On 20 February 2026, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste enacted Decree-Law 15/2026 of 1 April 2026, which lays down the Framework for the Planning and Management of the National Maritime Space (Framework Act).
The approval of the Framework Act comes on the heels of the Government’s decision to prioritise the development of a ten-year Blue Economy Policy. This commitment has already been reflected in the 2026 State Budget (OE26) through the inclusion of the very first pilot project—Sub-programme A2104: Blue Economy. The policy became a priority for the Government as it felt the need to: (i) adopt a holistic, rather than sector-specific, approach to the maritime territory; (ii) identify the essential elements of the legal framework; (iii) guarantee that measures taken under the Framework Act duly consider the preservation, protection, and restoration of natural assets, coastal and marine ecosystems, as well as the attainment and maintenance of good environmental status for the marine environment; and (iv) anticipate risks and mitigate the impacts associated with natural disasters, climate change, or human activities.
