IAEA Builds Ocean Acidification Monitoring Capacity in Caribbean Small Island Developing States

The IAEA is helping Caribbean countries strengthen their ability to monitor ocean acidification and respond to its impacts. 

Life in the Caribbean is intrinsically tied to the ocean, as marine ecosystems sustain social and cultural identity and economic resources. Aquaculture and local fisheries are key sources of income, and coral reefs underpin biodiversity, coastal protection and tourism. However, the Caribbean marine environment faces environmental threats, including ocean acidification, a decrease in seawater pH caused by rising carbon dioxide levels.

While ocean acidification has been recognized as a global threat and a research priority, capacity to monitor and study its ecological impacts remains limited in the Caribbean. To address this gap, the IAEA’s Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre (OA-ICC) held a basic training course on Ocean Acidification from 16 to 20 March 2026 in Kingston, Jamaica, hosted by the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona. The training brought together 11 scientists from six countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago), including five scientists supported by the IAEA technical cooperation programme.

During the week, participants learned how to measure carbonate chemistry, designed an ocean acidification monitoring strategy, and studied the biological impacts of ocean acidification using nuclear and isotopic techniques. Participants applied their knowledge through hands-on exercises in the laboratory at UWI Mona in Kingston and through field work at the UWI Discovery Bay Marine Laboratories. 

“The Caribbean Small Island Developing States are among the most vulnerable to changing ocean conditions, yet the region’s capacity to study and act on ocean acidification is still limited,” said Debbie-Ann Gordon-Smith, Lecturer in the UWI Mona Department of Chemistry. “This training was an important first step to develop this capacity.” 

Beyond teaching fundamental research skills, the training equipped scientists to work with stakeholders to design research that supports mitigation and adaptation. Participants worked in groups to develop collaborative research strategies, including stakeholder engagement approaches, aligned with the UN Ocean Decade Programme Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability. 

A highlight of the week was a public event bringing together policymakers and community members to discuss ocean acidification and its relevance to the Caribbean. The event was opened by high-level representatives from the Government of Jamaica and the Government of the United Kingdom, which provided funding for the training.

“The Caribbean is defined by the sea. It shapes our climate, our economies, and our way of life,” said Dale Webber, Jamaica’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, Environment, Ocean and the Blue Economy. He said that events such as the training course on ocean acidification are essential “because they bridge the gap between science, policy and community understanding.” He added: “The range of Caribbean participants and the high quality of the professional academic presenters created a week of knowledge exchange, experience gathering and research opportunities, which will serve the Caribbean ocean acidification research for years to come." 

Deputy High Commissioner Jonathan Cook from the British High Commission in Kingston said, “This training accelerates the transition to sustainable practice and innovation by promoting transparent research and evidence-based policy. This aligns with the UK’s ambitions to harness innovations while safeguarding ecosystems and vulnerable communities.”

The event concluded with a panel discussion on challenges, opportunities and potential solutions for the region, such as marine protected areas (MPAs). Justin Tapper, a course participant from the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation, said, “Marine protected areas are a tool to safeguard marine biodiversity from overfishing, building resilience to other environmental pressures, such as ocean acidification. This course gave me the foundations to incorporate ocean acidification monitoring into our MPA management plan.”

Training courses such as this help build long-term capacity in the region to address the threat of ocean acidification.  Collaboration with stakeholders is essential to ensure scientists across the Caribbean can provide information needed to protect the marine ecosystems on which their communities rely.