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U.S. Marine Cadastre - Maritime
Zones
International Maritime Boundaries Baseline Territorial Sea
Exclusive Economic Zone Continental Shelf Limit U.S.
Contiguous Zone
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Description: The U.S. continental shelf and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) claims cover
approximately three million square miles of ocean space. Overlapping boundaries
with other nations exist in 25 situations. International maritime boundaries
are those agreed upon by one or more countries to resolve these overlapping
claim issues. |
Primary Agency: Minerals Management Service (MMS) & National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office
of the Coast Survey. |
Spatial Extent: Dependent on boundary. |
Description: The following notices have been published that
define U.S. maritime boundaries and fishery conservation zones: Public
Notice 506, Federal Register, Vol. 41, No. 214, November 4,
1976, 48619-20; Public Notice 526, Federal Register, Vol. 42,
No. 44, March 7, 1977, 12937-40; Public Notice 544, Federal Register,
Vol. 42, No. 92, May 12, 1977, 24134; Public Notice 4710-01, Federal
Register, Vol. 43, No. 7, January 11, 1978, 1658; Public Notice
585, Federal Register, Vol. 43, No. 7, January 11, 1978, 1659;
Public Notice 910, Federal Register, Vol. 49, No. 155, August
9, 1984, 31973. (Department of Defense (DOD) document 2005.1-M). |
Official Depiction: NOAA nautical charts. |
Known Digital Data Source: NOAA Office of Coast Survey, accessible
on-line at http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov/csdl/eez.htm |
Original Metadata: None currently available on-line |
Notes: Sometimes the U.S. recognizes a maritime boundary that is
not recognized by a neighboring country (e.g., Cuba). Negotiations often carry
on for many years before a bilateral treaty is signed (e.g., U.S./Canada
Boundary in the Gulf of Maine). |
Issues: There appears to be a difference between the NOAA U.S.
exclusive economic zone coverage and the MMS coverage. There are several places
where the difference between these two coverages is approximately .001 decimal degrees
(about 400 meters). The maritime boundary points of the EEZ are published in the
Federal Register to the nearest second (.00027 decimal degrees), although, this does
not imply precision (Loy 1999). Several references to ambulatory points are
made (e.g., "the international maritime boundary in the Gulf of Mexico
shall begin at the center of the mouth of the Rio Grande, wherever it may be
located"). |
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Description: The line from which maritime zones are measured. The normal
baseline for measuring the territorial sea (TS), contiguous zone (CZ),
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf is the low-water
line along the coast. |
Primary Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey. |
Spatial Extent: Average of lower low tides (i.e., ordinary low
water), or closing lines (i.e., bays and rivers), as depicted on the largest
scale NOAA nautical chart for a region. |
Relevant References: Presidential Proclamation No. 5928.
3 C.F.R. Sect. 547 (1989). The 1958 Convention on the Territorial
Sea and the Contiguous Zone arts. 3-13; the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention
(LOSC) arts. 5-11, 13-14. The U.S. is not a party to the LOSC but
recognizes it as reflecting customary international law, as provided
in Presidential Proclamation 5030. |
Official Depiction: Baseline "marked large-scale charts
officially recognized by the coastal States" (LOSC art. 5). "State"
refers to nation-state or sovereign state and, in the U.S., official
charts are NOAA nautical charts. |
Known Digital Data Source: None available for web site at this time.
