Protecting the Blue Economy: Preserving Life Below the Sea

 

Protecting the Blue Economy: Preserving Life Below the Sea

The blue economy is estimated to be worth more than US$1.5 trillion per year globally. It provides over 30 million jobs and supplies a vital source of protein to over three billion people. While it has been eclipsed in recent years by a greater focus on the ‘green economy’ (that is, the role of primarily land-based activities in the economic transformation required to transition to a low-carbon future), a renewed interest in the blue economy (also sometimes referred to ‘blue growth’) is indicated by the OECD prediction that the ocean economy may double in size to $3 trillion by 2030

According to the World Bank, the blue economy is the "sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem."

Marine life, sea life, or ocean life is the plants, animals, and other organisms that live in the salt water of seas or oceans, or the brackish water of coastal estuaries. At a fundamental level, marine life affects the nature of the planet. Marine organisms, mostly microorganisms, produce oxygen and sequester carbon. Marine life, in part, shape and protect shorelines, and some marine organisms even help create new land (e.g. coral building reefs).

The World Bank defines the blue economy as the “sustainable use of ocean resources to benefit economies, livelihoods and ocean ecosystem health”. The activities commonly understood to represent the blue economy include maritime shipping, fishing and aquaculture, coastal tourism, renewable energy, water desalination, undersea cabling, seabed extractive industries and deep sea mining, marine genetic resources, and biotechnology.

SDG 14 and Preserving Life below the Sea

The Sustainable Development Goal dedicated to life below water (SDG 14) is the least funded of all the goals.

From 2013 to 2018, only 1.6% of the total Official Development Assistance – some $2.9 billion per year – was directed to the ocean economy. 

The Earth’s oceans span 70% of its surface area, holding 97% of the planet’s water and providing 99% of its living space by volume. Across these vast waters, an incredible variety of aquatic life thrives, from the tiniest plankton to the grandest of whales.

Every organism plays a pivotal part in maintaining the intricate harmony of this marine biodiversity. Through their roles in nourishment and protection, their involvement in nutrient flow, and their influence on climate stability, seas are the vital essence of the planet.

Marine biodiversity loss stands as one of the major current environmental concerns. Although climate change, driven by carbon emissions, plays a significant role in this decline, various human activities amplify the problem, including unsustainable fishing practices, rising sea temperatures, pollution from various sources, and invasive species.

Sinay Maritime Data Solution, Notes that The impacts of degradation on marine ecosystems are extensive and far-reaching, affecting both the environment and human societies. This highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect and restore biodiversity. From individual action to corporate responsibility and international collaboration, each aspect plays a crucial role in preserving the health and resilience of the oceans.

It is imperative that players in our blue Economy, Factor the uniqueness of our ecosystem and ensure its sustainability

The SDG 14 Goal is to Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Targets 14.1 - By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

Indicators 14.1.1 : (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density. 

The UN has defined 10 targets and 10 indicators for SDG 14. Targets specify the goals and indicators represent the metrics by which the world aims to track whether these targets are achieved.

Reduce marine pollution

SDG INDICATOR 14.1.1

Reduce marine pollution

Definition of the SDG indicator: Indicator 14.1.1 is the “(a) index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density” in the UN SDG framework.

Target: “Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution” by 2025.

Unlike most SDGs, which are set for the year 2030, this indicator is targeted for 2025.

TARGET 14.2

Protect and restore ecosystems

SDG INDICATOR 14.2.1

Protect and restore ecosystems

Definition of the SDG indicator: Indicator 14.2.1 is the “number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas” in the UN SDG framework.

Countries who have implemented ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas are shown in the interactive visualization.

Target: “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” by 2020.

Unlike most SDGs, which are set for the year 2030, this indicator was targeted for 2020.

TARGET 14.3

Reduce ocean acidification

SDG INDICATOR 14.3.1

Reduce ocean acidification

Definition of the SDG indicator: Indicator 14.3.1 is the “average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations” in the UN SDG framework.

The interactive visualization reports trends in the mean seawater pH, measured at the Aloha station in Hawaii. A pH of less than 7 means that a substance is acidic, lower values indicate greater acidity.

Ocean acidification is a consequence of increasing carbon dioxide emissions. Ocean water and carbon dioxide combine to form carbonic acid, as there is more carbon dioxide produced through emissions more gets absorbed by the ocean.

Target: “Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels” by 2030.

TARGET 14.4

Sustainable fishing

SDG INDICATOR 14.4.1

Fish stocks within sustainable levels

Definition of the SDG indicator: Indicator 14.4.1 is the “proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels” in the UN SDG framework.

Fish stocks are classified as "within biologically sustainable levels" if their abundance is estimated to be equal to or greater than the level that can produce the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). The MSY is the largest long-term average catch that can be taken from a fish stock under prevailing environmental and fishery conditions.

Fish stocks become overexploited when fish are caught at a rate higher than the population can support and the ability of the stock to produce its MSY is jeopardized.

Target: “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.”

Unlike most SDG targets, which have a target year of 2030, this indicator is set to be achieved by 2020.

TARGET 14.5

Conserve coastal and marine areas

SDG INDICATOR 14.5.1

Protected marine areas

Definition of the SDG indicator: Indicator 14.5.1 is the “coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas” in the UN SDG framework.

Target: 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.”

Unlike most SDG targets, which have a target year of 2030, this indicator was set to be achieved by 2020.

TARGET 14.6

End subsidies contributing to overfishing and illegal fishing

SDG INDICATOR 14.6.1

Combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

Definition of the SDG indicator: Indicator 14.6.1 is “the degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing” in the UN SDG framework.

Target: “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” by 2020

TARGET 14.7

Increase the economic benefits from sustainable use of marine resources

SDG INDICATOR 14.7.1

Income from sustainable fisheries

Definition of the SDG indicator: Indicator 14.7.1 is “Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries” in the UN SDG framework.

The value added of marine capture fisheries indicates the prominence of marine fish related activities in the country’s economy and its importance for livelihoods. Stocks that are fished at sustainable levels are able to support the communities and industries which rely on them, without compromising reproduction and long-term sustainability. By contrast, a stock that is exploited to a point where it cannot replenish itself will ultimately provide sub-optimal long-term economic returns for stakeholders.

Target: 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

SDG INDICATOR 14.A.1

Research resources for marine technology

Definition of the SDG indicator: Indicator 14.a.1 is the “proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology” in the UN SDG framework.

Target: “Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer 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 by 2030

TARGET 14.B

Support small scale fishers

SDG INDICATOR 14.B.1

Support small scale fishers

Definition of the SDG indicator: Indicator 14.b.1 is the “degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small-scale fisheries” in the UN SDG framework.

Target: “Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets” by 2030.

TARGET 14.C

Implement and enforce international sea law

SDG INDICATOR 14.C.1

Implementing international sea law

Definition of the SDG indicator: Indicator 14.c.1 is the “number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea” in the UN SDG framework.

This indicator is measured as the progress countries have made towards the ratification and accession, as well as implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Note that the visualization only shows data for countries that replied to the questionnaire on the ratification, accession and implementation of UNCLOS.

Target: “Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea” by 2030.3