Unlocking marine governance institutions: Starting from five pillars

The MAE has submitted a policy dossier to the Ministry of Justice for appraisal as part of the revision of the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment. In the proposal, the ministry outlines five major orientations: strengthening the management and use of marine spatial areas; enhancing the integrated management of coastal resources and environmental protection; controlling marine and island pollution; promoting science, technology, and digital transformation; and establishing mechanisms for sustainable marine economic development.

Marine spatial management: from “ask–grant” to market mechanisms

Amid climate change and increasing pressure on land resources, turning toward the sea is no longer an option but a necessity. Vietnam’s maritime area is more than three times larger than its land territory. The ocean, therefore, provides space where many economic sectors can utilize and develop sustainably.

“The most important highlight of this revision is the improvement of the institutional framework for managing and using marine space - an area with many legal gaps remaining,” said Nguyen Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Agency of Seas and Islands.

For the first time, a separate chapter on marine spatial management is proposed to codify principles for the allocation, exploitation, and control of marine resources. The aim is to clearly define the rights and obligations of organizations and individuals when they are assigned or lease marine areas, thereby gradually establishing property rights in marine space.

The draft also introduces economic tools, including auctions for the right to use marine areas, resource valuation, and the registration and certification of marine area use rights. This marks an important step toward allocating resources through market mechanisms rather than the previous administrative approach.

Marine environmental control: from reactive to preventive

Currently, marine protected areas cover only 174,748 hectares, equivalent to 0.175% of Vietnam’s natural marine area, far below long-term targets.

Coastal areas, which are directly affected by climate change and host numerous economic activities, are facing coastal erosion, ecosystem degradation, pollution, and sea-level rise. However, current management mechanisms remain insufficiently specific and lack effective control tools.

“The draft law aims to complete the legal framework for protecting coastal resources and the environment, particularly the sensitive transition zone between land and sea. The key point is to prevent and control adverse impacts, protecting ecosystems, and strengthening coastal resilience to climate change,” Deputy Director Tung said.

Regarding marine pollution, the new policy stresses clarifying the responsibilities of stakeholders, from government agencies to businesses and communities, while tightening control of pollution sources both from land and at sea, promoting waste collection and treatment, and restoring ecosystems.

Emerging issues such as marine plastic debris, transboundary pollution, and marine environmental incidents require a more proactive approach rather than simply dealing with consequences. The central policy shift is thus moving from a “response to incidents” mindset to “risk prevention,” thereby reducing environmental costs and ensuring sustainable development.

Data and technology: the foundation of modern ocean governance

One of the notable new elements in the draft is the emphasis on science, technology, and digital transformation in managing marine resources and the environment. Accordingly, building a synchronized marine resources and environment database that connects across ministries, sectors, and localities is identified as a key task. Data will not only support management but also become a “production resource” for policy planning, forecasting, and decision-making.

Baseline surveys currently cover only 38.7% of Vietnam’s marine area at a scale of 1:500,000, indicating a significant shortage of foundational data for marine spatial planning, resource allocation, and policymaking. The new provisions aim to promote the use of technology in marine monitoring, supervision, and environmental forecasting; develop marine spatial information systems; and integrate cross-sectoral data. These are essential foundations for shifting from manual management to smart governance.

At the same time, the draft expands mechanisms to mobilize the private sector to participate in scientific research, baseline surveys, and marine technology development - fields that have long relied mainly on the state budget. Strengthening public-private partnerships is expected to enhance national capacity and gradually build technological autonomy. When data are standardized, connected, and shared effectively, ocean governance can shift from reactive to proactive management and from fragmented to integrated approaches.

Opening the path for the marine economy through legal reform

Alongside governance pillars, the draft law also aims to create a favorable legal environment for sustainable marine economic development.

Various mechanisms are proposed to remove administrative barriers, reduce the “ask–grant” practice, and establish market-based principles in resource allocation. Emerging sectors such as offshore wind power, marine renewable energy, and the circular marine economy are expected to gain greater development opportunities.

Notably, the draft introduces incentive policies and diversified funding mechanisms, including ODA, PPP, and bonds, to promote investment in marine infrastructure and large-scale, long-term projects. It also clarifies intersectoral coordination mechanisms for implementing offshore projects.