The data is currently under official review and will be released at
a future date. |
Notes: [Actual] Baselines are ambulatory and subject to changes as
the shoreline accretes and erodes. The normal baseline from which
the maritime zones are charted may be synonymous with the coastline
under the Submerged Lands Act (SLA). See specific laws and notices
the application of various laws that use baselines and boundaries. |
Issues: See M. Reed, Vol. 3 Shore and Sea Boundaries; and A. Shalowitz
Vols. 1&2 Shore and Sea Boundaries. |
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Description: The U.S. asserts sovereignty over its lands,
airspace, seabed and water from the baseline to the 12-nautical-mile
territorial sea boundary (also termed the marginal sea). Prior to
the Presidential Proclamation, the territorial sea designation was
3 nautical miles and was coextensive with boundaries for states under
the Submerged Lands Act (SLA). |
Primary Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey. |
Spatial extent: 12 nautical miles from the baseline. |
Description: : Presidential Proclamation of December 27,
1988, No. 5928 (3 C.F.R. 547 (1989)), consistent with international
law as described in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS). Part II, art. 2. |
Official Depiction: NOAA nautical charts (Loy 1999). 33 U.S.C
883a-i. |
Known Digital Data Source: : Known Digital Data Source: Available on-line at nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/csdl/mbound.htm |
Original Metadata (unofficial, SE Atlantic): Available on-line
at www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/csdl/mbound.htm. |
Notes: This boundary, like the baseline from which it is measured,
may be ambulatory. Although the official chart may provide a presumption
on that line's location, that does not preclude the submission of
extrinsic evidence to prove the actual line defined through methods
employed by the official charting agency, NOAA. |
Issues: Offshore boundary lines are measured along an arc
over the earth's ellipsoidal surface (chord length); therefore, arc
distance varies with latitude and azimuth corresponding to variations
in the radius of the earth's surface. As a result, the arc length
must be computed (in three-dimensional space) separately for each
stretch of coastline, even though the projection distance remains
unchanged (Ball 1997). Many boundaries have been created using a buffer
function in a geographic information system. This process does not
take into account chord length or distortion due to projection and
often may result in an inaccurate representation of the "envelope
of arcs." Accordingly, the GIS boundary data may not accurately
reflect the official or actual boundary. |
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Description: The zone or area beyond and adjacent to the territorial
sea. In this area, the U.S., like other coastal nations, has sovereign
rights and exclusive jurisdiction to protect and manage its natural
resources, including any economic development. The seaward limit of
the EEZ is generally 200 nautical miles from the baseline. The U.S.
does not have sovereignty in the EEZ as it does in its territory.
Foreign vessels and nationals maintain the high seas freedoms or rights
of navigation and overflight in the EEZ, as well as the right to lay
and maintain submarine cables and pipelines. However, such rights
are still subject to regulation by the U.S. in accordance with international
law, including UNCLOS. |
Primary Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey. |
Spatial extent: The EEZ is the maritime zone adjacent to
the territorial sea and generally extends out to 200 nautical miles
from the baseline, unless it would extend into or overlap with a 200
EEZ of an opposite or adjacent nation. In such cases, the states should
achieve an equitable solution through an agreement on the delimitation
of their respective EEZs. The 200 nm outer boundary line, like the
baseline from which it is measured, is ambulatory. |
Description: Presidential Proclamation 5030, March 10, 1983
(3 C.F.R. 22); the
Magnuson Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1802 (11) (definition of EEZ); 60 F.R.
43825 (Aug. 23, 1995)(public notice of the limits of the U.S. EEZ
- supercedes all previous public notices of any fishery conservation
zone or EEZ)
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Official Depiction: NOAA nautical charts. |
Known Digital Data Source: Information about these data are
available on-line from NOAA's Office of Coast Survey at http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov/csdl/eez.htm |
Original Metadata: None currently available on-line |
Notes: Data and documentation inconsistencies exist. |
Issues: Offshore boundary lines are measured along an arc
over the earth's ellipsoidal surface (chord length); therefore, arc
distance varies with latitude and azimuth corresponding to variations
in the radius of the earth's surface. As a result, the arc length
must be computed (in three-dimensional space) separately for each
stretch of coastline, even though the projection distance remains
unchanged (Ball 1997). Many boundaries have been created using a buffer
function in a geographic information system. This process does not
take into account chord length or distortion due to projection and
often may result in an inaccurate representation of the "envelope
of arcs." Accordingly, the GIS boundary data may not accurately
