The United Nations (U.N.) could soon be giving greater assistance to the region to ensure the sustainable development of the Caribbean Sea.

Building on lobbying by Carib-bean nations, the latest U.N. Resolution on the Sea is intended to be more concrete. The resolution paid tribute to the work of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), including the establishment of the Caribbean Sea Commission and defining the sea as a special zone.

It calls for greater assistance from U.N. agencies to help Caribbean nations to protect the sea and to encourage them to foster sustainable development and to fight against poverty and inequality.

The resolution said the Caribbean Sea needed to be protected because of its biodiversity, fragile ecosystem and its economic importance to the region.

It also made mention of the threat of climate change, natural disasters and intensive use by humans of the sea for transportation and marine pollution.