Australia's Maritime Zones Defining Australia's Maritime Boundaries

Geoscience Australia’s National Mapping Division maintains the

Definition of Terms 110°E 120°E 130°E 140°E 150°E
100°E 160°E 170°E Australian Maritime Boundaries Information System (AMBIS), a
Nautical mile (nm) is a unit of distance equal to 1852 metres. 0° geographic information system encompassing maritime
This value was adopted by the International Hydrographic boundaries of interest to all levels of Australian government.
Conference in 1929 and was subsequently adopted by the AMBIS is used to facilitate the meeting of specific international
International Bureau of Weights and Measures. It is also the PA P U A obligations as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law
unit adopted for purposes of Australian maritime legislation.
0°
NEW GUINEA S O U T H of the Sea (UNCLOS). Australia ratified the Convention on 5
October 1994 and became legally bound to its provisions when it
Convention means the United Nations Convention on the Law INDONESIA Inset 2
entered into force on 16 November 1994.
of the Sea (UNCLOS ) of 10 December 1982. The primary task within AMBIS is the definition of the baseline from
ARAFURA SEA
The following definitions should be read in conjunction with P A C I F I C which the outer limits of the various maritime zones are measured.
the diagram below. EAST TIMOR This Territorial Sea Baseline (TSB) consists of several components
including normal baseline, straight baselines and bay and river
SOLOMON closing lines.
TERRITORIAL SEA BASELINE (TSB) ISLANDS O C E A N Using digital mapping and charting data supplied by a number of
The line from which the seaward limits of Australia's maritime Commonwealth and State government authorities, Geoscience
Australia continues to validate the position of the TSB around the
zones are measured. The baseline is made up of the following
entire Australian coastline. This ensures that the TSB is totally
components, each of which is dependent upon the shape of consistent with the data supplied by those authorities and also
the coastline in any given locality: TIMOR SEA with the requirements of UNCLOS. The TSB is used to define the
Normal baseline corresponds with the low water line along outer limits of a number of maritime zones, including the 3 nautical
mile of coastal waters, the 12 nautical mile territorial sea, the 24
the coast, including the coasts of islands. For Australian Christmas nautical mile contiguous zone, the 200 nautical mile Australian
purposes, normal baseline corresponds to the level of Lowest Island Exclusive Economic Zone and the outer limit of the extended
Astronomical Tide. Under the Convention, low tide elevations continental shelf in cases where it is based on the UNCLOS Article
which are defined as naturally formed areas of land 76 constraint line lying 350 nautical miles beyond the TSB.
surrounded by and above water at low tide but submerged at
Geoscience Australia’s Law of the Sea Project is responsible for
high tide may be used as normal baseline if they are wholly or the survey work, data processing and compilation, and
partly within 12 nautical miles of the coast. 10°S interpretation and analysis to determine the necessary geological
Straight baselines are a system of straight lines joining and geomorphological information to support the delineation of
the outer limit of the extended continental shelf around Australia
specified or discrete points on the low water line, usually
known as straight baseline end points, which may be used in
C O R A L and its territories.
Inset 1
localities where the coastline is deeply indented and cut into, 10°S The maritime zones shown on this map are diagrammatic only
or where there is a fringe of islands along the coast in its Cocos (Keeling) Northern and have been produced from digital data held by Geoscience
immediate vicinity. The line drawn between those points forms Islands
Te r r i t o r y S E A
part of the TSB. V A N U AT U Australian Exclusive Economic Zone
River closing lines are straight lines drawn between the The outer edge of the EEZ is 200 nautical miles from Australia's
respective low water marks of the natural entrance points of territorial sea baseline, other than in areas subject to delimitation
rivers. with neighbouring countries. In those areas the location of the
outer edge of the EEZ will depend on whether Australia has
Bay closing lines are straight lines, not exceeding 24 nautical
entered into a treaty with the relevant country delimiting the EEZ
miles in length, drawn between the respective low water marks boundary. Where Australia has entered into such a treaty the outer
of the natural entrance points of bays. Under the Convention, edge of the Australian EEZ will be the boundary agreed in the
the area of the bay must also be greater than or equal to that of treaty. In the absence of a delimitation treaty the outer edge of the
the area drawn by a semi-circle whose diameter is the length of Australian EEZ has been drawn back to the point of equidistance
the line closing the bay. between Australia and the other relevant country. In the latter case,

