It defines where the public can access the water for leisure and where restrictions might be in place to protect sensitive habitats. If a body of water is classified as inland, the specific rules of that state or province apply without interference from international maritime law.
Inland Waters Trade Policy Cornerstone: Defining the Scope
It also covers rivers, streams, creeks, and canals that connect these bodies of water. Defining inland waters requires precision, as the term encompasses far more than simply looking at a map and identifying lakes and rivers.
For legal, environmental, and navigational purposes, these waters form a critical internal network that is distinct from the open ocean. Territorial seas, which extend 12 nautical miles from the baseline, are also distinct from inland waters.
Inland Waters Trade Policy Cornerstone: Defining the Scope
Importantly, the definition often extends to bays and sounds that are directly connected to a river system but remain within the national baseline. Boating, fishing, swimming, and kayaking are all activities regulated by the specific laws of inland waters.
More About What is considered inland waters
Looking at What is considered inland waters from another angle can help expand the discussion and give readers a second clear paragraph under the same section.
More perspective on What is considered inland waters can make the topic easier to follow by connecting earlier points with a few simple takeaways.
