ESH Caribbean Workshop In-Person Participants in Anguilla (© EMODnet Seabed Habitats)
In 2025, as part of EMODnet Seabed Habitats Phase 5, an updated version of the Seabed Habitats flagship product EUSeaMap was published. Since 2023, this has extended to the Caribbean Region.
The identification and compilation of data for the Caribbean habitat map (CaribbeanSeaMap) have been challenging due to a fragmented data landscape and limited engagement opportunities with regional stakeholders, which has hindered dataset discovery and connectivity.
To address these challenges, EMODnet Seabed Habitats, in collaboration with subcontractor SAERI, delivered a six-day external training course on marine habitat data in September 2023. This initiative contributed to strengthening regional capacity in spatial data management. Building on this effort, a three-day workshop was held in Anguilla from 22–24 April 2026 to enhance engagement with stakeholders involved in seabed mapping across the Caribbean.
The workshop brought together representatives from Anguilla, Saint Martin (NL), the British Virgin Islands, the US Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Barbados, the United States, and the French West Indies. International organisations in attendance included UNEP (Jamaica), OECS (Saint Lucia), SPAW-RAC (Guadeloupe), and CANARI (Trinidad and Tobago). A total of 37 participants attended, including 10 online.
The programme provided an overview of EMODnet Seabed Habitats activities, highlighted regional habitat mapping initiatives, and facilitated constructive exchange among participants. The workshop was formally opened by Rhon Connor, Director of the Department of Natural Resources, Anguilla.
Participants made significant contributions, with particularly active discussion following a presentation by Christopher Corbin (UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat) on seabed habitat knowledge for marine spatial planning and ocean governance in the Wider Caribbean Region.
The workshop has improved data visibility and accessibility through strengthened collaboration with organisations and projects involved in habitat mapping. A key outcome was the invitation for EMODnet Seabed Habitats to present at the recent State of the Cartagena Convention Area (SOCAR) meeting. SOCAR represents the first Caribbean region-wide assessment undertaken by that Secretariat, and is a baseline assessment of the state of the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) coastal and marine environment.
Planned follow-up workshops in subsequent phases will support the continued development and refinement of EMODnet activities in the region.