Reuniones del Mecanismo de Coordinación Oceánica (MCO)

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The Wider Caribbean: United in Action

News of the OCM

Welcoming Trinidad and Tobago as the 20th country to join the Wider Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism

The OCM celebrated its global launch at UNOC3

Mexico signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of the Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM)

What to know about the new wave of ocean leadership in Latin America and the Caribbean, ahead of the UN Ocean Conference

"The time for symbolism has passed. The Ocean Coordination Mechanism must be the nerve center for decisive action", Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

First Meeting of the Wider Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism's Executive Group

St. Kitts and Nevis signs OCM MoU 

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Welcoming Trinidad and Tobago as the 20th country to join the Wider Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism

Welcoming Trinidad and Tobago as the 20th country to join the Wider Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism

OCM Meeting Information OCM Key Aspects

Page Overview

In this section, you will find relevant, detailed, and updated information about the Ocean Coordination Mechanism. Click on the links to find content related to OCM governance, Key Role and Responsibilities, OCM signatories, photos, and an interactive timeline. 

The Wider Caribbean’s marine resources are vital to the region’s biodiversity, climate resilience, and economic development. However, fragmented efforts and overlapping mandates have historically hindered progress. 

The Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) is a groundbreaking regional governance platform for the Wider Caribbean that provides a permanent, inclusive structure for aligning action, sharing knowledge, and optimizing the use of limited resources by enhancing coordination and collaboration across the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+ region). 


 

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The Wider Caribbean’s marine resources are vital to the region’s biodiversity, climate resilience, and economic development. However, fragmented efforts and overlapping mandates have historically hindered progress. 

The Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) is a groundbreaking regional governance platform for the Wider Caribbean that provides a permanent, inclusive structure for aligning action, sharing knowledge, and optimizing the use of limited resources by enhancing coordination and collaboration across the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+ region). 

Building on the legacy of the CLME+ Interim Coordination Mechanism (ICM), the OCM formalizes a long-term structure that unites countries, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), and regional stakeholders to address shared marine opportunities & challenges—shifting the focus from problem-centric approaches to proactive, solutions-oriented collaboration in areas such as sustainable fisheries, pollution control, biodiversity conservation, marine spatial planning, and climate-resilient blue economies.

As of August 12, 2025, 20 States/Territories and 9 IGOs have signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that creates the OCM, affirming their commitment to more integrated ocean governance.  

How the OCM Works (OCM governance)

The Ocean Coordination Mechanism operates under a collaborative governance framework designed to enable inclusive, transparent, and effective decision-making across the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf region. 

Decisions are shaped by consensus and informed by both technical input and political direction. 

The Steering Group, composed of country representatives, approves work programmes and budgets, while the Executive Group, composed of intergovernmental organizations, convenes to provide coordinated technical and policy advice. 

The Secretariat facilitates communication and ensures and tracks timely implementation of decisions. 

Implementation of the OCM Work Programme is supported by a select number of OCM Working Groups.

Key Role & Responsibilities

The Ocean Coordination Mechanism ensures region-wide coordination for sustainable ocean governance by distributing responsibilities across three main entities:

Ocean Coordination

The Ocean Coordination Mechanism enhances coordination on management actions for the region's biodiversity, climate vulnerability, and ecosystem-dependent livelihoods, including programs for improving local institutional programs.

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Steering Group (SG): Composed of representatives from participating countries, the SG provides strategic direction, approves work plans and budgets, and ensures that national priorities are reflected in regional ocean governance efforts. It also reviews and clears regional strategies such as the Strategic Action Programme (SAP). In the context of the SGM1.2 meeting, the SG formally adopted the Rules of Procedure (RoP), which is available here for consultation.

Executive Group (EG): Made up of intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) with a marine-related mandate, the EG supports technical guidance, coordination across agencies, and the vetting of scientific and policy proposals. It plays a key role in ensuring that decisions are informed by expertise and aligned with institutional mandates.

Secretariat: The Secretariat manages day-to-day operations, facilitates communication across OCM bodies, organizes meetings, tracks implementation of the work programme, and supports the development of key knowledge products such as the SOMEE report and the marine data infrastructure. During the PROCARIBE+ project, the Project Management and Coordination Unit (PMCU) serves as the interim Secretariat.

Together, these entities enable the OCM to deliver on its mission to protect marine ecosystems, foster collaboration, and drive blue economy development across the region.

OCM MoU Signatories

OCM Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

The MOU is not a legally binding instrument; it does not impose legal obligations or commitments on its Signatories nor does it affect in any way the sovereign rights of the (future) OCM Member States.

The integral text of the Ocean Coordination Mechanism document, in English, Spanish and French versions, is available here.

20 key facts about the OCM and the OCM Memorandum of Understanding are available here. 

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OCM Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

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The MOU is not a legally binding instrument; it does not impose legal obligations or commitments on its Signatories nor does it affect in any way the sovereign rights of the (future) OCM Member States.

The integral text of the Ocean Coordination Mechanism document, in English, Spanish and French versions, is available here.

20 key facts about the OCM and the OCM Memorandum of Understanding are available here. 

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Pursuing interactive ocean governance

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OCM Relevant Meetings and Events

OCM photo gallery

The Ocean Coordination Mechanism became operational in December, 2024 and celebrated its global launch at UNOC3, on June 9th, 2025, at a side event hosted by the government of Grenada, during the event United In Action: Actioning Blue 30x30 Vision and Launching the Wider Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism. 

You can access the photo gallery of the side event here.