Which best describes the rights granted by the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)?

• A. Sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving and managing natural resources
• B. Sovereign territory with full political control
• C. Freedom of navigation with no resource rights
• D. Only rights to overflight and fishing

Answer: (A)

The key idea being tested is what rights the Exclusive Economic Zone gives to a coastal state. Under UNCLOS, an EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline, and within this zone the coastal state has sovereign rights to explore, exploit, conserve, and manage natural resources—whether living or non-living—in the water column, on the seabed, and in the subsoil. It also has jurisdiction over related economic activities, such as energy production from water, wind, or seabed resources, and environmental protection. Importantly, this does not grant full sovereignty over the area; other states retain freedoms of navigation and overflight, though subject to the coastal state’s rights and regulations. So describing the EEZ as granting sovereign rights to explore and manage natural resources best captures its purpose and scope. The other options imply full political control or narrow rights (like only fishing or overflight), which don’t fit how the EEZ operates.