Maritime boundary

Graphic representation of maritime zones
Features, limits and zones

A maritime boundary is a conceptual division of the Earth's water surface areas using physiographic or geopolitical criteria. As such, it usually includes areas of exclusive national rights over mineral and biological resources,[1] encompassing maritime features, limits and zones.[2] Generally, a maritime boundary is delineated through a particular measure from a jurisdiction's coastline. Although in some countries the term maritime boundary represent borders of a maritime nation[3] and are recognized by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, they usually serve to identify international waters.

Maritime boundaries exist in the context of territorial waters, contiguous zones, and exclusive economic zones; however, the terminology does not encompass lake or river boundaries, which are considered within the context of land boundaries.

Some maritime boundaries have remained indeterminate despite efforts to clarify them. This is explained by an array of factors, some of which illustrate regional problems.[4]

The delineation of maritime boundaries has strategic, economic and environmental implications.[5]

Terminology

The terms boundary, frontier and border are often used as if they were interchangeable, but they are also terms with precise meanings.[6]

A boundary is a line. The terms "frontier", "borderland" and "border" are zones of indeterminate width. Such areas forms the outermost part of a country. Borders are bounded on one side by a national boundary.[7] There are variations in the specific terminology of maritime boundary agreements which have been concluded since the 1970s. Such differences are less important than what is being delimited.[8]

Features

Features which affect maritime boundaries include islands and the submerged seabed of the continental shelf.[2]

The process of boundary delimitation in the ocean encompasses the natural prolongation of geological features and outlying territory. The process of establishing "positional" borders encompasses the distinction between previously resolved and never-resolved controversies.[9]

Limits

Map showing Australian maritime zones including the waters associated with the Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT)

The limits of maritime boundaries are expressed in polylines and in polygon layers of sovereignty and control,[10] calculated from the declaration of a baseline. The conditions under which a state may establish such baseline are described in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). A baseline of a country can be the low water line, a straight baseline (a line that encloses bays, estuaries, inland waters,...) or a combination of the two.[1]

For example, in the map at the right which shows Australian Arctic Territorial (AAT) maritime zones, the Adélie Land or French territorial claim to Antarctica is indicated as a break the AAT waters. This portion of the Antarctic coast between 136° E and 142° E has a shore length of 350 km and associated maritime zones which are not recognized by all governments.

Zones

The zones of maritime boundaries are expressed in concentric limits surrounding coastal and feature baselines.[1]

In the case of overlapping zones, the boundary is presumed to conform to the equidistance principle or it is explicitly described in a multilateral treaty.[1]

Contemporary negotiations have produced tripoint and quadripoint determinations. For example, the 1982 Australia–France Marine Delimitation Agreement, it was assumed that France has sovereignty over Matthew and Hunter Islands, a territory that is also claimed by Vanuatu. The northernmost point in the boundary is a tripoint with the Solomon Islands. The boundary runs in a roughly north–south direction and then turns and runs west–east until it almost reaches the 170th meridian east.[11] The effect of these negotiated specifics is reflected in the map of Australian maritime zones at the right.

History

The concept of maritime boundaries is a relative new concept.[1] The historical record is a backdrop for evaluating border issues.[12] The evaluation of historic rights are governed by distinct legal regimes in customary international law, including research and analysis based on

The study of treaties on maritime boundaries is important as (a) as a source of general or particular international law; (b) as evidence of existing customary law; and (c) as evidence of the emerging development of custom.[14] The development of "customary law" affects all nations.

The attention accorded this subject has evolved beyond formerly-conventional norms like the three-mile limit.

Treaties

Multilateral treaties and documents describing the baselines of countries can be found on the website of the United Nations.[1]

For example, the Australia–France Marine Delimitation Agreement establishes ocean boundaries between Australia and New Caledonia in the Coral Sea (including the boundary between Australia's Norfolk Island and New Caledonia). It consists of 21 straight-line maritime segments defined by 22 individual coordinate points forming a modified equidistant line between the two territories.[11] The effect of this treaty is incorporated in the map of Australian maritime zones at the right.

Disputes

Controversies about territorial waters tend to encompass two dimensions: (a) territorial sovereignty, which are a legacy of history; and (b) relevant jurisdictional rights and interests in maritime boundaries, which are mainly due to differing interpretations of the law of the sea.[15] An example of this may be reviewed in the context of the ongoing Kuwait-Iraq maritime dispute over the Khawr Abd Allah waterway.

Many disputes have been resolved through negotiations,[16] but not all.

