What is an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and what rights does it confer?

• A. A zone within which all states have equal fishing rights.
• B. A zone where the coastal state has complete sovereignty over all air and sea beyond Territorial Sea.
• C. A zone extending up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline in which the coastal state has exclusive rights to exploration and exploitation of natural resources.
• D. A zone where the coastal state can impose tariffs on foreign vessels.

Answer: (C)

An Exclusive Economic Zone is a maritime zone defined by international law that stretches up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state's baseline. In this zone, the coastal state has exclusive rights to explore, exploit, conserve, and manage natural resources in the water column, on the seabed, and in the subsoil, as well as to authorize and regulate activities like mining or energy development. The coastal state also has jurisdiction over related economic activities and environmental protection measures.

This does not grant full sovereignty over the air or sea beyond the territorial limit, and it preserves freedom of navigation and overflight for other states, as well as the right to lay pipelines and cables subject to resource safeguards. The essence is that the EEZ gives exclusive rights to resource-related economic activities, not blanket sovereignty over everything within 200 miles.

So, the correct understanding is that the EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline, with exclusive rights to exploration and exploitation of natural resources.