HAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF EEZ ACHIEVED ITS AIMS?

Abstract

The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) concept is the prime and important invention of the Third United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III) in 1982. It was designed to secure coastal state control over the resources within the area with a view to solve the conflicting claims of territorial sea, to ensure fair share of the resources and ultimately to use and manage the ocean resources in a sustainable manner. The concept is a reflection of developing states’ aspiration, but in reality the main beneficiaries are the rich and developed states. The biggest losers of all are the land-locked and geographically disadvantaged states, which either cannot have an EEZ or their claims, are of little economic significance, considering the width of their EEZs or the resources therein. Still there are many unresolved issues and problems concerning the EEZ regime such as overlapping claims, conflicting use of navigation and fishing, unattributed rights, access to surplus stocks, over-fishing and marine pollution. The rules of the EEZ have not yet fully implemented by all parties. Therefore, it cannot be considered a finished treatment of controlling this important area and it should be supplemented by other agreements and regional co-operations like UN Fish Stock Agreement and International Maritime Organization (IMO)