ATHENS, CMC – The United States says it is allocating more than US$508 million to protect “our ocean” by advancing marine protected areas, maritime security, the sustainable blue economy, and sustainable fisheries supporting ocean solutions to the climate crisis and combating marine pollution in the Caribbean and other places.
On Wednesday, at the ninth Our Ocean Conference, the United States said it is “turning ambition into action.”
To create and support sustainable blue economies, the US Department of State said the Biden administration is allocating US$8.5 million for the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation to collaborate with the Atlantic community on Atlantic Ocean observation, marine spatial planning, scientific capacity building, and sustainable blue economy development, subject to Congressional notification.
The State Department said the US will provide US$1.9 million to support the conservation of ecosystems in the Caribbean region through sustainable financing.
It also said US$1 million will be provided to protect illegally traded wildlife, including sea life, “by reducing illegal collection and poaching activities in the Caribbean region linked to international trade demands for food, jewelry, souvenirs, pets, and medicines.”
To address the ocean-climate nexus, the US announced US$100,000 to support the implementation of the International Maritime Organization Greenhouse Gas Strategy in developing countries, in particular small island developing states, such as those in the Caribbean and least-developed countries.
In addition, the State Department said the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will provide US$750,000 for efforts to enhance storm surge forecasting and preparedness in the central Caribbean, namely the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and the Cayman Islands.
To advance marine protected areas, the US will also provide US$5.8 million to improve the management of marine biodiversity and marine protected areas in the Caribbean.
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