Australia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was declared on 1 August 1994 and extends from 12to from the coastline of Australia and its external territories, except where a maritime delimitation agreement exists with another state.[1] [2] To the 12 nautical-mile boundary is Australia's territorial waters. Australia has the third-largest exclusive economic zone, behind France and the United States but ahead of Russia, with the total area of, which exceeds its land territory.
The United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) confirmed, in April 2008, Australia's rights over an additional 2.5e6sqkm of seabed beyond the limits of Australia's EEZ.[3] Australia also claimed, in its submission to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, additional Continental Shelf past its EEZ from the Australian Antarctic Territory,[4] but these claims were deferred on Australia's request. However, Australia's EEZ from its Antarctic Territory is approximately 2e6sqkm.
North and east of Australia is an extensive maritime boundary with Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, New Caledonia (France), Solomon Islands, and New Zealand.
It starts in the Indian Ocean, then runs through the Timor Sea, Arafura Sea, Torres Strait, Coral Sea and ends in the Pacific Ocean.
There is also a maritime border between Australia and Indonesia in the Indian Ocean between Australia's external territory of Christmas Island and the Indonesian island of Java.
| Region | EEZ Area (km2) | |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland Australia,, and other minor islands[5] | 6,048,681 | |
| 471,837 | ||
| 463,371 | ||
| 428,618 | ||
| 410,722 | ||
| 325,021 | ||
| 2,000,000[6] | ||
| Total | 8,148,250[7] |