The contiguous zone is a band of water extending from the outer edge of the territorial sea to up to 24 nautical miles from the coastal baseline (usually the mean low-water mark), within which a state can exert limited control for the purpose of preventing or punishing "infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations within its territory or territorial sea". However, unlike the territorial sea there is no standard rule for resolving such conflicts, and the states in question must negotiate their own compromise.
source: NOAA Office of Coast Survey
info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_waters
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