10 Countries With Largest Maritime Boundaries

A country’s maritime boundary draws the limits of its exclusive economic zones, territorial waters and other maritime zones. Their establishment is governed by UNCLOS or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

They are crucial for shipping as they define a country’s jurisdictional waters, enabling safe navigation by identifying where a ship can operate, where specific regulations are applicable, and where access might be limited, contributing to international maritime order and preventing conflicts that might arise from unclear boundaries.

Maritime boundaries are important regarding ships’ access to ports, fishing zones, use of marine resources like minerals, and exploration within a country’s exclusive economic zone or EEZ.

They are usually established at a specific distance from the country’s coastline, often defined by the equidistance principle, stating that a country’s boundary should be equidistant from the coastlines of its neighbours.

In this article, let us look at 10 countries with the largest maritime boundaries.

1. France

One of the countries with the most expansive maritime boundaries is France, given its overseas departments and territories across the world’s oceans which is why it has the largest Exclusive Economic Zone in the world.

French maritime spaces cover approximately 10.7 million square kilometres, representing the world’s second-largest maritime space after the U.S.

France is a coastal state which neighbours almost all oceans and its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) covers 11,691,000 km2 (4,514,000 sq mi), which is around 8% of the world’s exclusive economic zones while the nation’s land area represents only 0.45% of the world’s land area.

The country also claims some of Canada’s Exclusive Economic Zone at Saint Pierre and Miquelon, based on a new definition of the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone between the two nations.

2. United States

The U.S has the second biggest EEZ, including areas in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the 3 Oceans. It occupies around 4,383,000 sq mi, about 7.77% of the world’s total EEZ area.

The U.S covers a land area of approximately 3,800,000 sq mi, making it the third largest nation in the world.

Alaska makes up the United States’ biggest EEZ, followed by Hawaii. There are some disputes as well regarding maritime boundaries with neighbouring countries.

For instance, the U.S-Canada maritime boundary is partially disputed in regions like the Gulf of Maine and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

The Machias Sea Island is claimed by both the U.S and Canada, leading to a grey zone conflict in surrounding waters.

Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank are claimed by Colombia and also the U.S.

3. Australia

Australia’s EEZ spans up to 200 nautical miles from its coastline and its external territories, minus regions where it has a maritime delineation agreement with another country.

Australia has the third biggest EEZ in the world, covering around 3,283,922 square miles. It claimed an extra 965,255 square miles directly beyond its EEZ which was confirmed in 2008 by the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

The Australian mainland and Tasmania among minor islands have the most significant sea zone that covers around 2,335,408 sq mi.

Australia has many maritime boundary arrangements with Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, France and New Zealand. It has not entered into any delimitation arrangements with other nations in relation to maritime areas near the Australian Antarctic Territory.

4. Russia

Moscow has extensive maritime boundaries, thanks to its vast coastline that spans over 37,000 kilometres along the Arctic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, as well as the Baltic and the Black Seas.

Russia has the 4th largest EEZ of 7,566,673 km2, within which it manages fish stocks and marine biodiv…

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