Barbados is seeking to strengthen its maritime boundaries, protect its sovereign rights at sea and establish clearer rules governing activities in its waters through new legislation.
Speaking on the Maritime Areas And Jurisdiction Bill, 2026, in the House of Assembly yesterday, Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill said the legislation was critical to safeguarding Barbados’ maritime interests while ensuring the island remained compliant with international law under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
He explained that the bill formally established Barbados’ maritime zones, including its territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, while also outlining the country’s rights and responsibilities within those areas.
He noted that under the legislation, Barbados would retain full sovereignty within its territorial sea, extending 12 nautical miles from its baselines, including authority over the airspace, seabed and waters within that zone.
The minister said the Bill also reinforced the principle of freedom of the seas, acknowledging that the high seas remained open to all nations and that no state could claim sovereignty over them.
However, he stressed that Barbados still retained jurisdiction over vessels flying its flag and would exercise sovereign rights over activities farther out at sea, particularly in relation to economic exploitation and environmental protection.
Among the freedoms recognised under the legislation are navigation, overflight, fishing, scientific research, the laying of submarine cables and pipelines, and the construction of offshore installations permitted under international law.
Gooding-Edghill said those freedoms must still be exercised with due regard for the rights and interests of other states under the convention.
The legislation also establishes Barbados’ exclusive economic zone extending up to 200 nautical miles from the island’s baselines. Within that zone, the country will have authority over the exploration, conservation and management of natural resources, including oil, gas and minerals.
“This is very important when people are looking to explore for oil and minerals,” Gooding-Edghill told the House, adding that the bill created the “necessary lawful safeguards” for such activities.
It also grants Barbados authority to regulate offshore structures, drilling operations, marine scientific research and energy production from water, currents and wind.
The minister said the legislation further strengthened oversight of activities on the continental shelf, where Barbados would exercise rights over drilling, marine research, pollution prevention and environmental preservation.
He noted that offshore islands, installations and structures within the exclusive economic zone would fall under the laws of Barbados as though they were within the territorial sea.
The minister also highlighted provisions relating to marine environmental protection, warning that masters of Barbados-registered vessels on the high seas would be prohibited from engaging in activities that polluted or damaged the marine environment.
(NS)
