Photo Captions: Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Honourable Alando Terrelonge, looks on as discussions unfold at the 35th Meeting of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, in Paris, France.
Media Release
Warming ocean temperatures and rising sea levels, ocean acidification and other global threats from climate change, were among the items discussed by Jamaica at the 35th meeting of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel), of which Prime Minister Holness is a member.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Honourable Alando Terrelonge, who represented Prime Minister Holness at the three-day High-level meeting in Paris, France, said local threats are also being compounded by overfishing and pollution, beach erosion, coral reef bleaching and infectious disease.
“Ocean protection and sustainability are very important to Jamaica and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It is therefore imperative for Jamaica to continue to highlight issues of rising and warming sea levels in these forums having regard to the grave risks they pose to our population and macroeconomic and financial outlook. As a Government, we have a duty to successive generations of Jamaicans to advocate for the strengthening of global efforts to preserve and protect our oceans, and to impress upon large developed nations the urgency to have these issues feature prominently at the United Nations Ocean Conference to be held in Nice, France, in 2025”, said Minister Terrelonge.
Jamaica is home to the International Seabed Authority and a founding member of the Ocean Panel. Since 2023, Minister Terrelonge has served as Jamaica’s Sherpa on the Panel, and is the only Caribbean State representative, who joins the Panel to advance discussions on international cooperation and scaling up financing for effective ocean-based climate actions. While in Paris, Minister Terrelonge also met with Josué Serres, Special Advisor to French President Macron on Climate and Environment, and Ambassador Olivier d’Arvor, Special Envoy of the French President on Poles and Maritime Issues, to discuss some of the climate related issues facing SIDS.
Other key issues on the Ocean Panel’s agenda include supporting ocean-based climate actions to protect coastal communities and related economic sectors, combating illegal fishing, creating sustainable blue economies, advancing marine protected areas, tackling marine pollution and plastic waste, and safeguarding biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions.
During the meeting on French soil, Ocean Panel members tabled contributions for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference set for 2025, documented progress on the development of Sustainable Ocean Plans while detailing future plans for the period 2026 to 2030.
The Ocean Panel which comprises 18 world leaders, aims to build momentum towards a sustainable ocean economy that integrates protection, sustainable production and equitable prosperity. Participating countries have committed to sustainably managing 100 per cent of their ocean areas under national jurisdictions, guided by Sustainable Ocean Plans with targets for attainment by 2025.
Earlier this year, the Government of Jamaica received a fisheries and marine research vessel from the Government of Japan, valued at more than $1.2 billion. The vessel is expected to significantly boost Jamaica’s fisheries and marine research capabilities as the island seeks to further develop its blue economy. The fisheries sector has been heavily affected by recent declines in fish catches, due to changes in the distribution of marine resources stemming from the effects of climate change.
The Ocean Panel also plays a crucial role in mobilising technical and financial assistance to support Jamaica’s national development priorities aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Since the launch of the Ocean Panel’s Transformations in 2020, Jamaica has benefited from training in sustainable ocean planning and stands to gain further technical and financial assistance to establish a robust blue economy framework.
The 35th Sherpa Meeting of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy began on May 14 and concludes today.
