The Marine Education and Ocean Literacy Programme, a core element of the
Barbados Marine Spatial Plan, is dedicated to empowering Barbadians of all
ages with knowledge and awareness about our marine ecosystems. Our goal
is to foster a deeper understanding of the ocean’s vital role in our daily lives,
economy, and cultural heritage, promoting actions that protect and sustain it
for future generations.
Through interactive school programs, and community initiatives, the Marine
Education and Ocean Literacy Program connects individuals with our marine
environment. We explore critical topics such as coral reef ecosystems, our
gully systems, marine pollution, and the importance of biodiversity. Our program provides hands-on learning experiences and tools to help every Barbadian become an advocate for the ocean, encouraging stewardship that strengthens our island's resilience to climate change.

The Geospatial Programme is a key pillar of the Barbados Marine Spatial Plan, leveraging advanced mapping and data analysis to support sustainable ocean management. By creating precise, visual representations of our marine areas, the Geospatial Program helps us understand the complex interactions within our ocean ecosystems, informing decisions that balance ecological
health with human activities.
Using cutting-edge technology, our team collects, processes, and analyzes spatial data on marine habitats, fishery zones, coral reefs, and more to understand current use and plan for future scenarios. This geospatial information enables stakeholders to visualize marine resources, identify areas requiring protection, consider where activities overlap and optimize sustainable development practices.

The Natural Capital Programme supports the Marine Spatial Plan by identifying, measuring, and integrating the value of Barbados’ marine and coastal ecosystems into planning and decision-making. Valuing and sustaining our ocean assets is essential because healthy ecosystems underpin fisheries, tourism, coastal protection, climate resilience, and livelihoods across the island. The Programme combines ecosystem mapping to understand where key habitats are located, natural capital accounting to track the benefits they provide over time, and economic valuation to link ecosystem health with ocean uses and development pressures. This integrated approach helps ensure ocean resources are managed sustainably, trade-offs are better understood, and long-term benefits to people, the economy, and the environment are maintained.