How Exclusive is the Exclusive Economic Zone: A Balance of fishing rights between coastal States and landlocked States in Africa through RECs

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.