ocean. In this area, a country has special rights to explore and use marine resources. This includes things like fishing and mining for minerals under the sea.

An EEZ usually stretches out 200 nautical miles (about 370 kilometers) from a country's coast. If there are islands far from the mainland, the EEZ starts from those islands. This means a country can have a very large EEZ if it has many islands.

What is an EEZ?

An Exclusive Economic Zone gives a country special rights over the ocean's resources. These resources include fish, oil, natural gas, and other minerals found on or under the seabed. It's like a country's backyard in the ocean.

How Far Does an EEZ Go?

Most EEZs extend 200 nautical miles (about 370 kilometers) from a country's coastline. This distance is measured from the "baseline," which is usually the low-water line along the coast.

Sometimes, the EEZs of two or more countries might overlap. This happens when countries are close to each other. When EEZs overlap, countries often need to agree on where their exact boundaries are. This can sometimes lead to disagreements.

EEZ vs. Territorial Waters

It's important to know that an EEZ is different from a country's territorial waters.

Territorial Waters Explained

Territorial waters are like a country's land, but in the sea. They usually extend 12 nautical miles (about 22 kilometers) from the coast. Within its territorial waters, a country has full control, just like its land. Other countries' ships and submarines usually need permission to enter these waters.

Freedom of Travel in an EEZ

In an EEZ, ships and submarines from other countries can travel freely. They do not need special permission to pass through. However, they are only allowed to pass through. They cannot stop to take any resources, like fish or minerals, from that country's EEZ.

Why are EEZs Important?

EEZs are very important for countries for several reasons:

• Resources: They give countries control over valuable natural resources in the ocean. This helps their economies.
• Economy: Fishing industries and offshore oil and gas drilling are major economic activities within EEZs.
• Protection: Countries can protect their marine environment and manage fishing within their EEZ. This helps keep ocean life healthy.

Images for kids

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  De facto territories in the Spratly Islands

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  EEZs in the Caribbean Sea

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  EEZs in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans

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  EEZs in the Pacific Ocean

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  Canada's exclusive economic zone and territorial waters

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  Croatia's exclusive economic zone (dark blue) and Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone

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  Indonesia's exclusive economic zone

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  Italy's EEZ in the Mediterranean Sea

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  Japan's exclusive economic zones:     Japan's EEZ     Joint regime with the Republic of Korea     EEZ claimed by Japan, disputed by others

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  Exclusive economic zone of Mexico

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  The exclusive economic zone of North Korea

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  The exclusive economic zone of the Philippines shown in the lighter blue shade, with Archepelagic Waters in the darkest blue

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  Portugal's Exclusive Economic Zones plus submitted Extended Continental Shelf to the UN

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  Senegal's exclusive economic zone

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  South Korean exclusive economic zone:     Korean EEZ     EEZ claimed by Republic of Korea and Japan     Joint regime with Japan

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  Spain's exclusive economic zone. (Labels in Spanish)

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  border

See also

In Spanish: Zona económica exclusiva para niños