Mare clausum (legal Latin meaning “closed sea”) is a term used in international law to mention a sea, ocean or other navigable body of water under the jurisdiction of a state that is closed or not accessible to other states. Mare clausum is an exception to mare liberum (Latin for “free sea”), meaning a sea that is open to navigation to ships of all nations.

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mare clausum

I,ma:rei ‘klausum, marI ‘klo:z(a)m |

noun (plural maria clausa | ,ma.rio ‘klause,

‘klo:za |) Law

the sea that is under the jurisdiction of a particular country.

ORIGIN

Latin, ‘closed sea’.

Oxford dictionary

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mare clausum

ma·re clau·sum ˈmär-(ˌ)ā-ˈklau̇-səm -ˈklȯ-

: a navigable body of water (such as a sea) that is under the jurisdiction of one nation and is closed to other nations

Merriam-Webster

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Mare Clausum: Law and Legal Definition

clausum is a term in international law. This means closed sea or sea under the jurisdiction of a state which is not open to all. The term refers to sea, ocean or other navigable body of water under the jurisdiction of a state that is closed or not accessible to other states. Waters contiguous to the coastline of a state are mare clausum. These waters are called territorial waters.

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