SDG 14: LIFE BELOW WATER – CONSERVE AND SUSTAINABLY USE THE OCEANS,

SEAS AND MARINE RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Symptom – The Tip of the Iceberg:

We enjoy the fact that the world around us bright and beautiful with colours. We have some
social adjectives associating colours with happiness – the more vivid and bold they are –
more of joy they represent. Imagine what would happen if, suddenly all the colours vanish.
We wake up to find the whole world turn black & white.
For many millions – both humans and other marine organisms – precisely, this has been
happening as a result of Climate Change. The colourful corals we admire are bleaching away
into grey. Coral bleaching is just one of the symptoms – albeit the most visible one – which
shows that few have exploited the marine resources t their limit and it is time to think long
term.[ CITATION Chr16 \l 1033 ]
But the fading colours of the corals are just the tip of the iceberg. Corals are one of the most
diverse ecosystems on the planet, which sustain huge populations of fishes and other marine
lives. Marine ecosystems feed around 3 billion people in the world. They are one of the most
significant sources of protein for man. They are the basis of livelihood for many and the
foundation of prospering economies together, contributing to about 5% of the global GDP.
Oceans absorb around 40% of human-made carbon dioxide buffering the ill effects of global
warming. They are home to an enormous variety of life forms – about 90% of which is still to
be classified and studied.
Our rainwater, groundwater, drinking water, weather, and even the very precious oxygen that
we breath in are dependent on and regulated by the seas. Many mineral cycles begin and
continue because of the marine environment. Life on earth would not be possible without it.
Hence, when we start observing the corals getting bleached, ocean water getting acidified,
ocean temperatures rise – alarm bells should start ringing. SDG 14 is just that alarm bell.

Introducing the SDG 14 and the Targets:

Sustainable Development Goals are an international responsibility by their very nature. But
no other goal represents this better than SDG 14. Protection of the oceans and the lives
dependent on it require a truly global effort in terms of the scientific partnership, regulation
and harvesting of fishing and enhancing our research and knowledge on issues at the core of
survival of life below water.
SDG 14, as the title suggests, requires us to use the ocean, seas and marine resources
sustainably. The goal has nine targets under it for better and standardised measurement of
progress over time:[ CITATION UND19 \l 1033 ]

 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular
from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.[ CITATION
UND19 \l 1033 ]
 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 to achieve healthy and productive oceans.[ CITATION
UND19 \l 1033 ]
 Minimise and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced
scientific cooperation at all levels. [ CITATION UND19 \l 1033 ]
 By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and
unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based
management plans, 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.[ CITATION UND19 \l 1033 ]
 By 2020, conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national
and international law and based on the best available scientific information. [ CITATION
UND19 \l 1033 ]
 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, recognising
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.[ CITATION UND19 \l 1033 ]
 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. [ CITATION UND19 \l
1033 ]
 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[ CITATION IOC05 \l
1033 ], 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. [ CITATION UND19 \l 1033 ]
 Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by
implementing international law as reflected in 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. [ CITATION UND19 \l 1033 ]