Australian Antarctic territorial waters
Encyclopedia
Australian Antarctic territorial waters are international waters adjacent to the part of Antarctica claimed by Australia
as the Australian Antarctic Territory
. Australian Antarctic territorial waters extend 200 nautical miles out to sea from the Australian Antarctic territory.
Australia claims the territorial waters are within the Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ) of the Australian Antarctic territory. Because Australia's Antarctic claim is contested, many states protested the Australian proclamation of an Antarctic EEZ. Some argued it was an "extension" of Australia's claim prohibited by Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty. The provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) define the exclusive economic zone of a coastal state as not exceeding 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) from the baseline from which the territorial sea is measured.
in Australian Antarctic territorial waters is controversial and has received international attention. Anti-whaling protest goups have been active within the Australian Antarctic territorial waters. In particular, Sea Shepherd
boating crews have had multiple encounters
with Japanese
ships that claim to be on research expeditions while opponents argue this is only a "cover" for banned commercial whaling. The Australian Whale Sanctuary
, in Australian Antarctic territory, is not recognised by the government of Japan
. Anti-whaling legislation passed by the Australian Government applies to Australian territorial waters, however Australia's claims of sovereignty over the Australian Antarctic Territory—and thus sovereignty over Australian Antarctic territorial waters—are recognised by only four countries, not including Japan.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as the Australian Antarctic Territory
Australian Antarctic Territory
The Australian Antarctic Territory is a part of Antarctica. It was claimed by the United Kingdom and placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1933. It is the largest territory of Antarctica claimed by any nation...
. Australian Antarctic territorial waters extend 200 nautical miles out to sea from the Australian Antarctic territory.
Australia claims the territorial waters are within the Exclusive Economic Zone
Exclusive Economic Zone
Under the law of the sea, an exclusive economic zone is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources, including production of energy from water and wind. It stretches from the seaward edge of the state's territorial sea out to 200 nautical...
(EEZ) of the Australian Antarctic territory. Because Australia's Antarctic claim is contested, many states protested the Australian proclamation of an Antarctic EEZ. Some argued it was an "extension" of Australia's claim prohibited by Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty. The provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty, is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea , which took place from 1973 through 1982...
(UNCLOS) define the exclusive economic zone of a coastal state as not exceeding 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) from the baseline from which the territorial sea is measured.
Whaling
WhalingWhaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
in Australian Antarctic territorial waters is controversial and has received international attention. Anti-whaling protest goups have been active within the Australian Antarctic territorial waters. In particular, Sea Shepherd
Sea Shepherd
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is a non-profit, marine conservation organization based in Friday Harbor, Washington in the United States. The group uses direct action tactics to protect sealife...
boating crews have had multiple encounters
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society operations
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society engages in various demonstrations, campaigns, and tactical operations at sea and elsewhere, including conventional protests and direct actions to protect marine wildlife. Sea Shepherd operations have included interdiction against commercial fishing, shark...
with Japanese
Whaling in Japan
Whaling in Japan may have begun as early as the 12th century. During the 20th century, Japan was heavily involved in commercial whaling until the International Whaling Commission moratorium on commercial whaling went into effect in 1986...
ships that claim to be on research expeditions while opponents argue this is only a "cover" for banned commercial whaling. The Australian Whale Sanctuary
Australian Whale Sanctuary
The Australian Whale Sanctuary was established in 1999 to protect dolphins and whales from hunting. The non-contiguous zone includes the Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone , which is the area surrounding the continent of Australia and its external dependencies such as Christmas Island , Cocos ...
, in Australian Antarctic territory, is not recognised by the government of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Anti-whaling legislation passed by the Australian Government applies to Australian territorial waters, however Australia's claims of sovereignty over the Australian Antarctic Territory—and thus sovereignty over Australian Antarctic territorial waters—are recognised by only four countries, not including Japan.