The global High Level Conference which will seek agreement on a Call For Action to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development opens Monday at UN Headquarters in New York.

Day One  of the five-day Conference will feature several activities with strong participation by Caribbean Community delegates. These include:

• A Partnership Dialogue on Marine Pollution, at which Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and St. Kitts and Nevis will make presentations (This is one of Seven Partnership Dialogues which will form a significant component of the Conference)
• A presentation on the ‘Belize Model for Sustainable Small Scale Fisheries: a partnership success story”, by Belize and the Environment Defense Fund
• A presentation on”Transitioning to the Blue Economy: Partnerships, Innovation and Approaches for Small Island States which will include Grenada and the OECS
• A session on Financing for the Blue Economy in Small Island Developing States, at whichGrenada will play a lead role, and
• Media events which will include Barbados

The Conference is expected to end with a Call For Action to support Goal 14 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals – sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources; a report on the issues coming out of the seven Partnership Dialogues, and a list of voluntary commitments made by participating countries.