Maritime Zones Act 2005 (Act No. 2 of 2005).
Country
Type of law
Legislation
Abstract
This Act declares the legal status of territorial sea and internal, historic and archipelagic waters, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and defines their limits, defines the jurisdiction of Mauritius in these maritime areas, provides for protection of cultural heritage in maritime zones and regulates certain matters relative to navigation, research and some other activities in maritime zones.
The Act consists of 32 sections divided into 10 Parts.
Section 3 declares that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea shall have the force of law in Mauritius. Section 4 provides for baselines. Baselines and closing lines to delimit internal waters may be prescribed by the Prime Minister by Regulations. Section 6 declares the sovereignty of Mauritius over its territorial sea, internal, historic and archipelagic waters as well as the air above these waters and their beds and subsoil, and the resources contained in them. Section 7 declares a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles. The contiguous zone shall extend to a distance of 24 nautical miles from the nearest point of the baselines (sect. 12). Section 14 defines the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Prime Minister may, by Regulations, prescribe the EEZ outer limit line, which shall be a line of which every point is at a distance of 200 nautical miles from the nearest point of the baselines. Section 15 defines rights, jurisdiction and duties of Mauritius in the EEZ. The Prime Minister may enact Regulations relative to exploration and exploitation of the EEZ. Part IX (secs .18-21) makes provision with respect to the Continental Shelf and its exploitation. Part X (sects. 24-26) concerns the maritime cultural zone of Mauritius. This is an area of sea coinciding with the contiguous zone for the protection of the underwater cultural heritage. The Prime Minister may also enact Regulations for the protection of the underwater cultural heritage in the EEZ. Other provisions of this Act define regulation-making powers of the Prime Minister and define offences.
The Act consists of 32 sections divided into 10 Parts.
Section 3 declares that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea shall have the force of law in Mauritius. Section 4 provides for baselines. Baselines and closing lines to delimit internal waters may be prescribed by the Prime Minister by Regulations. Section 6 declares the sovereignty of Mauritius over its territorial sea, internal, historic and archipelagic waters as well as the air above these waters and their beds and subsoil, and the resources contained in them. Section 7 declares a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles. The contiguous zone shall extend to a distance of 24 nautical miles from the nearest point of the baselines (sect. 12). Section 14 defines the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Prime Minister may, by Regulations, prescribe the EEZ outer limit line, which shall be a line of which every point is at a distance of 200 nautical miles from the nearest point of the baselines. Section 15 defines rights, jurisdiction and duties of Mauritius in the EEZ. The Prime Minister may enact Regulations relative to exploration and exploitation of the EEZ. Part IX (secs .18-21) makes provision with respect to the Continental Shelf and its exploitation. Part X (sects. 24-26) concerns the maritime cultural zone of Mauritius. This is an area of sea coinciding with the contiguous zone for the protection of the underwater cultural heritage. The Prime Minister may also enact Regulations for the protection of the underwater cultural heritage in the EEZ. Other provisions of this Act define regulation-making powers of the Prime Minister and define offences.
Attached files
Long title of text
An Act to provide for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to have force of law in Mauritius.
Date of text
Repealed
No
Source language
English
Legislation Amendment
No
Amends
Amended by
Implemented by