Under UNCLOS, which zone is defined as territorial sea, spanning from 0 to 12 nautical miles from the baseline?

• A. Contiguous Zone
• B. Exclusive Economic Zone
• C. The continental shelf
• D. Territorial Sea (0–12 nautical miles)

Answer: (D)

Understanding maritime zones under UNCLOS helps explain how far a coastal state’s authority reaches from its coastline. The territorial sea is the belt from the baseline out to 12 nautical miles. In this zone, the state exercises sovereignty over the water column, the seabed and subsoil, and the air above, subject to the right of innocent passage by foreign vessels. Beyond that, the contiguous zone extends to 24 nautical miles, where the state can enforce laws related to customs, immigration, sanitation, and taxation to prevent violations within the territorial sea. The exclusive economic zone reaches out to 200 nautical miles, granting the state rights to explore and exploit natural resources while preserving freedom of navigation and overflight. The continental shelf concerns rights to resources on the seabed and subsoil of the continental margin, which can extend beyond 200 nautical miles in some cases. Therefore, the zone described as 0–12 nautical miles is the territorial sea.