In the exclusive economic zone, what rights does a country have?

The correct answer highlights the exclusive rights a coastal country holds within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). An EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from the coastline and provides the country with special rights to explore and exploit marine resources, including fish stocks and seabed minerals. This zoning was established by international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which aims to balance maritime rights and responsibilities among countries.

In this zone, the coastal state has the authority to manage the resources found in the water column and on or beneath the seabed, making it crucial for economic activities like fishing, oil and gas exploration, and renewable energy development.

While a country may have some level of control over shipping traffic and the ability to establish trade routes, those rights are not exclusive to it. Shipping traffic is generally considered a high seas freedom, and trade routes must respect various international regulations and navigational freedoms. Additionally, complete sovereignty over airspace is not granted in the EEZ, as that remains under the jurisdiction of the country but is balanced by international agreements and air traffic regulations, which need to consider factors like international flights passing through or above the zone.