The National Oceans Policy is a new opportunity for the ocean vision in Timor-Leste to be implemented and to enable government, the private sector and communities to have a coordinated approach to future national ocean issues. The Policy has six objectives: 1. Working together; 2. National security and sovereignty over our oceans, including maintenance and protection of the rights of Timorese people to equitably use and manage their marine natural resources; 3. Our future: diverse blue economy based on the sea; 4. Strengthening our natural defense: protecting, restoring and maintaining of coastal and ocean resources and ecosystem services; 5. Investing in our people: developing the capacity of Timorese to engage in ocean based development and protection through research and education; and 6. Climate change vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation.
Progress reports
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
Type of commitment
PLASTICS
SHIPPING
- Management of ship-based pollution and/or port waste management
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
Type of commitment
- Community or Locally Managed Marine Areas
- Integrated Coastal Management
- Marine Spatial Planning
- Ecosystem-based Adaptation
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
Type of commitment
- Scientific research and cooperation to address ocean acidification knowledge gaps
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
Type of commitment
- Ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF)
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
Type of commitment
- No take marine protected area
- Multiple use marine protected area
- Locally or community managed marine areas
- MPA management and/or enforcement
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
Type of commitment
- Economic benefits from sustainable fisheries
- Economic benefits from sustainable tourism
December 2017
Timor-Leste
