High seas are international marine waters outside the jurisdiction of any country. Under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, the high seas begin 200 nautical miles from the coastline. Part VII regulates permissible and impermissible conduct on the high seas more generally, for example, by guaranteeing freedom of navigation on the high seas and prohibiting nations from subjecting any part of the high seas to its sovereignty.
[Last updated in February of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]