Marine Cadastre for Sarawak: Legal Analysis for Sustainable Ocean Governance

Abstract

Sarawak’s extensive marine resources hold substantial blue economic potential, yet their governance remains constrained by fragmented legal authority and the absence of enforceable mechanisms for recognizing and securing marine rights. Marine cadastre relates to the allocation of tenure rights in marine and inland water areas, its implementation at the state level remains largely unexplored. This paper provides a critical legal review assessing Sarawak’s readiness to adopt this national framework. Doctrinal analysis of state and federal statutes reveals a paradox: Sarawak possesses unique institutional advantages via its integrated Land and Survey Department, Sarawak (DLSS), yet fundamental legal gaps hinder marine cadastre implementation. The Sarawak Land Code lacks provisions for marine parcel definition, creating jurisdictional ambiguities that obstruct sustainable ocean governance. The paper contends that legislative reform is imperative not merely to enhance administrative efficiency but also for aligning Sarawak's marine governance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water). This study proposes targeted statutory amendments and pragmatic implementation pathways, offering a strategic blueprint to position Sarawak as a leading model for decentralized and sustainable marine governance in Malaysia.