Advanced Search

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive Economic Zone

Subscribe to a Global-Regulation Premium Membership Today!

Key Benefits:

Subscribe Now for only USD$40 per month.
Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive Economic Zone
L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Act
24 of 1986

Current Authorised Pages
Pages Authorised

(inclusive) by L.R.O.
1–21 ..

ARCHIPELAGIC WATERS AND EXCLUSIVE
ECONOMIC ZONE ACT

CHAPTER 51:06

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
2 Chap. 51:06 Economic Zone

Index of Subsidiary Legislation

Page
Archipelagic Baselines of Trinidad and Tobago Order (LN 206/1988) … 20

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
Economic Zone Chap. 51:06 3

CHAPTER 51:06

ARCHIPELAGIC WATERS AND EXCLUSIVE
ECONOMIC ZONE ACT

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION

1. Short title.

PART I

PRELIMINARY
2. Interpretation.

PART II

ARCHIPELAGIC STATE
3. Declaration of Trinidad and Tobago as an archipelagic State.
4. Archipelagic waters.
5. Legal status of archipelagic waters, airspace, bed and subsoil.
6. Archipelagic baselines.
7. Measurement of territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic

zone and continental shelf.
8. Internal waters.
9. Existing agreements.

10. Submarine cables.
11. Right of innocent passage.
12. Meaning of innocent passage.
13. Suspension of innocent passage.

PART III

EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE
14. Establishment of exclusive economic zone.
15. Delimitation of exclusive economic zone between States with opposite

or adjacent coasts.
16. Minister may reduce outer limits of exclusive economic zone.
17. Outer limits of exclusive economic zone to be shown on charts.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
4 Chap. 51:06 Economic Zone

18. Vested rights of Trinidad and Tobago over seabed and submarine
areas continued.

19. Sovereign rights and jurisdiction of Trinidad and Tobago in exclusive
economic zone.

20. Other States in the exclusive economic zone.
21. Conservation and management of living resources.
22. Certain activities of a State, etc., prohibited without consent.
23. Right of citizen or body corporate to fish in exclusive economic zone.
24. President may withhold consent to marine scientific research project

of a State.
25. Trinidad and Tobago to authorise fishing by agreement or treaty.
26. Licences for foreign fishing craft and crew to fish in exclusive

economic zone, territorial sea, and the archipelagic waters.
27. Foreign fishing craft not to exceed prescribed allowable catch.
28. Surveillance in the exclusive economic zone, the territorial sea and

the archipelagic waters.
29. Exemption.
30. Offences.
31. Release of arrested crafts and their crews.
32. Regulations.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS—Continued

SECTION

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
Economic Zone Chap. 51:06 5

CHAPTER 51:06

ARCHIPELAGIC WATERS AND EXCLUSIVE
ECONOMIC ZONE ACT

An Act to declare the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago an
archipelagic State, and to define the new areas of marine
space appertaining to Trinidad and Tobago in the exclusive
economic zone, and in the archipelagic waters, and the
nature and extent of the jurisdiction to be exercised by it
in each of these areas and to make provision for matters
connected therewith in accordance with the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, done in
Montego Bay, Jamaica on 10th December 1982.

[11TH NOVEMBER 1986]

1. This Act may be cited as the Archipelagic Waters and
Exclusive Economic Zone Act.

PART I

PRELIMINARY

2. In this Act—
“allowable catch” means the amount of living resources

determined by the Minister to whom responsibility for
fisheries is assigned in accordance with relevant
environmental and economic factors;

“archipelagic State” means the political entity of Trinidad and
Tobago comprising that group of islands including parts of
islands inter-connecting waters and other natural features
which are so closely interrelated that they form an intrinsic
geographical and economic entity;

“archipelagic waters” means the waters enclosed by the
archipelagic baselines as drawn in accordance with
section 6;

24 of 1986.

Commencement.

Short title.

