Maritime areas are ‘not to be touched,’ for now

Several government representatives, including Raymond Tam, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, and Susana Wong, the director of the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA), have recently stated that the government does not intend to develop or protect Macau’s maritime areas for the time being.

Lawmaker Lam Lon Wai first raised the topic at the Legislative Assembly, calling on the government to explain the current status of work related to maritime areas after the publication of the Macau Special Administrative Region’s “Marine Area Plan” a year ago.

Lawmaker Lam noted that during a recent visit, Xia Baolong, the head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, emphasized that Macau must plan well and make good use of the maritime areas granted by the central government to ensure their rational use and promote sustainable development.

Still, a year after the publication of the plan, which outlines such development through 2040, no project appears to have advanced.

In response to questions about the potential development of maritime tourism and recreational boating, Wong remarked that the government has no plans to liberalize the recreational boat market or allow citizens to rent such vessels for sea trips, a practice common in neighboring Hong Kong.

“We have always had this doubt about whether we can liberalize the licensing of these vessels because, in reality, our maritime areas are small. We want to reinforce communication with neighboring cities. In Hong Kong, the situation is very different because there are many islands and vessels available for boat trips,” she said, adding, “There is also specific legislation for this type of activity. In Macau, we do not have this. So, we prioritize safety when considering whether to liberalize or not,” said Wong.

She remarked that, for now, recreational vessels are for private use only – by their owners.

The DSAMA director also stated that Macau’s ports are unsuitable for accommodating large recreational boats. In most areas, including the Taipa Ferry Terminal, waters are shallow, and there are no adequate docking facilities.

Unanswered were the questions of why the government is not proposing to create or amend laws to allow and regulate this activity, or why there are no plans to upgrade port facilities to address these challenges, suggesting that certain constraints to maritime development may lie beyond the authority of the local government.

Secretary Tam gave a similar response when asked about efforts to protect the environment in some parts of Macau’s maritime areas.

“Taking into account the natural characteristics of the maritime areas and several objective factors, at the moment, conditions are not met for the expansion of the current protected areas,” he said, adding, “The government will continue to monitor and manage the maritime areas to protect natural marine resources and the environment.”

Only 3% of Macau’s 85 square kilometers of maritime areas have been designated as protected zones.

In line with this broader theme of limited local authority, Tam confirmed that the decision to build an artificial island for depositing construction waste off the coast of Coloane will proceed, as it has received approval from the central government.

The “Marine Area Plan” aims to enhance the management, use, and protection of Macau’s 85 square kilometers of territorial waters. Priorities through the end of this year include maintaining marine health and sustainably managing sea resources to support local livelihoods and flood prevention. This also involves restoring damaged mangrove ecosystems and strengthening natural coastal defenses.