France–Mauritius Delimitation Convention
Encyclopedia
The France–Seychelles Delimitation Convention is a 1980 treaty
between the France
and Mauritius
which delimits
the maritime boundary
between Mauritius
and the French island of Réunion
.
The treaty was signed in Paris
on 2 April 1980. The boundary
set out by the text of the treaty is 364.8 nautical miles long and trends northeast–southwest. The boundary consists of six straight-line maritime
segments defined by seven individual coordinate points. The boundary is an approximate equidistant line between the two territories. The northwest endpoint of the border stops at the exact midway point between Mauritius, Réunion, and Tromelin Island
. (The end point is 153 nautical miles (283.4 km) from each of the islands.) Tomelin Island is claimed by both France and Mauritius, so the boundary was deliberately terminated to allow for future resolution of the dispute.
The convention came into force immediately upon signature. The full name of the treaty is Convention between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of Mauritius on the delimitation of the French and Mauritian economic zones between the islands of Réunion and Mauritius.
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
between the France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
which delimits
Boundary delimitation
Boundary delimitation, or simply delimitation, is the term used to describe the drawing of boundaries, but is most often used to describe the drawing of electoral boundaries, specifically those of precincts, states, counties or other municipalities...
the maritime boundary
Maritime boundary
Maritime boundary is a conceptual means of division of the water surface of the planet into maritime areas that are defined through surrounding physical geography or by human geography. As such it usually includes areas of exclusive national rights over the mineral and biological resources,...
between Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
and the French island of Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
.
The treaty was signed in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on 2 April 1980. The boundary
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
set out by the text of the treaty is 364.8 nautical miles long and trends northeast–southwest. The boundary consists of six straight-line maritime
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
segments defined by seven individual coordinate points. The boundary is an approximate equidistant line between the two territories. The northwest endpoint of the border stops at the exact midway point between Mauritius, Réunion, and Tromelin Island
Tromelin Island
Tromelin Island is a low, flat 0.8-square-kilometre island in the Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar . There are no harbours or anchorages and access by sea is difficult. The island has a 1,200-metre airstrip. It is a French territory...
. (The end point is 153 nautical miles (283.4 km) from each of the islands.) Tomelin Island is claimed by both France and Mauritius, so the boundary was deliberately terminated to allow for future resolution of the dispute.
The convention came into force immediately upon signature. The full name of the treaty is Convention between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of Mauritius on the delimitation of the French and Mauritian economic zones between the islands of Réunion and Mauritius.