Interpretation.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
6 Chap. 51:06 Economic Zone

“conservation and management” includes all methods and
measures which are—

(a) required to rebuild, restore or maintain, or
which are useful in rebuilding, restoring or
maintaining any living resource or the marine
environment; and

(b) designed to ensure that—
(i) a supply of food and other products may

be taken, and that recreational benefits may
be obtained on a continuing basis;

(ii) irreversible or long-term adverse effects
on fishery resources or the marine
environment are avoided; and

(iii) there will be a multiplicity of options
available with respect to the use of such
resources;

“contiguous zone” means that area contiguous to the territorial
sea which does not extend beyond twenty-four nautical miles
from the archipelagic baselines from which the breadth of
the territorial sea is measured;

“continental shelf” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the
Continental Shelf Act;

“Convention” means the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea done in Montego Bay, Jamaica on 10th
December 1982;

“fish” includes oysters, crabs, shrimps, turtles, turtle eggs, coral
and any species of other marine fauna;

“fishery” means any one or more stocks of fish, which can be
treated as a unit for the purpose of conservation and
management, and which are identified on the basis of
geographical, scientific, technical, recreational and
economical characteristics, and includes any fishing for any
such stocks;

“fishing craft” means a vessel, aircraft, hovercraft or other craft
of whatever size and however propelled that is capable of

Ch. 1:52.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
Economic Zone Chap. 51:06 7

being used for fishing and is operated for financial reward
or other material gain, scientific research or processing,
storage or carriage of fish and includes any vessel used in
support of or ancillary to fishing operations, but does not
include a vessel transporting fish or fish products as part of
its general cargo;

“foreign fishing craft” means a fishing craft flying the flag of a
foreign State or registered in a foreign State;

“foreign ship” means a vessel in which less than fifty-one per cent
of the ownership is vested in nationals of Trinidad and
Tobago;

“master” means any person having command of a ship;
“Minister” means the Minister to whom responsibility for the

subject of External Affairs is assigned;
“nautical mile” means 1852 metres;
“territorial sea” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the

Territorial Sea Act.

PART II

ARCHIPELAGIC STATE

3. The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is declared an
archipelagic State.

4. The archipelagic waters of Trinidad and Tobago shall
include any areas of the sea that are enclosed by the archipelagic
baselines drawn in accordance with section 6.

5. The sovereignty of Trinidad and Tobago as an archipelagic
State extends to—

(a) the archipelagic waters regardless of their depth
or distance from the coast; and

(b) the airspace over the archipelagic waters as well
as their bed and subsoil and the resources both
living and non-living contained therein.

Declaration of
Trinidad and
Tobago as an
archipelagic
State.

Archipelagic
waters.

Legal status of
archipelagic
waters, airspace,
bed and subsoil.

Ch. 1:51.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
8 Chap. 51:06 Economic Zone

6. (1) The archipelagic baselines of Trinidad and Tobago
shall consist of straight baselines joining the outermost points of
the outermost islands and drying reefs of the archipelago.

(2) The baselines drawn in accordance with this
section shall be shown on charts of a scale or scales adequate for
ascertaining their position, or alternatively lists of geographical
co-ordinates of points, specifying the geodetic datum may
be substituted.

(3) The Minister shall give due publicity to such charts
or lists of geographical co-ordinates by Notice in the Gazette,
and shall cause a copy of each such chart or lists of geographical
co-ordinates to be deposited with the Secretary General of the
United Nations.

7. The breadth of the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the
exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf shall be
measured from archipelagic baselines drawn in accordance with
section 6.

8. Trinidad and Tobago may draw closing lines within its
archipelagic waters for the delimitation of the internal waters as
defined in the Territorial Sea Act.

9. (1) Without prejudice to section 5, Trinidad and Tobago
shall respect existing agreements and other treaties with other
States affecting areas falling within the archipelagic waters.

(2) The extent and the areas to which the existing
agreements apply, shall at the request of any of the States concerned,
be regulated by bilateral agreements between them.

10. Trinidad and Tobago shall respect existing submarine
cables laid by other States and passing through its waters, without
entering upon its territory and shall permit the maintenance and
replacement of such cables upon receiving due notice of their
location and the intention to repair or replace them.

Archipelagic
baselines.

Measurement of
territorial sea,
contiguous
zone, exclusive
economic zone
and continental
shelf.

Internal waters.

Ch. 1:51.

Existing
agreements.

Submarine
cables.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
Economic Zone Chap. 51:06 9

11. (1) Without prejudice to section 8 ships of all States
enjoy the right of innocent passage in the archipelagic waters of
Trinidad and Tobago.

