What is an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)?

An Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a sea zone over which a state has special rights regarding exploration and use of marine resources.

The concept of an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a principle in international law that grants a state special rights to explore and exploit the marine resources, both living and non-living, within a zone that extends 200 nautical miles from its coast. This principle is enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which came into force in 1994.

The EEZ includes the seabed and subsoil beneath, as well as the water column above, within which the state has the right to explore and exploit, conserve and manage both the living resources, like fish, and non-living resources, such as oil and gas. However, it's important to note that the state's rights over the resources are not absolute. They are subject to certain conditions and obligations, such as the duty to protect and preserve the marine environment and to allow other states to exercise their freedom of navigation and overflight.

In the context of chemistry, the EEZ is particularly relevant for the extraction of marine resources. For example, the seabed within the EEZ may contain valuable minerals and hydrocarbons. The extraction of these resources often involves complex chemical processes. Furthermore, the management and conservation of living resources within the EEZ, such as fish stocks, also has a chemical aspect. For instance, understanding the chemical composition of the marine environment, including levels of pollutants, is crucial for the sustainable management of these resources.

In conclusion, the EEZ is a concept in international law that gives a state special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources within a certain sea zone. It has significant implications for the extraction and management of marine resources, and therefore is of particular relevance to the field of chemistry.