Dominica–France Maritime Delimitation Agreement
Encyclopedia
The Dominica–France Maritime Delimitation Agreement is a 1987 treaty
between Dominica
and France
which delimits
the maritime boundary
between Dominica
and the French territories of Guadeloupe
and Martinique
. It was the first maritime boundary treaty in the Central America/Caribbean region to be based on the rules of the Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The treaty was signed in Paris
on 7 September 1987. The text of the treaty sets out two boundaries. The first boundary
separates Dominica from Guadeloupe to its north. The boundary is 298 nautical miles long and is a simplified equidistant line that runs through the Dominica Passage
in roughly an east–west direction. It consists of seven straight-line maritime
segments defined by eight individual coordinate points.
The more southern boundary separates Dominica from Martinique to its south. The boundary is 294 nautical miles long and is a simplified equidistant line that runs through the Martinique Passage
in roughly an east–west direction and roughly parallel to the first boundary. It consists of five straight-line segments defined by six individual coordinate points.
The treaty came into force on 23 December 1988 after it had been ratified
by both states. The full name of the treaty is Agreement on Maritime Delimitation between the Government of French Republic and the Government of Dominica. The treaty was signed by French Prime Minister
Jacques Chirac
and Dominica Prime Minister
Eugenia Charles
.
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
between Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
which delimits
Boundary delimitation
Boundary delimitation, or simply delimitation, is the term used to describe the drawing of boundaries, but is most often used to describe the drawing of electoral boundaries, specifically those of precincts, states, counties or other municipalities...
the maritime boundary
Maritime boundary
Maritime boundary is a conceptual means of division of the water surface of the planet into maritime areas that are defined through surrounding physical geography or by human geography. As such it usually includes areas of exclusive national rights over the mineral and biological resources,...
between Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
and the French territories of Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
and Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
. It was the first maritime boundary treaty in the Central America/Caribbean region to be based on the rules of the Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The treaty was signed in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on 7 September 1987. The text of the treaty sets out two boundaries. The first boundary
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
separates Dominica from Guadeloupe to its north. The boundary is 298 nautical miles long and is a simplified equidistant line that runs through the Dominica Passage
Dominica Passage
Dominica Passage is a strait in the Caribbean. It separates the islands of Dominica and Guadeloupe....
in roughly an east–west direction. It consists of seven straight-line maritime
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
segments defined by eight individual coordinate points.
The more southern boundary separates Dominica from Martinique to its south. The boundary is 294 nautical miles long and is a simplified equidistant line that runs through the Martinique Passage
Martinique Passage
Martinique Passage is a strait in the Caribbean, at . It separates Dominica and Martinique....
in roughly an east–west direction and roughly parallel to the first boundary. It consists of five straight-line segments defined by six individual coordinate points.
The treaty came into force on 23 December 1988 after it had been ratified
Ratification
Ratification is a principal's approval of an act of its agent where the agent lacked authority to legally bind the principal. The term applies to private contract law, international treaties, and constitutionals in federations such as the United States and Canada.- Private law :In contract law, the...
by both states. The full name of the treaty is Agreement on Maritime Delimitation between the Government of French Republic and the Government of Dominica. The treaty was signed by French Prime Minister
Prime Minister of France
The Prime Minister of France in the Fifth Republic is the head of government and of the Council of Ministers of France. The head of state is the President of the French Republic...
Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
and Dominica Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Dominica
The Prime Minister of Dominica is the head of government in the Commonwealth of Dominica. Nominally, the position was created on November 3, 1978 when Dominica gained independence from the United Kingdom...
Eugenia Charles
Eugenia Charles
Dame Mary Eugenia Charles, DBE was Prime Minister of Dominica from 21 July 1980 until 14 June 1995. She was Dominica's first, and to date only, female prime minister, as well as the nation's longest serving prime minister...
.