CARICOM IMPACS is proud to announce that its very own Environmental Crime Lead, Mr. Virun Lutchman, co-authored a thought-provoking article entitled “Maritime issues are pinned to what we see, not what’s at sea”, published by Diplomatic Courier.

The article co-authored by Dr. Ian Ralby, President of Auxilium Worldwide and CEO of I.R. Consilium, and Dr. Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood, Lecturer in Sustainable Futures at the University of St Andrews, argues that despite more than 70% of our planet being covered by water—and despite modern society’s deep dependence on the sea for trade, food, and global communications—we remain largely “sea blind”.

It cautions that when maritime problems emerge, public attention tends to focus only on what is visible — for example, near-shore fishing boats or coastal development — rather than on the often hidden root causes: distant foreign fishing fleets, global shipping, illicit discharges, or environmental degradation far beyond our immediate view.

By emphasising how our terrestrial mindset obscures real maritime threats and undermines effective solutions, the article calls for greater maritime domain awareness—combining on-the-ground patrols with advanced detection systems—to see beyond the shore and safeguard marine ecosystems and economies.

To read more, click here: https://www.diplomaticourier.com/posts/maritime-issues-pinned-twhat-we-see-not-whats-at-sea