We’re excited to share that at CBD COP16, Susan Gardner, Director of the UNEP Ecosystems Division, has officially signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will create the Ocean Coordinating Mechanism (OCM) for the Wider Caribbean Region, in the presence of Patrick Debels, Coordinator of the PROCARIBE+ Project.
This MOU marks the next chapter in a decade of collaboration to strengthen regional-level ocean governance. Through the Cartagena Convention Secretariat, UNEP has been a key partner in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystems projects (CLME, CLME+, and now PROCARIBE+), leading regional efforts for the sustainable management of marine resources.
With the support of PROCARIBE+, the OCM will replace the Interim Coordinating Mechanism (ICM), created under the CLME+ project, expanding its membership to include States and Territories, in addition to the regional Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) with a mandate in ocean governance that were already members of the ICM. The OCM needs 17 countries and 6 IGOs to sign the MOU for it to become effective. So far, 12 countries and 8 IGOs have signed the MOU, demonstrating strong regional support for this initiative.
This joint effort will promote regional coordination on marine ecosystem conservation and support a climate-resilient Blue Economy for the Caribbean, demonstrating UNEP’s and the Caribbean region's global leadership in response to growing calls for enhanced collaboration and coordination on marine issues.
