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Opportunity Two Excel Foundation

Non-Governmental Organization

https://web.facebook.com/Opportunity-Two-Excel-Foundation-100680398748303

Biodiversity has proven to be the lifeline for the poor indigenous people living in remote forest zones. The biodiversity naturally feeds them, shelter, heal children and age people, protect, and help their pregnant women to deliver safely. In Ghana, there are certain days in some remote forest areas, they don’t go to the stream, farm, or forest because the remote indigenous communities in the high forest zone see biodiversity as a goddess.

The causes of the deforestation by the indigenous communities are the lack of long-term sustainable livelihood plans for the remote indigenous communities in the high forest zone.

Lack of livelihood provision and more importantly the forest zones indigenous people are undervalued due to their social background. 14.b Provide access for small scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

Their livelihood has been affected by climate change without any long-term livelihood sustainability. The current climate change crisis has also emphasized the importance of building long term livelihood.

14.7 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

Yes

https://www.weareforcesofnature.org

COVID has challeneged coastal communities that depend on international travelers for tourism as the primary econmic driver of their region. Without tourism dollars, coastal regions have lacked funds to complete necessary coastal restoration projects of mangroves, beach restoration, beach clean up, and other coastal preservation.

Par of the 100 million in cliamte financepromised by devloped countries as part of COP26 must be cpmmitted to beach and mangrove restoration. Upfront funding will avoid drastic storm erosion and more expensive disaster relief that otherwise might be needed later.

Mangroves are a fast-growing leafy marine forest that serve to absorb carbon emmisions, provide a base for our life-sustaining marine ecosystem, and protect our coastlines from erosiion. They must be replanted and restored along coastlines. SImilarly, sea rocks can also be used to protect our coastlines where mangroves will not take hold.

Yes

Latin America and the Caribbean

Non-Governmental Organization

The main challenge is the participation of right holders in these efforts, and the incorporation of traditional knowledge of IPLC to be part and recognized for there efforts in managing, protecting, conserving and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems. There rights need to be respetados.

The scientific international community and the national institutes of science and academics need to establish positive relationships and respectful relationships with IPLC organizations to bring in the best knowledges and knowledge exchanges to advance in this areas. Women and youth should be part.

The urgent to need to make sure that IPLC and other rights holders included women in all there diversities need to be part of planning, decision making , spatial planning efforts oriented towards the conservation, restoration, protection and managing of these ecosystems, Capacity strengthening in a transversal way needs to occur to guarantee a fair and equitable participation.

Yes

Non-Governmental Organization

COVID is likely to accelerate changes in the tourism market that were already emerging pre-COVID: a shift away from mass tourism to more localised, authentic experiences in intact natural destinations. The challenge will be to respond with appropriate tourism products and to ensure that destinations are managed to cater to this new market. The opportunity is in encouraging smaller numbers of tourists who do less damage to ecosystems and communities. Involving local stakeholders in management decisions will be an important factor in making this change successful. More emphasis needs to be put on stakeholder participation, including developing relevant institutions and building capacity in management.

Governments should be encouraged to consider partnerships with a range of local stakeholders including local communities, NGOs and the private sector (particularly tourism operators). Co-management or participatory management arrangements should be established to give all stakeholders a voice.

Empower local stakeholders to be true partners in natural resource management. New management arrangements and institutions are required that broaden participation to include non-government actors such as NGOs and non-profit private sector organisations.

Yes

Education & Academic Entities

One of the main challenges are acknowledging and integrating coastal and submerged cultural heritage as part of sustainable management.

Yes

Fishermen and fisherwomen

In spring 2020 we saw a huge incline of primary productivity, phytoplancton. This is maybe caused by less air pollution -> stronger sunlight -> more photosynthesis.

Phytoplankton is the foundation of the marine ecosystem.
In addition, it is important for the capture of CO2 by oceans and seas. It is therefore important to look more closely at the effects of air pollution on primary production.

Involving coastal communities. More integral look at ocean conservation. Sustainable low impact harvest of seafood can help food supply and partly replace less sustainable terristrial food production. The oceans will profit from that (Less: CO2, accidification, climate change, pollution)

Yes

Mouvement d'organisation des ruraux pour le développement (M.O.R.D)

Non-Governmental Organization

www.ong-mordhabitat.org

Les pays dites développés possèdent de gros navires et font du commerce international, si nous voulons parler des facteurs liés à la pollution marine :
- Les produits chimiques, (Navire, activité), les Hydrocarbures (rejets illicites, de boues de fioul et d'huiles usées, pour ne citer que ceux -ci, donc la solution viendrait d’eux même.
Quant aux pays sous-développés nous pourrons les classer aux facteurs liés aux :
- Rejets directs de déchets alimentaires, hospitaliers, ou ménagers (eaux usées, les plastiques) urbains et rejets d’excréments, reste de nourriture et résidus …Ces pays en voie développement n’ont pas d’infrastructures adéquats ni de plan d’urbanisation, de protection sociale pouvant gérer efficacement leur population.

A l’heure actuelle ces pays dites pauvres ; des maisons, des écoles, des places publiques etc… n’ont toujours pas de toilette ni de W.C pas de centre de recyclage ni de traitement de déchets alors, les populations sont obligées de vivre selon leurs moyens.

Nous pensons que même si les populations décident de prendre conscience de la situation il n’y a même pas de moyens pouvant les accompagnées pour gérer les défis liés à la gestion des écosystèmes. Les gouvernements et les grandes institutions comme l’ONU doivent mettre en place des politiques internationales de développement durable, lutter contre la corruption, la dictature afin que les projets destinés au développement soient une réalité.
Tant qu’il n’y aura pas une politique de développement durable pouvant amener des populations à mener une vie saine et propre, ces déchets se retrouveront toujours dans les égouts, les rivières sur les plages, dans les quartiers etc.… et pour finir se retrouver dans la mer.

Yes

AJESH (AJEMALEBU SELF HELP)

Non-Governmental Organization

Most African, Asian and Amazon local communities are still to come to terms with the reality of COVID-19. The key challenge here is that most international and national measures put in place are not respected in the local communities particularly coastal communities. This is also because of limited available resources (finance, human, materials) at by both government and civil society organisations in reaching out to the locals. This has limited and created huge gaps in the measures and actions put in please by both governments and international bodies in addressing the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources. However, CSOs should pilot the implementation of international laws in the communities.

Effective and mass involvement of community based organisations, local CSOs/NGOs and the local coastal communities in all actions with adaptive user-friendly approaches developed, case by case. This however means a total refrain from technology importation out of the concerned area or seascape.

Mass inclusive and tailored oriented and community friendly sensitization approaches with effective involvement of the local communities and the local traditional governments.

Yes

International Hydrographic Organization

Intergovernmental Organization

IHO´s focus on measuring the physics and features of the ocean includes charting the seabed topography, sea level, tides, currents, etc. This is important as the shape of the seabed influences a variety of ocean processes: the movement of pollutants, ocean circulation and climate, it provides habitats for marine species etc. The motivation to carry out ocean science for sustainable development calls for the productive application of existing science, but also new research in order to gain new insights. This is exactly IHO´s strategic approach to further improve on our known strengths in ocean mapping and standardization of ocean data.

