Marine-Coastal Law Creates Wave Registry and Rules for Ports, Tourism, Fishing and Energy
Ecuador has approved a new governance framework for marine-coastal space.
Scope Of The Law
Expreso reports that the Asamblea Nacional approved the Ley Organica de Gobernanza del Espacio Marino-Costero on May 21, 2026. The law is designed to organize activities carried out at sea and strengthen protection of sensitive ecosystems along Ecuador's coast.
The framework creates tools to regulate maritime zones and includes specific measures to conserve olas rompientes, or breaking waves. Expreso reports these areas are used for water sports and are considered important to environmental and tourism dynamics in coastal communities.
Activities Covered
Expreso reports that the new legal framework will regulate:
| Activity / asset | Business relevance |
|---|---|
| Fishing | Coastal production and resource-management rules |
| Tourism | Marine and beach destination planning |
| Water sports | Surf-zone protection and recreational-use governance |
| Port development | Infrastructure approvals near sensitive coastal assets |
| Sea-linked energy projects | Marine project siting and environmental review |
| Environmental conservation | Mangroves, dunes, turtle nesting beaches and other habitats |
The law also creates a Registro Nacional de Zonas de Rompientes, a technical registry to identify and officially catalog areas where important waves form.
Expreso reports that information presented during the legislative debate said Ecuador has more than 100 recognized zones for surfing and related sea sports. The stated objective is to prevent future works or interventions from affecting these natural spaces without a prior impact evaluation.
Business Implications
| Stakeholder | Signal |
|---|---|
| Port and coastal developers | Project review may need to account for registered wave zones and sensitive habitats. |
| Tourism operators | Surf and beach assets gain a formal protection tool. |
| Fishing and marine users | Activity planning moves under a more explicit marine-coastal governance framework. |
| Energy developers | Sea-linked energy projects are specifically named among regulated activities. |
What to watch
- Publication of the national breaking-wave registry.
- Secondary regulations defining impact-evaluation requirements.
- Coordination among environmental, port, tourism and local authorities.
- Treatment of projects already planned near sensitive coastal zones.
Source: Expreso
Source
Expreso — “Ecuador protege las olas rompientes: qué actividades estarán permitidas en el mar”
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