MAE revising law on marine, island resources and environment

On July 17, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) convened a meeting of the Drafting Committee for the revised Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment in Hanoi. The meeting brought together representatives from ministries and agencies, as well as experts and scientists, to discuss the development of the draft law.

Focusing on four major policy pillars, introducing numerous new provisions

Opening the meeting, Nguyen Quoc Toan, Director General of the Vietnam Agency of Seas and Islands and Deputy Head of the Drafting Committee for the revised Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment, said that following the Government's approval of the policy dossier under Resolution No. 182/NQ-CP, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment had finalized the draft law and circulated it for comments to 21 coastal provinces and cities, as well as relevant ministries and agencies. The Agency has also reviewed and prepared draft implementing decrees to ensure consistency and coherence when they are submitted together with the draft law.

Throughout the drafting process, the Agency proactively consulted local authorities and businesses to incorporate practical issues arising from the implementation of marine and island resource management. Director General Nguyen Quoc Toan expressed his hope that members of the Drafting Committee, along with experts and scientists, would continue providing substantive feedback to further refine the draft law before it is submitted to the Government and the National Assembly.

Presenting the draft, Nguyen Thanh Tung, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Agency of Seas and Islands, noted that the proposed law comprises 8 chapters and 85 articles. It has been designed as a framework law, focusing on fundamental and stable principles, while delegating technical and sector-specific matters to the Government for detailed regulations to ensure flexibility in implementation.

The draft retains provisions of the 2015 Law that remain relevant while introducing a range of new measures on the management and use of marine space; the allocation, leasing, and registration of sea areas; mechanisms for establishing rights to use sea areas; incentives to promote the blue economy and low-carbon economy; and the advancement of digital transformation through the development of databases and information systems on marine and island resources and the environment.

The draft law also introduces mechanisms to strengthen inter-sectoral and inter-regional coordination in the integrated management of marine resources and marine spatial planning. It further enhances provisions on pollution control, marine plastic waste management, coastal protection, compensation for oil pollution damage, and the incorporation of selected international commitments on marine biodiversity conservation into domestic legislation.

According to the Drafting Committee, the proposed law will streamline and simplify a wide range of administrative procedures, promote the use of digital data, and clearly define the respective responsibilities of central and local authorities. These measures are expected to enhance the effectiveness of marine governance, support the sustainable use of marine resources, and create new momentum for the development of Vietnam's marine economy.

Director General Nguyen Quoc Toan said that the revised Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment is expected to be submitted to the Government in August 2026, before being presented to the National Assembly for consideration and approval in October 2026.

A representative of the Ministry of Science and Technology noted that the draft law closely reflects the four major policy groups approved by the Government. The Ministry recommended adding a legal definition of "marine space" and harmonizing the terminology used for science and technology programmes with the provisions of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation. It also proposed assigning the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment responsibility for the conservation of marine genetic resources and introducing provisions on information security for marine resources and environmental data systems to ensure the safe management and use of data for future research and exploitation.

The Ministry of Public Security recommended clarifying the division of responsibilities for marine spatial management between central and local authorities, as well as establishing a maximum statutory duration for the allocation of sea areas. Regarding marine dumping activities, the Ministry suggested that such activities should only be permitted after all other feasible material treatment and disposal options have been considered and proven ineffective.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Trade called for a review to ensure consistency between the revised Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment and the revised Petroleum Law, particularly with respect to marine spatial planning and petroleum-related activities, in order to avoid overlaps during implementation. In response, Director General Nguyen Quoc Toan affirmed that the Drafting Committee would continue working closely with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to refine the relevant provisions and ensure coherence across the legal framework.

A representative of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front proposed that the draft law include provisions to safeguard the livelihoods of coastal communities. The representative also recommended codifying the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in providing comments and conducting social oversight of major coastal and offshore development projects, including land reclamation, marine dumping, and artificial island construction, thereby helping to balance marine economic development with environmental protection and the legitimate interests of local communities.

Concluding the meeting, Director General Nguyen Quoc Toan stated that the Drafting Committee would fully incorporate the comments and recommendations received to further review and refine the draft law. The revised draft will be aligned with the existing legal system, particularly other relevant laws, while addressing overlapping provisions and legal inconsistencies. It will also strengthen decentralization and delegation of authority alongside effective inspection and oversight mechanisms to meet the requirements of integrated marine resource and marine spatial management and promote the sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy.