Vanuatu Islands, 1981, Maritime Boundaries, Dataset

This record holds, GIS layers that contains poly-lines and point features that represent the maritime boundaries of Vanuatu. This includes a gazetted polyline representing the 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone over which Vanuatu has sovereign rights, for the purposes of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources of the seabed, subsoil and superjacent waters. The layers represent the archipelagic straight baselines and base points for the country's maritime zone. The Secretariat has updated these baselines against more recent and accurate information supplied by the respective government . The Pacific Islands Regional Maritime Boundaries data release contains the revised straight baselines as are currently proclaimed. New coordinates has been updated to this dataset and deposited with UN in July 2010. This record also contains digital information about the treaties. These baselines are held at the Secretariat on behalf of the Vanuatu Government and can be downloaded from the appropriate link under the Distribution Infor section.The Pacific Islands Regional Maritime Boundaries Project is assisting countries deal with the critical issue of delineation of their maritime boundaries with a focus on: * Providing maritime boundaries delimitation data and information for the member countries to assist in preparation of claims for delimitation of their EEZ; * Developing comprehensive data-sets which facilitate definition of the legal and administrative offshore limits for member countries, in accordance with the provisions of UNCLOS; * Building national capacity within member countries to undertake these assessments * Providing advice and assistance to member countries on relevant provisions of UNCLOS; * Acting as an information and data repository.

These GIS layers are a unique delineation of maritime boundaries of the different member Pacific Island countries. These baselines can be used for diverse purposes by government agencies, surveyors, environmentalist, mariners and other individuals. These applications include biogeography for the creation of species distribution lists per country, determination of legal catch area for fishing, marine transportation, determination of pollution and other environmental issues within a coastal state , regulate disturbance of sea floor activities, educational purposes and a variety of other applications.The Vanuatu group of 80 islands lies roughly 500 miles west of Fiji and 258 miles north-east ofNew Caledonia between 12° South and 21° South (or 22° 30’ South including Matthew and HunterIslands) and 166° East and 171° East. The land area is approximately 12,189 sq km, excludingMatthew and Hunter Islands. These islands, originally part of the New Hebrides Condominium,became part of New Caledonia in 1955 and are now claimed by both Vanuatu and France. Theprincipal islands of the group are Espiritu Santo, Malekula, Epi, Pentecost, Aoba, Maewo, Paama,Ambrym, Efate, Erromanga, Tanna, and Aneityum.