Contracting Parties and Observers at the Sixth Meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Advisory Committee (STAC) to the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources (LBS) and Activities in the Wider Caribbean, have reiterated the urgent need to protect our very valuable but fragile and vulnerable coastal and marine ecosystems from the negative impacts of marine pollution. The Virtual Meeting, held from February 1-3, was hosted by the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat as part of its mandate under the Convention to support governments in protecting the Caribbean Sea.
Countries in the Wider Caribbean are heavily dependent on the ocean for economic livelihoods and social well-being. Key economic sectors which depend on the ocean such as fishing, tourism and shipping employ millions. A conservative estimate of USD 407 billion was made in 2012 for the gross revenues generated by the ocean economy in the Caribbean Sea alone.
Despite the overwhelming social and economic dependence on the ocean in the region, the Vision of a healthy Caribbean Sea is threatened by poorly planned urbanization and unsustainable and harmful production and consumption practices, which put an unhealthy strain on the coastal and marine environment. Research suggests that the Caribbean generates 14,000,000 tonnes of solid waste annually or approximately 39,000 every day. It is said that more than 50% of this waste ends up in open air dumps and rivers.
