Baku State University

master

The United Nation Convention on the law of the sea recognizes that the coastal states have the right to establish contiguous zone in which the coastal state may exercise the limited control necessary to prevent or punish infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration and sanitary laws and regulations that occurs within its territory or territorial sea. Under international law the maximum breadth of the contiguous zone is twenty-four nautical miles. Regulation of irregular migration, illegal traffic in drugs, environment, terrorism at sea or underwater cultural heritage increase the importance of the contiguous zone. Accordingly, the contiguous zone as a legal institution may be subject to future changes in the international maritime law. This article describes the importance of contiguous zone in the law of the sea.