Latin America and the Caribbean stands at a pivotal moment for ocean leadership. The region, rich in marine biodiversity, faces mounting pressures from coastal degradation and pollution. One example is the sargassum seaweed blooms which have disrupted Caribbean ecosystems, tourism, and economies since 2011.
At the same time, plastic pollution continues to surge, with an estimated 75-199 million tonnes of plastic in the global ocean, much of it from land-based sources still inadequately addressed by international frameworks. Microplastics have been found in human blood, lungs, and brains, raising health concerns.
While regional frameworks like the Cartagena Convention exist to protect the marine environment of the Wider Caribbean, tackling the ocean crisis in a holistic way has been hindered by underfunding and the complex nature of ocean governance, with overlapping jurisdictions and transboundary realities. This gap between policy and practice underscores the urgent need for renewed commitment and investment.
The ocean is not just a site of crisis, but also a source of immense opportunity. Globally, the blue economy is worth an estimated US$3 trillion annually.
From isolated efforts to collective solutions
Ocean crises can no longer be addressed in isolation. The region is embracing a new mindset, which encourages coordinated action by uniting diverse actors and sectors. This is especially critical in the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+ region), covering over 4.4 million square kilometers and including 26 states and 18 overseas territories, with 16 Small Island Developing States (SIDS). These ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots and economic lifelines for millions.
A new mechanism for smarter ocean governance
This year, the region operationalized the Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM), a regionally owned, non-binding platform to align ocean governance across countries and institutions. As of December 2024, the OCM reached its activation threshold, and to date has 18 member countries and 9 member IGOs. The mechanism marks a major step toward more coherent, inclusive, and evidence-based stewardship of marine resources, strengthening the ocean-climate-biodiversity-development nexus. This integrated approach is not just about conservation; it’s also about livelihoods, transboundary dialogue and peace building. Healthy marine ecosystems are critical for fisheries, tourism, renewable energy, and for safeguarding the genetic resources that underpin marine biotechnology. Fragmented governance undermines these sectors, while coordinated approaches can help unlock the full potential of sustainable blue economies.
PROCARIBE+: Caribbean-led, regionally connected
Driving this momentum is PROCARIBE+, a Global Environment Facility-funded initiative launched in 2023, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and multiple regional co-executing partners. Building on over a decade of collaboration under the GEF-funded CLME and CLME+ projects, PROCARIBE+ focuses on protecting marine and coastal ecosystems in the Wider Caribbean Region through multi-level cooperation, connecting governments, coastal communities, the private sector, and academic institutions. Work areas include new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), fisher-led replenishment zones, and Marine Spatial Planning, to advance the global 30x30 biodiversity goal. The project also boosts sustainable fisheries with traceability systems, supports blue carbon financing, and empowers coastal communities—especially in SIDS—through a US$2.5 million small grants program for ocean-positive initiatives.
Beyond implementation, UNDP partners with countries to strengthen governance, build capacity, and align ocean action with climate and biodiversity goals, including the SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Strengthening the science-policy interface and engaging youth, Indigenous Peoples, and civil society are key to a more just blue economy.
To accelerate impact, countries are testing innovative finance tools—like blue bonds, blended finance, and debt-for-nature swaps—to align investments with resilience, biodiversity, and livelihoods. Strong, inclusive ocean-related policies and actions are not possible without sustainable finance, just as innovative finance cannot deliver lasting results without robust governance frameworks like the OCM. UNDP’s LAC Environment and Energy team works with platforms such as the Climate Promise and the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) to unlock finance for integrated ocean, climate, and biodiversity solutions.
A globally relevant model
The Caribbean’s approach, rooted in regional sovereignty, institutional innovation— and striving for financial sustainability—offers lessons for the world. At a time when the ocean needs swift, united action, the region is showing what leadership can look like. But governments cannot do it alone. The private sector must be part of the solution, whether through responsible fishing practices, biotechnology, circular economy models to reduce plastic waste, or investment in nature-based solutions and blue carbon markets.
As the world gathers for the UN Oceans Conference in Nice, France on June 9-13, Latin America and the Caribbean is ready to show that stronger, more integrated ocean governance isn’t just possible, it’s already underway.
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This article was written by: PROCARIBE+ Project Coordinator, Patrick Debels, and the Regional Team Leader, Environment and Energy Team for Latin America and the Caribbean, UNDP, Lyes Ferroukhi, and originally published on the UNDP Latin American and the Caribbean UNDP official website. Find it here.
