Exclusive economic zone of India
India has the 18th-largest exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with a total size of 2,305,143 km2 (890,021 sq mi).[1] It includes the Lakshadweep island group in the Laccadive Sea off the southwestern coast of India[2] and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.[3] India's EEZ is bordered to the west by Pakistan, to the south by the Maldives and Sri Lanka and to the east by Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Based on new scientific data, India has petitioned United Nations to extend its EEZ from 200 Nautical miles to 500 miles.[4]
Legal framework
India legally defined the concept of EEZ in the "Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976". In June 1997, India also ratified UNCLOS. India also enacted the "Maritime Zones of India (Regulation of fishing by foreign vessels) Act, 1981" prohibiting fishing by foreign vessel within Indian EEZ without a license. Additionally, India has also enacted laws regulation the fishing and fisheries by Indian fishing vessels operating in the EEZ.[5]
Importance of EEZ
An EEZ provides a nation greater access to oil, natural gas, minerals, commercial fishing and other marine resources, freedom of navigation, international trade, national security, and strategic leverage over other nations.[4][5] With 7,500 km coastline and an EEZ of over 2.3 million km2, India has exclusive control over the resources in its EEZ including navigation of seafaring trade and transport vessels in this area.[5] As per 2014 study, India exploits only 3.2 million tonnes per year marine fishery resources out of potential 3.92 million tonne in its coastal areas.[5]
Piracy, poaching or
The
India's existing EEZ area
EEZ | Area (km2 / mi2) |
---|---|
Mainland India and Lakshadweep | 1,641,514 square kilometres (633,792 sq mi) |
Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 663,629 square kilometres (256,229 sq mi) |
Total | 2,305,143 square kilometres (890,021 sq mi) |
India's increased EEZ claim area
In 2010, based on the new 6,000 pages sedimentary and scientific evidence, India petitioned United Nations for increasing Indian EEZ from 200 nautical miles to 350 nautical miles. Extension of EEZ from 200 to 350 nautical mile will almost double India's present EEZ. UNCLOS permits extension of EEZ beyond the usual 200 nautical miles limit, to a maximum of 350 nautical miles, if the evidence shows that
Neighbouring EEZs
Neighbouring EEZ of other nations from west to east are:
EEZ | Dispute (Y/N) | Distance | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Pakistan
|
Yes | Contiguous | Sir Creek dispute |
Sri Lanka | No | Contiguous | Resolved under Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreement (Katchatheevu Island). |
Maldives | No | Contiguous | Resolved under India–Maldives maritime treaty (Minicoy Island). |
Bangladesh | No | Contiguous | Resolved through India–Bangladesh maritime arbitration. |
Myanmar | No | India's Landfall Island is 40 km from Myanmar's Coco Islands | India is developing Myanmar's strategic India–Myanmar maritime boundary .
|
Indonesia | No | India's southernmost territory Indira Point is 135 km north of Indonesia's northernmost territory Rondo Island.[8][9] | India is developing Indonesia's Sabang deepsea port under strategic economic and military partnership.[10]
|
Thailand | No | India's Phuket Province .
|
Thailand has treaty-defined maritime boundaries with India, Myanmar, Indonesia and Malaysia. |
Malaysia | No | India's Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Island is 630 km from Malaysia's nearest island Langkawi. |
See also
- Climate of India
- Borders of India
- Disputed territories of India
- Extreme points of India
- Geography of India
- Outline of India
References
- ^ "Sea Around Us – Fisheries, Ecosystems and Biodiversity". Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ^ "Lakshadweep". encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- The Tribune. Archivedfrom the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- ^ a b Sunderarajan, P. (12 June 2011). "India hopes to double its EEZ". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f The Exclusive Economic Zone of the Seas around India, 24 January 2018.
- ^ Purushothaman, Vakkom. "Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project to link sea route in Myanmar with Mizoram". The Northeast Times. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ^ India starts construction of ₹1,600-cr Mizoram-Myanmar Kaladan road , Business Line, 17 April 2018.
- ^ James Horsburgh, 1852, The India Directory, Or, Directions for Sailing to and from the East Indies, Page 63.
- ^ "Rondo Island, The Rich Uninhabited Island". Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
- ^ Eyeing Southeast Asia, India builds port in Indonesia, Economic Times, 20 March 2019.