reflect the official or actual boundary. |
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Description: Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides a definition and a detailed formula for
determining the limit of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical
miles. Consistent with Article 76 of UNCLOS and the 1958 Convention
on the Continental Shelf, the U.S. continental shelf is comprised
of the sea-bed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond
its territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land
territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, including that
portion beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline. Under international
law, the continental shelf is defined to include the sea-bed and subsoil
beyond the continental margin out to a distance of 200 nautical miles
from the baseline. The U.S. has sovereign rights and exclusive jurisdiction
over the exploration and exploitation of the continental shelf. |
Primary Agency: Minerals Management Service, as requested by the
Department of State, Memorandum of Understanding dated October 5, 1994. |
Spatial extent: 100 fathom isobath as outer limit (Presidential
Proclamation, No. 2667, 1945). This limit shall not exceed either 350 nautical
miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is
measured or 100 nautical miles from the 2,500 meter isobath (Thormahlen
1999a). |
Description: 1958 Convention on the Continental Shelf, UNCLOS,
Art. 76; Presidential
Proclamation No. 2667, 1945, 3 CFR 67; Outer Continental Shelf Lands
Act of 1953, 43 USCS 1331 (a) (2001) Definition: The term "outer
Continental Shelf" means all submerged lands lying
seaward and outside of the area of lands beneath navigable waters
as defined in section 2 of the Submerged Lands Act (Public Law 31,
Eighty-third Congress, first session) 43 USCS @ 1301] , and of which
the subsoil and seabed appertain to the United States and are subject
to its jurisdiction and control)
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Official Depiction: Delimitation not charted yet. |
Known Digital Data Source: A nonofficial boundary, produced
by the Florida Marine Research Institute, is available on-line at
http://www.floridamarine.org/ |
Original Metadata: The nonofficial metadata records for SE Atlantic region
are available on-line at www.floridamarine.org/ |
Notes: 100 fathom isobath was outer limit (Presidential Proclamation,
No. 2667, 1945). Under Article 1 of the 1958 Convention on the Continental
Shelf, the outer limit of the continental shelf is subject to change
in light of technological advances. It defines the outer limit as
extending "to a depth of 200 meters or, beyond that limit, to
where the depth of the superjacent waters admits of the exploitation
of the natural resources of the said areas." Under Article 76
of UNCLOS, the limit of the continental shelf shall not exceed either
350 nautical miles from the baseline or 100 nautical miles from the
2,500 meter isobath (Thormahlen1999a). |
Issues: No vertical datum or quantitative description is
specified. |
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U.S.
Contiguous Zone |
Description: The U.S. contiguous zone is a belt of sea, adjacent to
the territorial sea, over which the U.S. exercises the control necessary
to prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration, or sanitary
laws. The U.S. may also prescribe and enforce laws against foreign
flagged vessels and nationals to protect the underwater cultural heritage
(UCH) to the outer boundary of that zone consistent with international
law, including Article 303 of UNCLOS. Within the contiguous zone,
ships and aircraft of foreign countries maintain the high seas rights
of navigation and overflight consistent with international law. From
1988 to 1999, the U.S. contiguous zone was co-terminus with the U.S.
12 nm territorial sea. |
Primary Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of the Coast Survey. |
Spatial extent: 12 to 24-nautical-miles from the baseline. |
Description: : Presidential Proclamation No. 7219 of September
2, 1999, [64 F.R. 48,701 get CFR cite] in accordance with international
law, including UNCLOS, art. 33. |
Official Depiction: None at this time. In the future, the
contiguous zone may appear on NOAA nautical charts. |
Known Digital Data Source: Nonofficial southeast boundary, produced
by NOAA's Coastal Services Center, is available on-line at
nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/csdl/mbound.htm |
Original Metadata: None. |
Notes: Boundary, like the baseline from which it is measured from,
may be ambulatory. |
Issues: Offshore boundary lines are measured along an arc
over the earth's ellipsoidal surface (chord length); therefore, arc
distance varies with latitude and azimuth corresponding to variations
in the radius of the earth's surface. As a result, the arc length
must be computed (in three-dimensional space) separately for each
stretch of coastline, even though the projection distance remains
unchanged (Ball 1997). Many boundaries have been created using a buffer
function in a geographic information system. This process does not
take into account chord length or distortion due to projection and
often may result in an inaccurate representation of the "envelope
of arcs." Accordingly, the GIS boundary data may not accurately
reflect the official or actual boundary. |
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