Unresolved maritime boundaries

The disputed maritime border between North and South Korea in the West Sea:[17]
     A: Northern Limit Line, created by the United Nations in 1953[18]
     B: "Inter-Korean MDL in the Yellow Sea", declared by North Korea in 1999[19] The locations of specific islands are reflected in the configuration of each maritime boundary, including
1Yeonpyeong Island
2Baengnyeong Island
3Daecheong Island
----

Among the array of unsettled disputes, the maritime borders of the two Koreas in the Yellow Sea represent a visually stark contrast.[17]

Further information: Northern Limit Line

A western line of military control between the two Koreas was unilaterally established by the United Nations Command in 1953.[20][21] Although the North asserts a differently configured boundary line, there is no dispute that a few small islands close to the North Korean coastline have remained jurisdiction of the United Nations since 1953.[22]

The map at the right shows the differing maritime boundary lines of the two Koreas. The ambits of these boundaries encompass overlapping jurisdictional claims.[23] The explicit differences in the way the boundary lines are configured is shown in the map at the right.

In a very small area, this represents a unique illustration of differences in mapping and delineation strategies.

Violent clashes in these disputed waters include what are known as the first Yeonpyeong incident, the second Yeonpyeong incident, and the Bombardment of Yeonpyeong.[24]

See also

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 VLIZ Maritime Boundaries Geodatabase, General info; retrieved 19 Nov 2010
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Geoscience Australia, Maritime definitions; retrieved 19 Nov 2010
  3. United States Department of State, Maritime boundaries; retrieved 19 Nov 2010.
  4. Valencia, Mark J. (2001). Maritime Regime Building: Lessons Learned and Their Relevance for Northeast Asia, pp. 149-166., p. 149, at Google Books
  5. Geoscience Australia, Law of the Sea and Maritime Advice Project.
  6. Prescott, John Robert Victor. (2008). International Frontiers and Boundaries: Law, Politics and Geography, p. 11., p. 11, at Google Books
  7. Prescott, p. 12., p. 12, at Google Books
  8. Charney, Vol. V, p. 3288., p. 3288, at Google Books
  9. Koo, Min Gyu. (2010). Disputes and Maritime Regime Building in East Asia, p. 2 , p. 2, at Google Books citing Friedrich V. Kratochwil, Paul Rohrlich, Harpreet Mahajan. (1985). Peace and disputed sovereignty, p. 20.
  10. VLIZ, Intro
  11. 11.0 11.1 Anderson, Ewan W. (2003). International Boundaries: A Geopolitical Atlas, pp. 60–61, 64, p. 60, at Google Books; Charney, Jonathan I. et al. (1993). International Maritime Boundaries, Vol. 1, p. 905; Charney, (1998). Vol. 2, pp. 1185–1194., p. 1185, at Google Books
  12. Koo, p. 10., p. 10, at Google Books
  13. 13.0 13.1 Jagota, S. P. Maritime Boundaries, p. 183., p. 183, at Google Books
  14. Jagota, S. P. Maritime Boundaries, p. 69., p. 69, at Google Books
  15. Ji Guoxing. (1995). "Maritime Jurisdiction in the Three China Seas," p. 3, UC Berkeley: UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation; retrieved 15 Nov 2010.
  16. Chris Carleton et al. (2002). Developments in the Technical Determination of Maritime Space, p. 43., p. 43, at Google Books; excerpt, "By far the preferred method of handling disputes among states, including those related to maritime boundaries, is through bilateral negotiations. In contrast to other methods, negotiations may be regarded as a universally accepted means...."
  17. 17.0 17.1 Ryoo, Moo Bong. (2009). "The Korean Armistice and the Islands," p. 13 (at PDF-p. 21). Strategy research project at the U.S. Army War College; retrieved 26 Nov 2010.
  18. 18.0 18.1 "Factbox: What is the Korean Northern Limit Line?" Reuters (UK). 23 Nov 2010; retrieved 26 Nov 2010.
  19. 19.0 19.1 "NLLControversial Sea Border Between S.Korea, DPRK, " People's Daily (PRC), 21 Nov 2002; retrieved 26 Nov 2010.
  20. Elferink, Alex G. Oude. (1994). The Law of Maritime Boundary Delimitation: a Case Study of the Russian Federation, p. 314., p. 314, at Google Books
  21. Kim, Kwang-Tae. "After Exchange of Fire, N. Korea Threatens More Strikes on South," Time (US). 23 Nov 2010.
  22. Ryoo, OMB Form No. 0704-0188 (at PDF-p. 3).
  23. Ryoo, pp. 13-15 (at PDF-pp. 21-23).
  24. Kim, Kwang-Tae. "After Exchange of Fire, N. Korea Threatens More Strikes on South," Time (US). 23 Nov 2010; Williams, David and Peter Simpson. "Korea on the brink: South warns of retaliation after North's shellfire strike kills two marines," Daily Mail (UK). 24 Nov 2010; retrieved 26 Nov 2010.

References

Further reading

External links