COMBATING MARINE POLLUTION By Clinton W. Pickering

MONTEGO BAY, 5 October 2004 (Panos): Some factors heave a heavy toll on the lives and resources of a nation, such as wars and diseases. Another one is pollution. The destruction of the environment, making it unhealthy for animal, plant or man, carries great economic, social and developmental risk to society. Last week, the States and Territories bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico gathered in Montego Bay to discuss how best to combat marine pollution. Relevant joint projects were proposed and ways to enforce environmental regulations evaluated and further developed. The meeting was held under the umbrella of the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP), an institution with a Secretariat in Kingston. CEP, a part of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has the challenging task of protecting the region from marine and coastal pollution. The agency was created in 1981, has a legal framework since 1983 and operates an extensive regional action plan. The action plan is updated every two years at an Intergovernmental Meeting. Nelson Andrade, CEP Coordinator, says that the action plan promotes the sustainable use of marine resources in the wider Caribbean region. Marine and coastal pollution is widespread. In fact, the US Academy of Sciences estimates the total input of marine litter into the oceans worldwide at approximately 6.4 million tonnes per year. CEP reports that during the one-day International Coastal Cleanup in 2000, about 7,000 tonnes of litter were removed from 30,000 kilometres of beaches in 73 countries, spread out in all parts of the world. Andrade says that the problem of pollution is very critical. Daily, populations increase and more coastal space gets used, since most people live in coastal areas. This often increases the adverse effects on the marine environment from land-based sources of pollution. "Cities grow, industrial spaces grow, airports are built; the ecology of coastal areas is damaged in order to establish new urban or industrial areas." Andrade says that although there is no clear indication that the battle against coastal pollution is either being won or lost, there is reason to be optimistic. "We are making the people aware, in particular the decision-makers, that damage is being done in the marine environment and that measures need to be implemented." The daunting task here is to get government and community organizations throughout the Caribbean region to buy into the idea, recognizing the dangers and being proactive in controlling this hazard. This is the main issue, Andrade says. CEP works primarily at the governmental and political levels. However, it is heartened by recent recommendations and requests to work directly with local communities in combating marine pollution. "At the end of the day, we need to make the people aware that this is happening and involve them fully," Andrade says. So while CEP holds top level meetings with public officials and diplomats to spur governmental action, the message of CEP must go out to fishermen and people living in coastal areas. Those who make their living off marine related activities, ergo the tourist industry, should first of all be made aware of their social responsibility. "That will be a challenge," Andrade concedes, "but we have a large project coming up in this context with a combined funding of US$22 million by 13 Caribbean Small Island Development States (SIDS) and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). It is called the Integrated Watershed and Coastal Area Management Programme (IWCAM). Over four years, many groups in society will participate in developing pilot projects." "We want to come out with very concrete action, particularly activities which could be implemented through local communities, so that people see the benefits of projects like that," Andrade says. The greater interaction with local communities has become a new focus in CEP's mandate. "In the Governing Council of UNEP this year, we were requested two things. Firstly, to work in the local communities, and secondly, to work with civil society and the private sector as our partners and allies and not as our enemies. Together we need to get down to the action." Ongoing funding of CEP's projects has always been a challenge, but now that the agency is seeing some light, Andrade is very optimistic. "More institutions will see the concrete work being done. More institutions and more donors will believe in what we do. The money will come in."