The applicable maritime zone depends on the activity’s coordinates and the coastal State’s authoritative maritime information.
Coastal jurisdiction
Ocean iron fertilisation: Coastal waters and exclusive economic zones.
Coastal-State jurisdiction and authorization requirements depend on the location and legal classification of the proposed activity.
Jurisdiction
Location and activity classification.
- 01
- 02
Activity classification depends on purpose, material, dose, method, vessel, loading port, dates, geographic extent and expected effects.
- 03
Potential authorization processes include marine scientific research, environmental assessment, dumping or placement, fisheries, protected areas and port operations.
Competent authorities
Regulatory bodies and rightsholders.
- Coastal State foreign-affairs or marine-scientific-research desk
- Marine-environment, dumping/placement and environmental-assessment authority
- Fisheries, protected-area and species authorities
- Flag State, loading State and intended port State
- Affected Indigenous peoples, local communities and other rightsholders where applicable
Legal conditions
Applicable legal frameworks.
- UNCLOS Article 245 gives the coastal State exclusive control over marine scientific research in its territorial sea.
- For an EEZ or continental-shelf proposal, UNCLOS Part XIII—including Articles 246 and 248—may be relevant after classification; domestic law still applies.
- National LC/LP implementation determines regulatory requirements; the Ocean Fertilization Assessment Framework provides assessment criteria rather than an authorization.
- Effects outside the EEZ can add transboundary, flag-State, fisheries and BBNJ questions.
Project-specific questions
Applicability and authorization.
- Is the activity accepted as legitimate scientific research, placement, dumping, marine geoengineering, or another regulated activity?
- Which State bodies issue the required written decisions, and in what sequence?
- Which protected areas, fisheries, species, consultation and consent duties intersect the actual footprint?
- Do downstream effects cross another maritime zone or enter areas beyond national jurisdiction?
Primary legal sources
Official sources.
Treaty participation, territorial application and national implementing law determine which obligations apply.
Related jurisdictions