Mexico Launches National Policy for Sustainable Seas and Coasts

Mexico City — The Secretariat of the Navy of Mexico (Semar) has announced the National Policy for the Sustainable Management of Mexico’s Seas and Coasts (PNMSMCM), which establishes “the objectives, strategies, and lines of action in the short, medium, and long term for the protection and sustainable use of marine-coastal ecosystems” in accordance with international and national commitments established by the country.

The regulation, published this Tuesday in the Official Gazette of the Federation, indicates that this norm was developed by the Inter-Secretarial Commission for the Sustainable Management of Seas and Coasts (CIMARES).

“It is based on an environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural diagnosis of the current state, as well as the observed trends in the country’s marine and coastal zones. It recognizes the enormous biodiversity wealth of Mexican seas, the close relationship between ocean and climate change, and regional differences.”

The objectives are oriented toward: consolidating “environmental and institutional governance and the rule of law in seas and coasts; conserving, protecting, and restoring ocean health; increasing financing to transition toward a sustainable ocean economy; promoting climate change mitigation and adaptation and the conservation of ecosystem services.”

Furthermore, “inducing the development and sustainable use of marine and coastal resources to improve the living conditions of coastal and island communities and food security; and increasing knowledge, ocean identity and culture, and consolidating a transparent and public ocean information system.”

The National Policy for the Sustainable Management of Mexico’s Seas and Coasts proposes 6 objectives, 17 strategies, and 91 lines of action in the short, medium, and long term regarding the protection, conservation, and sustainable use of marine-coastal ecosystems and their resources.