Law of the Sea Convention
National Jurisdiction Over Use of the World's Oceans
For centuries, “freedom of the seas” prevailed in the maritime environment and limited rights and jurisdiction to a band of water extending three miles from a nation’s coast. That concept was known as the “cannon shot rule,” based on the reach of a cannon from the shore. All waters beyond that point were considered international territory ― free to all nations but belonging to none. By the mid-twentieth century, some nations wanted to extend their boundaries to include mineral resources, protect fish stocks, and enforce pollution controls. In 1945, U.S. President Harry Truman claimed all the natural resources of the…
