​KembaraXtra – Legal Terms – Law of the Sea


The law of the sea is a branch of international law governing the rights and responsibilities of states in relation to the world’s oceans. It regulates issues such as navigation, resource exploitation, territorial claims, and environmental protection.


The seas are divided into distinct zones, including internal waters, territorial seas, and the high seas. Internal waters are fully under state control, while the high seas are open to all nations for activities like navigation and fishing. A major framework governing this area is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which established a comprehensive legal regime and introduced concepts such as exclusive economic zones and continental shelf rights. Many of its rules are now part of customary international law.