The sanctuary includes the whole of the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is the area 200 nautical miles surrounding the continent of Australia and its external dependencies such as Christmas Island (in the Indian Ocean), Cocos (Keeling) Island, Norfolk Island, Macquarie Island and Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and including the EEZ adjoining the coastline of the Australian Antarctic Territory which is only recognised by United Kingdom, New Zealand, France and Norway.