Exclusive economic zone of Portugal

Portugal has the 5th largest exclusive economic zone (EEZ) within Europe, 3rd largest of the EU and the 20th largest EEZ in the world, at 1,727,408 km2.[1]

Portugal's Exclusive Economic Zone

Portugal's exclusive economic zone

Portugal submitted a claim to extend its jurisdiction over additional 2.15 million square kilometers of the neighboring continental shelf in May 2009,[2] which would result in a marine territory of more than 3,877,408 km2.

Resolved Dispute with Spain

Until 2009,[3] Spain disputed the EEZ's southern border, maintaining that it should be drawn halfway between Madeira and the Canary Islands. Portugal exercises sovereignty over the Savage Islands, a small archipelago north of the Canaries, hence claiming an EEZ border further south. Spain had objected by arguing that the Savage Islands do not have a separate continental shelf,[4] citing article 121 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.[5] On the basis of this article, Spain claimed that the Savage Islands were not islands, but instead uninhabitable rocks. The Savage Islands are a protected Portuguese natural reserve, and thus its only year-round inhabitants are workers of Madeira Natural Park who look over the isolated natural reserve, protecting its wildlife. Over the years, the Portuguese authorities have seized some Spanish fishing boats around the area for illegal fishing.[6]

See also

References
  1. Seaaroundus.org Archived 29 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Portugal applies to UN to Extend Its Continental Shelf Zone. Accessed 3 July 2011
  3. Communications received with regard to the submission made by Portugal to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf
  4. Lacleta Muñoz, José Manuel: "Las fronteras de España en el mar". Documentos de trabajo 34-2004, Real Instituto Elcano
  5. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Part VIII, Article 121
  6. Carvalho, Luis and Leitão, Nuno, A Noção "Estratégica" das Ilhas Selvagens (in Portuguese) Archived 23 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine
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