(2) For the purpose of this section passage means
navigation through the archipelagic waters of Trinidad and Tobago
for the purpose of—

(a) crossing those waters without entering the internal
waters or calling at a roadstead or port facility
outside internal waters; or

(b) proceeding to or from internal waters or a call at
such roadstead or port facility.

(3) Such passage shall be continuous and expeditious
and includes stopping and anchoring but only in so far as they are
incidental to ordinary navigation or are rendered necessary by
force majeure or distress or for the purpose of rendering assistance
to persons, ships or aircrafts in danger or distress.

12. (1) Passage is innocent so long as it is not prejudicial to
the peace, good order or security of Trinidad and Tobago and is
in conformity with the provisions of the Convention and such
other relevant rules of international law.

(2) The passage of a foreign ship shall be considered
prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of Trinidad and
Tobago where it engages in the archipelagic waters, in the
following activities:

(a) any threat or use of force against the sovereignty,
territorial integrity or political independence of
Trinidad and Tobago or any violation of the
principles of international law embodied in the
Charter of the United Nations;

(b) any exercise or practice with weapons of any kind;
(c) any act aimed at collecting information to the

prejudice of the defence or security of Trinidad
and Tobago;

Right of
innocent
passage.

Meaning of
innocent
passage.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
10 Chap. 51:06 Economic Zone

(d) any act of propaganda aimed at affecting the
defence or security of Trinidad and Tobago;

(e) the launching, landing or taking on board of
any aircraft;

(f) the launching, landing or taking on board of any
military device;

(g) the loading or unloading of any commodity,
currency or person contrary to the customs fiscal,
immigration or sanitary laws and regulations of
Trinidad and Tobago;

(h) any act of wilful and serious pollution contrary
to the Convention;

(i) any fishing activities without the consent of the
Minister;

(j) the carrying out of research or survey activities
without the consent of the Minister;

(k) any act aimed at interfering with any systems of
communication or any other facilities or
installation of Trinidad and Tobago;

(l) any other activity not having a direct bearing on
passage.

13. (1) The President may by Proclamation suspend,
temporarily, in specified areas of the archipelagic waters, the
innocent passage of foreign ships, where such suspension is
essential for the protection of its security.

(2) Such suspension shall take effect only after due
publication.

(3) Failure to comply with a Proclamation made under
this section is an offence.

PART III

EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE

14. The exclusive economic zone of Trinidad and Tobago
(hereinafter referred to as “the exclusive economic zone”)
comprises all areas of sea, having as their innermost limits the

Suspension of
innocent
passage.

Establishment of
exclusive
economic zone.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
Economic Zone Chap. 51:06 11

outermost limits of the territorial sea, and as their outermost limits
a line drawn seaward from the baseline from which the territorial
sea is measured every point of which is at a distance of two hundred
nautical miles from the nearest point of the baselines from which
the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

15. Where the distance between Trinidad and Tobago and
opposite or adjacent States is less than four hundred nautical miles,
the boundary of the exclusive economic zone shall be determined
by agreement between Trinidad and Tobago and the States
concerned on the basis of international law in order to achieve an
equitable solution.

16. The Minister may by Order, and for the purpose of
implementing an international agreement or the award of an
international body declare that the outer limits of the exclusive
economic zone extend to such line, any point of which may be at a
distance of less than two hundred nautical miles from the nearest
point of the archipelagic baseline, as specified in such Order.

17. The Minister—
(a) shall cause the outer limits of the exclusive

economic zone and any lines of delimitation
drawn to be shown on charts of a scale or scales
adequate for determining them; or

(b) may substitute therefor lists of geographical
co-ordinates of points specifying the geodetic datum;

(c) give due publicity to such charts or lists of
geographical co-ordinates by Notice in the
Gazette; and

(d) shall cause a copy of each such chart or lists of
geographical co-ordinates to be deposited with
the Secretary General of the United Nations.

18. The establishment of the exclusive economic zone shall
not affect the vested rights of Trinidad and Tobago over the
seabed and submarine areas of the territorial sea and continental
shelf as set out in the Territorial Sea Act and the Continental
Shelf Act.

Delimitation of
exclusive
economic zone
between States
with opposite or
adjacent coasts.

Minister may
reduce outer
limits of
exclusive
economic zone.

Outer limits of
exclusive
economic zone
to be shown on
charts.