Engage with all holders of ocean survey data of the public sector and the commercial sector such as offshore exploration, cable, and pipeline layers.
Make data sharing with IHO`s DCDB a standard practice for all surveys in national waters. Motivate Coastal States to fund systematic ocean surveys.

• Stimulate participation of ships in transit in IHO´s crowd sourced bathymetry campaign by lowering national barriers to donate such data gathered in waters of national jurisdiction to the DCDB.
• Coordinate the navigation routes taken by Marine Research Vessels while on transit to cross areas which have not yet been surveyed and gather data thanks to deep water sonars.
• Invest in new technologies such as:
• Autonomous surface and underwater vehicles to gather ocean data
• New survey technology beyond hydroacoustic such as in-water lasers and satellite data.
• Artificial intelligence to process big data and satellite imagery.

Yes

Annpeters global humanitarian foundation

Non-Governmental Organization

www.annpetersfoundation.org

Its challenges based COVID restriction that avoid large gathering and making labour market massive and reducing labour force.social distance and its spread.The opportunities are less and it affects the management,protection and conserving in the sense that it limits its activities,reduce man power and increase health challenges which affect economy and nation at large.

Restriction that avoid large gathering.social distance should be in place.The opportunities are less and it affects the management,protection and conserving in the sense that it limits its activities,reduce man power and increase health challenges which affect economy and nation at large

Its challenges based COVID restriction that avoid large gathering and making labour market massive and reducing labour force.social distance and its spread.The opportunities are less and it affects the management,protection and conserving in the sense that it limits its activities,reduce man power and increase health challenges which affect economy and nation at large.COVID test should be place weekly,days or monthly to avoid spread and health of workers and strictly monitory to avoid the spread.

Yes

Non-Governmental Organization

Depuis 2019, au Burundi et congo sur le Lac Tanganyika ,une étude est nécessaire pour diagnostic et analyser à quel niveau la pendémie a subi des conséquences sur l environement et l'écosystème):étant mère des rivières coulant vers le lac, l hypothèse que les poissons meurent car l'eau des savons liquides, des détergents pour laver les mains, une des gestes barrière contre covid, en conséquences les poissons meme si à prèsent ne sont pas beaucoup produits sont consommés par la population(personne ne sait quoi sur la vie humaine).Innonation à Gatumba(2019-2020)

Implementation un projet pilote pouvant être exécuté à priori dans les 5 pays de l’Est Afrique et des Grands Lacs (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda,RDC, Tanzaniya, Uganda, Sud Soudan et Zambie) en phase selon le pays et les typologies de choix des structures bénéficiaires du Lac

Bien que l'habitat idéal pour les poissons et mollusques se réduise de son volume, que la pollution, le réchauffement climatique, la surpêche ainsi que la hausse de consommation des poissons soient des problématiques identifiés pouvant empêcher la meilleure productivité des poissons pour une bonne alimentation de l’homme, la préservation de l’écosystème du lac Tanganyika, création d’un lieu touristique ainsi que la gestion et l’autonomisation économique. Un projet intitulé « Imuhira Tanganyika Fishes» est initié sous l’approche ITANGAFI-Greenfilter pour la gestion des espaces d assainissement et la protection environnemental de l'écosystème et des lacs les pays des grands Lacs par Fidèle Sindayihebura, spécialisé en Génie Civil

Yes

Lanka Fundamental Rights Organization

Non-Governmental Organization

https://humanrightslanka.org

Covid does not have any impact. If fishing is done properly, polythene and other wastes not sent to the rivers and sea, there are is no issue.

We should not just talk and waste time, but we have to be honest and physically take action

Yes

International Coral Reefs Observatory

Latin America and the Caribbean

Non-Governmental Organization

https://icri-colombia.es.tl/

The priorities have changed. Most of coral reef researchers get funds from the Blue economy that support restoration projects after allowing destruction of resilient ecosystems. Unsustaianble development is accelerated !! Low protection effectiveness and the natural biodiversity, fuction and integraty are at risk. Abandonded coral nurseries during pandemic are lost by hurricanes impact

Bottom-up schemes of protection hav ebeen successful to stop dredging in coral reef areas. ethical norms have to be more strict to avoid supporters of destruction of coral reefs who sell their concious and knowledge of the great value of jeathy coral reefs.

Multisidsciplinary based environemntal education and coral reef monitoring within citizen science and Science of Loss programs

Yes

Non-Governmental Organization

https://www.indiawaterfoundation.org/

The Covid pandemic has caused disruption due to lockdowns and restrictions which reduced the amount of pollutants that are released into rivers which eventually ends up in the oceans. There was also less shipping activity which resulted in less underwater noise, pollution and human disruption to the delicate marine ecosystems. Although these activities have almost resumed compared to pre-Covid times, scientific studies can be done to understand how the restriction have helped the ocean ecosystem. This can help in forming better governance mechanisms and policies to protect our ocean ecosystems.

There should be more partnerships between local government bodies and local organizations like civil societies to monitor, collect data, spread awareness and implement projects for the reduction of pollution entering the oceans.

Make governments to involve local communities and local organisations to protect the fragile coastal ecosystems like mangroves, coral reefs, beaches, etc.

Yes

https://www.linkedin.com/in/saliha-zerdoum-13aab8b1/

Education & Academic Entities

https://www.linkedin.com/in/saliha-zerdoum-13aab8b1/

La pollution des océans et plus généralement des milieux aquatiques par les déchets plastiques, est généralisée, même si sa quantification précise n’est aujourd’hui pas possible. Les impacts de cette pollution sont nombreux, c’est pourquoi de nombreuses réglementations visent les déchets plastiques à différents niveaux.

Certains aspects de la problématique sont encore peu pris en
compte, comme la question des micro-plastiques, mais ceci a tendance à évoluer avec le temps et la prise de conscience de la population..

Yes

Non-Governmental Organization

Covid has pushed the public to take more notice of zoonotic virus outbreaks from current forms of intensive agriculture, aquaculture, and deforestation. SDG14 can take advantage of this opportunity by developing fisheries and aquaculture with an increased eye for the intersectionality with other goals under the 2030 agenda, such as zero hunger, partnerships, and climate change. Particularly, taking a one health approach could alleviate future chances of disease outbreaks: by improving the welfare of animals we can simultaneously improve ocean and ecosystem health.

An important linkage that has been neglected by SDG14 is aquatic animal welfare. This pillar, when taken into consideration in development policies, can alleviate hunger, poverty, improve livelihoods, and build resilience against a changing climate.

Work closely with welfare NGOs and the OIE on aquatic animal welfare to introduce a One Health approach to ocean conservation, where animal welfare is given equal consideration as other conservation measures such as overfishing, bycatch and ghost gear.