A U S T R A L I A
the provisional outer edge based upon equidistance does not
Waters on the landward side of the baseline are internal waters necessarily represent the full extent of the EEZ claimed by
for the purposes of international law.
Queensland NEW
3nm LIMIT: COASTAL WATERS (CW) CALEDONIA Maritime boundary arrangements with
A belt of water between the limits of the Australian States and
I N D I A N other countries
of the Northern Territory and a line 3 nautical miles seaward of
Western
20°S
the territorial sea baseline. Title to the subjacent seabed is Australia Australia has entered into maritime boundaries treaties with
vested in the adjacent State or Territory as if that seabed was in O C E A N Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and France (New
Caledonia and Kerguelen). Australia has not entered into any
waters that formed part of that State or Territory. delimitation arrangements with other countries in relation to
NOTE: Given the small scale of this map, and of the insets and 20°S Trop maritime areas adjacent to the Australian Antarctic Territory. Other
i c of treaties that have been negotiated (and that have not entered into
diagram, for the most part it has not been possible to South Cap
differentiate between coastal waters and waters within the rico
limits of a State or Territory. Australia rn
Australia/Indonesia Treaty
orn
12nm LIMIT: TERRITORIAL SEA (TS) Ca pric Australia and Indonesia signed a Treaty on 14 March 1997 which
of will settle a number of maritime boundaries between the two
A belt of water not exceeding 12 nautical miles in width Tropic countries. These boundaries are depicted in insets 1 & 2. They
relate to areas between continental Australia and the Indonesian
measured from the territorial sea baseline. Australia's
sovereignty extends to the territorial sea, its bed and subsoil, New South archipelago and the area between the Australian Territory of
Christmas Island and the Indonesian island of Java. The
and to the air space above it. This sovereignty is exercised in
accordance with international law as reflected in the
Wales Norfolk boundaries established by the Treaty will enter into force when
both countries have ratified the Treaty. Those boundaries
Convention. The major limitation on Australia's exercise of
Island indicated in the insets will then replace certain boundaries
Lord Howe
sovereignty in the territorial sea is the right of innocent Island
passage for foreign ships. The territorial sea around certain
islands in the Torres Strait is 3 nautical miles. Australia/East Timor Boundaries
Australian Capital Final maritime boundaries have still to be negotiated between
24nm LIMIT: CONTIGUOUS ZONE (CZ)
Territory Australia and East Timor. These include the exclusive economic
zone and continental shelf boundaries in the Timor Sea.
A zone contiguous to the territorial sea, the outer limit of which Java
does not exceed 24 nautical miles from the territorial sea
baseline. In this zone, Australia may exercise control
Victoria 30°S Joint Petroleum Development Area
necessary to prevent and punish infringement of its customs, This is the area of joint development for petroleum purposes
fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations within its agreed by Australia and East Timor in an Exchange of Notes dated
territory or territorial sea. 20 May 2002. For the purposes of current Australian legislation, it
30°S is Area A of the Zone of Co-operation. It will be titled the 'Joint
Petroleum Development Area' on entry into force of the Timor Sea
200nm LIMIT: EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE (EEZ)
An area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea. The outer
limit of the exclusive economic zone cannot exceed 200 Christmas Australia/New Zealand Boundaries
nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the Island Maritime boundaries have still to be negotiated between Australia
territorial sea is measured. In the EEZ, Australia has sovereign and New Zealand. These include exclusive economic zone and
rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving Tasmania continental shelf boundaries in the Tasman Sea and in the area
and managing all natural resources of the waters superjacent
NEW between Macquarie Island, the islands adjacent to it, and the
to the sea-bed and of the sea-bed and its subsoil together with ZEALAND southern islands of New Zealand (Auckland and Campbell
Islands).
other activities such as the production of energy from water,
currents and wind. Jurisdiction also extends to the
establishment and use of artificial islands, installations and Inset 1 - 1997 Treaty boundary yet to be ratified. T A S M A N Australian claims in those areas related to delimitation with New
Zealand are more extensive than the maritime zones depicted on
See Australia/Indonesia Treaty note
structures, marine scientific research, the protection and the map. For the purposes of this map, and pending the
preservation of the marine environment, and other rights and completion of maritime boundary negotiations, these areas have
been drawn back to the point of equidistance (median line - shown
duties. The Australian EEZ is less than 200 nautical miles in
certain areas subject to delimitation with other countries.
S E A

CONTINENTAL SHELF (CS)

