The Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) was recently launched by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO to address critical marine challenges in the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf regions.
About Ocean Coordination Mechanism
- Conception and Endorsement: The OCM was developed as part of the 10-year CLME+ Strategic Action Program (CLME+ SAP).
- Purpose: To establish a collaborative governance framework for the sustainable management of marine resources.
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10-year CLME+ Strategic Action Program (SAP)
- The 10-year CLME + SAP is a collaborative initiative focused on the sustainable management of shared living marine resources in the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+ region).
- It brings together over 20 countries, UN agencies, and regional organizations to address challenges like habitat degradation, pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices.
- The SAP outlines priority strategies and actions for improved governance and resource management in the region.
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- Primary Objectives:
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- Sustainable Fisheries: The OCM promotes responsible fishing practices to ensure long-term sustainability of marine resources.
- Ecosystem Restoration: The initiative focuses on restoring and protecting vital marine ecosystems.
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO
- The IOC/UNESCO promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to enhance ocean, coastal, and marine resource management.
- It has 150 Member States working together through coordinated programs in:
- Capacity development
- Ocean observations and services
- Ocean science research
- Tsunami warning systems
- Ocean literacy initiatives
- The IOC contributes to UNESCO’s mission by advancing scientific knowledge and applications for economic, social, and sustainable development.
- It plays a key role in promoting peace and progress through ocean research and governance.
- The IOC is responsible for coordinating the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), also known as the “Ocean Decade.”
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- Pollution Control: It aims to address and reduce pollution impacts affecting marine environments. Blue Carbon Development: The OCM encourages conservation of coastal and marine carbon sinks to aid in climate change mitigation.
- Marine Spatial Planning: The initiative seeks to develop strategic plans for effective management and utilization of ocean space.
- Marine Protected Areas: Expansion and proper management of marine protected areas (MPAs) are key components to conserving biodiversity.
- Transformative Effort: The OCM is designed to enhance integrated ocean governance in the Wider Caribbean region, including the North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (NBSLME).
- Collaboration and Stakeholders: The initiative involves countries within the Wider Caribbean region.
- Key stakeholders in marine conservation and resource management contribute to its implementation.
- Precedent to the Initiative: OCM builds on lessons from previous initiatives, such as the Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy (PIROP), that aimed to sustainably manage marine resources across the Pacific.
For example, PIROP struggled with vague goals, financial constraints, and a lack of integrated management and this left vulnerable communities with unequal access to ocean resources.
- Funding:
- The OCM has secured funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to support its activities.
- A dedicated $15 million fund has been allocated under the UNDP/GEF PROCARIBE+ Project for the period 2024–2028.
About the Caribbean Ocean
- Location: The Caribbean Ocean is part of the North Atlantic Ocean.
- It is situated south of the Gulf of Mexico and southwest of the Sargasso Sea.
- Nations Bordering the Caribbean Sea:
- Greater Antilles: The Caribbean Sea is bordered by Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and Puerto Rico.
- Lesser Antilles: The region includes the Virgin Islands to Trinidad and Tobago.
- South America: The Caribbean Sea touches Venezuela and Colombia.
- Central America: Countries including Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize border the Caribbean.
- Mexico: The eastern coast of Mexico also borders the Caribbean.
- Geographic Features:
- Deepest Point: The Cayman Trough is the deepest part of the Caribbean Sea, reaching 7,686 meters (25,217 feet) below sea level.
- Mesoamerican Barrier Reef: The world’s second-largest barrier reef is located in the Caribbean.
- It stretches 1,000 km along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.
- Major Gulfs and Bays: The Caribbean region includes significant gulfs and bays, such as the Gulf of Gonâve, Gulf of Venezuela, Gulf of Darién, Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Paria, and Gulf of Honduras.
Continental shelf
- The continental shelf is an area of relatively shallow water, usually less than a few hundred feet deep, that surrounds land.
- It is narrow or nearly nonexistent in some places; in others, it extends for hundreds of miles.
- The waters along the continental shelf are usually productive, both from light and nutrients from upwelling and runoff.
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About the North Brazil Shelf
- Location: The North Brazil Shelf is a marine region spanning both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
- It stretches along the northern coast of South America.
- It is located between the mouths of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers.
- Nations Bordering the North Brazil Shelf: The Brazilian state of Amapá borders the North Brazil Shelf.
- Other bordering countries include French Guiana, Suriname, and Guyana.
- Geographic Features:
- Muddy Shorelines: The region is characterized by muddy shorelines formed by sediment deposits from the Amazon and Orinoco rivers.
- Coastal Swamps & Mangroves: The area contains rich ecosystems, including expansive mangrove systems and coastal swamps.
- These ecosystems are crucial for biodiversity, storm protection, and carbon storage.
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