India has the 18th-largestexclusive economic zone (EEZ) with a total size of 2,305,143 km2 (890,021 sq mi).[1] It includes theLakshadweep island group in theLaccadive Sea off the southwestern coast of India[2] and theAndaman and Nicobar Islands in theBay of Bengal and theAndaman Sea.[3] India's EEZ is bordered to the west byPakistan, to the south by theMaldives andSri Lanka and to the east byBangladesh,Myanmar,Thailand,Malaysia andIndonesia. Based on new scientific data, India has petitioned United Nations to extend its EEZ from 200Nautical miles to 350 nautical miles.[4]
India legally defined the concept of EEZ in the"Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976". In June 1997, India also ratifiedUNCLOS. India also enacted the"Maritime Zones of India (Regulation of fishing by foreign vessels) Act, 1981" prohibiting fishing by foreign vessel within Indian EEZ without a license. Additionally, India has also enacted laws regulation the fishing andfisheries by Indian fishing vessels operating in the EEZ.[5]
An EEZ provides a nation greater access to oil, natural gas, minerals,commercial fishing and other marine resources, freedom of navigation, international trade, national security, and strategic leverage over other nations.[4][5] With 7,500 kmcoastline and an EEZ of over 2.3 million km2, India has exclusive control over the resources in its EEZ including navigation ofseafaring trade and transport vessels in this area.[5] As per 2014 study, India exploits only 3.2 million tonnes per year marine fishery resources out of potential 3.92 million tonne in its coastal areas.[5]
Piracy, poaching orillegal fishing by foreign vessels, freedom of navigation, transgression of foreign vessels into Indian EEZ, and conflicting claims are major issues in EEZ.Piracy in the Strait of Malacca is a major concern for all the nations. Studies have shown decline in fishing stocks and destruction of severalmarine ecological areas in Indian EEZ due to organized illegal poaching and fishing resulting in depletion of manyendangered andthreatened species. Freedom of the navigation has become a cause of concern due to piracy. National security is also threatened by actions of China around Indian EEZ. Conflicting claims over EEZ by nations leads to disputes, such as India-PakistanSir Creek dispute. In the past, UNCLOS has granted several contradicting claims while increasing the EEZ based on the evidence related to the length of continental shelf. These UNCLOS contradictions have resulted into overlapping EEZ claims by several nations competing for the resources in the expanded EEZ.[5]
TheIndian Coast Guard near the shore and theIndian Military's integratedAndaman and Nicobar Command off-shore play the important role in protecting India's EEZ.
| EEZ | Area (km2 / mi2) |
|---|---|
| Mainland India andLakshadweep | 1,641,514 square kilometres (633,792 sq mi) |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 663,629 square kilometres (256,229 sq mi) |
| Total | 2,305,143 square kilometres (890,021 sq mi) |
In 2010, based on the new 6,000 pages sedimentary and scientific evidence, India petitioned United Nations for increasing Indian EEZ from 200 nautical miles to 350 nautical miles. Extension of EEZ from 200 to 350 nautical mile will almost double India's present EEZ. UNCLOS permits extension of EEZ beyond the usual 200 nautical miles limit, to a maximum of 350 nautical miles, if the evidence shows thatcontinental shelf extends beyond 200 nautical miles. For the integrated management and mapping of the EEZ, India'sMinistry of Earth Sciences (MoES) initiated an ongoing project in 1999 which was only 30% complete in 2018. A team of 60 scientists from several national institutes began undertaking multi-disciplinary studies ongeo-scientific mapping,physiography,sedimentology,paleoclimatology andHimalayan tectonics,hydrology of India andmonsoon of South Asia,mineral resource availability. Scientists and researchers involved in the studies come from several institutes and universities, such as theNational Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR),National Institute of Oceanography, India (NIO),National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT),Geological Survey of India (GSI) and many universities. These studies also enhance the preparedness against environmental hazards and socio-economic well-being of people living in Coastal India.[5]
Neighbouring EEZ of other nations from west to east are:
| EEZ | Dispute (Y/N) | Distance | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Yes | Contiguous | Sir Creek dispute |
| Sri Lanka | No | Contiguous | Resolved underIndo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreements. |
| Maldives | No | Contiguous | Resolved underIndia–Maldives maritime treaty (Minicoy Island). |
| Bangladesh | No | Contiguous | Resolved throughIndia–Bangladesh maritime arbitration. |
| Myanmar | No | India'sLandfall Island is 40 km from Myanmar'sCoco Islands | India is developing Myanmar's strategicSittwe Port as part ofKaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project.[6][7] See alsoIndia–Myanmar maritime boundary. |
| Indonesia | No | India's southernmost territoryIndira Point is 135 km north of Indonesia's northernmost territoryRondo Island.[8][9] | India is developing Indonesia'sSabang deepsea port understrategic economic and military partnership.[10] |
| Thailand | No | India'sTillangchong island north of Camorta Island in Nicobar is 440 km from Thailand'sKo Huyong inSimilan Islands group). India'sCampbell Bay onGreat Nicobar Island is 488 km from Thailand'sKo Racha Noi (Racha Noi Island) inPhuket Province. | Thailand has treaty-defined maritime boundaries with India, Myanmar, Indonesia and Malaysia. |
| Malaysia | No | India's Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Island is 630 km from Malaysia's nearest islandLangkawi. |
