Guyana, UK launch new phase to combat marine pollution, boost blue economy

Representatives from the Government of Guyana and the United Kingdom convened this week to launch the next phase of a collaborative initiative aimed at tackling marine pollution and advancing the sustainable development of Guyana’s blue economy.

The initiative, titled “Enhancing Water Quality for Sustainable Blue Economy Development”, is supported by the UK Government through the Sustainable Blue Economies Technical Assistance Platform. The project is being implemented by the UK’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), in partnership with Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United Nations Cartagena Convention Secretariat.
A central component of the weeklong engagement, which ran from June 16 to 20, was a two-day National Workshop on the Blue Economy and Marine Pollution, held from June 17 to 18 at the EPA Head Office. The workshop convened officials from a range of government ministries and agencies to discuss national Blue Economy goals, identify pollution risks, and prioritise actions for improved pollution management and investment planning.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, addressed participants at the opening of the workshop, reiterating the UK’s commitment to supporting Guyana’s sustainable ocean development. She highlighted the UK’s role in aiding the development of Guyana’s Maritime Economy Plan (MEP), launched in 2021, which forms a key part of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.
“The MEP was developed to identify key maritime sectors and to create tailored action plans to address gaps, overcome barriers, and build capacity,” High Commissioner Miller stated. “Together you will brainstorm ways to strengthen Guyana’s national capacity to assess and manage marine pollution, thereby safeguarding the country’s marine and coastal resources.”
EPA Executive Director Kemraj Parsram underscored the value of the partnership, describing it as a model for meaningful cooperation. “Our partnership with the UK Government, the British High Commission, Cefas, and the Cartagena Convention Secretariat is more than technical cooperation—it is a model of meaningful collaboration,” he said. “Together, we are building the scientific capacity, institutional strength, and regional alignment necessary to protect our marine and coastal ecosystems.”
The workshop was followed by two days of stakeholder engagement and planning sessions on June 19 and 20, involving community representatives, technical experts, and project partners. These sessions aimed to deepen understanding of local pollution challenges and align strategies for effective marine resource management.
The project is currently focused on conducting a comprehensive national situation analysis to map existing data, evaluate pollution sources, and identify priority risks. The findings from this analysis will guide the development of technical solutions and investment frameworks aligned with Guyana’s broader ocean and coastal sustainability objectives.
Dr Will Le Quesne, Director of the International Centre for Ocean Protection and Use at Cefas, emphasised the global relevance of the initiative. “Protecting the health of the marine environment is critical to Guyana’s development goals,” he said. “This partnership with Cefas and the UK Government strengthens the international collaboration needed to ensure the world’s oceans continue to support our people and economies for generations to come.”
The initiative is scheduled to continue through 2025 and forms part of the UK’s broader support for climate-resilient development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). By leveraging UK marine science expertise, the project seeks to co-develop practical tools and strategies for the sustainable use of marine resources.