Martinique, a French territory, is geographically located in the Caribbean
Sea. It is also an associate member of a number of regional organizations
in the area, such as the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), the United
Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
(ECLAC) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Its
application to become an associate member of the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM), submitted in 2014, is pending. This paper presents the
European and French legislative frameworks for ocean governance in the
French Caribbean, based on a description of the Integrated Maritime Policy
(IMP) of Martinique; the objectives assigned to its exclusive economic
zone (EEZ); and the current European policy for fishing. It suggests legal
friction could occur in areas such as fishing, among others, due to the
implementation of these frameworks in Martinique, since despite
Martinique’s efforts to deepen its relationship with the Caribbean region,
it remains subject to European and French laws, including in these areas.
The authors conclude that harmonizing the different legal standards will
be difficult, and potentially hinder full integration and cooperation
between the countries.