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In 2013 the OECS Heads of Government endorsed the Eastern Caribbean Regional Ocean Policy (ECROP) and its associated strategic action plan (ECROP SAP) to enable a blue economy approach in the OECS. The ECROP guides the future use of the region’s marine waters and provides a basis for enhanced coordination and management of ocean resources within the Eastern Caribbean. Pursuant to efforts under the ECROP, the OECS has sought to form partnerships and access funds to begin to implement the ECROP in earnest. On October 14, 2017, a Grant Agreement for the Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project (CROP) was signed between the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, acting as an Implementing Agency of the Global Environment Facility, and the OECS.

The grant directly benefits five participating Member States, namely: Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The CROP is designed to contribute to the implementation of the ECROP by strengthening capacity for ocean governance, and coastal and marine spatial planning in the participating countries: a necessity to facilitate transitioning to a Blue Economy. For further information on the CROP visit: https://oecs.org/en/crop and https://oceanwealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/CROP_MOW_Project_Overview.pdf

On World Ocean Day (8th June 2021), countries from all four corners of the world – from India to Guyana, South Korea to Austria have pledged to support the ‘30 by 30’ commitment which is being championed by the UK-led Global Ocean Alliance and the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, co-chaired by the UK, Costa Rica and France.

This next milestone follows a successful meeting of the G7 Climate and Environment ministers, during which all members agreed to champion the global ‘30×30’ target to conserve or protect at least 30 percent of the world’s land and at least 30 percent of the world’s ocean by 2030, as well as committing to ‘30 x 30’ domestically.

Members of the Global Ocean Alliance and/or the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People