The National Oceans Policy is a national policy with a sectoral approach. The timeframe of the policy is 10 years between 2020 and 2030. The purpose of this Policy is to ensure sustainable development and management of marine resources through an integrated ocean management system within and beyond Papua New Guinea's national jurisdiction. The objectives are listed as follows: (I) implementation of international agreements which PNG is a party to, with a special emphasis on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, (III) sustainable use and management of the environment and natural resources, (III) strengthened cooperation for effective implementation of this policy, (IV) implementation of national development policies, (V) development of integrated ocean management system, and (VI) capacity building, the transfer of marine technology, and public awareness raising on ocean sustainability.
Sustainable use and management of the ocean will be ensured by applying precautionary approach, polluter pays principle, and the user pays principle. Marine environment protection will be strengthened through strategies on pollution prevention from land based and sea-based activities, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem preservation and protection of species. Marine protected areas will be established by identifying vulnerable and sensitive marine areas requiring conservation. Furthermore, the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity will be ensured in areas beyond national jurisdictions through biotechnology and bioprospecting as well as capacity building in participating in the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond its national jurisdiction.
Papua New Guinea shall fulfil its obligations arising from the international agreements which PNG is a party to. Special emphasis will be given to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which provides for jurisdictional rights and obligations of coastal States and common uses of the ocean, as well as, range of uses of the oceans such as navigation, marine environmental protection, underwater cultural heritage, exploitation of living and non-living resources, marine scientific research, and dispute settlement mechanisms, and to the implementing arrangements of UNCLOS, including the Conservation on Biodiversity, United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, United Nations Framework on Climate Change, and IMO Conventions on marine pollution. International and regional partnerships will be identified for ocean governance and management. Maritime security surveillance and response capability will be increased along the maritime borders, relating to illegal trafficking across borders, IUU fishing, customs breaches, quarantine, declaration and payment of import duties, immigration control and biosecurity. Ocean scientific and marine technology will be improved to ensure protection of the marine environment and ecosystems by supporting evidence-based decisions and actions in the sustainable use of the ocean and its resources. The Marine Scientific Research Committee shall be responsible for overseeing the coordination of marine scientific research within the national jurisdiction in partnership with international institutions. More efficient sustainable operational methods will be applied in industries, such as monitoring and surveillance of fishing operations, pollution prevention, and marine spatial planning. Marine science and technology plans will be developed for enhancing human and technical capacity in ocean affairs and law of the sea. Traditional knowledge and skills will be integrated into the protection and management of oceans and its resources for the present and future generations. Legal and policy frameworks will be developed to identify permitted activities and environmental and planning standards. Environmental Impact Assessment will be carried out to evaluate applications for conducting activities in the ocean. Measures will be taken to prevent and control pollution caused by ships and to mitigate the effects of any damage that may occur as a result of maritime operations and accidents, especially in the prevention of marine pollution by oil or any ship-sourced pollution. A blue economy plan will be developed to promote economic growth, social inclusion and improvement of livelihoods in the key economic sectors such as fisheries, marine transport, science and technology and tourism, whilst ensuring sustainability of the ocean and coastal environment.
Climate change adaptation and mitigation and disaster risk reduction and management will be strengthened to increase the resilience of marine ecosystems, ecosystem services for health and well-being, food security, livelihoods, and fisheries sector and indigenous peoples and local communities which are dependent on fisheries. Needs-driven and science-based solutions will be developed for small island communities by the Government to reduce their vulnerability to climate-related hazards.