Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Economic and Fishery Zones Act, 1981 (Cap. 1:11)

LAWS OF DOMINICA TERRITORIAL SEA, CONTIGUOUS ZONE, EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC AND FISHERY ZONES ACT CHAPTER 1:11 Act 26ofl981 Current Authorised Pages Pages Authorised (inclusive) byLR.a. 1-6 111991 2 Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Chap. 1:11 Economic and Fishery Zones Note on Subsidiary Legislation This Chapter contains no Subsidiary Legislation. LAWS OF DOMINICA Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone. Exclusive Economic and Fishery Zones Chap. 1:11 CHAPTER 1:11 TERRITORIAL SEA, CONTIGUOUS ZONE, EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC AND FISHERY ZONES ACT ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS SECTION 1. Short title. 2. Interpretation. 3. Establishment of the territorial sea. 4. Establishment of the contiguous wne. 5. Establishment of exclusive economic zone. 6. Establishment of fishery zone. 7. Jurisdiction in territorial sea. 8. Jurisdiction in exclusive economic zone. 9. Jurisdiction in fishery zone. 10. Recognition of innocent passage. Acknowledgement of international activities in the exclusive economic zone. 11. Intention to negotiate maritime boundaries, 12. Future legislation. 3 4 26 of 1981. Commencement. Shorttitle. Interpretation. LAWS OF DOMINICA Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Chap. 1:11 Economic and Fishery Zones CHAPTER 1:11 TERRITORIAL SEA, CONTIGUOUS ZONE, EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC AND FISHERY ZONES ACT AN ACT to establish the limitsof the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic and fishery zones of the Com monwealth of Dominica. [10th September 1981] 1. This Act may be cited as the 1ERRITORIAL SEA, CONTIGUOUS ZONE, EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC AND FISHERY ZONES ACT. 2. In this Act "baseline" means the line from which the breadth of the territorial sea is drawn as determined in accordance with the straight base line system; "contiguous zone" means that area of sea contiguous to the territorial sea over which Dominica may exercise sovereign rights neces sary to prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary regulations within its territory or territorial sea; "exclusive economic zone" means an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea, over which Dominica may exercise sovereign rights andjurisdiction, subject to the provisions ofinternational law; "fishery zone" means the areas of superjacent waters which extend to a distance oftwo hundred nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is drawn; "innocent passage" means passage of a ship or aircraft which is not prejudicial to the peace, good order and security ofDominica; "internal waters" means the areas of waters lying on the landward side of the baseline; "passage" means navigation through the territorial sea and the airspace th",rpnf £nr nllt'1'V'\c,,"'" n1Vl";,-I,,,r1,n ;nt""t"I"'t'l~nn.. l 1.uuo LAWS OF DOMINICA Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Economic andFishery Zones Ch 1 11ap. : "territorial sea" means that area of sea over which Dominica exercises sovereignty. 5 3. The territorial sea of Dominica comprises those areas of sea Establishmento! having as their inner limits, the baseline defined and as their outer the territorial sea. limits, a line measured seaward from the baseline, every point of which line extends to a distance of twelve nautical miles from the nearest point of the baseline. 4. The contiguous zone of Dominica comprises that area of sea Establishmento! which is contiguous to its territorial sea and shall extend twenty-four ::.ntIgoous nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. S. The exclusive economic zone of Dominica comprises those Establishment of areas of the sea, sea-bed and sub-soil that are beyond and adjacent to =~::i~zone. the territorial sea of Dominica, having as their outer limits a line measured seaward from the aforesaid baseline, every point of which line is distant two hundred nautical miles from the nearest point of the aforesaid baseline. 6. The fishery zone of Dominica comprises that area of sea that Bstablishmentof is beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea of Dominica and having fishery zone. as its seaward boundary a line so drawn that each point upon it is distant two hundred nautical miles from the nearest point of the base line from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. 7. In the territorial sea and internal waters Dominica shall exer- Jurisdictionin cise sovereignty and such sovereignty shall extend to the sea-bed and teIritoriai sea. sub-soil thereof and to the airspace over such sea. 8. In the exclusive economic zone Dominica shall exercise - Jurisdictionin exclusiveeco (a) sovereign rights for the purpose of exploration, exploita- nomiczone. tion, conservation and management of the natural re sources, both living and non-living, of the sea-bed, subsoil and superjacent waters and other sovereign rights with regard to producing energy from tides, winds and cur rents therein; 6 Jurisdietionin fishery zone. Recognition of innocentpassage. Acknowledge mentor internalional activities in the exclusive economic zone. Intention to negotiate maritime boundaries. Futurelegisia lion. LAWS OF DOMINICA Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Chap. 1:11 Economic and Fishery Zones (i) the establishment anduse of artificial islands, installa tions andstructures; (ii) marine scientific research; and (iii) the protection andpreservation of the marine environ ment; (c) otherrights anddutiesprovided for in international law. 9. In thefishery zone Dominica shallexercise thesovereign right and exclusive authority to explore and exploit, conserve and manage the fishery resources of thesuperjacent waters, theseabedandsubsoil therein,in accordance with international law. 10. (I) Dominica recognises the right of innocent passage of foreign ships and warships in the territorial sea and the overflight of aircraftin the airspace thereofsubjectto the principles and provisions of international law. (2) Dominica shall recognise the freedoms of navigation and overflightofaircraftandofthelayingofsubmarine cablesandpipelines and other related activities in the exclusive economic zone in accor dance with the principles andprovisions of international law. 11. Where the boundary lines of the territorial sea and of the exclusive economic zone of Dominica posesofdelimitations withthe territories andStatesadjacent or opposite, the Government of Domin ica shall be ready, able and willing, at appropriate times, to enterinto negotiations on equitable principles with the Statesconcerned with a view to reaching amicable agreements. 12. The Government of Dominica will pass further legislation in respect of the foregoing provisions and matters related thereto from time to time as it thinks expedient.