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KINGSTON, Jamaica – The United Nations Environment Programme, Caribbean Environment Programme (UNEP CEP) is hosting a meeting of national, regional and international Experts for discussions that will lead to the development of the region’s first State of Marine Environment Report for the Caribbean Sea.

Over 30 experts from Governments, Research Institutions and Specialized Agencies will meet in Kingston, Jamaica from 15-17 August, 2016 to share their experiences, challenges and lessons learned from developing similar assessment reports.

According to Mr. Christopher Corbin, UNEP’s Programme Officer with responsibility for the Pollution sub-programme at the Jamaica-based Secretariat, “This meeting marks a significant advancement of efforts to assess the sources and impacts of pollution on the Caribbean Sea.” He further acknowledged the financial support of two regional projects funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF IWEco and CLME+) for the workshop. Mr. Corbin highlighted that: “both projects recognized the importance of establishing a baseline of the major types, quantities and sources of pollutants as well as their impacts on human health, the environment and economic industries such as fishing, tourism and maritime transportation in the region.”

Over 80% of pollution of the Caribbean Sea comes from activities on land, such as deforestation, agricultural chemicals and farm waste as well as industrial, toxic waste, oil spills and siltation, littering and animal waste. This has destructive effects on the coastal and marine environment.  Coral reefs are also at risk of pollution in the Caribbean as they have diminished by 90 % in recent times. Notwithstanding, their significant value as they provide US$375 million in goods and services annually to coastal economies through activities such as tourism, fisheries and maritime transportation.

Understanding the quantities, types and sources of pollutants will be critical to inform new policies, legislation and regulations; and ensure that negative impacts on human health and the environment are minimized.  It will also support efforts to track the region’s achievement of the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in particular Goal 6 on protecting oceans and seas.  The long-term aim of the State of Marine Environment report will be to help persons better understand and visualize changes to the Caribbean Sea and to inform regional decision-makers on efforts and investments needed to reduce and/or eliminate pollution of the coastal and marine environment.

UNEP CEP as Secretariat for the Cartagena Convention and Protocol on Land Based-Sources of Marine Pollution continues to work with Governments of the Wider Caribbean to prevent, reduce and/or control marine pollution.  The LBS Protocol has been signed by 12 countries and this meeting is expected to help raise awareness of the importance of ratification by other countries in the Wider Caribbean Region.