Government Resolution No. 27/2023 approving the National Ocean Policy of Timor-Leste.

This National Ocean Policy of Timor-Leste (PNO) aims to guide Timor-Leste in developing a specific implementation plan designed to achieve its vision of achieving a healthy and safe ocean that sustains the livelihoods, prosperity and social and cultural values of the people of Timor-Leste in a fair and equitable way. The PNO is based on and recognizes existing international and national law, as well as the regional responsibilities assumed by Timor-Leste. There are six objectives of the PNO: 1. Work together: an integrated and participatory system of ocean governance that facilitates collaboration between jurisdictions, allows the exchange of knowledge, data, ideas, skills and experiences, and recognizes and considers local customary law, national law and international and regional commitments assumed; 2. Guarantee national jurisdiction and exercise sovereign rights over oceans: maintenance and protection of the rights of the Timorese people to use and manage marine natural resources in an equitable and sustainable manner; 3. Future: a diversified sea-based Blue Economy; 4. Strengthen natural defense: protect, maintain and restore coastal and oceanic resources and environmental services; 5. Invest in people: develop the capacity of Timorese to engage in ocean development and protection through research, education and capacity building; 6. Vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation of climate change.
The PNO will be implemented by a National Ocean Steering Committee (CNDO) responsible to the Council of Ministers (CdM) through the relevant ministries. The CNDO, in turn, will establish Working Groups for the implementation planning process and Stakeholder Advisory Committees to obtain expert advice and for broad community participation and consultation. The execution of the PNO and the monitoring and evaluation of its plans will be carried out through the preparation of reports on the State of the Ocean and its Coast (EOC). The overall objective of the National Ocean Policy is to provide clear strategic direction for all government agencies that have freshwater, brackish water and marine interests in Timor-Leste to contribute in an integrated way to addressing ocean-related issues and for the planning and management of future uses of the oceans for the benefits of current and future generations, contributing to the sustainable development and growth of the blue economy and to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 2: Eliminate hunger and improve nutrition (the Prime Minister announced SDG 2 as a key priority); SDG 8: Employment and economic growth; SGD 13: Take measures to combat climate change and its impacts; and SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.