As a new country, Timor-Leste is still gathering data and assessing the natural resources. All research to date has focused on the inshore reefs and artisanel fisheries. The marine environment, especially the offshore zones, are yet to be fully explored. In order to develop sound management plans for fisheries, shipping, protection under climate change and biodiversity, and development, Timor-Leste needs to understand what resources it has, what the value of the resources is, and how those resources can be accessed in a sustainable way. Undertaking research for the south offshore fishing grounds will be key to securing long term fishing grounds that will bring vital income to the country. Knowing exactly which species are there, which are resident and which are migratory, where spawning areas are located, and for which species, and the estimated number of the fish stock, will contribute to the sound development of fisheries and environmental legislation for the country.
Progress reports
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
- Large Marine Ecosystem approach
- Ecosystem-based Adaptation
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
- Compliance, monitoring and enforcement
- Reduction and elimination fishing practices and gear that destroy/degrade marine habitat
- Science-based fisheries management plans
- Ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF)
- Reduction of fisheries by-catch and product waste/losses
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
Type of commitment
- Removal or reduction of harmful fisheries subsidies
December 2020
Report on the key marine areas for protection based on IUCN Red List, Timor-Leste marine protected species list, spawning grounds of ocmmercial species, migratory pathways of CMS species, sea mounts, and other areas of significance requiring protection due to ecological or cultural value, and associated spatial planning.
December 2020
Report on the offshore fish stocks including species, value, and spatial planning of commercial fishing grounds
