Law on the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf (No. 74 of 1996)

Page 1 National legislation - DOALOS/OLA - United Nations asdf Law on the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf (Law No. 74 of 1996) The exclusive economic zone Article 1 1. There is hereby established the exclusive economic zone, as a zone in which Japan exercises its sovereign rights and other rights as a coastal State as prescribed in Part V of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (hereinafter referred to as "the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea") in accordance with the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. 2. The exclusive economic zone referred to in the preceding paragraph (hereinafter "the exclusive economic zone") comprises the areas of the sea extending from the baseline of Japan ("The baseline" here is as defined in article 2, paragraph 1, of the Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone (Law No. 30 of 1977). The same shall apply hereinafter) to the line every point of which is 200 nautical miles from the nearest point on the baseline of Japan (excluding therefrom the territorial sea) and its subjacent seabed and its subsoil. Provided that, where any part of that line lies beyond the median line ("The median line" here is the line every point of which is equidistant from the nearest point on the baseline of Japan and the nearest point on the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea pertaining to the foreign coast which is opposite the coast of Japan is measured. The same shall apply hereinafter) as measured from the baseline of Japan, the median line (or the line which may be agreed upon between Japan and a foreign country as a substitute for the median line) shall be substituted for that part of the line. The continental shelf Article 2 The continental shelf over which Japan exercises its sovereign rights and other rights as a coastal State in accordance with the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (hereinafter "the continental shelf") comprises the seabed and its subsoil subjacent to the following areas of the sea: (1) The areas of the sea extending from the baseline of Japan to the line every point of which is 200 nautical miles from the nearest point on the baseline of Japan (excluding therefrom the territorial sea). Provided that, where any part of that line lies beyond the median line as measured from the baseline of Japan, the median line (or the line which may be agreed upon between Japan and a foreign country as a substitute for the median line, and the line to be drawn to connect with the said line, which shall be prescribed by Cabinet Order) shall be substituted for that part of the line. (2) The areas of the sea adjacent seaward to the areas of the sea referred to in the preceding subparagraph (limited to the part of the sea delimited by the line every point of which is 200 nautical miles from the nearest point on the baseline of Japan), as prescribed by Cabinet Order in accordance with article 76 of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. Application of the laws and regulations of Japan Article 3 1. The laws and regulations of Japan (including penal provisions. The same shall apply hereinafter) shall apply with respect to the following matters: (1) Exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, the establishment, construction, Page 2 National legislation - DOALOS/OLA - United Nations asdf operation and use of artificial islands, installations and structures, the protection and preservation of the marine environment and marine scientific research in the exclusive economic zone or on the continental shelf; (2) The activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of the exclusive economic zone (excluding therefrom the matters prescribed in the preceding subparagraph); (3) Drilling on the continental shelf (excluding therefrom the matters prescribed in subparagraph (1)); (4) The execution of official duties by public officials of Japan in the areas of the sea relating to the exclusive economic zone or the continental shelf pertaining to the matters prescribed in the preceding three subparagraphs (including the execution of official duties in relation to hot pursuit from within those areas of the sea pertaining to the said execution of official duties undertaken in accordance with article 111 of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the conduct obstructing such execution. 2. Artificial islands, installations and structures referred to in subparagraph (1) of the preceding paragraph shall be considered to be located in the territory of Japan, with respect to which the laws and regulations of Japan shall apply in addition to the provision of the said paragraph. 3. With respect to the application of the laws and regulations of Japan pursuant to the preceding two paragraphs, matters necessary for the adjustment or coordination in the application of such laws and regulations may be prescribed by Cabinet Order, to the extent considered to be reasonably necessary, taking into account the fact that the areas of the sea to which such laws and regulations apply are outside the territory of Japan as well as other special circumstances in the said areas of the sea. Effect of treaties Article 4 Where a treaty provides otherwise for matters provided for in this law, the provisions of the treaty shall apply. Supplementary Provisions Date of enforcement Article 1 This law shall be enforced on the day when the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea enters into force for Japan. (This translation omits the provisions after article 1.)