Regional Consultation on Ocean Law and Policy for ASEAN Blue Economy:
Protecting the marine environment and sustainably using marine resources

26-27 June 2023, Four Points by Sheraton, Riverview

CIL Ocean Law and Policy Programme co-hosted with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) the Regional Consultation on Ocean Law and Policy for ASEAN Blue Economy: protection of the marine environment and sustainable use of marine resources. It took place in Singapore on 26-27 June 2023, at Four Points by Sheraton, Riverview.

This consultation involved legal and marine policy scholars from the region as well as competent regional organisations and intergovernmental bodies. It started with a historical recounting of development of regional efforts on the protection of the marine environment in the late 70s to 90s by two pioneers of this time: Prof Chou Loke Ming and Dr Chua Thia-Eng. A comprehensive overview of ASEAN instruments, processes and activities applicable to all sea-based and coastal sectors of activities, including those that are applicable to marine biodiversity conservation was subsequently provided and discussed. This overview was based on material gathered in the context of CIL ASEAN CME Project on the Blue Economy.

These presentations and related exchanged served as the background for the most active part of the consultation. Participants discussed the approach of ASEAN to the protection of the marine environment, the role of ASEAN instruments and mechanisms and the overall strengths, weaknesses and barriers to the implementation of international law and effective protection of the marine environment. They agreed that this is critical in the context of the new paradigm of the blue economy which is understood by most as announcing not a decrease but an overall increase in uses of the ocean. Notable outcomes of the consultation included proposals for improvements of processes including through regional adoption and implementation of international law, improvement of coordination mechanisms across ASEAN mechanisms and with other regional and international organisations, improved visibility and transparency, tightening of linkages between different meeting levels, work packages and projects, and finally, marine environmental data and monitoring to better inform policy-making.

HISTORICAL REMARKS & PRESENTATIONS (26 June 2023)

GROUP DISCUSSIONS (27 June 2023)