Yes

Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station

Education & Academic Entities

https://hopkinsmarinestation.stanford.edu/

Opportunities can arise from implementing Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs), ranging from sectoral spatial instruments for managing specific human activity (fisheries, shipping, mining) to cross-sectoral ones (marine protected areas, marine spatial planning). ABMTs have the potential to generate multiple benefits necessary for achieving SDG 14 and other ocean-related SDGs. While some of these contributions are straightforward (MPAs towards SDG14), others are nuanced or unexpected. Integrating women’s needs and actions in the establishment of fishery-related ABMTs can increase women empowerment and provide social and economic benefits to their families and the broader community.

To make progress towards multiple SDGs at once, it is crucial to ensure coordination between ABMT initiatives established by different organisations and responsible authorities, to harmonize potentially conflicting visions and agendas between responsible institutions in charge of implementing ABMT.

To unlock the full potential of ABMTs for SDG achievement, context-specific enabling factors are related to institutional capacity in ABMTs enforcement and adequate human and financial resources to implement ABMTs

Yes

Chumbe Island Coral Park (CHICOP) Ltd

Private Philanthropic Organizations

Especially in the Global South, Protected Areas have suffered badly from loss of tourism income, but also from governance problems. Because, even before the pandemic, probably most MPAs were paper parks for lack of funds for onsite management and stakeholder involvement. In a study covering 51 countries and 556 (terrestrial) parks worldwide, Balmford et. al. (IUCN 2015) found that on average, only 2% of park income went back to park management and maintenance. Why would the case of MPAs be different? See: Balmford A, Green JMH, Anderson M, Beresford J, Huang C, Naidoo R, et al. (2015), Walk on the Wild Side: Estimating the Global Magnitude of Visits to Protected Areas. PLoS Biol 13(2): e1002074. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1002074

For better management effectiveness and governance of MPAs, create incentives for direct NGO or private sector investment in marine conservation, e.g. with Management Agreements for MPAs or their core No-take zones with non-state actors, and/or for outright Marine Privately Protected Areas (MPPAs).

State members to incentivize private sector investment in Marine PPAs by implementation of Resolution 36 of IUCN at the WCC Hawaii 2016, https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/46453
One instrument with much potential for involving private sector in MPAs are „Marine Conservation Agreements (MCAs)” <https://reefresilience.org/management-strategies/marine-conservation-agreements/>. Successful examples include Chumbe Island Coral Park (CHICOP) Ltd. in Zanzibar/Tanzania, non-profit marine & forest Privately Protected Area and Environmental Education program fully funded by ecotourism 1998-2019, see www.chumbeisland.com
There is a worldwide network of PPAs including marine: The Long Run (TLR), www.thelongrun.org.

Yes

Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands

Latin America and the Caribbean

Non-Governmental Organization

https://www.darwinfoundation.org/

Galapagos Islands are famous destination for nature-based tourism. COVID hit the Galapagos' economy which fully depends upon tourism.Main challenge remains to shift the local economy dependency on tourism (80% of economy). Yet, to re-establish the damaged economy, the trend is to re-cover the traditionally tourism-based economy, to continue promoting the tourism industry (as it was before the pandemic) and to overlook the threats against the natural systems that continue to growth (e.g., population-urban expansion, invasive species, effects of climate change, marine pollution). Opportunities: learn from lessons left by the pandemic, promote sustainable productive practices and foster a knowledge-, technology- and conservation-based economy

Productive sectors (fisheries, agriculture, tourism) should be approached as allies in the conservation efforts. Improved ocean, marine protected areas and marine species governance demands substantial interactions between the systems within Galapagos. By creating bridges opportunities could appear.

Promote active science/policy inter phases, work on policy-related actions and decisions needed to enforce protection and conservation, integrate direct users of marine and coastal ecosystems in decisions.

Yes

Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa

COVID has affected marine ecosystems and coastal communities through many different pathways, some positive and some negative, and the strength of these effects as well as their heterogeneity and context-specificity need to be taken into account. The proper management of these systems for socially just, culturally appropriate, and environmentally sustainable economic development will be crucial for a holistic recovery from the economic shocks caused by the COVID pandemic, especially in the Global South. Unfortunately, however, the current model of "blue economy" development is not designed to achieve these outcomes and is undermining the potential for success.

The most important partners are coastal communities as they are the most reliant on, and affected by, the health of marine ecosystems.

Blue justice must be centered in all of these initiatives. A top-down, technocratic approach will not be helpful. We need to empower local communities to drive this agenda and support the democratization of management, conservation, and restoration processes.

Yes

Underwater Cultural Heritage is the witness of our common memory, reflecting a history of several millennia. However, it is threatened by looting and commercial exploitation, industrial trawling, coastal development, exploitation of natural resources and the sea bed. It is also endangered by global warming, water acidification and pollution. In order to protect, understand and make this heritage better known, UNESCO has developed the 2001 Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage. States Parties need however staff, funds and capacity-building as well as a harmonized approach in collaboration with biodiversity partners to protect the concerned ecosystems.

It is important to make cultural heritage experts and biodiversity partners collaborate. Common projects need to be established that seek to protect natural and cultural ocean aspects.

Recent UNESCO survey: COVID-19 caused setback in underwater archaeological research.

It is essential to take into account cultural heritage, cultural traditions, underwater cultural heritage sites and community importance.

Yes

Science & Technological Community

https://www.c4irocean.earth/

The pandemic will have interrupted data collection, and by extension created a gap in ocean datasets during this time. Indeed, data collection relies on the efforts of people who have been in lockdown and thereby unable to carry-out their work as usual. On a more positive note, COVID-19 has forced us to find new ways of working together and accelerated the development of digital tools for collaboration, including those needed to solve the challenges facing the ocean.

As meetings and events move increasingly online, it has become easier to work between countries. Countries that have advanced ocean management plans should work with and support those that don't and develop pilots to develop new approaches to ocean management and protection.

COVID-19 represents an opportunity to initiate real change away from business as usual and towards concrete action. One such area of action is to overcome the fact that data is often locked in silos and inaccessible. We urge governments to take the initiative to ensure ocean data is openly available, as well as accessible through APIs. All publicly funded data should be open, incentives must be in place as well as appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks for data sharing.

Yes

Agência Brasileira de Gerenciamento Costeiro-Agencia Costeirao-

Latin America and the Caribbean

Non-Governmental Organization

www.agenciacosteira.org.br

Establish a national network of conservation units from the three spheres of government (national, regional and local), with the objective of supporting and strengthening Coastal Management, articulating programs and projects for the conservation of coastal-marine ecosystems and associated biodiversity, promoting interconnection of environmental assets through ecological corridors (ENCOGERCO - Brazil 2021 proposal).

We understand that mangroves are one of the most important coastal ecosystems on the planet and the need for their regeneration can be supported by the acquisition of carbon credits by companies that emit greenhouse gases.

Yes

Tuna Fisheries Alliance of Kenya (TuFAK)

Non-Governmental Organization

The Kenyan government introduced over one hundred and twenty (120) policies to contain COVID-19. These included curfews and bans on travel and public gatherings. Restrictions were imposed between March 2020 and November 2021. Limited numbers of people were allowed in boats and vehicles. There were social distancing requirements in markets and stores, and reduced market and shop opening hours. Traders and transporters, especially, faced challenges such as accessing markets and long waits for East African cross-border trade.

