Within the framework of the law of the sea, which of the following is NOT an exclusive right of the coastal nation over its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to world geography and international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The concept of an Exclusive Economic Zone allows coastal states certain sovereign rights over marine resources up to a defined distance from their coastlines. At the same time, high seas freedoms like navigation remain available to other states. Understanding which activities are exclusive rights of the coastal state and which remain as general freedoms is important for examinations that cover maritime boundaries and resource jurisdiction.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The subject is the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of a coastal nation.
• We must identify which listed activity is not an exclusive right of the coastal state.
• Options include exploitation of minerals, exploitation of energy and organisms, conservation and management, and navigation of ships with submarine cables.
• We assume the standard EEZ rules under the law of the sea.

Concept / Approach:
Within its EEZ, a coastal state has sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving and managing natural resources, whether living or non living, in the water column, sea bed and subsoil. It also has jurisdiction over certain activities like marine scientific research and environmental protection. However, freedoms of navigation and overflight and the laying of submarine cables and pipelines remain available to other states, subject to reasonable regulation. Therefore, the activities mentioned in options a, b and c are exclusive rights, while navigation and laying submarine cables are recognised as international freedoms rather than exclusive rights.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Review option a. Survey and exploitation of mineral resources of ocean deposits clearly fall under the coastal state sovereign rights in its EEZ. Step 2: Review option b. Exploitation of marine water energy and marine organisms including fishing are core EEZ rights, as the state controls these natural resources. Step 3: Review option c. Conservation and management of marine resources is a key responsibility and right of the coastal state under EEZ provisions. Step 4: Review option d. Navigation of ships and laying down submarine cables are generally part of high seas freedoms that continue within EEZs for other states, subject to certain regulations, and are not exclusive rights of the coastal nation. Step 5: Therefore, option d is the activity that is not an exclusive right and should be selected.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, one can recall that the idea of an EEZ is a compromise between coastal state resource control and continued freedom of navigation. Coastal states gain control over economic resources but cannot block the passage of foreign ships or the laying of international submarine cables and pipelines that are vital for global communications and trade, except under limited circumstances. This distinction is emphasised in many geography and law textbooks. Hence, any question asking which option is not an exclusive right should logically point to navigation and submarine cables as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Survey and exploitation of mineral resources of ocean deposits: This is explicitly part of the coastal state sovereign rights in its EEZ and therefore exclusive.
Exploitation of marine water energy and marine organisms including fishing: These are central rights related to energy and living resources that belong to the coastal state in the EEZ.
Conservation and management of marine resources: The coastal state is responsible for setting and enforcing conservation measures, making this an exclusive jurisdictional right.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse territorial sea, EEZ and high seas. They may mistakenly think that in the EEZ the coastal state has full sovereignty over all activities, including navigation. This can lead to choosing a resource related activity as non exclusive by error. A clear mental framework should distinguish that territorial sea involves full sovereignty, EEZ grants resource related rights but still preserves navigation freedoms, and the high seas are open for all states. Remembering this layered structure helps avoid mistakes in questions about maritime zones.

Final Answer:
The activity that is not an exclusive right of the coastal nation over its Exclusive Economic Zone is navigation of ships and laying down submarine cables.