(i) Objective: To increase Jamaica's maritime area declared as marine protected area under national legislation by an estimated two per cent (2%) by the year 2019.

(ii) Implementation Methodologies: As at 2013, 15.1% of Jamaicas maritime area (archipelagic baseline) has been declared as marine protected areas under national legislation. The country will increase its marine protected areas by an estimated two per cent (2%) by 2019 with the declaration of the Pedro Cays and surrounding waters (area) and the Black River protected landscape/seascape.

The Pedro Cays: South-west (Bird) Cay, North-east (Top) Cay and Middle Cay are part of the Pedro Bank which is a submarine plateau with an area of approximately 8,040 km2. The Bank consists of a variety of marine habitats including seagrass beds, coral reefs and sandy shoals. It includes the waters surrounding the South-west Cay which were recently designated a Special Fishery Conservation Area under the Fishing Industry Act.