While the governments all over the world have acknowledged the importance of a “green recovery”, the focus has been predominantly on climate change yet biodiversity loss and climate change are challenges of a similar magnitude/ urgency and are fundamentally interlinked.

• It is critical that the Kenyan government integrates marine biodiversity considerations into its COVID-19 response and economic recovery plan to minimize risks while providing opportunities for coastal communities. Examples of biodiversity measures include job programmes focused on ecosystem restoration, sustainable coastal forest management etc.
• Ensure that COVID-19 economic recovery measures do not compromise marine biodiversity protection and conservation.
• Kenya should recognize and adopt the One Health approach that recognizes that the health of people is closely interlinked with the health of the animals and the environment as a whole.

Yes

Non-Governmental Organization

https://bluelifefoundation.org/

Increase funding to increase the MPA´s surface and it´s effective surveillance; use citicen´s science to absorb the increase awareness of the society (specially youth) in the urgent need for conservation & restoration.

Civil society, youth. Increase the participation of civil society/NGO´s, etc. in governance.

Increase education not only in youth but also adult citizens. Increase legislation to avoid big companies to continue depleting resources as they have until now. Launch advertising campign announcing the big changes that citizens will have to undergo to avoid collapse in a joint effort, empowering consumers with their decissions.

Yes

Geo-Tech Consultancy Services

https://www.gcspakistan.com

During last two years of COVID pandemic, people's rush towards the coastal areas was thin, therefore, it restores marine and coastal ecosystems to some extent and it shows the stresses, our marine and coastal ecosystem facing. Hence it is a challenge as well as creating the opportunities to plan/use our coastal areas in such a way that it should not disturb its ecosystem. This challenge can be met by ESG sustainable advocacy/planning.

COVID-19 provided certain opportunities of partnerships among the countries and global institutions, which can be activated for the conservation and restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems by providing certain inputs of knowledge, technology and funding.

Data of COVID-19 spread all over the world, its style of prevailing, emergence of new variants also contain some insights about the role of oceans health and their transferability through cruises and other shipping lanes. Some clues can also be inferred from meteorological and oceanographic data of that time from satellites. On the basis of these resources, we may design our future strategies to utilize our blue economy resources intelligibly and develop an advocacy for its implementation. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive modeling and machine learning approach can be adopted for the conservation and restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems.

Yes

International Ocean Institute

Non-Governmental Organization

Collation and sharing of examples of successful and replicable citizen science and practices that can be used to support the needs of developing countries in addressing in specific areas, vulnerabilities and knowledge gaps connected with marine and coastal ecosystems.

Exploring the possibilities and viability of developing a Vulnerability Index For Sea Level Rise for threatened coasts and coastal infrastructure in developing and transitional countries to guide and support priority allocation of funds for mitigation and adaptation costs.

Yes

Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Science & Technological Community

During 2020, a unique opportunity arose to study water quality in one of the most polluted waters in India under reduced anthropogenic activities caused by the nations COVID lockdown. This international collaborative study (https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13091631) showed that water quality can improve substantially when anthropogenic activities are reduced, with the potential for remote observations to inform sustainable management decisions to sustain and/or restore the ecological values of waters such as Lake Vembanad in India in the future and achieve the targets set out in SDG-14, SDG-6 and SDG-3.

International partnerships enabled a unique remote sensing and in situ study of water quality to assess the impact of the reduced anthropogenic pollution during the 2020 Indian COVID lockdown offering novel management tools for the implementation of SDG-14.

Continuing a coordinated international response, as shown during India’s lockdown in April - May 2020, could inform sustainable management to achieve the targets set out in SDG-14 and SDG-6 and significantly reduce aquatic pollution and improve water quality by 2030. Enabling continued scientific research and water quality monitoring on short and longer timescales in this process can aid the decision making required towards achieving SDG-14. As shown in this study remote sensing observations can support this, with free and open data available at high temporal and spatial resolutions.

Yes

Transform Bottom Trawling Coalition

Non-Governmental Organization

transformbottomtrawling.org

Fixing overfishing is the single most powerful thing we can do to overcome the ocean emergency. And addressing overfishing has to start with tackling the industrial method that does the most damage - bottom trawling.

Bottom trawls are the only gear group that can be conclusively linked to all three major biodiversity impacts of fishing: bycatch, seabed contact and overfishing of target stocks. Bottom trawling reduces the resilience of ecosystems and fisheries, increasing their vulnerability to global shocks like COVID and climate change.

We need to look beyond purely technical measures for solving the challenges inherent to bottom trawling.

It is critical that states and intergovernmental organisations give small-scale artisanal fishers a voice in global fisheries and climate dialogues. This necessitates stronger partnerships between governments and small-scale artisanal fishers groups, IPLC groups, and other environmental stewards.

To advance SDG14, member states must:

1. Establish, expand and strengthen national inshore exclusion zones (IEZs) for small-scale fishers in which bottom trawling is prohibited.

2. Prohibit bottom trawling in all marine protected areas (outside IEZs) to ensure vulnerable habitats and ecosystems are effectively protected and recovered.

3. End subsidised bottom trawling and allocate financial and technical resources to support a fair transition for fleets.

4. Prohibit the expansion of bottom trawling to new, untrawled areas.

Yes

Latin America and the Caribbean

Non-Governmental Organization

https://www.myworldmexico.org/

Trends - Growing coastal population seeking to make use of marine resources, increasing competition for space for activities such as fishing, tourism, marine transportation, as well as aquaculture, energy development, and more.
Challenges - Lack of material resources (oceanographic vessels) and personnel to attend marine and coastal protected areas. Lack of institutional coordination and outdated information. Invasive species in coastal and ocean habitats.
Opportunities - Increased awareness, civil society organizations, indicators and international best practice reports.

Work should focus on the creation of health indicators to encourage research and an ocean observing system, with quality public data available for informed decision making. This will focus on participation, the creation of participatory workshops and local collaborative forums.

- Implement an ocean culture in the educational systems, focused not only on teaching but also on promoting social and youth engagement and awareness of the ocean and: ecology, trade, climate change, human health, and the development of a sustainable future.
- Invest in scientific research consortiums to study and reverse the conditions of environmental degradation.
- Integrate the principles of Blue BioTrade into ocean governance to promote the sustainable use of resources.
- Promote campaigns, courses, tools and consulting to encourage the participation of local communities, universities, local governments, and companies in support of the coordination of habitat and ocean ecosystem restoration projects.

Yes

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society

Non-Governmental Organization

Through the pandemic, we have learned that healthy ecosystems and access to nature is exceptionally important for our health and wellbeing and that governments can take decisive action and support sweeping systemic changes when pressed. There is now an opportunity to “build back better” and ensure a nature-positive recovery that is just and equitable. Significant investments in the protection and restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems produce significant benefits to communities in rebuilding fisheries, creating sustainable and meaningful jobs, and upgrading coastal infrastructure. This approach helps governments to simultaneously address climate change and strengthen coastal economies while recovering biodiversity.

