Antigua and Barbuda Joins the IOC as 152nd Member State
A new Caribbean voice strengthens regional scientific cooperation and ocean governance
The Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC/UNESCO- IOCARIBE) is pleased to announce the official accession of Antigua and Barbuda as the 152nd Member State of the IOC. This significant milestone enhances Caribbean representation in global efforts to advance ocean science, technical cooperation, and sustainable ocean management.
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7 July 2025
The formal acceptance of Antigua and Barbuda by the Director-General of UNESCO marks an important step toward a more inclusive ocean governance framework, grounded in scientific knowledge and collective action. Within the context of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), the active engagement of this new Member State will further strengthen regional and international efforts to achieve a healthy, resilient, productive, and equitable ocean.
Antigua and Barbuda has officially designated a National Focal Point and an alternate, who will work in close coordination with the IOCARIBE Secretariat, technical working groups, and other Member States to support the country’s full and strategic integration into ongoing programs and activities. The country is expected to contribute actively to regional priorities, including ocean observation and multi-hazard early warning systems, capacity development, ocean literacy, the advancement of Blue Schools, and the management of harmful algal blooms and sargassum influxes.
Antigua and Barbuda will also be invited to take part in emerging IOCARIBE initiatives such as marine spatial planning and the protection of deep-sea biodiversity, particularly in relation to the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement. Additionally, the country is encouraged to engage in various regional and international networks and initiatives with which IOCARIBE collaborates. These include the Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) network, the Regional Ocean Acidification Network, the Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA), the Fishing Vessel Observation Network, Blue Carbon initiatives, and the Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM), which includes regional partners such as OSPESCA and CCAD.
IOCARIBE warmly welcomes Antigua and Barbuda and looks forward to working closely together to build regional capacity and address shared challenges across the Tropical Americas and Caribbean. The Sub-Commission reaffirms its commitment to supporting the new Member State’s full participation and to advancing joint efforts that benefit the ocean and coastal communities throughout the region.
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