Exclusive Economic Zone
Short description
The dataset contains the digitized Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries in the Baltic Sea based on the documents submitted by the Baltic Sea countries to the United Nations. These submissions, which are available online (http://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/europe.htm), include nautical charts, maritime boundary delimitation agreements, and treaties between different countries (containing the agreed coordinates of the boundaries). In case of non-existing submission, the older EEZ version was used resulting from various HELCOM activities. The dataset has been amended with bilateral agreements, when available.
Point of contact
HELCOM Secretariat
data@helcom.fi
Spatial extent
['9.176578', '31.711806', '53.043312', '66.416104']
Type
dataset
Metadata information
Identifier
Keywords
Bio-geographical regions ; GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 ;

administrative boundary ; GEMET ;

MADS ; Boundaries ; Oceans ;

Resource provider(s)
HELCOM Secretariat
data@helcom.fi

Lineage
Most of the EEZ borders were digitized from coordinates found in the page of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the United Nations (http://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/europe.htm). Each country’s submission (form the oldest to the newest/updated version) were digitized in ArcMap 10.4 and transformed to ETRS89. After digitizing, the newest updates were retained. In cases where two or more countries share the same EEZ border the newest updates were considered and/or the treaties and agreements they approved between themselves. This work was carried out in 2017 by Erasmus Mundus MSP trainees Fana Mehari Hagos and Princess Hope Bilgera. The dataset was updated in 27 August 2019 according to the agreement between Denmark and Poland (http://www.dziennikustaw.gov.pl/DU/2019/1240/1). Attribute table: Ref_Source: name of the document from where the coordinates were digitized. "Old EEZ used by HELCOM (from various sources)" means that the border comes from an old HELCOM dataset (see lineage below) Year: Year of the agreement Link: Link to the pdf of the UN In December 2017 the border between Estonia and Russia was corrected. In November 2019, the Swedish EEZ file was edited. The source was the Swedish Maritime Administration (https://www.sjofartsverket.se/sv/Maritima-Tjanster/Havsgranser/). The lineage of the old version of EEZ used by HELCOM is this: This dataset was partially altered and incorporated into the GIS of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BFN). It was edited slightly (based on sea charts and HELCOM maps) and transformed into WGS84 Mercator projection by Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE). Later the projection was changed to ETRS 1989 LAEA for the purpose of HELCOM's web-based Baltic GIS map service. In 2005, HELCOM made some amendments to the dataset as the original set did not include, for instance, the boundaries between Latvia, Lithuania and Kaliningrad, Poland. In January 2006 HELCOM updated parts of the EEZ boundary based on corrected data submitted by Germany. In August 2007 the dataset was edited to create one polyline per territorial water area. In March 2008, the dataset was corrected according to updated information on Danish territoral water boundaries, received from the Royal Danish Administration of Navigation & Hydrography. In September 2008 the maritime border between Estonia and Russia was amended according to an agreement signed by the two countries on 18 May 2005. NOTICE: data is not precise due to the high level of generality of the data source. Boundaries shown do not reflect any political opinions.