Why in the News?

The Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) was recently announced by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO on January 14, 2025.

What is Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM)?

The OCM, launched by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, aims to enhance marine conservation and resource management.
It focuses on the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf, regions with rich biodiversity, coral reefs, and fisheries generating $610 million annually.
The OCM promotes Blue Carbon Projects, using coastal ecosystems for carbon storage, benefiting both climate resilience and local communities.
It has secured $15 million in funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) under the UNDP/GEF PROCARIBE+ Project, with an additional $126.02 million in co-financing.

Established in 1961, the IOC/UNESCO promotes marine science cooperation for sustainable ocean governance.
It operates in key areas:
- Ocean science research: Supports studies on climate change, biodiversity, and sustainability.
- Tsunami warning systems: Maintains early warning mechanisms to mitigate risks.
- Ocean observations: Collects and analyzes oceanographic data for policy-making.
The IOC leads the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), known as the “Ocean Decade”, advancing global marine conservation efforts.

Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM)

The Caribbean Sea is part of the North Atlantic Ocean, located south of the Gulf of Mexico and southwest of the Sargasso Sea.
Bordering Nations:
- Greater Antilles – Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti & Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico.
- Lesser Antilles – Includes islands from Virgin Islands to Trinidad & Tobago.
- South America – Borders Venezuela & Colombia.
- Central America – Includes Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize.
Key Features:
- Deepest Point – The Cayman Trough, at 7,686 meters below sea level.
- Mesoamerican Barrier Reef – Second-largest barrier reef globally, stretching 1,000 km.
- Major Gulfs and Bays – Includes Gulf of Venezuela, Gulf of Honduras, and Gulf of Darién.
The Caribbean Sea supports rich biodiversity but faces threats from climate change, pollution, and overfishing, making conservation efforts like OCM essential for sustainability.

[2021] Consider the following statements :

1. The Global Ocean Commission grants licences for seabed exploration and mining in international waters.

2. India has received licences for seabed mineral exploration in international waters.

3. ‘Rare earth minerals’ are present on seafloor in international waters.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3