The Institute of Marine Affairs has officially launched its PROCARIBE+ initiative, which seeks to enhance national capacity and enable conditions for the expansion of the blue economy through the execution of Marine Spatial Planning for Trinidad and Tobago’s marine territory in the Gulf of Paria.
The PROCARIBE+ MSP is part of a wider, regional Global Environment Facility-funded project within the framework of the National Environmental Policy, the ICZM Policy, and others, with the objective of managing the location and distribution of human activities across our marine space over time. Experts deem MSP a key tool for achieving sustainable management and protection of coastal and marine ecosystems.
According to IMA Director Ava Maxam, this planning has become necessary because of conflict among marine stakeholders and the degradation of marine and coastal environments.
“Now, over the last few decades we’ve seen this in the form of rising sea levels, warming ocean temperatures, extreme weather events, shrinking polar ice caps, increased eutrophication, profuse plastic pollution, and of course increased fishing pressure on our fishing stocks.”
In his address, Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh, referred to Trinidad and Tobago as a “big ocean state,” adding that our marine territory is fifteen times that of our landmass. He said that over 80% of our GDP is derived from our exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles, namely the hydrocarbon industry. He added that marine sector investment forms part of the government’s plans to diversify the economy and is only possible through the proper management of our maritime territory.
“There are a range of activities competing for limited maritime space in the Gulf, and in the future, adding to these existing activities will be new and emerging ones as the country pursues sustainable blue economy development.”
The project is also in partnership with the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development and the UN Office for Project Services, which say that the IMA is an excellent steward of the marine environment, describing it as the “ideal partner” to lead the project.
Senior Project Officer AT UNDP/GEF: PROCARIBE + MSP, Sonia Gautreau, stated: “We are confident that this process will support Trinidad and Tobago in the achievement of its international targets under a variety of international agreements, including the sustainable development goals.”
IMA Director Ava Maxam said that the five-year project involves a holistic vision for ocean governance, with stakeholder participation being integral. She said that the IMA hopes the project will culminate in the creation of zoning development plans.