The oceans are not owned by any individual country or entity. They are considered to be international waters, which means that they are free to be used by all countries for navigation, fishing, and other peaceful purposes. However, some countries may have exclusive economic zones (EEZs) that extend up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) from their coastlines. Within these EEZs, countries have certain rights and responsibilities, such as managing fisheries and protecting the environment.