Saint Lucia is championing sustainable ocean governance with comprehensive blue economy strategies designed to strengthen economic resilience and foster inclusive growth.

The Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan, developed under the Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project, provides a roadmap for the sustainable and equitable use of the coastal and marine spaces, protection of coastal and marine ecosystems, and management of land-water interactions. Funded through the Global Environment Facility, the plan maps out risk assessments and investment opportunities across nearshore and offshore areas, contributing as a key knowledge asset to inform strategic visions for blue economy development.

Anchored in the elements of expanded fisheries, self-sufficiency, healthy ecosystems, a diversified economy, and responsible tourism, the plan serves as a framework for zoning configuration and the calibration of planning scenarios. Its priorities also emphasized efforts on five key investment packages such as village tourism, solar farm enhancement, resilient fisheries facilities, business accommodation, and wind energy development. 

The Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) project, on the other hand, is a people-centered and cross-sectoral regional initiative that leverages marine and coastal resilience in driving economic growth across tourism, fisheries, and waste management.

In Saint Lucia, the project is spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Youth Economy with an allocation of USD 29 million. The project has four strategic components: championing institutional capacity with sound climate policies, increasing financial modalities for businesses, capacitating community crisis emergency response, and facilitating monitoring and evaluation. 

Both the country’s Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan and UBEC project demonstrate Saint Lucia’s commitment to marine conservation while upholding community-driven initiatives, showcasing leadership that sets a benchmark for CVF-V20 member states.