IMA Contributes to Charting a Blue Future for Trinidad and Tobago 2025
The United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Team in Trinidad and Tobago presented their National Oceans Conference Report at the UN Conference in Nice, France, which took place from June 9-13, 2025. This presentation was part of a larger effort to highlight Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water and to amply the Caribbean voice in shaping global ocean policy.
The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) proudly joined the panel of a two-day national conference on May 15-16, 2025 under the theme, “Charting a Blue Future: Trinidad and Tobago’s Road to the 2025 UN Ocean Conference” contributing to the national conversation. Co-hosted by the Embassy of France and the UN Resident Country Team in Trinidad and Tobago, the Conference brought together many stakeholders representing government agencies and ministries, the private sector, youth groups, civil society and academia. Convened to formulate a national roadmap for the protection and sustainable use of Trinidad and Tobago’s marine environment, the aim was to gather a national collective response to the growing global recognition of the ocean’s role in climate resilience, food security and economic diversification.
Representing the IMA were Dr. Ava Maxam, Director and Senior Research Officers, Dr. Anjani Ganase and Dr. Farahnaz Solomon, who were all delighted to join two of the three Panels at Charting a Blue Future: Trinidad and Tobago’s Road to the 2025 UN Ocean Conference. The two-day conference was organised around the following three thematic sessions:
Session One – Marine Pollution and Conservation Strategies
Session Two – Climate Resilience and Coastal Adaptation
Session Three – Blue Economy Opportunities and Governance
Dr. Ava Maxam, IMA Director, contributed to the national conversation on Session Two – Climate Resilience and Coastal Adaptation which focused on the protection of vulnerable coastlines of the twin-island state from rising sea levels, coastal erosion and climate-related challenges. Dr. Maxam was invited as a panelist to discuss the use of nature-based solutions, such as mangrove restoration to address coastal erosion, increasing sea level rise and storm surge activity while integrating community knowledge into a national plan for a more responsive adaptation. She stated that the ocean plays a key role in the sustainable development of our twin-island state by providing marine resources and services, which contribute to food security, generate employment in the maritime fisheries and tourism sectors, support livelihoods and regulate climate. Dr. Maxam further underscored the importance of sustaining marine biodiversity with evidence-based marine conservation strategies. The Panel recognised the importance of incorporating the perspectives of youth groups and that of communities in reforming national frameworks to enable a responsive action on natural disasters and climate adaptation.
Dr. Farahnaz Solomon and Dr. Anjani Ganase, the IMA’s Senior Research Officers, contributed to Session One which focused on Marine Pollution and Conservation Strategies. This session opened with a call-to-action from the Chair, Dr. Farahnaz Solomon, the IMA Senior Research Officer, who stated that over 75 per cent of marine pollution found in our twin-island state flowed from land-based sources of pollution. After much discussions from participants, one of whom was Dr. Anjani Ganase, the IMA’s Senior Research Officer, an emerging theme for Session One was the need to proactively address the root causes of pollution. This entailed consistent public education campaigns, implementing and encouraging citizen science specifically among the youth, robust regulatory oversight and, inter alia, enhanced waste management infrastructure.
Dr. Maxam was also invited to give remarks at the closing reception, highlighting key issues and conclusions coming out of the two days of discussions on ‘Charting the Blue Future…’. In providing a recap of the two-day event, Dr. Maxam concluded that the outcomes garnered from all three sessions offer a blueprint to integrate ocean-related (use of ocean resources; marine pollution; sustainable blue economy and BBNJ) issues into marine sustainability and development strategies at the national level ensuring that our blue economy is sustainable and preserved for future generations.
The closing reception was hosted at the French Ambassador’s Residence, where remarks from His Excellency Didier Chabert (French Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago), Ms. Satee Boodoo (Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, (MPEAD)), Dr. Ava Maxam and Ms. Joanna Kazana (UN Resident Coordinator Trinidad and Tobago), who all highlighted the importance of meaningful national and regional collaboration to support Caribbean resilience.
