4. Summary of Readiness

Some demonstration of progress or activities for improvement, but in an unco-ordinated way.

There is some high-level support for an SBE transition within GORTT, but this needs to be formalised with a mandate for delivery, and an advocacy engagement strategy to establish cross-government support.

Opportunities

• Endowing the MoPD with a mandate for delivering an SBE transition would send a strong message of commitment and help to incite support and engagement across GORTT.
• Cross-governmental awareness-raising and advocacy could be delivered by representatives already engaged in SBE decision-making, to provide national-level leadership that inspires stewardship across wider stakeholder coalitions.
• Reappointing the Inter-ministerial ICZM Committee would provide a means of convening key SBE actors from across the GORTT to champion progress.

There is support for an SBE transition within the THA, with the Tobago Blue Economy Roadmap in development, but ownership for delivery needs to be mandated, and cross-THA support secured via co-ordinated awareness raising and advocacy.

Opportunities

• The DMRF is well placed to be mandated with delivering the Tobago BE Roadmap.
• The Coastal Zone Management Unit currently oversees SBE progress and could act as a champion for SBE advocacy. Support from the Fisheries Unit and other departments in the Division for Food Security, Natural Resources, The Environment and Sustainable Development would be beneficial.
• As the dominant SBE sector, support from the Department of Tourism will provide strong leverage for advocating an SBE transition in Tobago.

Inter-departmental and inter-agency co-operation and collaboration across GORTT is inconsistent. There is an existing platform for cross-government co-ordination, but it lacks a clear SBE mandate and is hindered by a slow reappointment process.

Opportunities

• Expediting approval of the Draft ICZM Policy Framework 2020 may catalyse the reappointment of the Inter-ministerial ICZM Committee, which could be empowered with an expanded mandate for the delivery of an SBE transition.
• Representation from THA would support coherence and deliver synergies, while accommodating the two islands’ differing priorities and needs.

Although the Tobago Blue Economy Roadmap is in development, there is a lack of understanding of what an SBE means for Tobago across THA and wider stakeholders, and a lack of co-ordinated decision-making hinders progress towards an SBE transition.

Opportunities

• An SBE co-ordinating group of relevant THA stakeholders could steer future decision making and deliver SBE priorities that are specific to Tobago’s needs and priorities, including delivery of the Tobago Blue Economy Roadmap. 
• Members of the SBE co-ordinating group should act as representatives on the Inter-ministerial ICZM Committee to help align interests and optimise synergies and efficiencies.

There is a lack of coherent governance, with no consistent vision for an SBE, and several SBE-critical laws and policies are pending approval. Progress is hampered by insufficient financial, human and technical capacity for implementation.

Opportunities

• A shared SBE vision for Trinidad and Tobago will help guide progress towards coherent governance. 
• Expedite cabinet approval of key draft laws and policies that would provide the foundation for integrated marine management.
• A gap analysis of existing laws and policies will identify opportunities to improve coherence, including provisions for emerging ocean-based sectors.
• Developing principles and guidelines to support the implementation of policies such as ICZM will help to address gaps in governance while avoiding delays caused by governmental approval processes.

Although the Tobago Blue Economy Roadmap provides the first step towards a more formalised SBE approach, there is a need for wider consultation to develop an SBE vision for Tobago that reflects Tobago’s priorities and goals, and complements a national-level vision for Trinidad and Tobago.

Opportunities

• The Tobago Blue Economy Roadmap provides a foundation on which to build a clear, coherent vision for SBE in Tobago. 
• A review of existing laws and policies applicable in Tobago will identify gaps that need to be addressed to deliver the Blue Economy Roadmap, particularly in relation to emerging ocean-based sectors.
• Developing a combined financial and capacity building strategy for implementation for Trinidad and Tobago would optimise synergies and efficiencies.

There is currently no integrated marine management framework in Trinidad and Tobago, but policies pending Cabinet approval provide the foundation for MSP. However, there is insufficient capacity for implementation, and concerns related to the prioritisation of economic interests over social and environmental impacts.

Opportunities

• Swift approval of the Draft ICZM Policy Framework 2020, along with the draft NMPS 2021, will provide a platform to deliver ICZM and MSP. 
• Developing a public expenditure and sustainable finance plan to support the implementation of ICZM and MSP will ensure the necessary training, personnel and technical capacity to deliver an SBE in Trinidad and Tobago over the long-term.
• Improved socio-economic valuation of marine resources may stimulate greater compliance and more informed decision-making. 

As in Trinidad, there is a lack of sufficient funding, training and personnel for the implementation of existing planning and management. There is a need to improve stakeholder awareness of the benefits of sustainable management practices to encourage stewardship and compliance with regulations.

Opportunities

• Establishing the 'Living with the SEA' working group could complement the Draft ICZM Policy Framework 2020 and promote coastal resilience in Tobago.
• The THA can develop a locally-relevant ICZM framework that takes into account the specific pressures and demands in the Tobago marine area.
• The THA may wish to develop a set of public awareness tools linked to the ICZM Framework, that are aligned to Tobago’s marine management priorities.

Current public expenditure is insufficient to support existing marine management implementation, and there is an urgent need to redirect investment into improving sustainability of existing ocean-based sectors, as well develop emerging opportunities that could support an SBE transition.

Opportunities

• Developing plans for investment, public expenditure and sustainable finance mechanisms aligned with SBE priorities, will support economic diversification, the implementation of SBE laws and policies, and the conservation and restoration of marine habitats. 
• Inter-departmental co-operation and collaboration for implementation and capacity building across GORTT and THA could provide cost savings, as well as more co-ordinated decision making.
• A capacity building strategy for new and emerging ocean-based sectors will provide the necessary expertise within T&T to support economic diversification in alignment with SBE priorities.
• Improving socio-economic evaluation of ocean-based sectors key to an SBE transition could mobilise investment in sustainable economic diversification.
• There are a range of innovative financial mechanisms that T&T could explore and existing initiatives, such as the Green Fund, could be leveraged to support an SBE transition.

There are successful examples of marine stakeholder engagement and consultation in T&T including and a range of non-governmental stakeholder coalitions and organisations that could support an SBE transition. Stakeholder fatigue is a primary concern, linked to a perceived lack of action.

Opportunities

• A unified SBE vision for T&T will give stakeholders a clear set of shared priorities to coalesce around.
• Organisations like CANARI and Environment Tobago could provide SBE leadership outside GORTT and THA.
• Cabinet approval of the Draft ICZM Policy Framework 2020 would provide a mandate for co-ordinated stakeholder engagement on marine management decision making across T&T.
• Efforts have begun to support a thorough stakeholders’ analysis and engagement plan to support the Tobago Blue Economy Roadmap (McCue 2022).

Environmental monitoring and report is conducted in T&T, but there are recognised gaps in socio-economic datasets and accounting systems and currently no agreed framework of indicators for SDGs or NDC commitments that would  provide MRV to track progress on an SBE in T&T.

Opportunities

• The IMA is a key asset in understanding environmental change and the 2020 State of the Marine Environment Report (in draft) would provide a revised overview of the current environmental baseline to inform the SBE transition.
• New funding to develop NDC and SDG data gathering and reporting will help to fill critical gaps that could help to inform SBE decision-making.
• The new Marine Data Hub could act as a centralised SBE data repository.
• Investment in technical solutions, such as drones and UAVs, could help alleviate resources pressures related to monitoring and data collection.
• Regional datasets should be explored for the potential to fill gaps in environmental datasets.