Community support and enabling conditions for MPAs. Strategies must be built with Indigenous Peoples and with full respect for their rights, title and knowledge systems. Strategies must be informed by an equitable, inclusive dialogue with voices from racialized communities, and across generations.

The elimination of harmful subsidies and integrated support for protected areas into funding mechanisms and governance that tackles climate change, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity, public health, and other national and international strategies.

Stringent protection and restoration of natural systems to ensure a high and consistent standard for what is counted towards targets has measurable, positive outcomes for biodiversity as a result. Both protected areas and Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) have value in meeting targets, but only where these sites are consistent with international standards, and where they provide additional conservation value to what is currently protected and conserved.

Yes

Non-Governmental Organization

https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/

Virtual meetings due to covid are limiting conservation outcomes because there isn’t time to go through full agendas and there aren’t opportunities for meaningful conversations and negotiations in meeting margins. There is less monitoring and enforcement capabilities “on the water” as Park staff have been sent home. This has led to increased incidences of poaching and resource extraction, linked to loss of livelihoods and reduced capacity to conduct patrols and fieldwork by enforcement staff. Coastal wetlands are among the most threatened environments and NDCs should include ambitious, science-based targets for the protection and restoration of these ecosystems.

We need to consider sustainable MPA financing that will mitigate the risk of future shocks and re-install confidence that protected areas can be economically viable and good for the environment. The development and implementation of NDCs provide a significant opportunity to foster partnerships.

Promote collaborative and equitable conservation. Recognize and respect the dignity and diversity of local people; Employ and elevate participatory decision-making and good governance. Utilize The MPA Guide (published in Science) as a tool to guide marine stakeholders on MPA design and management. The Guide evaluates stage of implementation and level of protection and offers guidance on enabling conditions required to promote effective long-term conservation. International agreement on a new 30x30 goal at the CBD in Kunming. New high seas implementing agreement via UN to support designation of effective high seas MPAs. Need effective MPAs and OECMs in waters under national jurisdiction—currently only 8% of ocean is under protection.

Yes

Environmental Defense Fund

Non-Governmental Organization

A focus on sustainable blue foods can motivate conservation on the part of governments and policy-makers because it can make clear the opportunities to advance not only environmental but also economic, nutrition and social goals. In addition, blue foods generally have a lower environmental footprint than terrestrial animal-sourced foods across a variety of metrics, and there are opportunities to further improve performance.

A range of environmental stressors including climate change threaten the productivity, quality and safety of blue foods. Significant investments in sustainability and climate adaptation and resilience, especially for small-scale and Indigenous blue food producer communities, are needed.

The Blue/Aquatic Foods Action Coalition brings together UN Member State governments and participants from civil society, the fishing and aquaculture industry, and other sectors and can be built upon to further multiple goals.

* Using true cost accounting, fully value the nutritional, health, and ecological benefits of sustainably-produced blue foods in resource management decision-making.

* Consider the impacts of aquatic pollution on blue food systems when evaluating policies, regulations and subsidies.

* Incorporate investments in blue food systems into national climate strategies.

* Protect and center the rights and tenure of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

* Implement the SSF Guidelines - financing, prioritizing, and support projects that advance the needs of SSF communities.

* Explore opportunities to streamline regulations and financial services to promote access and innovation by small-scale actors.

Yes

Education & Academic Entities

Using the nature based solution is trending. Challenges include limited awareness on adoption of nature based solution, limited knowledge and adoption of nature based solution, apparent gap in the use of science based solution into policies; and funding challenges. Opportunities include awakening interest in adoption of nature based solutions.

Policy to streamline nature based solution into science and early childhood.

Yes

Community Conservation Research Network

Multi-sectoral research network

www.communityconservation.net

OPPORTUNITY: Small-scale fisheries have been documented to be leaders in a range of environmental stewardship, as shown in the current SSF-Stewardship project (https://ssf-stewardship.net/). Accordingly, SSF are not only crucial to food security and livelihoods but also to ensuring sustainable fisheries and aquatic ecosystems.

Partnerships linking small-scale fishers with governments, NGOs and/or civil society can be effective in achieving better management and conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems. However, this requires ensuring fishers are empowered, sufficiently supported, and given suitable resource access.

RECOMMENDATION: To better manage and conserve marine and coastal ecosystems, it is important to empower and tangibly support small-scale fishers in their conservation activities, and in sustaining their livelihoods. This should be an active policy thrust.

Yes

International Centre for Environmental Education and Community Development(Cameroon)

Non-Governmental Organization

Inadequate data and scientific information from research available and to be accessible with relevant stakeholders and actors in Coastal communities in protecting, conserving and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems especially in the West Coastline Cameroon Atlantic Ocean

There is need of potential partnership in incentivizing waste pickers and waste collectors in Coastal communities and the establishment of Capacity building programmes on Ocean Governance in advancing the implementation of SDG 14 with regards to managing, protecting, conserving marine ecosystem

There should be an establishment of a global network on Ocean Governance withy regional representatives and focal points to advance the implementation of SDG 14 with regards to managing, protecting, conserving and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems

Yes

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation

Non-Governmental Organization

www.naturskyddsforeningen.se

Challenges: Virtual meetings have come with a set of challenges and has prevented meaningful participation by low-income countries and Indigenous peoples and local communities' (IPLCs) organizations in relevant processes, such as the CBD.
Opportunities: To build forward better and stem biodiversity loss and climate change, as well as limit the risk for future pandemics, securing IPLCs right to marine areas and resources, recognizing their important role in conservation, and learn from their traditional and well-functioning practices is key. Implementing international instruments such as the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on tenure and on small-scale fisheries offers a valuable tool to secure and restore biodiversity while securing human rights.

We encourage improved collaboration and coordination across sectors and governing bodies. We encourage strong collaboration and full partnership with civil society and particulalry Indigenous Peoples and local communities, including artisanal fishers.

Enhance holistic conservation and cross-sectoral collaboration; recognize and respect existing traditions, practises, and indigenous and local knowledge; secure IPLCs right to land and marine areas and resources (in line with the FAO Voluntary Guidelines one tenure and small-scale fisheries); apply the pricinples of free, prior and informed consent and fair and equitable benefit-sharing; ensure human rights are at the heart of any conservation initiative/management plan; recognize and support areas traditionally conserved and proposed as conservation areas by IPLCs; ensure women's full and effective participation; secure adequate political, financial and technical support to IPLCs and Indigenous and locally-led conservation.

Yes

Non-Governmental Organization

Humans are taking too much of the mineral and renewable resources from our planet, not leaving enough space for nature. Covid is a case in point. Challenge to transform economies and societal norms to be more socially just, much less wasteful and give spaces back to nature. Opportunities: strengthen indigenous people's rights and tenure, promote peace and cooperation e.g. around saving most of the ocean from industrial exploitation for recovery (min. 30x30), promote a circular economy and curb land-based sources of pollution, pro low impact fishing, incentivise innovation that minimises harmful effects on ecosystem integrity, biodiversity, climate, social justice through enabling policies.

