Territorial Seas - UK's response to Chief Minister's request

Summary

The request sought correspondence between the Isle of Man Chief Minister and the UK Government regarding the territorial sea median line and EEZ from May 2024 onwards. The response disclosed internal Isle of Man emails from January and February 2024 discussing the drafting and potential release of a letter to the UK Ministry of Justice, though the outcome was noted as partially exempt.

Key Facts

• The request concerns the future of the sea area beyond the Isle of Man's 12 nautical mile territorial limit and the median line with the UK.
• The Chief Minister's initial letter to the UK Ministry of Justice was drafted in early 2024 following a Tynwald resolution.
• Internal correspondence reveals discussions about sharing the letter with Tynwald Members and the potential for it to enter the public domain.
• The response includes emails from Anne Shimmin, External Relations Manager, dated January and February 2024.
• The FOI outcome was 'Some information sent but part exempt'.

Data Disclosed

• May 2024
• 12 nautical mile
• 2025-10-28
• 2025-11-26
• 63 pages
• 2 documents
• 02 February 2024
• 05 January 2024
• December 2023
• EPT231212-EVE-RHX.pdf

Original Request

"In/around May 2024 our Chief Minister wrote to Mike Freer, then Under Secretary of State in the UK's Ministry of Justice to ask about the future of the area of sea beyond the Island's 12 nautical mile territorial sea limit and the median line with the United Kingdom.

Please can I see a copy of:

A) Our Chief Minister's initial letter.

B) The UK's initial reply.

C) Any and all further correspondence between the IOM & UK Govts on this matter to date.

Thank you."

On the 27 October 2025 we wrote to ask you for clarification as follows:

"In order to identify and locate the information that you have asked for we need some further information from you. In particular, it would be helpful to know the following: at part C) of your request, you have asked for "any and all further correspondence", by this do you mean correspondence since the date of what you describe as "the UK's initial reply". If this is not what you mean, please advise accordingly, providing a description of the information you are seeking."

On 30 October 2025 you provided clarification by e-mail:

By 'any and all further correspondence", I request correspondence since the date of the Chief Minister's initial letter in/around May 2024. The description of the information you are seeking is any and all further correspondence on this matter."