Contracting Parties agreed to take all necessary preventative remedial measures, within their respective capabilities, to protect the Wilder Caribbean Region from oil spills by reducing the risk of oil spills and establishing and maintaining response plans. The Oil Spills Protocol provides an array of means to accomplish these objectives, including enacting legislation, preparing contingency plans, identifying and developing response capabilities and designating an authority to be responsible for implementing the Protocol. The Contracting Parties further commented to provide assistance, within their capabilities, to other Contracting Parties who request in response to an oil spill.