Multi-stakeholder partnerships, informed by science & practitioners: find innovative solutions combining ecological/biodiversity, economic and socio-cultural benefits, restoring coastal and marine ecosystems, supporting livelihoods and wellbeing of actors and stakeholders in inclusive ways. New Deal

Stop harmful fisheries subsidies, make a public registry of industrial vessels mandatory revealing beneficial ownership, strengthen management capacity in countries with weak management and enforcement, cooperate more internationally on an equal footing, invest in marine and coastal protection from high-impact fisheries, construction and land-based pollution in an inclusive manner incl. allocation of resources for participation of the often marginalised groups, incl. indigenous people and SSF. Encourage economic diversification to reduce pressure on natural resources in climate-proof and socially just ways. Build societal consensus around policies that drive such transformations.

Yes

BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT

Latin America and the Caribbean

Non-Governmental Organization

https://www.slideshare.net/GeorgeRADJOU

You have to consider the opposition between the science and the politics. The politics are using the science for their careers and the scientists are creating goods that can be sold to the politics for the money. I have observed that most leaders are not making what they are saying. They are also ignoring the epistemology of social sciences. Besides, we never found the evidence that the covid virus could be transmitted from an animal to the man. WHO investigation was negative before raising the global alert that prompted head of states to take a decision based on their objectives. As long there is no clear separation between public, private and NGO about the resources and the money, we are likely to be like blind people about the covid.

The issue is not time. It is the quality/speed. Time is money, but government is money waster. Disappearance of the water quality is huge. Surface water is contaminated and frozen. Cost of cleaning water is higher . A race against poverty is needed for a smarter development in cities & rural areas.

1- Educating to water quality
1.1. Learning of water poetics/ sacred water
1.2. Produce/save more water
1.3. Restrict the water (technologies/bank account/credit card)
2- Building more waste treatment
2.1. consume less, produce less and improve the business processes
2.2. Cost of cleaning: pollution, consumption, innovation, breakthrough, supply chain
2.3. Consider water is energy
3. The virtual water against water investment
3.1. Exchange food, infrastructure
4- Harvesting water so more people can produce their own waters.
5- Forbid the release of the hot water from the nuclear power plant that produce energy, but is killing the river ecosystem
5.1. Global warming and the search of new water resources
6. Politics of water: war, election

Yes

Non-Governmental Organization

COVID shut down the world. This has resulted in a complete overhaul of the way that ecotourism and coastal communities function. The economic paradigm was completely overturned for these individuals. Those who have chosen sustainable careers in ecotourism were confronted by the necessity of choosing between survival or sustainability. We now have the opportunity to build programs to protect these critical communities in the event of another crisis.

The shift from unsustainable careers to ecotourism is both pragmatic and self-sustaining. We need an internationally endorsed failsafe. We call on all UN stakeholders to ensure the livelihood of these individuals by creating a safety net for these communities.

Alternatives to unsustainable fishing practices and poaching are critical. One proven model is the repurposing of coastal communities from unsustainable fishing to ecotourism. Ecotourism is an economically proven model that raises the quality of life and the annual income for participants. We must consider providing an international safety net should ecotourism be hit by a future crisis. Those deciding to take a risk and migrate to a more sustainable career such as dive guides, naturalists, and other members of local tourism infrastructure found their income stream severed. If we want to maintain the trust of communities switching from unsustainable behaviors, we must plan to help them in cases of emergency.

Yes

Private Philanthropic Organizations

https://www.minderoo.org/flourishing-oceans/

Trends:
-International effort towards High Sea Treaty
-Blue carbon
-Equitable governance and fair benefit sharing
-Innovative financing mechanism
-Transboundary seascapes and multilateral collaboration
Challenges:
-Global priority turnaround
-Social, economical and biodiversity outcome impact evaluation
-Governments resources repurpose
-Increasing rate of extractive illegal activities
Opportunities:
-Press for fully protected MPAs under a future High Seas Treaty
-Improvement of impact measurement
-Re-examine mechanism, interventions, management and governance structures
-Encouraged cross sector collaborations.
-Creation of marketplace for Blue Carbon
-Community based or co-managed governance systems
-Blockchain technology

Implementation of SDG14 requires collective efforts fostered through international and cross-sector collaborations. Minderoo is exploring transboundary marine parks between Australia, Indonesia and Timor Leste to generate shared ecological and socio-economic benefits and foster diplomatic relations

Promote and implement fully protected MPAs
Focus on conserving marine migration corridors
Facilitate transboundary marine parks
Promote impact monitoring by focusing on project outcomes. Use experimental protocols and ensure project evaluation plans are prepared in advance facilitating transparency
Identify long term sustainable revenue that generate socio-economic benefit for communities
Support community based or co-managed governance systems
Leverage technology innovation to achieve scientific, economic and governance benefits
Advocate for co-creation of innovative and breakthrough solutions through credible scientific data, collaboration and inclusion

Yes

Non-Governmental Organization

The ocean is on the front line of what the UN Secretary-General has called “humanity’s war on nature”. Both climate change and overfishing are destroying marine ecosystems and limiting the delivery of the ocean’s vital planetary functions. Fishing activities remove significant amounts of blue carbon from the ocean. Climate change is accelerated through fuel consumption by fishing fleets, which account for million tons of CO2 emissions. The fishing sector’s carbon footprint is magnified when bottom trawling disturbs carbon retained in seafloor sediment - dragging heavy nets along the seafloor re-releases CO2, which may have been sequestered for millennia. It also disturbs ecosystems by affecting seabed integrity and killing marine species.

Developed countries should ensure that agreements with developing countries are truly sustainable - transparent, not contributing to overfishing or habitat destruction. Support developing countries re: fisheries, develop NDCs especially ocean-based targets and measures.

The setting of fishing limits should incorporate the full suite of climate and ecosystem impacts that occur as a result of fishing, such as minimising bycatch and seabed integrity. Fishing has a significant impact on the ocean’s capacity to mitigate climate change but we are not measuring (or managing) it - a scientific assessment to evaluate the impact of fishing on the carbon sequestration potential of fish populations and the seabed, and direct CO2 emissions from the industry, is needed. Maintaining and improving the integrity of ocean habitat (corals, seamounts, mangroves and seagrass) is important for improving carbon storage, coastal protection/erosion, and increases resilience of marine life and fisheries to climate change.

Yes

Non-Governmental Organization

While much of recent attention has focused on the vulnerability of the ocean, we must not forget that it also is a powerful source of untapped solutions and innovation. Coastal and marine ecosystems have significant carbon sequestration and storage capacity, and provide a wide range of benefits in helping coastal populations adapt to a changing climate. Through conservation, restoration and sustainable management of coastal and marine ecosystems, countries have the opportunity to contribute to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, while meeting other global sustainable development and biodiversity goals (e.g. food security, clean water, decent jobs). Marine Protected Areas are key to protect and sustainably manage these ecosystems.

