How Exclusive is the Exclusive Economic Zone: A Balance of fishing rights between coastal States and landlocked States in Africa through RECs
Date
2020-11
Authors
Kihara, Caroline Wairimu
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
Living resources within the fisheries zones are of fundamental economic interest to both coastal States and landlocked States. Hence, there is need to accommodate both interests for purposes of achieving equity. These competing interests are highlighted in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) under the regime of the EEZ. Unfortunately, lack
of preferential fishing rights limits the access to the fisheries zones by landlocked States and geographically disadvantaged States. For example, with the long use of fisheries zones over the centuries, when the EEZ was introduced some states chose to continue recognizing fisheries zones of 200 nm rather claim an EEZ such as Japan.
Description
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) is considered by the international community as the ‘Constitution of the Oceans’.2 ne of the points discussed during the Third United Nations Conference on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III) was the
acquisition of exclusive rights to manage and exploit sea resources. This is because fisheries resources were systematically being depleted in oceans and seas, all in the name of freedom of the seas.3 This resulted in the emergence of a new off-shore zone called the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).4