Legal Definitions - contiguous zone

The contiguous zone is an area that extends beyond a country's territorial sea. It is a zone where a country has limited powers to enforce customs, fiscal, sanitary, and immigration laws.

For example, the United States has a contiguous zone that extends 24 nautical miles from its territorial sea. In this zone, the U.S. can enforce laws related to customs, immigration, and sanitation. However, the U.S. cannot exercise full sovereignty over this area.

Another example is India's contiguous zone, which extends 24 nautical miles from its territorial sea. In this zone, India can enforce laws related to customs, immigration, and pollution control.

The contiguous zone is important because it allows countries to extend their jurisdiction beyond their territorial sea. This helps them to protect their interests and enforce their laws in areas that are important to them.