GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — The Caribbean Community (Caricom) says it is making significant strides towards enhancing ocean governance and sustainable management of marine resources.

The 15-member regional grouping said that with the support of a £190,000 grant from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK FCDO), the Caricom Secretariat is embarking on a comprehensive initiative to develop a robust framework for sustainable ocean management.

Titled “Towards A Caribbean Community Framework for Strengthening Oceans Governance – Effective Engagement in the International Oceans Agenda”, the project aims to support the collaborative development of a Caricom Blue Economy Policy.

“This initiative is testament to Caricom’s dedication to fostering a sustainable blue economy that benefits all member states in recognition of the significant contribution the Caribbean Sea makes to Caricoms’s development priorities,” said David Prendergast, the director of sectoral programmes at the Caricom Secretariat.

Caricom said that the primary objective of the project is to articulate a policy that fosters improved governance, regional coordination and ultimately, enhanced capacity of member states to sustainably manage both sovereign and shared marine resources.

The policy will build on international momentum for sustainable ocean economic development, including the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small island Developing States (SIDS), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Commonwealth Blue Charter.

The project also seeks to upscale national successes and progress made under the UK’s Sustainable Marine Economies Programme.

“Caricom member states are increasingly focusing on their exclusive economic zones (EEZs) to unlock growth and development opportunities. These opportunities span various sectors, including fisheries, energy, nature tourism, and coastal and ocean services like carbon sequestration,” said the Caricom Secretariat.

It said that in the coming months the project will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the policy, and the institutional and legal landscape within Caricom member states concerning sustainable ocean-based economies.

“There will also be a series of virtual and in-person consultations to engage stakeholders, share national progress, and identify regional priority actions,” it added.