Vested rights of
Trinidad and
Tobago over
seabed and
submarine areas
continued.
Ch. 1:51.
Ch. 1:52.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
12 Chap. 51:06 Economic Zone

19. Trinidad and Tobago in the exclusive economic zone has—
(a) sovereign rights over—

(i) the exploration and exploitation,
conservation and management of the living
and non-living natural resources of the
waters superjacent to the seabed and of the
seabed and its subsoil;

(ii) the production of energy from the water,
currents and winds; and

(b) jurisdiction over—
(i) the establishment and use of artificial

islands, installations and structures;
(ii) marine scientific research; and

(iii) the protection and preservation of the
marine environment.

20. Subject to any other law in force every State enjoys in the
economic zone, the freedom of—

(a) navigation;
(b) overflight;
(c) laying of submarine cables and pipelines on the

continental shelf subject to the jurisdiction of
Trinidad and Tobago over such cables and
pipelines and the right of Trinidad and Tobago to
establish conditions for their laying.

21. The Minister to whom responsibility for fisheries is
assigned shall ensure, through proper conservation and
management, that the living resources in the exclusive economic
zone are not endangered by over-exploitation, and may from time
to time by Notice in the Gazette—

(a) determine the allowable catch in respect of every
fishery within the exclusive economic zone;

(b) determine the proportion of the allowable catch
to be harvested by citizens of Trinidad and Tobago
in the exclusive economic zone;

Sovereign rights
and jurisdiction
of Trinidad and
Tobago in
exclusive
economic zone.

Other States in
the exclusive
economic zone.

Conservation
and
management of
living resources.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
Economic Zone Chap. 51:06 13

(c) prescribe on the basis of agreements or other
arrangements for the remaining proportion of the
allowable catch which other States or the nationals
of such States are permitted to harvest in the
exclusive economic zone.

22. No State, international organisation, nor person, shall
without the consent in writing of the President signified by
Notice engage within the exclusive economic zone in any of the
following activities:

(a) the exploration and exploitation, conservation and
management of living and non-living natural
resources;

(b) the production of energy from water, currents
and winds;

(c) the establishment and use of artificial islands,
installations and structures;

(d) marine scientific research;
(e) the protection and preservation of the marine

environment; and
(f) any other such activity.

23. The provisions of section 22 in relation to the activity of
fishing, shall not apply to the right of a citizen of Trinidad and
Tobago or a body incorporated in Trinidad and Tobago in which at
least fifty-one per cent of the shares are owned by citizens of
Trinidad and Tobago.

24. The President may withhold his consent to the conduct
of a marine scientific research project of another State or
international organisation in the exclusive economic zone where
the project proposal—

(a) is of direct significance for the exploration and
exploitation of living and non-living natural
resources;

(b) involves drilling into the continental shelf, the use
of explosives or the introduction of harmful
substances into the marine environment;

Certain
activities of a
State, etc.,
prohibited
without consent.

Right of citizen
or body
corporate to fish
in exclusive
economic zone.

President may
withhold
consent to
marine scientific
research project
of a State.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
14 Chap. 51:06 Economic Zone

(c) involves the construction, operation or use of
artificial islands, installations and structures;

(d) contains information regarding the nature and
objectives of the project which is inaccurate;

(e) is made by a researching State or competent
international organisation which has outstanding
obligations to Trinidad and Tobago from a prior
research project;

(f) will result in activities that unjustifiably interfere
with activities undertaken by Trinidad and
Tobago in accordance with its sovereign rights
and jurisdiction.

25. Trinidad and Tobago may by agreement or treaty,
authorise any State, international organisation or person to fish
within the exclusive economic zone, the territorial sea and the
archipelagic waters.

26. (1) No foreign fishing craft nor the master and members
of the crew of a foreign fishing craft may engage in fishing in the
exclusive economic zone, the territorial sea and the archipelagic
waters without a licence issued by the Minister to whom
responsibility for fisheries is assigned.

(2) The Minister to whom responsibility for fisheries is
assigned may, on payment of the prescribed fees issue licences in
respect of—

(a) a foreign fishing craft; and
(b) the master and members of the crew of a foreign

fishing craft.
(3) A licence issued in respect of a foreign fishing craft

shall state the crafts specifications and operating conditions.
(4) A licence issued in respect of the master and members

of the crew of a foreign fishing craft shall state their—
(a) names and addresses;
(b) ages;

Trinidad and
Tobago to
authorise fishing
by agreement or
treaty.

