The Law of the Sea Convention caps the territorial sea at 12 nautical miles and gives coastal States a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone
Background
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was opened for signature on 10 December 1982 at Montego Bay, Jamaica, after more than 14 years of work involving more than 150 countries.
It entered into force in accordance with its article 308 on 16 November 1994, twelve months after the sixtieth instrument of ratification or accession was deposited.
The Convention comprises 320 articles and nine annexes covering delimitation, environmental control, marine scientific research, economic activities, transfer of technology and dispute settlement.
A coastal State may establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not to exceed 12 nautical miles, and foreign vessels enjoy innocent passage through those waters.
Coastal States have sovereign rights in a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone over natural resources and certain economic activities, while all other States keep freedom of navigation and overflight there.
Disputes may go to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, to the International Court of Justice or to arbitration, and the Tribunal has exclusive jurisdiction over deep seabed mining disputes.
In plain words
EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone — A 200-nautical mile belt where the coastal State has sovereign rights over natural resources.
Innocent passage Right of innocent passage — Foreign vessels may pass through a coastal State's territorial sea without threatening its peace or security.
ITLOS International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea — The court set up by the Convention; it alone can hear deep seabed mining disputes.