Finding a Balance in the Exclusive Economic Zone

Sun analyses the important and understudied subject of jurisdiction in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) over five groups of activities. It explores whether the basic premises and essential compromises of the EEZ regime established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea still hold true or whether there has been evolution in the regime in terms of accommodating the EEZ regulatory scheme to meet new needs and challenges. Significantly, the analysis of State practice indicates that coastal States have progressively asserted greater authority in defending their rights and jurisdiction in the EEZ, which have been broadly tolerated by the legal regime, and other user States. The stability of the EEZ regime is maintained by two legal doctrines that guide the attribution and exercise of the rights and freedoms of different States. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Author Biography

Zhen Sun is an Associate Professor (Research/Ocean Sustainability, Governance & Management) at WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute, World Maritime University. She obtained her degrees in both China and the United Kingdom, including a PhD from the University of Cambridge. Before joining WMU, Zhen was a Research Fellow at the Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore. She is actively engaged in teaching, supervision, multidisciplinary research and capacity-development programmes. Zhen has worked on a wide range of subjects in the law of the sea and ocean governance, and collaborated with academics, practitioners, officials from government agencies and international organizations.