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During his address to some 4000 participants on Monday, November 26 at the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, Senator the Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, highlighted Jamaica’s efforts in sustainably utilising the oceans and marine life for economic growth and development. He also underscored the country’s commitment to collaborating with other governments, academia, the private sector and civil society to develop a sustainable road map for the Blue Economy.
“Jamaica commits to remain active in the various regional and international fora on ocean and other aquatic-related matters and to ensure that the interests of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are represented. This includes the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, spearheaded by Norway,” Senator Charles shared.
The State Minister, who also chairs the National Council on Ocean and Coastal Zone Management (NCOCZM), included the recently announced ban on some plastics and polystyrene foam products, which is to come into effect in January, 2019, as he shared three nationally instituted measures to ensure the viability of a sustainable blue economy. This he noted, “represents a concrete step to reduce the negative impact of marine pollution on coastal communities and key economic sectors such as tourism and fisheries.”
He also shared information on Jamaica’s new Fisheries Legislation, which he noted was aimed at “ramping up measures to enhance the management of aquatic protected areas such as Fish Sanctuaries; mandating participation of stakeholders in fisheries governance and effectively combatting the scourge of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.”
The State Minister noted too, that Jamaica, through the NCOCZM, will implement a public awareness and engagement programme aimed at “educating Jamaicans on the value of the blue economy and increasing the participation of all stakeholders.”
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