Inset 2 - 1997 Treaty boundaries yet to be ratified.
The area of the seabed and subsoil which extends beyond the See Australia/Indonesia Treaty note
ARAFURA SEA
territorial sea to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the
40°S
territorial sea baseline. Also includes the natural prolongation EAST TIMOR
of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles to the outer © Commonwealth of Australia 2002
edge of the continental margin as defined in Article 76 of the INDONESIA No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
Convention. The continental shelf is largely co-extensive with retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means,
40°S electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise.
the exclusive economic zone within 200 nautical miles from
the territorial sea baselines (there are certain areas between Telephone the NATMAP HOTLINE 1800 800 173
Australia and Indonesia and Australia and Papua New Guinea for information regarding this map, other maps,
amendments, map catalogues or your nearest retailer.
where they are not co-extensive).
TIMOR SEA
Australia has sovereign rights over the continental shelf for the
Geoscience Australia
purposes of exploring and exploiting the mineral and other National Mapping Division
non-living resources of the seabed and subsoil, together with S O U T H E R N O C E A N PO Box 2 Belconnen ACT 2616
Telephone: +61 2 6249 9966
sedentary organisms. In this area, Australia also has
jurisdiction with regard to marine scientific research as well as
AUSTRALIA Email: mapsales@ga.gov.au
http://www.ga.gov.au

other rights and responsibilities. Macquarie GEOSCIENCE

AUSTRALIA
Island 99 3314231
1 4 2 3 1 2200339
00339
In order to support delineation of the outer limit of the extended
continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles as measured from
the territorial sea baseline, Australia will be required to submit
details, together with supporting scientific information, to the
United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental
Shelf. The limits of the extended continental shelf beyond the
exclusive economic zone, as depicted on this map, are
indicative only.

50°S
DIAGRAM SHOWING RELATIONSHIP OF MARITIME FEATURES, Kerguelen N
LIMITS AND ZONES SEAWARD OF THE TERRITORIAL SEA IO

2
E DI T
BASELINE (NOT TO SCALE)
Maritime Zones
Heard
Island
AUSTRALIA'S
MARITIME
TSB
50°S
F Z)
McDonald CW
EL EE Islands
SH the TS

ZONES
200nm limit
AL d CZ
ENT yon EEZ
IN be CS
NT nd
O
C ex e
t
ay EEZ 0 3 12 24 200
(M
Nautical Miles
THE AUSTRALIAN MAP SERIES
CO

The Protected Zone established under the Torres Strait Treaty between Australia and
NT
IN

Papua New Guinea for the purposes of protecting the traditional way of life and livelihood
it

EN
lim

m
TA

(including traditional fishing and freedom of movement) of Australians who are Torres Strait
m

EEZ
200n
LS
0n

24nm limit Islanders and of Papua New Guineans who live in the coastal area of Papua New Guinea
20

HE
LF

adjacent to the Torres Strait. Also established to protect and preserve the marine
20
0n

TERRE environment and the indigenous flora and fauna.

m

EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE (EEZ) ADELIE

(FRANCE)
Area subject to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Australia
12nm limit
and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia Regarding the Operations of Indonesian
Traditional Fishermen in the Area of the Australian EEZ.
Coral Sea Islands Territory - As provided for in the Coral Sea Islands Act 1969 to
make provision for the Government of certain Islands, acquired by the Commonwealth,
CW
as one Territory. The Territory consists of the islands within the red line. It includes the
24nm island
AUSTRALIAN islands associated with Middleton and Elizabeth reefs. 60°S
3nm

24n
m
ANTARCTIC The picture frame boundaries used to determine the adjacency of offshore areas to
limi the Australian States and Territories. The actual ‘adjacent’ area for the purposes of the
12nm

t TERRITORY
TS
(EASTERN SECTOR) ROSS Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967 consists of so much of the continental shelf
DEPENDENCY as determined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as lies within
(NEW ZEALAND) those boundaries. In relation to certain external territories, it also includes the
12
nm CONTIGUOUS ZONE (CZ) territorial sea.
60°S
24nm

lim
it The 350 nautical mile line is one of the constraint lines under Article 76 of the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to which a country may extend its continental
nm

shelf if it can satisfy the criteria of the other sub-paragraphs of Article 76. The green line
12

island
TERRITORIAL SEA (TS) 12nm
limit
R O S S defines the maximum possible outer limit of extended continental shelf off the Australian
3nm
it
AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC TERRITORY Antarctic Territory.
lim (WESTERN SECTOR)
12n

island
riv

3nm m
3n DR
m

S E A
er

3nm lim
it CW
MA ONNI
clo

3n

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3nm

3n 12nm low tid U N

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(NO DE L G
sin

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AS elevation RW A
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INT 3nm low tide

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in

AL RS CW 40°E 50°E 60°E 70°E 80°E 90°E 100°E 110°E 120°E 130°E 140°E 150°E 160°E 170°E 180° 170°W 160°W 150°W 140°W 130°W
g

WATER
lin

coa S (C
W)
e

stlin
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coas
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Map projection: Bonne with 134 E longitude and 30 S at projection centre
rive

mainland bay

Produced by Geoscience Australia FRONT COVER PHOTO: Coolum, Point Arkwright, Queensland
© Commonwealth of Australia 2002, MP 02/343.21 Viewfinder Australia Photo Library