ELZ Meaning and
Definition
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ELZ is an abbreviation that stands for "Exclusive Economic Zone." It refers to an area of coastal waters and maritime territory extending up to 200 nautical miles from a country's shoreline. The ELZ is recognized under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and grants the coastal state sovereign rights over the exploration and exploitation of natural resources in both the water column and the seabed.
The primary purpose of establishing an ELZ is to provide each coastal state with control and jurisdiction over the resources within this zone, which includes fish, oil, gas, minerals, and other valuable marine resources. While the coastal state has exclusive rights within its ELZ, it also carries the responsibility of conserving and managing these resources sustainably for the benefit of its citizens.
The ELZ differs from a country's territorial waters, which extend only up to 12 nautical miles, as it allows for broader economic rights. However, it does not grant complete sovereignty over the zone, as navigation and other internationally recognized freedoms, such as overflight and laying of submarine cables, continue to apply.
The establishment and delimitation of ELZs can sometimes lead to disputes between neighboring countries, requiring negotiation and international legal mechanisms to find mutually acceptable resolutions. Such conflicts often arise due to overlapping claims, competing economic interests, or differing interpretations of maritime boundaries.
Common Misspellings for ELZ
- 4elz
- e4lz
- 3elz
- e3lz
- eolz
- el z
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