Summary of EEZ Zones in the Black Sea

Prepared By Prof Nilufer Oral, Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey

[back to EEZ maps]

Turkey

Fishing Zone /EEZ

By Decree of the Council of Ministers No. 86/11264, dated 17 November 1986 Turkey declared a 200 nm EEZ in the Black Sea.[i]  Article 1 of the Decree provided for the conclusion of delimitation agreements in the Black Sea  with States of opposite and adjacent coasts through negotiation and the application of  equitable principles for achieving equitable solutions.  An exchange of Notes between Turkey and the USSR dated 23 December –6 February 1987 established the EEZ as delimited by the Turkish Decree dated 17 November 1986. The Notes also confirmed that the border of EEZ would constitute the same boundary as was agreed to by Turkey and USSR for the continental shelf  by the Agreement dated 23 June 1978.[ii] 

Continental Shelf

 Turkey and the USSR concluded the “Agreement between the Government of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Government of the Republic of Turkey concerning the delimitation of the Continental Shelf in the Black Sea,” dated 23 June 1978 and agreed upon the following coordinates for a continental shelf in the Black sea between the two States.

TURKEY-RUSSIA CONTINENTAL SHELF COORDINATES[iii]

The Russian Federation confirmed to Turkey, by Note dated 30 May 1992 the boundaries of the Continental shelf as established by the 1978 Continental Shelf Agreement.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Fishing Zone/EEZ

The Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (dated 1 March 1984) established a 200 nm EEZ. The USSR Council of Ministers Declaration 4450 (Decree dated 15 January 1985)[iv] had approved a list of geographical co-ordinates defining the position of baselines for measuring the breadth of the TS, the EEZ and the CS in the USSR for the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea and Arctic Ocean.  The 1998 Federal Act on the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation reiterated the 200-nm breadth of the EEZ. 

Continental Shelf

Under the Decree of the Presidium of 6 February 1968 on the Continental Shelf the USSR declared a continental shelf beyond its territorial sea to a depth of 200 meters, or beyond that limit, to where the depth of the superajacent waters admits of the exploitation of the natural resources of the said areas.  In addition, the seabed and the subsoil of depression entirely surrounded by the CS of the USSR irrespective of their depth were made part of the Soviet continental shelf. 

The Decree also provided that where the boundary of the CS of the USSR was adjacent to those of other States, that the boundary was to be determined by agreement.  But in the absence of an agreement and unless special circumstances were justified: For States opposite to the USSR and those contiguous the law provided for the “equidistant median line” to be measured from the baselines of the USSR and the other States.

The Federal Law on the Continental Shelf of the Russian Federation, adopted by the State Duma on 25 October 1995[v] established a 200nm continental shelf.

Bulgaria

Fishing Zone /EEZ

Declared a 200 nm EEZ-Fishing Zone by Decree No. 77 (January 1987)

Continental Shelf

 In July 1987 by Act Governing Ocean Space of Bulgaria, the limits of the Continental Shelf  were to be established by Agreement between states with adjacent or opposite coasts on the Black Sea according to international law.

On 4 December 1997 the “Agreement between the Republic Turkey and the Republic of Bulgaria on determination of the boundary in the mouth area of the Mutludere/Rezovska River and delimitation of the maritime areas between the two states in the Black Sea” was concluded. The coordinates are as follows:

TURKEY-BULGARIA MARITIME BOUNDARY COORDINATES - BEGENDIK AND REZOVO BAY[vi]

TURKEY-BULGARIA EEZ COORDINATES[vii]

BULGARIA–TURKEY BEGENDIK/REZOVO BAY BOUNDARY[viii]

BULGARIA–TURKEY BLACK SEA BOUNDARY[ix]

UKRAINE

Fishing Zone/EEZ

The Law of the Ukraine on the exclusive economic zone, dated 16 May 1995 established an EEZ of a maximum breadth of 200 nm.

Continental Shelf

The Ukraine confirmed to Turkey by Note dated 30 May 1994 its agreement to the former 1978 Continental Shelf Agreement. The co-ordinates for the continental shelf area are as follows:

UKRAINE-TURKEY CONTINENTAL SHELF COORDINATES - BLACK SEA[x]

Georgia

The 17 April 1973 Protocol between Turkey and the USSR for defining the territorial sea ratified by the USSR on 3 January 1974 and Turkey on 3 May, 1982); [xi] the “Protocol between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Union concerning the Establishment of the Maritime Boundary between Soviet and Turkish Territorial Waters in the Black Sea dated 17 April 1973 were confirmed by Georgia by the “Exchange of notes constituting an agreement on the delimitation of the USSR and Turkey economic zone in the Black Sea dated 23 December 1986.” Georgia confirmed the existing Agreement between Turkey and the former USSR with the “ Protocol between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Union” dated 14 July 1997

ROMANIA

Fishing Zone/EEZ

Decree No. 142 of 25 April 1986 of the Council of State concerning the establishment of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Romania in the Black Sea established a 200 nm EEZ.