The National Maritime Policy was developed and adopted in April 2015 with the assistance of the Commonwealth Secretariat; to ensure the sustainable development of the Maritime sector, protection of the marine environment, and to efficiently and effectively utilise the valuable resources within Bahamian waters. The goals of the Policy are to be accomplished over a period of five years, via a multi-sectorial partnership involving the public and private sectors, and the Bahamian community.

The National Maritime Policy has four primary goals:

• Supporting on-going economic activities such as oil storage, bunkering and transhipment facilities, container port facilities and ship maintenance, repair and serving facilities.
• Ensuring future economic development and the expansion of the maritime sector domestically and internationally by optimising the use of existing resources and the development of new activities.
• Safeguarding the marine environment from environmental threats such as marine pollution, over-exploitation of marine resource, expanded sustainable use of marine resources and focusing on the increased use and access to potential marine renewable energy sources.
• Ensuring the safety at sea of vessels transiting The Bahamas and the adjacent international waters, the training of mariners and the preservation of maritime traditions and practices of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

To  support  the  vision  and  goals of the Policy,  six  inter-dependent  enablers,  that  are  key to  creating  the conditions  for  growth  and  investment,  have  been  identified  as  well  as actions  to develop an  ocean-based  economy.  These enablers include:

• Ocean Governance;
• Regulation and Enforcement;
• Healthy and Productive Marine Environment
• Climate Change Resilience;
• Education, Awareness and Participation; and
• Capacity Building, Research and Information.

The National Maritime Policy also focuses on the development of the Ocean Economy including:

• Increasing revenue streams;
• Optimise  Returns  from  Existing  Activities; and
  • Fisheries; and
  • Maritime and Port Facilities.
• Future Growth Opportunities.

It is the aim of the Policy to ensure that Bahamians and The Bahamas’ maritime industry benefit from the sustainable growth and development of our oceans. The development of the policy will focus on capacity building and providing opportunities for Bahamians locally, regionally and internationally.

For a copy of the policy please click here.