Ascension Island Marine Protected Area
The Ascension Island Marine Protected Area covers the entirety of the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone of the mid-Atlantic territory of Ascension Island. Within the area, no commercial fishing or deep sea mining is allowed, with recreational fishing allowed only in the territorial waters directly adjacent to the island. Ascension Island is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and the protected area covers a number of underwater features such as seamounts and hydrothermal vents. Three major seamounts in the southern half of the protected area are significant areas of marine biodiversity, in addition to the waters surrounding the island itself. Marine species in these waters include endemic species and species that are otherwise associated with South America or Africa. The area also protects seabirds and green sea turtles that nest on the island. The protected area was established in 2019 following a planning and consultation process that included the Ascension Island Cou ...
[...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  

Territorial Waters
Territorial waters are informally an area of water where a sovereign state has jurisdiction, including internal waters, the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, and potentially the extended continental shelf (these components are sometimes collectively called the maritime zones). In a narrower sense, the term is often used as a synonym for the territorial sea. Vessels have different rights and duties when passing through each area defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), one of the most ratified treaties. States cannot exercise their jurisdiction in waters beyond the exclusive economic zone, which are known as the high seas. Baseline Normally, the baseline is the low-water line along the coast as marked on large-scale charts that the coastal state recognizes. This is either the low-water mark closest to the shore or an unlimited distance from permanently exposed land, provided that some portion of elevations ...
[...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]