Abstract
The sea is important to the development of Nigeria as it has a lot of natural resources in its offshore. Nigeria being a developing costal state and as a State Party to the UNCLOS
is expected to develop a marine policy that is allencompassing through appropriate legal and institutional frameworks, and a comprehensive marine policy. This article has the objectives of examining the extent to which the existing legal framework on law of the sea promotes
marine policy in Nigeria. It is found out that the marine environment is regulated by the several existing legal framework. These legal frameworks are those on the protection of the environment in general as well as the marine environment in particular. The existing legal
frameworks on law of the sea cannot be said to fully regulate or promote marine policy in Nigeria just like in the United Kingdom. In the absence of comprehensive marine policy in Nigeria, it cannot be said that policy in this regard even if not well spelt out confirms to the principles on law of the sea at the international level. It is recommended amongst others that there is need for establishment of a
body like the Marine Management Organisation as in England for the administration of marine management and enforcement of marine policy in Nigeria. In spite of fact that Nigeria has ratified UNCLOS and domesticated same, there
is lack of comprehensive marine policy capable of defining the country’s interest with respect to the sea.
Key Words: Policy, Marine Policy, Marine Environment.
