The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: Potential for Regional Ocean Science Coordination and Partnership

Lorna V Inniss, Ph.D, Alex E Palomino and Cesar Toro, Ph.D,
Marck Oduber, Ph.D, and Soraya Silva, Ph.D

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ABSTRACT

The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (the Ocean Decade) has the vision of “the science we need for the ocean we want.” The preparatory work completed within the first three years of the Ocean Decade emphasized the co-design aspects and successfully created a large Community of Practice in the Tropical Americas and Caribbean Region (TAC) for implementation. The Ocean Decade provides a framework for diverse actors to identify, generate and use ocean science for sustainable development, aimed to catalyze existing and new partnerships to address specific needs of citizens, industry and communities to optimise the benefits of the ocean to humans. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO leads the implementation of Decade Actions that respond to 10 Challenges in ocean health and wellbeing. The seven (7) outcomes to be achieved by 2030 through collaborative science are: A Clean Ocean, A Safe Ocean, A Predicted Ocean, A Healthy and Resilient Ocean, A Productive Ocean, An Accessible Ocean and An Inspiring and Engaging Ocean. The Tropical Americas and Caribbean (TAC) Region is already working on improving ocean governance through the establishment of an Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) among relevant intergovernmental bodies. This new paradigm envisions Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP), young people, community representatives, industry and civil society participating in the governance, management and conservation of marine resources, an investment that brings measurable returns to all sectors, while minimising the impact of humans on the ocean and ensuring sustainability. The proposed TAC Ocean Decade Task Force will work with partners to unpack ocean science needs for all-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk reduction, as well as ecosystem health, alternative livelihoods and wider societal gains, and increasing wealth, especially within small island developing states (SIDS). Thus, a successful Ocean Decade in 2030 establishes a foundation of credible and relevant science that supports the Sustainable Blue Economy, ecosystem restoration, pollution reduction, fisheries conservation, and responds to the needs of states to implement global and regional treaties on the ocean.

HOW TO CITE: Inniss, L.V., A. E. Palomino and C. Toro,  M. Oduber, and S. Silva, 2026. The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: Potential for Regional Ocean Science Coordination and Partnership.  Contribution 8.6, p576-587 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=950

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Transforming Our Seas and Oceans Resources Collaboratively with Accredited Development Partners for the Benefit of all 13 years of progress: 2010 – 2023

Alwyn R. Ponteen, MSc;
Chief Fisheries and Ocean Governance Officer – Government of Montserrat

ABSTRACT

The United Kingdom Overseas Territory (UKOT) Montserrat, a Small Island Development State (SIDS) within the global ocean space, recognises the significant role that the natural capital of the fisheries and ocean sector plays in its socio-economic growth and achievement of long-term sustainable development and well-being. Through extension from His Majesty’s Government (HMG) UK, the Government of Montserrat (GOM) is committed to its International Binding and Non-Binding Agreements.

For decades, the complexities of ineffective legal instruments, inadequate human capital, natural occurrences, human induced circumstances, coupled with climate change, alien invasive species and pollution continue to create adverse social and environmental issues. It was therefore critical to empower policy and decision makers to develop and implement an adaptive, holistic and harmonized natural capital framework for making effective use of the resources in a way that embeds sustainability and facilitates decision-making processes.

In 2010, the GOM took the bold step of embarking on an ambitious but realistic and adaptive programme aimed at transforming our seas and ocean resources collaboratively with accredited development partners with a shared vision. This was achieved by applying nature-based solutions, good governance, adaptive management, technological innovation, sound science and evidence-based information to strengthen the global effort in advancing environmental protection and sustainability for the nation’s socio-economic growth and well-being.

To achieve the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, the GOM has imbedded SDG 17, Partnership for the goals and its associated targets, as the nucleus for strengthening the wealth economy framework of natural capital in the long term. As a small island developing state, sustainable financing, capacity building, technology just to name a few have been a real challenge over the years.

HOW TO CITE: Ponteen, A.R., 2026. Transforming Our Seas and Oceans Resources Collaboratively with Accredited Development Partners for the Benefit of all. Contribution 8.5, p563-575  IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=949

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Belize City, Belize, 7 October 2025 (CRFM)—Four Caribbean countries—Anguilla, The Bahamas, Dominica, and Montserrat—have signed on to the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), formalizing their membership in the 22-year-old institution, inaugurated in Belize City, Belize, in March 2003. The momentous signing was done en bloc at the Sixteenth Special Meeting of the CRFM Ministerial Council, held during the recently concluded Caribbean Week of Agriculture, hosted by Saint Kitts and Nevis under the auspices of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.

Dr. Marc Williams, Executive Director of the CRFM Secretariat, welcomed the decisive move by the 4 Caribbean countries, which have been actively involved in the CRFM, which is an intergovernmental CARICOM institution.

The heads of delegations who signed the CRFM Agreement on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, on behalf of their respective governments are:

• Honourable Kyle Hodge, Minister of Economic Development, Industry, Commerce, Lands, Planning, Water, and Natural Resources, Anguilla;
• Mr. Montez Williams, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Agriculture & Marine Resources, The Bahamas;
• Honourable Roland Royer, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, Dominica; and
• Honourable John Patrick Osborne, Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing, Environment, Youth Affairs, and Sports, Montserrat. 

From left to right: Mr. Montez Williams (The Bahamas), Hon. Roland Royer (Dominica), Hon. John P. Osborne (Montserrat), and Hon. Kyle Hodge (Anguilla) sign the CRFM Agreement en bloc

Dr. Williams said: “Currently, there are 17 Member States of the CRFM that have been actively involved in the effective management of the organization. The CRFM prides itself on meeting the needs of its members with the available resources. When attracting resources to support the implementation of our work program and alleviate the financial burden on Member States, the CRFM is frequently asked about its governance framework.” 

CRFM Executive Director, Dr. Marc Williams (center), welcomes the decisive move by Anguilla, The Bahamas, Dominica, and Montserrat to formalize their membership in the CRFM

He noted that the CRFM has adopted several key policies to improve its governance framework, including:

• The Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy (CCCFP), which enables participating States to collectively undertake the scientific research and studies necessary to determine the status of fish stocks, determine available fishing opportunities, and develop rational harvest strategies and fisheries management plans to ensure optimum sustainable use of the resources and protect the ecosystems;
• The Personal Data Protection Policy, which ensures that the roles and responsibilities of employees of the CRFM Secretariat (with respect to protecting personal data) are clearly defined, understood, and followed by all employees, and which provides procedural guidance on how the CRFM Secretariat and its governance bodies will implement the Policy;
• The Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy, which is a source of information and guidance for those working for the CRFM Secretariat and helps them recognize and deal with bribery and corruption, as well as understand their responsibilities;
• The Whistleblower Policy, which aims to provide a comprehensive framework that will not only protect whistleblowers from retaliation but also encourage a culture in the CRFM that values ethical behavior and the disclosure of information vital to the organization's short and long-term success and well-being.

The CRFM Executive Director added that the CRFM is making a conscious effort to ensure that its initiatives are gender-sensitive and considerate of the needs of youth and Indigenous peoples.

The CRFM’s 17 Member States are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The CRFM’s objectives include the efficient management and sustainable development of marine and other aquatic resources within the jurisdictions of Member States. The CRFM also promotes and establishes cooperative arrangements among interested States for the efficient management of shared, straddling or highly migratory marine and other aquatic resources. Furthermore, it provides technical advisory and consultative services to fisheries authorities of its Member States in the development, management and conservation of their marine and other aquatic resources. 

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