Mexico Drives Latin American Collaboration on Ocean Planning

Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) convened representatives from Latin America and the Caribbean for a regional meeting focused on expanding cooperation in ocean planning and marine sustainability. The session, titled “Toward a 100% Sustainable Ocean: Ocean Planning and Regional Action post-UNOC3,” addressed the need for coordinated responses to climate change, biodiversity loss, and pressures on coastal ecosystems.

During the meeting, Mexico was recognized for advancing its ocean-protection commitments, including the integration of marine goals into its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) presented at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Officials also highlighted progress on Mexico’s forthcoming Sustainable Ocean Plan, which aims to strengthen integrated management of marine resources.

Participants underscored the scale of the regional financing gap for ocean protection—estimated at US$550 billion annually—and called for long-term investment strategies to support sustainable blue-economy initiatives. They also emphasized the need for stronger institutional and technical coordination, particularly in coastal communities facing mounting climate-related risks.

The meeting marked the latest in a series of federal initiatives to promote ocean health in Mexico. In September, Mexico ratified the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), a multilateral treaty designed to enhance ocean governance and protect ecosystems beyond national boundaries. Formally agreed to by Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, the treaty will enter into force in January 2026.

Also known as the High Seas Treaty, the BBNJ Agreement builds on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea by establishing a legal framework for managing biodiversity in international waters. It provides for marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments, benefit-sharing of marine genetic resources, and mechanisms for capacity building and technology transfer.

“The treaty strengthens the legal regime of the Law of the Sea and represents a significant step toward the protection and global governance of oceans,” the Foreign Ministry said, adding that ratification “reaffirms Mexico’s commitment to multilateralism and to law as the best way to address global challenges.”

The agreement is considered key to achieving global conservation targets, including protecting 30% of oceans by 2030. Effective implementation will require cooperation among governments, scientific institutions, and industries including fisheries, biotechnology, shipping, and deep-sea exploration, all of which will face increased scrutiny over environmental impacts.

That same month, the Mexican government also presented the Marine and Coastal Environment Assessment for the South-Central Pacific Region, a technical document that will guide Mexico’s first national Policy on Seas and Coasts focused on ocean and biodiversity protection. According to SEMARNAT, the assessment will form the technical basis for policies and programs that align national priorities with regional challenges across the Central American Coastal Pacific Large Marine Ecosystem (GEM PACA).

Marina Robles, Deputy Minister of Biodiversity and Environmental Restoration, SEMARNAT, said the diagnosis offers a detailed overview of environmental conditions and provides a foundation for planning conservation and restoration strategies. “Having a diagnosis helps us a lot; it clarifies many of the issues we already know. The list of problems is not exclusive to the seas and coasts but relates to broader environmental challenges around the world. The assessment allows us to better understand how to execute different types of actions,” she said.

The resulting strategies will integrate existing government efforts, such as the National Environmental Restoration Program and the National Strategy for Beach and Coastal Cleanup. Robles noted that President Claudia Sheinbaum has urged the government to work toward a zero-waste republic, noting that much of the trash found along coasts originates inland.

Echoing the sentiment of the SRE Oceans Meeting that brought together representatives from across Latin America and the Caribbean, Robles emphasized the need for collaboration among institutions, environmental organizations, and local communities to address biodiversity loss and promote a blue economy that balances ecological and socioeconomic priorities. “Achieving this requires alliances because there are no borders in the sea, on land, or anywhere else. The challenges we face are not only for future generations but also for ourselves, as we are already experiencing the impacts of climate change and local environmental issues,” she said.