Five Member States in Central America and the Caribbean are exploring pathways to ratify and implement the London Protocol (LP) - the global treaty that bans the dumping of waste at sea.
During a high-level workshop in Guatemala City (5-7 March), senior officials from Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua discussed various aspects related to the LP, which prohibits all ocean dumping except under strict conditions.
The treaty also includes key measures to tackle climate change, such as regulating carbon capture and storage in the sub-seabed and marine geoengineering techniques such as ocean fertilization.
This subregional workshop builds on earlier assessments of regional readiness to accede to and implement the LP, and targeted national assistance to support buy-in from countries yet to accede to the treaty.
Delegates examined legal frameworks for marine pollution management and discussed developing national systems for permitting, compliance monitoring, field monitoring and enforcement. Discussions also focused on how IMO provides targeted support for implementation of LP provisions, as well as assistance to help non-signatory countries move toward accession.
Next steps
Looking ahead, participants identified concrete steps for enhanced coordination and cooperation to ensure effective implementation. Delegates were encouraged to attend the London Convention/London Protocol (LC/LP) Scientific Groups meeting (10-14 March) in Guatemala, supported through a dedicated LC/LP Trust Fund.
The workshop highlighted this year's World Maritime Day theme, "Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity", reinforcing the central role of shipping in marine protection and ocean resource management. It also aligns with UN initiatives on ocean governance, biodiversity and the blue economy.
Supporting gender equality
To mark International Women's Day 2025 (8 March), a special side event featured the Women in Maritime Association, Latin America (Red-MAMLa), one of the regional professional networks set up by IMO to improve gender balance in the shipping industry. A representative from Guatemala's chapter showcased the association's work in promoting gender equality in marine environmental governance, identifying future collaboration opportunities.
The event was hosted by Guatemala's Ministry of National Defence, with support from the Central American Commission for Maritime Transportation (COCATRAM), and delivered through IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP). It underscores IMO's ongoing commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and advancing ocean governance across the region.