CASTRIES, St Lucia – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) continues to be a regional leader in assessing the potential of a blue economy. For the OECS, a blue economy focuses on using the ocean’s resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, as well as the maintenance of ocean ecosystem health to ensure continued benefits.
The OECS Commission, through its Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project (CROP) will host a webinar series. The CROP is funded by the Global Environment Facility with the World Bank acting as the implementing agency.
The featured speaker is Professor Dickon Howell. Professor Howell is the director and founder of Howell Marine Consulting and is a visiting Professor at Newcastle University School of Natural and Environmental Science. The first webinar will be delivered on June 10, 2020, from 10 a.m. and will focus on Delivering Good Ocean Governance in the OECS.
This webinar introduces the concept of a blue economy, the principles of good governance and explains how ocean governance is being delivered in the OECS. This webinar is designed for technical officers and targeted persons will be invited to register. The aim is to provide an understanding of how good ocean governance is central to managing human activities in our marine space, and in turn, how this contributes to sustainable development and the transition to a Blue Economy.
Director-General of the OECS Commission Dr Didacus Jules explained that there is a wealth of untapped economic potential in the Caribbean region.
“As large ocean states, we have much more ocean than land, and we need to recognise, and take up the tremendous opportunities that our ocean resources can deliver to all our citizens, if we plan, manage and care for them in a sustainable and responsible way.”
The OECS, as an inclusive institution, will engage policymakers, civil society organisations, and the public through its webinar series. The next session will be on June 17, 2020, at 10 a.m to discuss Looking After Our Oceans in the OECS and will engage students, civil society organisations, and the general public and as such, registration is open to all. The final session on June 24, 2020, at 9 a.m. will be a closed session to focus on a blue economy for the OECS and target high-level policymakers.
