Latin America and the Caribbean Moves Forward on a Shared Position For Inclusive Marine Economy

SANTIAGO, Chile – The executive director of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, says the ocean economy is highly diverse and ever more relevant to Latin America and the Caribbean’s economic and social development.

Addressing the virtual conference titled “Regional Blue Talk: Latin America and the Caribbean On the Road to the Third United Nations Ocean Conference 2025 (UNOC3),” Salazar-Xirinachs, said the event represents a unique opportunity to strengthen the region’s collaboration and commitment to protecting the ocean.

“The ocean economy is highly diverse and ever more relevant to Latin America and the Caribbean’s economic and social development. Activities such as fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport and tourism contribute significantly to the population’s income and to employment in our region,” he told the event, sponsored by ECLAC in conjunction with the Embassies of Costa Rica and France in Chile.

“However, this relevance is still not reflected in sufficient investment in marine-coastal science, technology and innovation. In addition, our marine ecosystems face increasing pressure, in the form of overfishing, pollution by plastics and nutrients, biodiversity loss, and the impacts of climate change, such as acidification and rising sea levels.

“All of this, without yet contemplating the risks associated with the possible development of deep-sea mining, the expansion of which poses serious questions about the integrity of habitats that have yet to be studied much and about global rules for its governance,” the senior United Nations official stated.

ECLAC said Latin America and the Caribbean is home to 47 of the world’s 258 marine ecoregions, and the vast majority of our countries (23) have more marine territory than land area.

On average, 50 per cent of the region’s territory corresponds to the ocean. In the Caribbean islands, this proportion rises to 91 per cent and is nearly 99 per cent in some states such as Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda.

ECLAC said that is why the region is positioned as a crucial strategic actor in the marine life agenda and why it has a historic opportunity to build a sustainable, just and inclusive marine economy.

Salazar-Xirinachs said that the Third United Nations Ocean Conference, which will be held in Nice, France in June,  represents a key opportunity for making progress on concrete commitments and strengthening the role of Latin America and the Caribbean in the global ocean agenda.

The Executive Secretary announced that ECLAC has produced, with support from French Cooperation, a study entitled Overview of the ocean, seas and marine resources in Latin America and the Caribbean’s sustainable development, which will be presented next month during the UNOC3 on June 12, at a joint side event with the CAF and the governments of France and Costa Rica, in the blue zone.

The report offers an updated perspective on the region’s main progress, challenges and opportunities in relation to fulfilling SDG 14, which aspires to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.”

The publication aims to produce evidence and public policy recommendations that would promote a sustainable blue economy and contribute to achieving the 2030 Agenda.

The organsiers said that the Regional Blue Talk for Latin America and the Caribbean event was structured around three panels that addressed, in a systemic manner, the challenges under SDG 14.

These are towards sustainable fisheries and effective ocean governance; the transition to a sustainable blue economy in the context of climate change; and action, cooperation, and governance for a clean and healthy ocean.

ECLAC said the participants in the discussions included specialists in various marine issues, leaders of regional artisanal fishing organizations and of women’s networks in maritime authorities who emphasized the importance of their voice being heard in these kinds of debates, international scientists, and specialists from United Nations organizations that study environmental phenomena related to the ocean.