System No.61 of 2022 - The Aqaba Marine Reserve Law issued pursuant to Clause (5) of Paragraph (B) of Article (10) and Article (56) of the Aqaba Exclusive Economic Zone Law No. 32 of 2000.

This Law consisting of 14 articles aims to create the Aqaba Marine Reserve to protect the marine and terrestrial environment and enhance its ability to cope with climate change. Article 3 establishes the boundaries of the marine reserve and the reserve buffer zone. Under article 4, Aqaba Marine Reserve Management Committee is appointed at the District Authority with the following main tasks (i) preparing and reviewing the administrative plan to manage the reserve, presenting it to the Council, and following up on its implementation; (ii) reviewing the provisions of the buffer zone once every five years; (iii) providing the necessary funding for the reserve and promoting it; (iv) determining the necessary allocations for the reserve’s expenses approved by the council and including them in the authority’s annual budget. Article 5 establishes that (i) the Council may contract with a body specialized in managing water reserves and technically qualified to implement the management plan for the reserve under the supervision of the Committee; (ii) it is prohibited to dispose of, allocate, mortgage, gift or assign lands within the boundaries of the reserve; (iii) the duration of the reserve management or development contracts should not exceed five years and be renewable with the approval of the Council. It is allowed to establish developmental activities and projects in the buffer zone in a manner that does not conflict with the objectives of this Law (art.7) provided that (i) they are compatible with the Reserve Law and the administrative plan; (ii) in harmony with the criteria for green and blue growth and sustainable development; (iii) the sustainable use of the biological and natural resources to ensure their ability to regenerate and survive in the long term; (iv) implementation of a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment study for these projects and activities; (v) give priority to projects related to sustainable tourism that take into account the current and future economic, social and environmental impacts and meet the demands of visitors and host communities.
As for financial matters, a special account for the Aqaba reserve is created in the Authority. Prohibited actions and activities in the Reserve are listed in article 9, while article 10 states that are permitted programs for the rehabilitation or propagation of extinct, endangered or environmentally valuable marine and terrestrial species, such as coral culture and artificial coral structures.