United States-Japan maritime boundary determination survey Project report : United States-Japan maritime boundary determination survey

In 1977, the Japanese government declared a 200 nautical mile fishing limit surrounding its possessions. The United States extended fishing limits around the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas to 200 nautical miles in 1978. These declared fishing limits overlap between Farrallon De Pajaros (Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas) and Minami - Io Shima (Japan) since the islands are separated by approximately 290 nautical miles. Equidistant lines from points on the coastline that remain exposed at low water are generally to define maritime boundaries. Japan and the United States have agreed to conclude a maritime boundary using this technique. This report includes the technical data that the United States wishes to incorporate in the calculation of the equidistant line.