Traditional practices and local knowledge have been long overlooked. However, indigenous peoples and local communities must be integrated in the design and implementation of coastal management and conservation, recognizing the importance of these ancestral techniques and specific local knowledge.

(1) Given the remaining knowledge gaps, it is essential to continue to develop knowledge on the climate benefits of marine ecosystems. It would be especially important so that the IPCC could better take these carbon pools into account, allowing Parties to further include them in their national GHG accounting.
(2) Coastal and marine Nature-based Solutions are cost-effective solutions that can be used as a lever to expand climate action, finance and policy. As such, they should be further implemented, including in national climate strategies (NDCs), moving forward.
(3) Discussions on global area-based conservation targets, and specifically Marine Protected Areas, should more comprehensively consider their benefits for climate mitigation.

Yes

Non-Governmental Organization

Even before the pandemic, most MPAs were just paper parks or existing protection was not enforced. In order to restore ocean health however strong protection of interconnected areas including megafauna hotspots and coastal areas is essential. At least 30% of oceans should be protected from all exploitation as No Take Zones and all other areas need to be managed sustainably. Due to postponed or cancelled conferences, these decisions have now been delayed by several years. Coastal communities need to receive compensation when protecting their fishing grounds.

"COVID 19 has hindered or prevented international and interdisciplinary collaboration.
However, close cooperation between politics, NGOs, science and civil society is of utmost importance to achieve a sustainable implementation of SDG14."

"The BBNJ agreement must include a globally organized network of protected areas (30% MPAs as ""No Take Zones"" or at least ""Highly protected Areas"") and provisions for environmental impact assessments to avoid activities that have negative impacts on the marine environment, requiring e.g..:
- Ecosystem-based fisheries management
- Prohibition of harmful fishing practices
- Mandatory bycatch reduction
- ""Fins Naturally Attached"" policy throughout all national jurisdictions and RFMOs as a mandatory policy to prevent global overexploitation of sharks
- Moratorium on deep sea mining protecting the severely threatened deep-sea from yet unknown impacts from such exploitation"

Yes

BirdLife International & Eco-Foundation Global

Non-Governmental Organization

www.birdlife.org www.ecoglobalfoundation.org

Trends: Marine & coastal ecosystems are interlinked. The global pandemic has emphasised countries need to cooperate globally to conserve them; success depends not on how the best do, but the worst.
Challenges: Coasts are home to 50% of the world population, generating 70% of world GDP resulting in much loss/degradation of habitat, A challenge post COVID is to balance economic recovery with ecosystem conservation, including restoration.
Opportunities: to apply lessons learnt from the pandemic & implement high-level political commitments to Build Back Better (green & blue recovery), key stakeholders are establishing the World Coastal Forum to facilitate evidence-based implementation through synergies to bring about transformational changes.

World Coastal Forum called for by CMS (2017), RAMSAR (2018), CBD (2018) & IUCN (2020), currently enabled by China and 17 international organizations will be a multi-stakeholder platform, independent of treaties, but facilitating their implementation for coastal ecosystems to be launched in 2022.

Potential World Coastal Forum priorities for facilitating delivery of tidal wetland conservation & sustainable development of coastal livelihoods:
a. Protection: identify potential coastal wetland World Heritage and Ramsar sites to deliver ecological connectivity
b. Sustainable Management: develop evidence-based global guidance on wise use management of working coastal wetlands eg shellfisheries & aquaculture, for people & wild species, including but not limited to waterbirds, building on existing FAO guidelines.
c. Ecosystem restoration: facilitate coastal wetland restoration by:
i. supporting national prioritisation of sites for restoration
ii. provision of tools to support evidence & nature based coastal wetland restoration

Yes

Trends - Impacts to marine mammals and efforts to prevent entanglements; Challenges - Implementing closures and fishing gear that make entanglements and encounters less likely, but come to a high cost for fish harvesters; Opportunities - restricted access for offshore draggers that scrape equipment along the seabed and practice 'volume fishing'

The next generation is much more receptive to environmental concerns and has a great deal of consumer influence - Major brands should recognize that products that promote less of a carbon footprint and contain recycled materials are more likely to be met with organic endorsement for promotion.

Governments need to assign greater resources to localized coastal clean-ups, and availing on local divers and fish harvesters to expedite regular, recurring clean ups; There also has to be greater corporate responsibility exercised by companies that use waterways as dumping grounds; More resources to incentivize good environmental practices and greater penalties for polluting will eventually form new behaviors.

Yes

Ciscos/ugl(centro internazionale sindacale per la cooperazione allo sviluppo)

Non-Governmental Organization

The loss of marine biodiversity and the disappearance of marine habitats represent an ongoing challenge for Europe's seas and oceans
Despite the existence of a framework to protect the marine environment, the interventions to date have not restored either the seas to a good ecological status, or fishing at sustainable levels in all seas. We need greater political and environmental effectiveness

The protection rules did not lead to the recovery of significant ecosystems and habitats. In practice, the provisions enacted to coordinate fisheries policy with environmental policy have not worked as intended.

Goal 14: We must conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. Maintaining the commitment to respect the world's oceans - their temperature, their chemical composition, their currents and their life - influence the global systems that make the Earth a livable place for mankind.
Rainwater, the water we drink, the weather, the climate, our coasts, much of our food and even the oxygen present in the air we breathe are elements ultimately supplied and regulated by the sea. Throughout history, oceans and seas have been and continue to be vital channels for trade and transportation.

Yes

Whale and Dolphin Conservation

Non-Governmental Organization

Challenge: Reframing of whales as ‘ecosystem engineers’ and enhancing knowledge in how they positively benefit the wider ecosystem in which they inhabit, as well as being inherently important in their own right.

Trend:Important marine mammal areas are being mapped globally.

Challenge: Marine mammals are sentinel species that inform biodiversity measurements and require large areas of protection helping to drive adequate protection measures for wider biodiversity.


Challenge: Tackle illegal fishing, and implement monitoring system to measure direct takes of small cetaceans.

Opportunity: Ensure fisheries management is robust and includes consideration and prevention of sensitive species bycatch.

MEAs - working with industry stakeholders and governments. Interlinkages between all the different levels all MEAs.

Better linkages between marine species conservation fora with UN level policy.

FAO/IMO interlinkages with ocean recovery as increased biodiversity will be economically beneficial.

Strict zoning of ocean areas will be required in order to have a chance for biodiversity within a sustainability regime.

Zoned areas for biodiversity protection will need to be highly protected and much larger in the ocean than on land

Biodiversity zones cannot be surface only even if the main habitat use is in surface waters. The health of the water column and the benthos is essential for maintaining the ecosystem.

Support and advance research on whale ecosystem services and functioning.

Countries to assume a significantly greater role in the funding and supporting of MPAs, site management and conservation initiatives that restore ocean health.

