EEZ: Portugal, Spain in row over Savage Islands.

LISBON: Portugal yesterday said it will press the United Nations to let it expand its control over the waters around the uninhabited Savage Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, a move opposed by Spain.

The tiny archipelago, made up of two major islands and several islets of volcanic origin that house a nature reserve, is located nearly midway between Portugal’s Madeira Islands and Spain’s Canary Islands.

Portugal said it wants to set up an exclusive economic zone off the coast of the Savage Islands, which, under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, would grant the country 12 nautical miles of territorial control around them and a claim to sovereign rights to explore, exploit, conserve and manage natural resources that exist within 200 nautical miles.