Barbados makes its presence felt through in Ocean-based world summit

Fighting both unemployment during the pandemic, illegal fishing as well as ensuring Big Ocean Developing States receive adequate support – the main topics as Barbados’ Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy addressed a global forum emphasising how the Mia Mottley Administration is working to shift from business as usual to a more sustainable future.

Maritime Affairs Minister Kirk Humphrey was a keynote speaker at the 8th Annual World Ocean Summit: Virtual Week hosted by The Economist Group.

Humphrey in his talk noted six main themes his Ministry is looking at and his concerns for illegal fishing and Official Developmental Assistance.

Minister Humphrey also told his global audience the idea of SIDS, or Small Island Developing States must be replaced by a new paradigm of Big Ocean Developing States. The Minister looked at partnerships with agencies like the UNDP, the Inter-American Development Bank as well as the Caribbean Development Bank.

The St Michael South MP revealed six themes for bringing Barbados and its neighbours forward as the world approaches the half century benchmark of the 21st Century including Aquaculture and Aquaponics – not solely as a means of feeding the region but a means of creating new job opportunities.

Renewable energy is feasible both for Barbados and its immediate neighbours, Humphrey enthused, through the use of kinetic energy from the tidal currents of the ocean. The cessation of plastics manufacturing in addition to improving methodologies for fishing – this led to the Maritime Affairs Minister appealing for a combined fight against illegal fishing.

In summarising, the Maritime Affairs Minister appealed for a more balanced distribution of resources to improve the sustainable and resilient ocean-based economy citing an OECD survey from last year when only two per cent was dedicated for ocean focussed enterprises.

This year’s World Ocean Summit: Virtual Week held by The Economist Group financial publication, and this year’s agenda examined fresh, robust, and action-oriented insights into creating a sustainable ocean economy.