Ocean ecosystem goods and services are critical for the survival in
all countries, especially in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such
as those comprising the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Effective ocean
governance is essential if those ecosystem services are to be sustained
for present and future generations; the purpose of all SDG14 targets.
Effective ocean governance requires arrangements that are
ecosystem-based and conform to internationally accepted principles. To
be effective, arrangements must be integrated across sectors and levels
of ocean governance, from local to global. The Caribbean Community is of
the view that focused attention on these arrangements is needed if
there is to be significant progress towards SDG14 targets by 2030.
Despite
longstanding recognition of the above requirements, ocean governance
arrangements are fragmented and often ineffective. For biodiversity,
fisheries, pollution and climate change alone there are 23 global and
more than 120 regional agreementsi. There is an overall pattern to these
arrangements that can be useful in determining the way forward. There
are major global networks for the key issues mentioned above that are
primarily led by UN agencies with several regional sub-bodies. In
addition there are several regional networks that include: regional
sub-bodies of UN organisations, ‘indigenous’ii regional organisations,
regional arms of global NGOs and regional NGOs. Together these global
and regional networks, if rationalized, connected and strengthened could
provide a working global ocean governance framework for oceans that
will enable achievement of the SDG14 targetsiii.
Strengthening
regional networks of arrangements must include treating them as
entities, not just sets of unconnected organisations that happen to
share the same ocean space. It must include analysis of challenges, and
the identification and strengthening of coordinating mechanisms. Some
SIDS rich regions, such as the Pacific Islands Region, The Wider
Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Western Indian Ocean are actively
and explicitly working on developing regional ocean governance. There
are lessons to be learned and shared among these regions, as well as
from other regions, both developed and developing, with fewer SIDS.
The
Caribbean Community has been working with its partners in the Wider
Caribbean Region on improving regional ocean governance arrangements and
is interested in sharing its experiences with other regions as well as
learning from theirs. ? In this regard, the CLME + project partnership
for the Wider Caribbean Region will be introduced.
Purpose of the side event
The general purpose of this Side Event would is to discuss the following questions:
· What must we do to strengthen ocean governance at the regional level in all regions of the world?
· How should the global-regional nexus for ocean governance be structured, managed and monitored
· What have we learned from regional ocean governance initiatives around the world?
The
objective of the side-event will be to develop concrete recommendations
for advancing joint initiatives for advancing good oceans governance as
a cornerstone of SIDS Sustainable Development
