OECS Media Release
— There are 12,046 recorded marine species in the Caribbean Region with 31 phyla – or groups of related organisms – represented. However, these species face several major threats, including plastic and chemical pollution, climate change, diseases, and overexploitation. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), over 1,550 marine plants and animals are at risk of extinction globally, many of which are found in the Caribbean.
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) through the EU-funded BioSPACE Project, hosted a regional Marine Biodiversity Conservation Workshop and Sea Turtle Monitoring Training from April 17 – 21 in Dominica for regional stakeholders – technical officers, fisheries extension officers, agencies responsible for management of marine protected areas, dive tour guides, and students, among others. Several activities were undertaken to strengthen the capacity of the stakeholders to manage, conserve and sustainably use marine, coastal and terrestrial biodiversity, and to increase their capacity to successfully manage a turtle monitoring program towards the conservation of sea turtle species.
Head of the OECS Environmental Sustainability Division, Mr. Chamberlain Emmanuel during his welcome remarks to the participants said, “Hosting of this training workshop contributes to the implementation of key OECS frameworks and action plans, including the St. George’s Declaration (SGD) of Principles for Environmental Sustainability.” The agenda set out in the SGD 2040 responds to priority environmental problems and opportunities for nature-based solutions in the Eastern Caribbean: climate change and sea-level rise, threats to biodiversity, threats to freshwater resources, land degradation, degradation of coastal environments and marine resources, pollution and waste management, and high energy costs.
