Federated States of Micronesia

National Territory

The National Territory of the Federated States of Micronesia is established in its National Constitution, which states: “The territory of the Federated States of Micronesia is comprised of the Districts of the Micronesian archipelago that ratify this Constitution. Unless limited by international treaty obligations assumed by the Federated States of Micronesia, or by its own act, the waters connecting the islands of the archipelago are internal waters regardless of dimensions, and jurisdiction extends to a marine space of 200 miles measured outward f

rom appropriate baselines, the seabed, subsoil, water column, insular or continental shelves, airspace over land and water, and any other territory or waters belonging to Micronesia by historic right, custom, or legal title.” Art. I, Sec. 1, FSM Constitution.

National Legislation

Title 18 of the Code of the Federated States of Micronesia is the primary legislation defining the Federated States of Micronesia’s maritime zones. This is part of the FSM Code that defines the baseline, territorial sea and internal waters, exclusive economic zone, contiguous zone and continental shelf. The 19th Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia passed into law Public Law No. 19-172 that provided critical updates to Title 18 on April 28, 2017. These updates clarified the establishment of the various maritime zones of the FSM, including the status of continental shelf and the extensions thereof.

Territorial Sea Baselines

Annex I to the Permanent Regulation on the Maritime Boundaries and Maritime Zones of the Federated States of Micronesia proclaims the geographical coordinates of the territorial sea baselines of the separate islands of the Federated States of Micronesia.

Maritime Zones

The maritime zones of the Federated States of Micronesia are defined in the following Annexes under the Permanent Regulation on the Maritime Boundaries and Maritime Zones of the Federated States of Micronesia: Part II, Annex I, FSM Maritime Boundaries Territorial Seas Zone; Part III, Annex I, FSM Maritime Boundaries Contiguous Zone ; and Part IV, Annex I, FSM Maritime Boundaries Exclusive Economic Zone

Extended Continental Shelf Claims (under Article 76 of UNCLOS)

The Federated States of Micronesia has received Recommendations from the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to a joint submission with the Solomon Island and Papua New Guinea concerning the Ontong Java Plateau on 17 March 2017. The Federated States of Micronesia has submitted preliminary information to the CLCS in relation to Eauripik Ridge and Massau Ridge areas on 5 May 2009. The Federated States of Micronesia made a presentation to the CLCS in respect of the Eauripik Rise on 14 March 2014. The Federated States of Micronesia is working on an additional extended continental shelf submission covering the North of Yap area, which will be lodged with the CLCS in respect of the Eauripik Rise on 14 March 2014.