Territorial waters

Territorial waters, in international law, the belt of sea adjacent to a country and under its territorial jurisdiction. Important for control of shipping, seabeds, and fisheries, such limits used to extend 3 mi (4.8 km), and more recently 12 mi (19.3 km), from low-water mark. A 200-mi (322-km) limit has been accepted by some countries.

See also: High seas.