ABSTRACT
With assistance from international organizations and donor nations, the nations of the Wider Caribbean Region are steadily increasing their capability to deal with oil pollution. The need for a reasonable response capability stems from factors such as the region's complex network of petroleum production points and transportation routes, dependence of national economies on the pristine marine environment that attracts tourists, and the vulnerability of many of the nations to pollution incidents resulting from lack of preparedness. The problems of improving response capability in a region having over three dozen governments are immense. Nevertheless, through recent events, the Region's governments are recognizing the importance of having an agency responsible for environmental matters, a response organization, a pollution contingency plan, and adequate legislation to provide the jurisdiction necessary to prevent and to take action to control discharges into the marine environment. These developments are occurring through regional cooperation such as the implementation of the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme, and through national and independently sponsored efforts to increase marine pollution response capability.
Towards sustainable implementation of maritime spatial planning in Europe: A peek into the potential of the Regional Sea Conventions playing a stronger role
