What does the term 'high seas' refer to?

The term 'high seas' refers specifically to waters that lie beyond national jurisdiction. This includes vast areas of the ocean that are not owned or controlled by any individual nation, thereby making them part of a global commons accessible to all. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the high seas are defined as any parts of the ocean that are not included in the territorial sea or the internal waters of a nation. This legal framework applies various principles, including freedom of navigation, overflight, communication, and fishing, which all contribute to the significance of the high seas in maritime law and international relations.

In contrast, territorial waters are the areas closer to the coastline, typically extending up to 12 nautical miles from a nation’s baseline, and are under the jurisdiction of that specific country. Exclusive economic zones (EEZ) extend up to 200 nautical miles and allow nations rights over resources in the water column and seabed, but these zones still fall under national jurisdiction, unlike the high seas. Coastal waters are also areas controlled by a specific country, thus further differentiating from the concept of high seas.