JNCC – UK Overseas Territories Report 2: Overview of international, regional and national legislation to protect coral reefs in the Caribbean Overseas Territories 2023

Abstract

This report provides an overview of legislation and legal frameworks to protect coral reefs and the wider marine environment in the six UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic including Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). It was produced through the CSSF-funded project ‘Implementing Coral Reef Action Plans for the UK Overseas Territories Coral Reef Initiative’.

Coral reefs are under serious threat in the Caribbean. Responding to known priorities and emerging threats facing coral reefs, the overall aim of the ‘Implementing Coral Reef Action Plans for the UK Overseas Territories Coral Reef Initiative’ project is to work with each Overseas Territory (OT) to deliver priority areas of coral reef conservation guided by OT developed coral reef action plans, and to provide evidence and support to build a collaborative response for the UK OTs to protect and conserve reefs for the future. One of the key work themes of the project is to increase knowledge and resources to help combat Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) and support reef management via a comparison of legislation. To this end, JNCC has undertaken a review of the international, regional, and national legislation which aims to protect coral reefs and the wider marine environment in the territories in order to share opportunities to support coral reef management and enhance protection.

Legislative Update (July 2023): Since completing the draft of the report in 2021/22, the UK Government has acceded to the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention and is implementing the Convention’s requirements through the Merchant Shipping (Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments) Regulations 2022. This is good news for the marine environment and the current report should be read bearing this update in mind. More information can be found on the gov.uk website.

This resource may not be fully accessible for all users. If you need a copy in a different or more accessible format, please contact Communications@jncc.gov.uk.