A/RES/57/261 countries of the region to take appropriate steps for its preservation and protection, with the support of the international community, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; 13 2. Recognizes the importance of adopting an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development; 3. Encourages the further promotion of an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development, in accordance with the recommendations contained in resolution 54/225, as well as the provisions of Agenda 21, 8 the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,3 the outcome of the twenty-second special session of the General Assembly,4 the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, 5 the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation 6 and the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development, and in conformity with relevant international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; 7 4. Also encourages the continued efforts of the Caribbean countries to develop further an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development and, in this regard, to continue to develop regional cooperation in the management of their ocean affairs in the context of sustainable development, in order to address such issues as land-based pollution, pollution from ships, physical impacts on coral reefs and the diversity and dynamic interaction of, and competition among, socio-economic activities for the use of the coastal areas and the marine environment and their resources; 5. Calls upon States to continue to prioritize action on marine pollution from land-based sources as part of their national sustainable development strategies and programmes, in an integrated and inclusive manner, and also calls upon them to advance the implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, 14 and the Montreal Declaration on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities; 15 6. Calls upon the United Nations system and the international community to assist, as appropriate, Caribbean countries and their regional organizations in their efforts to ensure the protection of the Caribbean Sea from degradation as a result of pollution from ships, in particular through the illegal release of oil and other harmful substances, and from illegal dumping or accidental release of hazardous waste, including radioactive materials, nuclear waste and dangerous chemicals, in violation of relevant international rules and standards, as well as pollution from land-based activities; 7. Calls upon all relevant States to take the necessary steps to bring into force, and to support the implementation of, the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities 10 to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region9 in order to protect the marine environment of the Caribbean Sea from land-based pollution and degradation; _______________ 13 A/57/131. A/51/116, annex II. 15 E/CN.17/2002/PC.2/15, annex, sect. 1. 14 4