Welcome

This course provides a general introduction to coastal and marine water pollution in the Wider Caribbean Region. It offers an overview of the Cartagena Convention and its relevance to regional pollution control, explains how coastal and marine water bodies are classified, and introduces the main sources and types of pollution affecting the region. You will also learn the basic principles of water quality monitoring and how to design a simple monitoring program in line with regional standards and best practices.

Note:

This course builds on the concepts presented in the High-Level Course on Marine and Coastal Water Quality Management. If you have not yet completed that course, please do so before beginning this module.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:  

• Describe the main types and causes of coastal and marine water pollution in the Caribbean.
• Explain the role of the Cartagena Convention and its protocols in addressing land-based and marine pollution.
• Identify and classify different types of water bodies in the region.
• Recognize key pollution sources, pollutants, and their impacts on ecosystems and human health.
• Outline the key steps to design a basic water quality monitoring program.

Outline of this course:

1. Introduction
   • The Caribbean region
2. The Cartagena Convention and its protocols
   • Water body classification
3. Key sources and pollutants
   • Types of pollution sources
4. Water quality monitoring
5. How to design a water quality program