IOC-CEP MOC

MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION

BETWEEN

THE SECRETARIAT OF THE CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION AND
DEVELOPMENT OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT OF
THE WIDER CARIBBEAN REGION

AND

IOCARIBE OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC
COMMISSION (IOC) OF UNESCO

This Memorandum establishes a framework for co-operation between the Caribbean Regional Co-ordinating Unit of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP-CAR/RCU) in Kingston, Jamaica, as the Secretariat for the Cartagena Convention and the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP), and IOCARIBE of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of (IOC) of UNESCO. .

The Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention) is the regional legal instrument for the protection and development of the marine environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR). The States and Territories of the WCR, through the Convention, have joined in pursuit of a common goal -protection of the marine and coastal environment through the promotion of the sustainable development of their coastal and marine resources.

Having entered into force in October 1986, the Cartagena Convention established the political and legal foundation for regional co-operation. Protocols to the Convention, as integral parts of the Convention, provide the legal operational basis for implementation of specific articles.

The Oil Spills Protocol entered into force with the Convention in 1986. This protocol provides for cooperation among countries in the region in oil spill response and preparation of national contingency plans.
The Protocol on Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (The SPAW Protocol) was adopted 18 January 1990 and has entered into force in June 2000.
A Protocol on Land-based Sources of Marine Pollution (LBS Protocol) was adopted in October 1999 and the Secretariat expects that it will be into force in 2002.

The IOC Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (IOCARIBE), created in November 1982, is a Regional Subsidiary body responsible for the promotion, development and co-ordination of IOC marine scientific research programmes, the ocean services, and related activities, including Training, Education and Mutual Assistance (TEMA) in the Caribbean. It is the physical presence and the representation of IOC-UNESCO in the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions. The Regional Secretariat is located in the city of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.

The IOCARIBE-UNESCO Sub-Commission deals with a wide range of scientific programmes, dealing with collection, management and exchange of data on physical, chemical and biological properties of the ocean, coastal seas and estuaries; ocean mapping, research, and monitoring; survey and observation programmes and systems at the regional level. The Sub-Commission major activities include: Regional Component of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), IOCARIBE-GOOS, International Oceanographic Data Exchange (IODE), Global Oceanographic Data Archaeology and Rescue (GODAR), Hurricane Effects and Mitigation in the Coastal Zones of the IOCARIBE Region, Humpback Whales Research, Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) concept, regional component of the Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS), Tsunami Warning System for the Caribbean, Harmful Algae in the Caribbean (HAB), and the International Bathymetric Chart of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico (IBCCA). The objectives of the Sub-Commission consider IOC’s priorities and follow three main interactive lines of action: (i) Oceans and Climate; (ii) Ocean Ecosystems Science; and, (iii) Marine Science for Integrated Coastal Area Management.

UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE:

Taking account of the long-standing co-operation between the United Nations Environment Programme and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at the Headquarters level;

Recalling the co-operation between UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE in connection with the former sub-programme on Assessment and Control of Marine Pollution (CEPPOL) of the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP);

Noting decision #11, taken by the Twelfth Meeting of the Monitoring Committee on the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment and Special Meeting of the Bureau of the Contracting Parties to the Cartagena Convention, that called on the Secretariat to identify areas of shared programmatic interest and cooperation with IOC/IOCARIBE on their implementation;

Noting the instructions provided by the XXI Session of the IOC Assembly to explore mechanisms to co-ordinate the work of the IOCARIBE Sub-Commission with that of the regional bodies of FAO and UNEP in the region, and taking into account discussions held during the UN General Assembly’s 2^nd Meeting on the Informal Consultative Process on Oceans;

Aware that UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE are prepared to promote co-operation and co-ordination in the WCR on activities related to oceanographic conditions and to monitoring of marine pollution, as well as management of data from these activities;

Agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
Institutional Arrangements

A. UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE will be invited to participate as observers at relevant meetings of the other organisation, especially the Inter-Governmental Meetings and Monitoring Committee Meetings of the Cartagena Convention and the Intergovernmental Sessions of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (IOCARIBE-UNESCO).

B. UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE will inform their respective focal points of the specific areas of co-operation between themselves and provide for periodic reports on the implementation of this Memorandum.

C. UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE will exchange annual reports, work plans and budgets and ensure they are made available to the focal points of each Party.

D. UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE will maintain a prominent hyperlink with the other organisation on their respective websites.

ARTICLE II
Programmatic Co-operation and Exchange of Information

UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE will co-operate generally on issues related to monitoring surveys in the Wider Caribbean Region, including the compilation, analysis and assessment of data, and information management.

UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE will exchange information in their respective fields of responsibility, including information on the implementation and effectiveness of the Cartagena Convention and monitoring data describing the state of the marine environment of the WCR.

UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE will develop mechanisms to facilitate the exchange of data, information, knowledge and experiences in their common fields of responsibility. These mechanisms will be developed to take advantage of the World Wide Web and promote easy and free access to marine and coastal information for their respective constituencies.

UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE will encourage dissemination of data, information, knowledge and experiences to the Contracting Parties of the other organisation through their different respective means.

UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE will identify mechanisms to ensure database
compatibility in the area of marine monitoring data and exchange information contained in their respective databases.

UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE will encourage integration and consistency between national strategies and national reports for the protection and development of the marine environment.

UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE will co-ordinate to facilitate the implementation of the Regional Component of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), IOCARIBE-GOOS to consolidate meteorological, climatological and coastal observations in the Caribbean Region.

UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE will collaborate within the field of Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM), especially focusing on capacity building and information dissemination.

ARTICLE III
Co-ordination of Programme of Work

UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE will, to the extent possible, co-ordinate the preparation of their respective work plans and budgets. UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE will meet, at a minimum, every two years to collaborate on the development of their respective work plans and to develop project plans and budgets for joint activities.

ARTICLE IV
Financial Arrangements

On a case-by-case basis, UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE may choose to combine financial resources for a common project, however, nothing in the Memorandum obligates UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE to any financial commitment. The respective work plans and budgets will remain separate.

ARTICLE V
Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising in connection with the implementation of this Memorandum will be resolved by negotiations between UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE and if necessary, arbitrated by a third party jointly decided upon by UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE.

ARTICLE VI
Entry into Force

Except for the conditions expressed in Article VII, this Memorandum shall enter into force on the date of its signature by UNEP-CAR/RCU and IOCARIBE and shall remain in force for 3 years. It will be extended thereafter by tacit agreement on a biennial basis.

ARTICLE VII
Termination of Memorandum

UNEP-CAR/RCU or IOCARIBE can terminate this Memorandum with a three-month notice of its intention to terminate.

Signed in Veracruz, Mexico, in two copies in English:

February 25, 2002

Nelson Andrade Colmenares                                                             Patricio Bernal
Coordinator                                                                                       Executive Secretary
UNEP-CAR/RCU                                                                             IOC-UNESCO

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