Government is committed to the development of a national oceans policy for Barbados.
And, Minister of the Environment and National Beautification, Adrian Forde, has outlined that such a policy must influence a more prioritised, structured approach to sustainable national ocean planning, and lead to more accurate and transparent budgeting, implementing and monitoring.
Mr. Forde was speaking during the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) World Ocean Day panel discussion on the topic: Developing Ocean Policy: Promises and Pitfalls, at Copacabana recently.
The Minister noted that Barbados commenced the marine spatial planning development process earlier this year as part of a blue bonds deal, with assistance from the IDB and the Nature Conservancy.
“It is recognised that as part of this process, there will be the development of marine spatial plan policy that will specifically speak to the multiple sectors that use the ocean space,” he said.
He explained that the IDB, through a technical cooperation agreement with Barbados, provided the necessary support for the implementation of the development of an ocean policy for the island. That consultancy is expected to get under way later this month.
Mr. Forde outlined that one of the specific objectives for the ocean policy being developed for Barbados is to ensure the island’s national commitment to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14, which speaks to life below water.
To achieve this, he explained that surveillance and enforcement of the ocean space will need technical and physical enhancement. “To best achieve this, it will be necessary to give consideration to the establishment of an enhanced coordination mechanism. In essence, a blue economy steering committee,” he said.
The Minister put forward the view that given the expanded nature of the requirements for effective and implementable oceans management, the time was approaching for consideration of the establishment of a National Oceans Office.
“The greatest challenge for Barbados will be the implementation of an overall integrated ocean management model. Overcoming the challenge is critical for the future…,” he said.
Mr. Forde encouraged all development partners, stakeholders, coastal communities, and the public to become active participants in the marine spatial planning process, and the ocean policy development process, to get maximum benefits from the initiatives.
IDB Representative, Viviana Alva Hart, said the institution’s support of the Government of Barbados in the drafting and approval of its Ocean Policy, was a key element in advancing the country’s contributions towards a more resilient earth.
She added that the interconnectivity between climate and biodiversity was a central element of the work the IDB supported in the region.
“Through IDB Invest, we are providing innovative solutions for the private sector to increase climate action and invest in the Blue Economy; and through the IDB Lab, our Innovation Lab, we are promoting new technologies and solutions at the entrepreneurship ecosystem to foster long-term sustainability of the ocean economy,” Ms. Hart said.