RIYADH - The National Center for Monitoring Environmental Compliance announced the issuance of the executive regulations for the sustainable management of the marine and coastal environment, issued pursuant to the decision of His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture. It includes a fine of up to 20 million riyals for those responsible for polluting marine waters and aquatic environments.

The regulation established a set of rules, provisions and controls that ensure the protection of the marine and coastal environment from deterioration and pollution and the prevention of damage to it, whether in the internal waters, the territorial sea of ​​the Kingdom, the adjacent area, the exclusive economic zone or the continental shelf.

The official spokesman for the National Center for Monitoring Environmental Compliance, Abdullah Al-Mutairi, explained that the regulation clearly reflects the keenness of the Kingdom’s government and its sincere quest to preserve a clean, sustainable and pollution-free marine environment, and preserved from environmental deterioration, noting that the regulation took into account the follow-up of the application and enforcement of what was stipulated in the international and regional agreements that ratified The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is related to the protection of the marine and coastal environment from deterioration and pollution, and the continuation of coordination with the General Authority for Ports and the General Authority for Transport to inspect and inspect ships, make the necessary tests and measurements to ensure compliance with international maritime conventions and treaties, and coordinate with the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, when needed, with regard to controlling violators and intermediaries offending navy. 

Al-Mutairi indicated that a table was attached to the regulation that includes penalties for anyone who violates the provisions, rules and requirements contained in the regulation, amounting in some violations to a limit of 20 million riyals, taking into account the distribution of enforcement roles to the Environmental Compliance Center and all sister environmental centers - each according to its competence, explaining that the most prominent of what was stated in This regulation is to prepare and implement a program to monitor pollution in the waters of the Kingdom, in addition to preparing environmental controls and requirements related to systems resistant to adhesion of impurities, as well as preparing environmental controls for marine media, and requirements and controls for the issuance and renewal of environmental licenses and permits for activities in the marine and coastal environment. 

He stated that the regulation stipulated the preparation and follow-up of the implementation of national and local plans for preparedness and response to emergencies and potential environmental disasters in the marine and coastal environment, including oil pollution and harmful substances, and the importance of informing the competent center as soon as any leakage of oils or harmful substances occurred, or the loss of any of the cargo of the marine vehicle in The geographical scope of the Kingdom and taking into account the implementation of the regulation,” adding that the regulation did not neglect to develop plans to implement scientific studies and research programs related to the quality of environmental media in the marine and coastal environment with the aim of protecting it from pollution and deterioration, in addition to organizing activities related to environmental guidance, including holding courses, seminars and sessions Work, specialized, and media campaigns aimed at raising environmental awareness. The regulation also entrusted the center with the issue of preparing controls for marine media with regard to the protection of the marine and coastal environment. 

It also included provisions for licensing marine sports activities that prohibit the holding of competitions, marine sports activities and diving without media with environmentally friendly engines and without obtaining a license from the National Center for Monitoring Environmental Compliance, without prejudice to the competencies of the Ministry of Sports and relevant government agencies.

Al-Mutairi concluded his speech by clarifying that this regulation, based on its targeting of the sustainability of the marine environment, included many prohibitions according to the specializations of the environmental centers, including, but not limited to: the prohibition of quarrying rocks and gravels, removing beach sand and marine sediments, and performing any backfilling, dredging, reclamation of beaches or erecting or removing breakwaters, sea walls, and any coastal construction or demolition, or any exploration or excavation works without obtaining a license from the Center.

In his speech, he called on all those interested in the marine environment and aquatic environments to visit (the center's website) and view the full details of the regulation.