High Seas
Ocean areas beyond National jurisdiction
The provisions of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea consider, under High Seas "all parts of the sea that are not included in the exclusive economic zone, in the territorial sea or in the internal waters of a State, or in the archipelagic waters of an archipelagic State".
Freedom of the high seas
The high seas are open to all States, whether coastal or land-locked. Freedom of the high seas is exercised under the conditions laid down by this Convention and by other rules of international law. It comprises, inter alia, both for coastal and land-locked States:
- (a) freedom of navigation;
- (b) freedom of overflight;
- (c) conditional freedom to lay submarine cables and pipelines;
- (d) conditional freedom to construct artificial islands and other installations permitted under international law;
- (e) conditional freedom of fishing; and
- (f) conditional freedom of scientific research