The State Department's mandate as per Executive Order No. 2 of November 2023 includes:
- Coordination of policy, legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the fisheries industry and the blue economy.
- Economic development-oriented fisheries research.
- Coordinating development of national oceans and blue economy strategy and policy.
- Driving sustainable transformation and diversification of the ocean's economy through research and innovation.
- Increasing local participation and investment in the blue economy through private sector engagement and partnerships.