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Australian Antarctic territorial waters are international waters adjacent to the part of Antarctica claimed by Australia as the Australian Antarctic Territory. Australian Antarctic territorial waters extend 200 nautical miles out to sea from the Australian Antarctic territory.

Australia claims the territorial waters are within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Australian Antarctic territory. Because Australia's Antarctic claim is contested, many states protested the Australian proclamation of an Antarctic EEZ. Some argued it was an "extension" of Australia's claim prohibited by Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty. The provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) define the exclusive economic zone of a coastal state as not exceeding 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the baseline from which the territorial sea is measured.

Whaling

Whaling in Australian Antarctic territorial waters is controversial and has received international attention. Anti-whaling protest goups and intervention/law enforcement groups in particular, Sea Shepherd have been active within the Australian Antarctic territorial waters. Sea Shepherd small boat crews have had multiple encounters with Japanese ships that claim to be on research expeditions while opponents argue this is only a "cover" for banned commercial whaling. The Australian Whale Sanctuary, in Australian Antarctic territory, is not recognised by the government of Japan. Anti-whaling legislation passed by the Australian Government applies to Australian territorial waters, however Australia's claims of sovereignty over the Australian Antarctic Territory—and thus sovereignty over Australian Antarctic territorial waters—are recognised by only four countries, not including Japan.

References

1. "Humane Society International Inc v Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd", Federal Court of Australia, 15 January 2008, Australasian Legal Information Institute
2. ^ "Japanese whalers told to keep out of Australian territory". The New Zealand Herald. 16 January 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
3. "'Stink' attack on Japan's whalers, BBC, 27 December 2008
4. "Japanese whaling ship detains 2 protesters", MSNBC, 15 January 2008
5. "An honorable way out of the whaling debacle", Sydney Morning Herald, 19 January 2008

• Borders of Australia
• Australian Antarctic Territory