UK Gov’t announces J$27M for Ja’s marine conservation efforts

The United Kingdom has announced funding under the Sustainable Blue Economies Programme’s Blue Social Challenge Fund to help countries across the Caribbean harness its ocean resources to improve climate resilience and livelihoods for vulnerable communities and protect vital natural habitats.

Among the beneficiaries are two key non-governmental organisations in Jamaica.

The Montego Bay Marine Park Trust will receive £98,070 (approximately J$19.2 million) to enhance environmental monitoring and enforcement in the Montego Bay Marine Park (MBMP). This initiative focuses on building capacity through a community-based approach to protect marine ecosystems in one of Jamaica’s most iconic coastal areas.

Meanwhile, the Jamaica White River Marine Association will receive £43,176 (approximately J$8.48 million) to engage Jamaican fishers in the conservation of critically endangered keystone coral species. This project is vital for ensuring the health and resilience of Jamaica’s marine biodiversity.

British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Judith Slater, underscored the UK’s commitment to regional environmental sustainability, saying: “The UK is proud to support Jamaica’s efforts to protect its precious marine ecosystems. These initiatives demonstrate the importance of collaboration in tackling climate challenges and building a more sustainable future for our planet. Jamaica’s natural resources are not just vital to its economy and people but to the global fight against environmental degradation.”

Meanwhile, manager at the White River Fish Sanctuary, Jonathan Hernould expressed his gratitude for the support, noting: “I am extremely grateful to the British High Commission in Jamaica for enabling this. It gives us the opportunity to reach beyond the boundaries of our fish sanctuary and make a massive lasting impact by mapping the endangered corals across the north coast of Jamaica.”

The Blue Social Challenge Fund forms part of the UK’s broader commitment to working with Caribbean partners to protect its ocean resources. The fund will support nature-positive solutions that build local blue economies, particularly for those who are often most marginalised and most vulnerable to climate and economic shocks, including women, youth, those with disabilities, and indigenous peoples.

The aim is to get climate finance down to the local level to support locally driven solutions and initiatives to protect nature while increasing innovation and building sustainable economic growth.

A new call for proposals will be launched early in 2025, opening the opportunity to support other key stakeholders working in the blue economy.

The Sustainable Blue Economies (SBE) programme aims to enhance the resilience of Official Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and their economies to the impacts of climate change and economic shocks, including through better ocean management, poverty reduction/improved livelihoods and greater use of nature-based solutions (NbS).

The six-year programme, announced by the UK Prime Minister at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in July 2022, is a commitment of the UK Government to support developing countries in protecting their marine environment and reducing poverty.