The First Joint Workshop of the Wider Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) Working Groups and the First Regional Partnership Forum — Our Sea, Our Source, Our Future: The Wider Caribbean (and Beyond): United in Action — from Analysis to Decision-Making and Implementation were successfully held in Cartagena, Colombia, on October 29–30, 2025.
These two events marked a significant step forward in advancing regional cooperation towards an interactive and integrated ocean governance across the Wider Caribbean Region.
Members of the OCM Working Groups — Marine Data Infrastructure (MDI), State of the Marine Environment and Associated Socio-Economies (SOMEE), Strategic Action Programme (SAP) and Gender and Youth gathered in person and virtually for focused discussions to develop draft roadmaps for the implementation of key activities and outputs under the OCM Work Programme 2025–2028.
The workshop’s objectives included:
- Exchanging preliminary ideas and approaches to support implementation of the OCM Functions and Work Programme.
- Agreeing on the use of virtual collaboration platform.
- Defining engagement strategies with the OCM Steering Group, Executive Group, and external partners.
- Discussing key principles for the Working Groups’ Terms of Reference (ToRs).
Reflecting on the Workshop contribution to the OCM work, Ms. Miosotis Rivas Peña, Director of the Subregional Headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), who participated in the Marine Data Infrastructure (MDI) Working Group, highlighted key aspects during the Joint Workshop of the OCM Working Groups, emphasizing the importance of in-person engagement — the opportunity to meet, exchange ideas, and bring all initiatives to the table in order to map them out. She also underscored the value of knowledge management for informed decision-making, noting that “the more interdisciplinary the Mechanism becomes, the richer our collective understanding will be of how we can achieve sustainable ocean management”.
The Forum convened experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from across the region and beyond to strengthen partnerships for an interactive and integrated ocean governance.
Opening remarks were delivered by:
- Mr. Francisco Javier Alvarez Vargas, Director of Marine and Coastal Affairs and Aquatic Resources, Ministry of Environment (MADS–DAMCRA), Colombia.
- Mr. Jorge Elías Jaén Bonilla, Vice Chair of the OCM Steering Group, Representative of the Government of Panama.
- Mrs. Susana De Beauville Scott, Chair of the OCM Executive Group, Representative of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
The Forum agenda included three thematic panels:
- Strategic frameworks and regional commitments for ocean action.
- Practical experiences in Blue Economy policies across and beyond the Caribbean.
- Building regional data, information, and knowledge infrastructure for ocean governance.
Participants highlighted the relevance of these collaborative initiatives to improve the ocean governance priorities in the region. Representing the Organization of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector of the Central American Isthmus (OSPESCA), Ms. Violeta Reina, Regional Technical Coordinator and the Technical Advisor, Mr. Reinaldo Morales, emphasized that the exchange of information and the strengthening of inter-institutional relationships are key to implementing the actions of the Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM). Mr. Morales, noted that during the Workshop, the main lines of work were identified, and the Forum served as an opportunity to complement that information — providing essential elements to strengthen the actions and collaborative work of the Mechanism.
Ms. Shamiso Milwana, Project Coordinator of the African SIDS Blue Economy Project, who also participated as panelist in the Forum, expressed that: “the event has provided us with key insights in terms of how the Caribbean is going around in strengthening coordination mechanisms, engaging key partners, and some of the key lessons learned that we can then take and implement as part of the African experience”.
The day concluded with interactive breakout sessions led by members of the OCM Secretariat, who guided participants through key questions, facilitated dialogue, and captured valuable insights to inform the ongoing work of the OCM Working Groups.
Find relevant materials of the Joint Workshop and the Forum clicking on the links below:
