A/RES/54/225 Page 2 Recalling also the relevant work done by the International Maritime Organization, Taking into account all other relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, Reaffirming the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea5 and emphasizing the fundamental character of the Convention, Recalling the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, signed at Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, on 24 March 1983, which contains the definition of the wider Caribbean region of which the Caribbean Sea is part, 6 Considering that the Caribbean Sea area includes a large number of States, countries and territories, most of which are developing countries and small island developing States which are ecologically fragile and economically vulnerable and also affected, inter alia, by their limited capacity, narrow resource base, need for financial resources, social problems, high levels of poverty and the challenges and opportunities of globalization, Considering also that the Caribbean Sea area, nearly all of which is separated from the open ocean by either continental or insular land masses, is characterized by a unique biodiversity and highly fragile ecosystems, such as the second largest coral reef system in the world, the heavy reliance of most States, countries and territories on their coastal areas and the marine environment in general to achieve their sustainable development needs and goals, the number and interlocking character of the maritime areas under national sovereignty and jurisdiction, which present a challenge to the effective management of resources, the intensive use of the Caribbean Sea area for maritime transportation and, notwithstanding the increase in the number of regulatory measures, the threat of pollution from ship-generated waste and from the release of hazardous and noxious substances in violation of relevant international rules and standards, Emphasizing that the Caribbean countries have a high degree of vulnerability occasioned by climate change and variability, associated phenomena, such as the rise in sea level, the El Niño/Southern Oscillation phenomenon and the increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters caused by hurricanes, floods and droughts and that they are also subject to natural disasters, such as those caused by volcanoes, tsunamis and earthquakes, Mindful of the strong interaction and competition among socio-economic activities in the countries of the region for the use of the coastal areas and the marine environment and their resources, Mindful also of the efforts made by the Caribbean countries to address, in a more holistic manner, the sectoral issues relating to the management of the Caribbean Sea and in so doing to promote an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea in the context of sustainable development, Noting the efforts of Caribbean countries, within the framework of the Association of Caribbean States, to develop further and seek recognition of the concept of the Caribbean Sea as an area of special importance in the context of sustainable development, 5 Official Records of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, vol. XVII (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.84.V.3), document A/CONF.62/122. 6 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1506, No. 25974. /...