About the trinational initiative
On 1-2 November 2007, a group of 15 Cubans and 15 Americans met in Cancún, México in a historic meeting co-organized and led by the Washington DC-based Center for International Policy and 1planet1ocean (a project of The Ocean Foundation), in order to take joint marine research and conservation activities between the U.S. and Cuba to a new level. The goal of this meeting was to establish a framework for collaboration between Cuba, México and the United States for ongoing joint scientific research and to develop a regional plan of action designed to preserve and protect our surrounding and shared waters and marine habitats.
Because of the decades-old U.S. economic embargo of Cuba, collaboration between U.S. and Cuban scientists has been difficult. Even though research is a permitted activity and U.S. scientists are allowed to travel to Cuba, the harsh logistical and political realities have prevented all but a few U.S. institutions from successful collaborative projects in Cuba. Recognizing the critical need for more scientific research in the Gulf of Mexico and Western Caribbean – and the key role that Cuban waters play in the ecosystem – the Cancún meeting brought together major institutions from both countries to establish research priorities and chart a way forward toward stronger and more comprehensive collaborative activities. Cuba and the U.S. have enjoyed a long history and tradition of scientific collaboration, dating back to the 1800s. This tradition continues today, despite the challenges, but scientists from both countries recognize that there is a need to step up collaborative activities in order to more effectively address the growing research and conservation needs of the Gulf of Mexico and Western Caribbean. It has become especially important to study these areas with a regional perspective in order to understand biological linkages and inform sound conservation policies at a regional level. |
The first meeting established the framework for a plan of action by recognizing the following six priorities:
Following the Cancún meeting, México was included as a full partner, making the Initiative truly trinational in scope. Subsequent meetings were held in Veracruz, México (March 2009), Havana, Cuba (October 2009), Sarasota, Florida USA (September 2010), Corpus Christi, Texas (November 2013), Havana, Cuba (November 2015), and Merida, Mexico (April 2018).
The Trinational Initiative Action Plan was created in 2012 to guide research and collaboration.
- Research and conservation of coral reefs
- Research and conservation of sharks
- Research and conservation of sea turtles
- Research and conservation of marine mammals
- Research, conservation and management of fish resources
- Strengthening and extending the system of protected areas
Following the Cancún meeting, México was included as a full partner, making the Initiative truly trinational in scope. Subsequent meetings were held in Veracruz, México (March 2009), Havana, Cuba (October 2009), Sarasota, Florida USA (September 2010), Corpus Christi, Texas (November 2013), Havana, Cuba (November 2015), and Merida, Mexico (April 2018).
The Trinational Initiative Action Plan was created in 2012 to guide research and collaboration.
The blue, tri-wave logo symbolizes the work and collaboration of the Trinational Initiative:
- The blue waves symbolize our work of research and conservation in the sea.
- There are three waves, one representing each country in the Trinational Initiative.
- The three waves are equally-sized, symbolizing that all partners are equal.
- The three waves in perfect sync, symbolizing the unity in our collaboration together.