What is the purpose of the Contiguous Zone?

The purpose of the Contiguous Zone is to allow the coastal State to exercise control over adjacent waters. This zone typically extends up to 24 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal state's territorial sea. Within this area, a state can enforce laws related to customs, taxation, immigration, and pollution control. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of a country's laws and regulations in waters that are still geographically close to its shores but beyond the territorial sea.

This function supports sovereignty while facilitating law enforcement and the protection of national interests, especially concerning shipping and resource management. The presence of this zone reflects international legal principles established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which allow coastal states to extend their jurisdiction over certain activities occurring in adjacent waters.