Decree-Law No. 15/2026 on the framework for the planning and management of the national maritime space.

This Decree-Law establishes the legal and institutional framework for the planning and management of the national maritime space in Timor-Leste. Its main objective is to promote the sustainable, rational and efficient use of marine resources and ecosystem services, ensuring compatibility among different uses and activities while safeguarding environmental protection. The decree emphasizes an ecosystem-based, integrated, and adaptive approach, taking into account the dynamic nature of marine ecosystems, the interaction between land and sea, and the need to balance economic development with conservation. It also aims to strengthen governance through improved coordination across sectors and levels of administration, ensuring transparency, legal certainty, and stakeholder participation in decision-making processes. A further objective of the plan is to establish comprehensive spatial planning instruments for the maritime domain, including zoning plans and allocation mechanisms that regulate uses and activities, prevent conflicts, and identify protected or sensitive areas. The framework promotes sustainable economic development, including fisheries, aquaculture, and other maritime activities, while fostering knowledge generation, human resource development, and investment opportunities. It also defines rules for private use rights (concessions, licenses, authorizations) and introduces procedures for environmental assessment, public participation, and coordination with terrestrial planning and protected areas systems.