Caribbean agencies to sign landmark agreement – St. Lucia Times Online News (press release)

GIS:-The agreement supports sustainable development goals on oceans.

Eight intergovernmental organizations involved in the management of marine resources in theCaribbean and the North BrazilShelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+) region are expected tosign a landmark agreementfor strengthened coordination and cooperation.

The goal of thisMemorandum of Understanding(MOU) will be toenhance regional collaborationfor theimproved management of the resources of the Caribbean Seathat form the basis for fishing, tourism and maritime transportation.

Theeight organizationsthat are expected to sign the agreement are the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM); the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD); the Central American Fisheries and Aquaculture Organization (OSPESCA); the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on behalf of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission(FAO-WECAFC); the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization(UNESCO-IOC); the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission; and the UN Environment represented by its Caribbean Regional Coordinating Unit and Secretariat to the Cartagena Convention(UN Environment Program CAR/RCU).

Through the agreement, these organizations with technical expertise in areas such asoceans governance,marine spatial planning,pollution prevention,fisheries management,habitat protection, andoceans research, will now be better placed to provide coordinated support to the region including helping countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 14 on Oceans: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

There is an expectation that the MOU can become signed by heads of the participating organizations on the occasion of the celebrations surrounding World Ocean Day on June 8. Importantly, the agreement formalizes the establishment of a Regional Coordinating Mechanism. This Mechanism will constitute the core of a new, wide-ranging global partnership (the CLME+ Partnership) that will assist regional governments to reducemarine pollution; reducedegradation of marine habitatssuch as: coral reefs, mangroves and sea grass; reduceoverfishing, and adapt toclimate change.

The activities of the Coordination Mechanism will be supported through theUNDP/GEF CLME+ Project(2015-2020). This five-year project seeks to catalyze the implementation of a 10-year, politically endorsedStrategic Action Programm(SAP) for the Sustainable Management of the Shared Living Marine Resources of the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems.

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Caribbean agencies to sign landmark agreement - St. Lucia Times Online News (press release)