EEZ Enforcement

EEZ enforcement is the coastal state’s policing of its sovereign rights over living and non-living resources in the exclusive economic zone, the belt out to 200 nautical miles from the baseline under UNCLOS Article 57. Article 56 grants the rights; Article 73 supplies the enforcement powers: the coastal state may board, inspect, arrest, and prosecute to ensure compliance with its fisheries and resource laws, must promptly release arrested vessels on reasonable bond, and may not impose imprisonment for fisheries violations absent agreement. Hot pursuit of an EEZ offender may continue onto the high seas under Article 111 if begun within the zone.