The IMA applauds the Government Signing the Ocean Governance Agreement as a Welcome Step for Marine Conservation
The IMA applauds the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago’s recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Ocean Governance. The MoU enables the creation of an Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) to support Integrated Ocean Governance in the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+region). The Honourable Sean Sobers, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, signed the MoU on 8th August 2025.
According to Dr. Ava Maxam, IMA Director, the MoU is a welcome step towards protecting our fragile marine ecosystems in Trinidad and Tobago and strengthening regional cooperation for sustainable ocean governance. Dr. Maxam stated that the recent signing reflects the nation’s commitment to strengthening regional partnerships while it sets the pace for integrated ocean governance in the CLME+ region. The MoU is part of the ProCaribePlus Project which establishes the Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) to protect and restore marine resources and promote a sustainable Blue Economy development across the CLME+ region.
Dr. Ava Maxam, IMA Director
The ProCaribe+ is a five-year project aimed at protecting, restoring and harnessing the natural coastal and marine capital of the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+) to catalyse investments and strengthen regional collaboration and partnerships.
Map of the Gulf of Paria, the proposed planning area, in Trinidad and Tobago. (source: Institute of Marine Affairs, Trinidad & Tobago)
Trinidad and Tobago became the 17th sovereign State with nine intergovernmental organisations, to endorse, participate in and activate the Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) under the ProCaribe+ Project, which offers a suite of benefits. These include:
- Sustains the Blue Economy by promoting sustainable fisheries, innovation in ocean-based economy, marine spatial planning and eco-tourism
- Facilitates National Monitoring of ocean sustainability goals
- Enables data sharing with research and academic institutions to inform legislation on ocean pollution and climate change
- Promotes alignment of institutional and policy frameworks across multiple governance levels
- Strengthens collaboration among countries, intergovernmental organisations and key stakeholders in the implementation of ocean-related programmes
In October 2024, the IMA signed a Project Cooperation Agreement with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to improve coastal planning in support of the Blue Economy with the development of a Marine Spatial Plan. Marine spatial planning is part of a larger regional ProCaribPlus Project and is an essential tool for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).