IMA Joins SIDS in Portugal – Building Stronger Pathways to Advance the Blue Economy
Healthy oceans are fundamental to human well-being, providing essential ecosystem services such as food security, climate regulation, and economic opportunities through tourism and fisheries. This intrinsic link underscores the necessity for capacity building and training leading to effective ocean governance. This was the objective behind the recently concluded United Nations (UN) Portugal Ocean Fellowship – Capacity Building Program on Sustainable Ocean Governance and Blue Economy, which was held at the Pavilhão of Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal from 20th – 24th October 2025.
Dr. Ava Maxam, Director of the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), joined several heads of national agencies responsible for ocean policy and/or ocean governance from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean at the Capacity Building Program. Targeting Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the objective of the Fellowship was to build and strengthen the institutional and individual capacity of ministers, technocrats and senior-level ocean policy and governance officials so they are better equipped to develop, implement, and advance Sustainable ocean governance frameworks and blue economy initiatives in support of SDG 14 (Life Below Water) (https://globalgoals.org/goals/14-life-below-water/).
In sharing her experience at the Capacity-building Program, Dr. Ava Maxam said “The program certainly enhanced my understanding of the global direction toward ocean governance, providing valuable insights into the key organizations with whom we should engage. We need to seek technical assistance required to advance the development of our blue economy.” She continued, “the sessions were informative and uplifting, empowering me to translate this newfound knowledge I gained into tangible actions that will hopefully drive blue economy transformation and improve marine governance at the national United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water”.
The curriculum outlined meets IMA’s mandates for developing and implementing programmes and projects related to the coastal and marine environment, promoting conservation of marine resources, promoting public awareness, and fostering regional and international collaboration. Much of IMA’s research and programmes are crucial for informing policies and national development of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean Region. Policies under consideration by the GoRTT also stand to benefit from the deeper discussions and concepts imparted, including the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM); Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ); Plastic Treaty Negotiations; Green Hydrogen Policy; Carbon Trading Policy, Development of the Mariculture Industry of Trinidad and Tobago; various Technical Corporation (TC) agreements for conservation, monitoring, blue economy and circular economy development; the National Coastal Conservation Programme, as well as development of a Marine Spatial Plan for Trinidad and Tobago’s Gulf of Paria.
Organised by the Government of Portugal in partnership with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and Oceano Azul Foundation, the Portugal Ocean Fellowship – Capacity Building Program on Sustainable Ocean Governance and Blue Economy provided intensive training in ocean governance, sustainable blue economy, BBNJ, and marine spatial planning, which included a field trip to the Portuguese Task Group for the Extension of the Continental Shelf. The field trip included a demonstration of a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) as part of the Program’s agenda. https://oceanoazulfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Press-Release--Capacity-building-programme-forsustainable-ocean-governance--Oct24.pdf