Licences for
foreign fishing
craft and crew
to fish in
exclusive
economic zone,
territorial sea,
and the
archipelagic
waters.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
Economic Zone Chap. 51:06 15

(c) fisherman registration numbers;
(d) identification numbers; and
(e) experience in fishing activities.

27. The Minister to whom responsibility for fisheries is
assigned shall ensure that—

(a) the total catch of all foreign fishing craft does not
exceed the total allowable catch prescribed for
all such craft; and

(b) the total catch by all foreign fishing craft of any
one State does not exceed the apportionment
prescribed for that State.

28. (1) The persons referred to in subsection (2) are
empowered in the exercise of their official functions to—

(a) stop and board, inspect, seize and detain a foreign
fishing craft,

(b) seize any fish and equipment found on board the
foreign fishing craft, and

(c) arrest the master and crew of any foreign
fishing craft,

in the exclusive economic zone, the territorial sea and the
archipelagic waters, and may also institute such criminal
proceedings against them, as may be necessary to ensure
compliance with the Act and the Regulations.

(2) The persons to whom subsection (1) applies are—
(a) members of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard;
(b) members of the Police Service;
(c) Fisheries Officers of the Ministry responsible

for fisheries;
(d) Customs Officers;
(e) the Harbour Master; and
(f) any other person authorised in writing by

the Minister.

Foreign fishing
craft not to
exceed
prescribed
allowable catch.

Surveillance in
the exclusive
economic zone,
the territorial
sea and the
archipelagic
waters.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
16 Chap. 51:06 Economic Zone

29. (1) The provisions of section 26 shall not apply to a
foreign fishing craft or to the master and members of the crew of
such craft—

(a) in which at least fifty-one per cent of the
ownership thereof is vested in citizens of Trinidad
and Tobago; or

(b) owned by a company incorporated in Trinidad
and Tobago in which at least fifty-one per cent
of the shares is vested in citizens of Trinidad
and Tobago.

(2) The Minister to whom responsibility for fisheries is
assigned may issue a Certificate of Exemption to every such foreign
fishing craft referred to in subsection (1).

(3) The Certificate of Exemption shall be carried on board
the foreign fishing craft, and shall be tendered for inspection at the
request of any one or all of the persons referred to in section 28.

30. (1) Any foreign fishing craft and the master and members
of the crew of a foreign fishing craft who, in breach of section 26—

(a) fish in the exclusive economic zone, the territorial
sea or the archipelagic waters without a licence;

(b) fail to comply with the terms of a licence; or
(c) obstruct a person empowered to undertake

surveillance in the exclusive economic zone, the
territorial sea or the archipelagic waters in the
performance of his duties,

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction in the
case of an offence in the exclusive economic zone to a fine of fifty
thousand dollars and in the case of an offence in the territorial sea
and the archipelagic waters to a fine of ten thousand dollars and
imprisonment for six months and in addition in all cases to
suspension or cancellation of the licence, forfeiture of the craft,
equipment and all the fish found on board.

(2) Any foreign ship and the master and members of its
crew that pass through the archipelagic waters of Trinidad and

Exemption.

Offences.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
Economic Zone Chap. 51:06 17

Tobago contrary to section 11 or 13 is guilty of an offence and is
liable on summary conviction to a fine of twenty-five thousand
dollars and to imprisonment for six months.

(3) Any offence, under the provisions of this Act or
Regulations which is committed within the exclusive economic
zone shall be deemed to have been committed in Trinidad
and Tobago.

31. A foreign fishing craft which is seized and detained and
the master and crew of which are arrested under section 28 shall
be promptly released upon the posting of the prescribed bond in
the sum of one hundred thousand dollars or other surety.

32. The President may make Regulations for implementing
the provisions of this Act for anything that is required or authorised
to be prescribed by or under this Act and in particular for the—

(a) protection and preservation of the marine
environment, and the prevention, reduction and
control of pollution of that environment
arising from—

(i) land-based sources including rivers,
estuaries, pipelines and outfall structures;

(ii) seabed activities under the jurisdiction of
Trinidad and Tobago and artificial islands
installations and structures under its
jurisdiction;

(iii) dumping;
(iv) vessels; and
(v) the atmosphere;

(b) marine scientific research within the exclusive
economic zone;

(c) construction operation and use of—
(i) artificial islands;

(ii) installations and structures for
economic purposes;

Release of
arrested crafts
and their crews.

