The maritime areas under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of coastal states are governed by international law, particularly the law of the sea, which encompasses all the rules related to the definition and use of maritime areas. This law of the sea is based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), signed on December 10, 1982, in Montego Bay (Jamaica) and ratified by France on April 11, 1996. This convention defines the various maritime areas that can be claimed by coastal states as well as the rights and obligations of states over all maritime areas.

France's maritime areas, covering a total surface of approximately 10.7 million km², represent the second-largest maritime area in the world, behind that of the United States. Overseas territories account for 97% of these areas. Thus, France is a coastal state bordering almost all the oceans.

The Washington Treaty of December 1, 1959, which froze all claims on the Antarctic continent, prevents possession states, like France, from exercising sovereignty or jurisdiction over the waters beyond the Antarctic territory they claim. Requests for continental shelf extensions are also suspended. Consequently, the maritime areas related to Adélie Land are not included in the maritime areas currently in effect for France.

UNCLOS specifies the different categories of areas over which states can exercise their sovereignty or jurisdiction.

Sovereignty areas:

-- Internal waters

-- Territorial sea

Jurisdiction areas:

-- Contiguous zone

-- Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

-- Continental shelf