How Many Miles Off-shore Is Considered US Territory?
I think the answer is either 3 or 6 or 12.
Answers
"For general purposes, it is enough to realize
that in the United States there are four distinct zones to which jurisdiction (in a formal legal sense) applies.
The FIRST ZONE is for formal county jurisdiction (e.g., the
county sheriff can arrest you) and is limited to three miles offshore.
In California, these lines are listed in excruciating detail in
the California Government Code.
The SECOND ZONE is official state jurisdiction (e.g., Calif. Fish
& Game officers can arrest you). It is also limited to three
miles offshore except across a "closed bay in which case the state
can have much more extensive jurisdiction. For example, the Supreme Court found in "U.S. V. California, (1965) 381 US 139, 14 L.Ed.2d 296,
that Monterey Bay was a "closed bay and thus the State of California
had jurisdiction well beyond the usual 3-mile limit (goes to about
12 miles offshore at mid-Bay).
The THIRD ZONE is a zone of official United States sovereignty
(the FBI can arrest you). Under international law this is now
12 nautical miles from the nearest point of land (including islands;
sometimes farther when "closed bay lines are involved).
The FOURTH ZONE is the zone of internationally recognized
jurisdiction [the "Exclusive Economic Zone" or EEZ]
over seabed and fisheries resources. Although any nation's ship can transit the waters under the doctrine of "freedom of the seas, the nation with the jurisdiction may regulate fishing, seabed mining, oil drilling, etc.
This jurisdiction is 200 nautical miles from the nearest point
of land, including islands." - Don Roberson
answered 3 months ago
That's not quite true, else the ChiComs wouldn't be drilling 60 nautical miles from the coast of Florida.
Generally the territorial zone of a country is 12 nautical miles, but this can be modified by regional or international agreements.
answered 3 months ago
- United States
- Distances
- General - Geography
- Earth Science
- United Kingdom
- Capitals & Locations
- India
- Pakistan
- Australia
- Canada
- France
- Weather
- Japan
- China
- Egypt
- Italy
- Germany
- Spain
- Maps
- Ireland
- Russia
- Afghanistan
- Iraq
- Mexico
- Turkey
- South Africa
- Israel
- Brazil
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Austria
- Iran
- Philippines
- Switzerland
- Jamaica
- Netherlands
- Bangladesh
- Cyprus
- Cuba
- Greece
- Pacific Ocean
- Portugal
- Thailand
- Belgium
- Poland
- Sweden
- Tunisia
- Vietnam
- Norway
- Atlantic Ocean
- Bermuda
- American Samoa
- Angola
- Antarctica
- Lebanon
- Bulgaria
- Cameroon
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Hong Kong
- Ethiopia
- Zimbabwe
- Argentina
- South Korea
- Algeria
- Dominican Republic
- Panama
- Bahamas
- Cambodia
- Denmark
- Kuwait
- Uganda
- Albania
- Azerbaijan
- Barbados
- Flags
- Greenland
- Maldives
- Nepal
- Ukraine
- Andorra
- Belize
- Botswana
- Palestine
- Vatican City
- Aruba
- North Korea
- Oman
- Sril Lanka
- Taiwan
- Venezuela
- Brunei
- Czech Republic
- Iceland
- Sudan
- Uruguay
- Bahrain
- Benin
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Islands
- Monaco
- Arctic Ocean
- Armenia
- Belarus
- Anguilla
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Gaza Strip
- Southern Ocean
- more ...
- What Is Considered A Business Mile?
- Is A 1998 Kawasaki Ninja 600 With 35K Miles Considered A Risky Purchase As Far As Engine Dependability Is Concerned?
- How Long Is The Drive From Austin, TX To Montgomery,TX? Montgomery Is 45 Miles Northeast Of Bush International Airport, Houston, TX. It Is ...
- My friend recently got a pet duck which I thought was originally quite cruel. However he seems to be happy enough and now I'm considering ge...
- What is ecommerce and should I consider it for my traditional business?



Hey Don R, Thanks so much. I was wondering why Oil Companies needed government approval to drill for more oil in the Gulf Of Mexico. Your last sentence seems to answer that question
comment made by Weberskm 2 months ago
Report