<P> UNCLOS replaces the older' freedom of the seas' concept, dating from the 17th century: national rights were limited to a specified belt of water extending from a nation's coastlines, usually 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) (Three - mile limit), according to the' cannon shot' rule developed by the Dutch jurist Cornelius van Bynkershoek . All waters beyond national boundaries were considered international waters: free to all nations, but belonging to none of them (the mare liberum principle promulgated by Hugo Grotius). </P> <P> In the early 20th century, some nations expressed their desire to extend national claims: to include mineral resources, to protect fish stocks, and to provide the means to enforce pollution controls . (The League of Nations called a 1930 conference at The Hague, but no agreements resulted .) Using the customary international law principle of a nation's right to protect its natural resources, President Harry S. Truman in 1945 extended United States control to all the natural resources of its continental shelf . Other nations were quick to follow suit . Between 1946 and 1950, Chile, Peru, and Ecuador extended their rights to a distance of 200 nautical miles (370 km) to cover their Humboldt Current fishing grounds . Other nations extended their territorial seas to 12 nautical miles (22 km). </P> <P> By 1967, only 25 nations still used the old 3 - mile (4.8 km) limit, while 66 nations had set a 12 - nautical - mile (22 km) territorial limit and eight had set a 200 - nautical - mile (370 km) limit . As of 28 May 2008, only two countries still use the 3 - mile (4.8 km) limit: Jordan and Palau . That limit is also used in certain Australian islands, an area of Belize, some Japanese straits, certain areas of Papua New Guinea, and a few British Overseas Territories, such as Anguilla . </P> <Table> Territorial waters claims by coastal states in 1960 <Tr> <Th> Breadth claim </Th> <Th> Number of states </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 3 - mile limit </Td> <Td> 26 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 4 - mile limit </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 - mile limit </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 - mile limit </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 9 - mile limit </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 - mile limit </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 12 - mile limit </Td> <Td> 34 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> More than 12 - miles </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Unspecified </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> </Tr> </Table>

The law of the sea treaty established a uniform territorial sea of