Paolo Gabriel D.

Jamer

I. Territorial Sea

It is a belt of sea outwards from the baseline and up to 12 nautical miles

beyond.1 Furthermore, baseline is the low-water line along the coast as
marked on large scale charts officially recognized by the coastal state. 2 The
sovereignty of the coastal state is just the same as the sovereignty over its
land territory but the sea is subject to right of innocent passage by other
states. The right of innocent passage applies to ships and aircraft. This
passage is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal
state.3

II. Internal Waters

It refers to all waters landwards from the baseline of the territory and
the sovereignty over these waters is the same in extent as sovereignty over
land and it is not subject to the right of innocent passage.

III.  Archipelagic waters

The Philippines is to be considered as an archipelagic state and there

is a provision found in the Convention on the Law of the Sea that also gave
rise to a problem pertinent to the 1973 Constitution wherein a ratification
takes place immediately for its resolution.

IV. Bays
The waters of a bay are considered internal waters of a coastal state
and the rule on bays is provided in Article 10 of the1982 Law of the Sea.4

V. Contiguous Zone

It is an area of water not exceeding 24 nautical miles from the

baseline. Also, the coastal state exercises authority over that area to the
extent necessary to prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration
or sanitation authority over its territorial waters or territory to punish such
infringement.5

VI. Exclusive Economic Zone

It is an area extending not more than 200 nautical miles beyond

the baseline. Moreover, the coastal states have the rights to and imposition
of obligations pertinent to exploitation, management and preservation of the
resources found within the zone.6

VII. Continental Shelf

It refers to the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas adjacent to

the coastal state but outside the territorial sea, to a depth of two hundred
meters or, beyond that limit, to where the depth allows exploitation and the
seabed and subsoil of areas adjacent to islands.7 1
1
Bernas. (2009). Introduction to Public International Law. Rex Printing Company, Inc.
2
Ibid
2

VIII. Islands and the High Seas

Islands is a naturally formed area of land, surrounded by water, which

is above water or high tide. On the other hand, high seas, as defined in the
Geneva Convention, are all parts of the sea that are not included in the
territorial sea or in the internal waters of a State.8

3
Ibid
24
Ibid
5
Ibid
6
Ibid
7
Ibid
8
Ibid