OceanMind logo
An enforcement patrol boat pulls up alongside a trio of commercial fishing vessels on a dark turquoise ocean

Initiatives

Syndra

An OceanMind team member consults with an enforcement official reviewing a handheld laptop computer at the water's edge

A global initiative to help strengthen regional cooperation and enforcement effectiveness

There’s one ocean and it’s under threat. It needs our collective help. Ocean protection is more effective when we work together. That’s why Syndra exists. We improve both fisheries governance and biodiversity protection at a scale that single-country interventions cannot achieve alone.

THE CHALLENGE

Implementing international ocean protection commitments is difficult

International marine commitments continue to accelerate. Yet national implementation capacity across connected ocean regions often lags behind, as already-strained government and fisheries agency budgets and resources are asked to do even more. Plus, protection efforts on the high seas risk policy enforcement gaps where no single country owns primary enforcement responsibility.
enforcement icon

BBNJ effectiveness

The ratified High Seas Treaty creates an urgent need for joint oversight and cross-jurisdictional, area-based management.
Fishing icon

PSMA implementation

Effectively preventing IUU fishing from reaching port requires coordinated execution across neighbouring port states.
ESG performance icon

Marine ecosystem sustainability

Transboundary pressure from overexploitation, habitat degradation, and climate change calls for a regional approach.

HOW
Syndra
HELPS

Closing the gap between mandate and capability

Syndra addresses these challenges by focusing on the practical conditions needed for joint action:
integrating intelligence into decision-making
streamlining inter-agency workflows
closing operational gaps between neighbouring states
Thai fishing boats on a silver ocean with cloudy sky

Enabling practical outcomes across shared waters

OceanMind acts as the secretariat for Syndra and as a hands-on technical partner. The initiative enables governments to:

Support BBNJ area-based management

Build institutional capability for cross-border monitoring, compliance, and joint response across connected marine ecosystems.

Close regional enforcement gaps

Harmonize PSMA implementation across neighbouring ports, significantly reducing the displacement and offloading of IUU-linked catch.

Embed intelligence into workflows

Modernize analytical, procedural, and inter-agency workflows so front-line enforcement officers can act on targeted intelligence.

Build governance assurance

Provide transparent, verifiable outcomes that give governments and funding partners the confidence to invest in durable ocean protection at scale.

How to get involved

Initially launched in Southeast Asia and quickly expanding to other ocean basins around the world, OceanMind is actively holding discussions with global and regional partners to expand participation in and support for Syndra — establishing a practical pathway to safeguard biodiversity, eliminate IUU fishing, and secure sustainable ocean economies.
enforcement icon

Government agencies and regional fisheries organizations (RFMOs)

Reach out to OceanMind to request assistance in implementing marine governance commitments in your region.
economic intel icon

Philanthropic funders, development banks, and public finance institutions

Connect to learn more about how you can shape an emerging investment pathway for marine governance implementation.

Technical assistance partners

For NGOs, tech providers, and existing programmes and initiatives in this space, contact OceanMind to get involved.
A patrol boat pulls up alongside a trio of commercial fishing vessels

Contact us

Syndra Contact Form