Fines of 5 million riyals: Environment adopts coastal protection regulations
A strategic step towards marine environmental sustainability
In a strategic move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s unwavering commitment to preserving its natural resources, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced a new update to the executive regulations for the sustainable management of the marine and coastal environment. This comprehensive update aims to strengthen oversight, protect wildlife in the Kingdom’s territorial waters, and impose deterrent financial penalties of up to five million riyals for serious environmental violations. These regulations are being implemented pursuant to Royal Decree No. M/165 and Ministerial Resolution No. 15029095, dated the 4th of Safar, 1446 AH.
General context and importance of protecting Saudi coasts
This updated regulation is closely aligned with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative, which prioritize environmental protection and sustainable development. Saudi Arabia's coastlines, both on the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, are among the world's most important ecosystems, boasting unique biodiversity and rare coral reefs. Protecting these coastlines has implications not only locally but also regionally and internationally, contributing to the development of sustainable ecotourism (such as the Red Sea Project and NEOM) and underscoring the Kingdom's commitment to international treaties protecting the marine environment from pollution.
Stricter penalties for marine pollution
The approved document included a comprehensive update to the schedule of environmental violations and penalties to ensure the highest levels of deterrence and compliance. The regulations emphasized the absolute prohibition of discharging untreated wastewater or dumping hazardous waste and toxic materials into marine environments. The environmental authorities warned that failure to take immediate action to contain oil spills would result in hefty fines of up to five million riyals .
Protecting biodiversity and coral reefs
In a firm move to protect biodiversity, legislation has introduced severe penalties to prevent the hunting or harming of endangered marine wildlife. Financial fines have reached record levels, with the penalty for hunting a sperm whale reaching 1.5 million riyals per animal.
The regulations also emphasized the strict prohibition of anchoring vessels in coral reef areas to prevent the destruction of sensitive ecosystems. The regulations stipulated fines of up to 100,000 riyals for each cubic meter of coral damaged if anyone relocates or cultivates coral without prior authorization.
Economic balance and consideration for small businesses
In the context of achieving economic and environmental balance, the new legislation takes into account the reduction of fines for minor violations based on the classification of the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises. The regulatory tables clarify that micro-enterprises bear only 25% of the original fine, while the percentage increases progressively to 100% for large enterprises, thus enhancing business growth opportunities while maintaining environmental responsibility.
Distribution of oversight roles and compliance with international standards
The ministry meticulously distributed oversight and enforcement roles to ensure effectiveness. The National Center for Environmental Compliance was tasked with monitoring the quality of marine environments and issuing permits for coastal and maritime activities. Meanwhile, the National Center for Wildlife Development spearheaded efforts to regulate fishing, complementing the pivotal role of the General Authority for the Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea.
To ensure compliance with international maritime standards, the relevant authorities have drawn the attention of ship and vessel owners to the mandatory and strict adherence to international standards for anti-fouling systems. They clarified that obstructing ballast water testing of suspected vessels will subject owners to hefty fines ranging from 50,000 to 2 million riyals.
The legislative bodies concluded their regulations by emphasizing the immediate obligation to report any accidental encounters with wildlife or their stranding. The regulations stipulated that concealing such incidents or obstructing environmental inspectors from carrying out their oversight duties constitutes a serious and separate offense warranting additional and severe penalties.