Regulations.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
18 Chap. 51:06 Economic Zone

(iii) installations and structures which may
interfere with the exercise of the rights of
Trinidad and Tobago,

within the exclusive economic zone;
(d) exploration and exploitation of the exclusive

economic zone for the production of energy from
waters, currents and winds;

(e) administration of the Act;
(f) licensing of the master and members of the crew

of a foreign fishing craft, fishing craft and
equipment;

(g) payment of licence fees;
(h) determination of the species of fish which may

be caught;
(i) fixing of quotas of catch of fish, whether in

relation to particular stocks or groups of stocks
or catch per craft over a period of time or to the
catch by Foreign States or the citizens of such
States during a specified period;

(j) regulating seasons and areas of fishing;
(k) the types, sizes and amount of gear and the types,

sizes and number of fishing crafts that may be
used for fishing;

(l) fixing of the age and size of fish and other species
that may be caught;

(m) the specifying of information required of fishing
craft, including catch, and effort statistics and
craft position reports;

(n) conduct and regulation under the authorisation
and control of the Government of specified
fisheries research programmes including the
sampling of catches, disposition of samples and
reporting of associated scientific data;

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
Economic Zone Chap. 51:06 19

(o) the placing of observers or trainees, by the
Government, on board crafts involved in fisheries
research programmes;

(p) landing of all or any part of the catch by such
craft in the ports of Trinidad and Tobago;

(q) terms and conditions relating to joint ventures or
other mutually agreed arrangements;

(r) requirements for the training of personnel and the
transfer of technology and research methodology
related to the conservation and management of
the living and non-living marine resources;

(s) the designation of archipelagic sea lanes passage.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive
20 Chap. 51:06 Economic Zone

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

ARCHIPELAGIC BASELINES OF TRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO ORDER

made under section 6(3)

1. This Oder may be cited as the Archipelagic Baselines of
Trindad and Tobago Order.

2. The geographical co-ordinates of the points used in
determining the straight archipelagic baselines of Trinidad and
Tobago indicating the outermost limits of the archipelagic waters
and the innermost limits of the territorial sea, are contained in the
First Schedule.

3. The straight archipelagic baselines of Trinidad and
Tobago are illustrated in the Second Schedule.

4. The geographical co-ordinates contained in Part 1 of the
Schedule are referenced to the Naparima Datum 1955
(International Spheroid).

FIRST SCHEDULE
GEOGRAPHICAL CO-ORDINATES OF POINTS USED FOR

DETERMINING THE ARCHIPELAGIC BASELINES OF TRINIDAD
AND TOBAGO,

(NAPARIMA DATUM 1955—INTERNATIONAL SPHEROID)

206/1988.
[77/1989].

Citation.

Co-ordinates.

First Schedule.

Baselines.
Second
Schedule.

Geodetic datum.
Schedule.

Point No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

10
11

Name
East Rock
Casa Cruz Rock
Alcatras Rock
Icacos Point
Black Rock
Cabresse Point
Cabresse Island
Sisters Island
Marble Island
St. Giles Island
Little Tobago

Latitude
10º 08' 12" N
10º 04' 22" N
10º 04' 19" N
10º 02' 28" N
10º 03' 27" N
10º 41' 47" N
10º 41' 58" N
11º 19' 57" N
11º 21' 39" N
11º 21' 28" N
11º 17' 39" N

Longitude
60º 59' 02" W
61º 09' 45" W
61º 13' 28" W
61º 54' 30" W
62º 01' 33" W
61º 45' 36" W
61º 45' 25" W
60º 38' 42" W
60º 31' 37" W
60º 30' 52" W
60º 29' 40" W

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Chap. 51:06 21
Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive

Economic Zone
Archipelagic Baselines of Trinidad and Tobago Order [Subsidiary]

SECOND SCHEDULE

MAP SHOWING ARCHIPELAGIC BASELINES OF
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Scale 1 : 1 000 000 Naparima Datum 1955
at Latitude 10º 00' N International Spheroid

Projection: Mercator

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt