Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) is about Life Below Water. The official wording is to: “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”.
Oceans and fisheries support the global population’s economic, social and environmental needs. Oceans are the source of life of the planet and the global climate system regulator. They are the world’s largest ecosystem, home to nearly a million known species. Oceans cover more than two-thirds of the earth’s surface and contain 97% of the planet’s water.
Healthy oceans and seas are essential to our existence. We rely on them for food, energy and water. Yet, we have managed to do tremendous damage to these precious resources. We must protect them by eliminating pollution and overfishing and immediately start to responsibly manage and protect all marine life around the world. Saving our ocean must remain a priority. Marine biodiversity is critical to the health of people and our planet.
Oceans cover three quarters of the Earth’s surface, contain 97 per cent of the Earth’s water, and represent 99 per cent of the living space on the planet by volume.
Climate Change
- Oceans absorb about 30 per cent of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming.
- Carbon emissions from human activities are causing ocean warming, acidification and oxygen loss.
- The ocean has also absorbed more than 90per cent of the excess heat in the climate system.
- Ocean heat is at record levels, causing widespread marine heatwaves.
Ocean and people
- Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods.
- Globally, the market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is estimated at $3 trillion per year or about 5 per cent of global GDP.
- Coastal waters are deteriorating due to pollution and eutrophication. Without concerted efforts, coastal eutrophication is expected to increase in 20 percent of large marine ecosystems by 2050.
- Roughly 80per cent of marine and coastal pollution originates on land – including agricultural run-off, pesticides, plastics and untreated sewage.
- Around 680 million people live in low-lying coastal zones – that is expected to increase to a billion by 2050.
- Sustainable and climate-resilient transport, including maritime transport, is key to sustainable development. Around 80 per cent of the volume of international trade in goods is carried by sea, and the percentage is even higher for most developing countries.
Target 14.1 Reduce marine pollution
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
Target 14.2 Protect and restore ecosystems
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
Target 14.3 Reduce ocean acidification
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels.
Target 14.4 Sustainable fishing
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics.
Target 14.5 Conserve costal and marine areas
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information.
Target 14.6 End subsidies contributing to overfishing
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation.
Target 14.7 Increase the economic benefits from sustainable use of marine resources
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to small island developing states and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism.
Target 14.A Increase scientific knowledge, research and technology for ocean health
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing states and least developed countries.
Target 14.B Support small scale fishers
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.
Target 14.C Implement and enforce international sea law
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of The Future We Want.
Challenge: over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. Pollution threathens the world’s largest source of protein;
Solution: reduce pollution and protect marine and coastal ecosystems.
Challenge: 40% of world’s oceans suffer from overfishing, poor fishing practices and poor waste management;
Solution: end harmful fishing subsidies and stop unreported, un regulated and destructive fishing practices.
Challenge: coral reefs which provides a home to 25% of all marine life are being destroyed at an alarming rate;
Solution: fight climate change, reduce sedimentation, stop coral mining and promote sustainable tourism.
What can we do to help achieving SDG 14? Oceans are our planet’s life support and regulate the global climate sys-tem. They are the world’s largest ecosystem, home to nearly a million known species and containing vast untapped potential for scientific discovery. Oceans and fisheries continue to support the global population’s economic, social and environmental needs. Despite the critical importance of conserving oceans, decades of irresponsible exploitation have led to an alarming level of degradation. For open ocean and deep sea areas, sustainability can be achieved only through increased international cooperation to protect vulnerable habitats. Establishing comprehensive, effective and equitably managed systems of government-protected areas should be pursued to conserve biodiversity and ensure a sustainable future for the fishing industry. On a local level, we should make ocean-friendly choices when buying products or eating food derived from oceans and consume only what we need. Selecting certified products is a good place to start.
What can I do?
- …eliminate plastic usage as much as possible.
- …organize beach, and seas clean-ups.
- …stop dumping plastic into the Oceans.
- …most importantly, we can spread the message about how important marine life is and why we need to protect it.
