The law “for the enhancement of marine resources,” one of the most significant systematic reforms for the Italian maritime sector, officially entered into force on May 10. The contiguous zone, which is the heart of this new law, addresses a historical void in the Italian legal system: the absence of a zone that is contiguous to the territorial sea. The measure grants the government the authority to establish it by presidential decree, within a distance of 12 to 24 nautical miles from the littoral. Within this range, the coastal state can use control powers—but not absolute sovereignty—to prevent or punish infractions of customs, tax, health, and immigration laws and regulations. Simply expressed, until now, Italy had full sovereignty only inside 12 miles (the territorial sea). Beyond that border, in international waters, controls were far more challenging. The State will now have the ability to intervene against individuals who attempt irregular immigration by sea, violate health regulations, smuggle products, or evade taxes for an additional 12 miles (up to a total of 24).