39^th ICRI
General Meeting

Summary

To be posted following the conclusion of the meeting.

Adopted Documents

1. Resolution to support a UN Ocean Decade Contribution (Download .pdf)
2. Recommendation on the Global Coral Reef Summit 2026 (Download .pdf)
3. Resolution and Terms of Reference for an Ad Hoc Committee on Strengthening ICRI Impact and Continuity (Download .pdf)
4. Resolution to support 2028 as fourth International Year of the Reef (IYOR) (Download .pdf)
5. Recommendation to support implementation of UNEP/EA.7/Res.1 (Download .pdf)

New Member(s)

Five new members and one returning member joined ICRI at the 39th General Meeting:

Vanuatu

Vanuatu’s coral reefs are fundamental to the nation’s food security, livelihoods, cultural heritage, and coastal resilience. As a Pacific large ocean state Vanuatu brings both the perspective of a country deeply dependent on healthy reefs, and a strong commitment to community-based approaches to their management and conservation.

In joining ICRI, Vanuatu has expressed its dedication to strengthening regional and global cooperation on coral reef governance, and to contributing Pacific voices to the international conversations that shape reef policy.

Trinidad and Tobago

As a Small Island Developing State in the southern Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago knows firsthand what is at stake when reefs decline — coral reefs are central to the nation’s coastal protection, biodiversity, and community livelihoods, yet face mounting pressure from climate change, ocean acidification, and pollution.

Trinidad and Tobago brings strong scientific institutions to the ICRI partnership. Their focal points — the Institute of Marine Affairs and the Tobago House of Assembly — will contribute directly to global reef monitoring through the GCRMN and SocMon networks.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea sits at the heart of the Coral Triangle — often called the Amazon of the seas — making it one of the most critical marine biodiversity hotspots on the planet. PNG has long been actively involved in the protection and conservation of its coral reefs and associated ecosystems, and ICRI membership will deepen that work by strengthening global understanding of its remote and pristine marine environments.

In joining ICRI, PNG’s Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) has expressed its commitment to using this partnership to bolster its Marine Protected Areas network and sustainable resource management policies.

Somalia

Somalia has one of the longest coastlines in Africa — over 3,300 kilometres — sheltering coral reef ecosystems that are central to marine biodiversity, coastal protection, and community livelihoods. These reefs face growing pressures from climate change, unsustainable practices, and habitat degradation, and Somalia joins ICRI with a clear sense of urgency to address them.

Somalia’s Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy is committed to strengthening reef conservation and resilience as a core part of the country’s blue economy strategy — and ICRI’s global network of expertise, partnerships, and innovative programmes will be instrumental in supporting that ambition.

Global Fund for Coral Reefs

The Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) is a powerful public-private coalition dedicated to mobilising finance for coral reef resilience. Operating across more than 20 developing states in Latin America, the Caribbean, eastern Africa, and the Asia-Pacific, GFCR deploys catalytic grants and investments in sustainable fisheries, ecotourism, marine protected areas, and more.

By 2030, GFCR aims to support the resilience of 3 million hectares of coral reefs and leverage $2–3 billion USD in public and private finance for marine ecosystems and coastal communities — ambitions that sit squarely within ICRI’s own Call to Action.

The World Bank

The World Bank has reaffirmed that the conservation of coral reef ecosystems and the sustainable use of reef-associated services for socioeconomic development remain core priorities for the institution, and their return to ICRI reflects that commitment.

Their expertise in mobilising finance for conservation and development at scale is exactly the kind of partnership that strengthens our collective ability to protect reefs globally.

Presentations

The presentations from the 39^th General Meeting will be made available following its conclusion.

Agenda

ICRI 39^th General Meeting Agenda is available for download. Please Check back for the finalized programme before Day 0 of the GM (April 20th).

ICRI Motions

Motions can be found on the GM39 Online Review Portal. Each Member has been sent a unique link to access the portal.

Please contact the ICRI Secretariat if you have not received your link. 

New Member Application

• Papua New Guinea
  • PNG_ICRI Membership Application Letter

• Somalia
  • Somalia_ICRI Membership Application Letter

• Trinidad & Tobago
  • Trinidad&Tobago_ICRI Membership Application Letter

• Vanuatu
  • Vanuatu_ICRI Membership Application Letter

• Global Fund for Coral Reefs
  • Website
  • GFCR_ICRI Membership Application Letter

• World Bank Group
  • Website
  • WorldBank_Membership Continuation Letter