Yes

consortium around engineered reefs project - engineered reef as factories of the Blue Economy

There is a need for developing coastal habitats in such a way that it would attract diverse marine life which has a positive impact on the coastal ecosystem, provide long-term resources for ocean education and science and improve the overall economic stability in coastal communities (‘building with nature’).
Coral reefs play a key role in carbon sequestration. To meet their emission limitation targets, many countries and many companies rely on Certified Emission Reductions (CERs). These types of carbon credits come mainly from forestry projects, but there is much more to explore in this regard related to coral reefs. If we make them we will contribute to offer a solution to emission reductions and therefore address climate change.

Engineered reefs and blue boxes (monitoring of data) multifunctional and integrated way to improve value creation in blue growth, innovative products, technologies and processes, for governance and access for citizens’ in several sectors, all this focused in carbon-sequestration businesses

Prototyping experimentation and proof of concept of these reefs, testing products and processes, this is a transformational approach to Blue Economy, enabling creation and regeneration of marine biodiversity and carbon sequestration in the local ecosystem, while promoting different economic activities and employment, namely for: sustainable fisheries; scientific tourism and leisure; sensing, information and communications technologies and services; and eco-friendly maritime works, materials, morphology and substracte industrial processes and products. It provides a response fully aligned with local-regional- levels, with a more informed decision-making support tool. Finally, it also offers a potential response model for other Regions.

Yes

Trends: Currently, there are significant attempts to protect and restore the marine environment. The aim is to place at least 30% of the global ocean under marine protected areas by 2030. Globally, there are attempts to create a Global Ocean Treaty to protect marine ecosystems in the ocean beyond national jurisdictions.

Opportunities: Development of precision fishing technology (cameras, sensors and LED lights) to help reduce the fishing industry's impact on the marine environment by reducing bycatch.

Challenges: Increased protection can cause conflict between different marine stakeholders. MPAs implemented without proper consultation can cut off fishing communities from locations they depend on for their livelihoods.

Academia and technology SMEs to help inform marine management and conservation.

Technology SMEs and fishing industry to create technology that minimises their impact on marine ecosystem

Collaboration of all stakeholders to ensure that management plans account for the needs of all ocean users.

Co-management of marine resources that includes all relevant stakeholders (e.g. SMEs, fishing communities and NGOs)
Need for transparency in the decision making process to ensure that it is fair and based on the best evidence available.
Management plans that are adaptable to the changing nature of our oceans. This is imperative as migratory patterns change and seasonal timings continue to alter due to climate change.
A collaborative approach is needed to ensure MPAs are sustainable for both the marine environment and the communities that depend upon marine resources and services.

Yes

Stockholm International Water Institute

Non-Governmental Organization

Source-to-sea management highlights the linkages between human and natural systems from land to freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems. It also underscores the increasing complexity of environmental problems while considering the importance of connectivity from source to sea. Source-to-sea management presents a great opportunity because it links governance, operations, practices and finance across marine, coastal, freshwater and terrestrial systems and stimulates cooperation between upstream and downstream actors as well as coordination across sectors. The strength of this approach is its ability to ensure outcomes of mutual benefit from source to sea by homing in on priorities that span traditional land-freshwater-marine boundaries.

The Action Platform for Source to Sea Management provides the opportunity for practitioners and decision makers to share experiences on how to plan and act holistically from source to sea. This global community strengthens source-to-sea action toward healthy marine and coastal ecosystems.

-Incentivize management practices that link land-based activities with impacts on coasts and ocean. Call for collaboration from financial institutions and governments to stimulate cross-sectoral coordination and upstream-downstream cooperation through financial and regulatory tools.
-Mainstream source-to-sea system thinking in governance and management frameworks to strengthen coordination between actors. Address linkages between terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine systems in the design and implementation of actions in cities, industries and landscapes, along rivers and coasts, and at sea.
-Build and reinforce multi-stakeholder partnerships at all levels to strengthen commitment to safeguard healthy marine and coastal ecosystems.

Yes

Non-Governmental Organization

Empowering local communities to play an active leadership role in decision making and implementation of marine and coastal ecosystem conservation is an increasing opportunity, including in other relevant global challenges like addressing biodiversity loss in coastal areas and territorial seas. Another emerging opportunity is the influx of interest from the private sector in blue carbon markets. Protecting and restoring blue carbon ecosystems – mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes – through a carbon market project or for its mitigation and/or adaptation value is an area of increasing global attention which can be helpful in bringing more capacity and financial resources to these activities.

Local communities and small-scale fisheries are vital for successful SDG14. International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022) can explore synergies with climate, biodiversity, or 30x30. We also encourage inclusion of behavioral science experts.

Consider the linkage with biodiversity, in particular the CBD’s post-2020 GBF. 30x30 and related GBF target also has potential to support the implementation of SDG14. Prioritizing territorial seas in commitments ensures that the most biodiversity-rich areas are protected while also safeguarding these ecosystems for sustainable use for food security and livelihoods. Further, consider the role of behavioral sciences in developing effective solutions. Rare conducted a survey on COVID impacts, exploring the level of disruption in communities and the linkages between the social, economic and environmental impacts. We recommend ensuring the social element is included when engaging in conservation work. https://portal.rare.org/en/covid-19-impacts/

Yes

Non-Governmental Organization

The pandemic contributed to recognition of the need to address the climate and biodiversity crisis. It showed that governments can take swift and decisive action, and direct massive subsidies to overcome crises, but that international collaboration is very important. Protecting coastal and marine ecosystems will contribute to fighting both the climate and biodiversity crisis. The increasing support to protect 30% of marine waters by 2030 is however meaningless without sufficient protection measures that are enforced. Improved governance of – and increased funding for MPA management is needed to address paper parks. If marine protection gets the same political significance as the pandemic this can be arranged.

Improved collaboration and coordination across sectors and governing bodies. Include local communities and low impact fishers in the conservation efforts.

- Include blue marine and coastal carbon in NDCs to facilitate financial and other resources for effective protection.
- Ensure a just transition to low impact fisheries, with as first step prioritising access to fish resources in territorial seas for low impact small scale fishing, prohibiting destructive gears like bottom trawling (starting in MPAs), and promoting gears and techniques that minimise the catch of non-target species
- Establish ecosystem-based Maritime Spatial Plans which include at least 30% highly or fully protected areas, and areas for human activities based on ecosystem sensitivity.
- Adopt registration, licencing and monitoring and control systems to address unregulated fisheries.

Yes

Mediterranean Protected Areas Network (MedPAN) / The MedFund (Mediterranean environmental fund for MPAs)

network and conservation trust fund

http://medpan.org/ ; https://themedfund.org/en/

The COVID19 crisis is putting an economic and financial pressure on MPAs. Because staffing levels are key to protected area effectiveness, this can have impacts on conservation. The pandemic can also lead to reduced revenue from tourism and cuts in MPA operational budgets.
Despite all these challenges, a very good feedback has been reported from protected areas with a dynamic co-management units bringing together civil society and national agencies or government, supported by sustainable funding (e.g., from the Medfund).
MPAs have to pave the way for a sustainable development of these areas, demonstrating the socio-economic benefits they can offer when they are well-managed.

The MedFund, the environmental fund for Mediterranean MPAs, and MedPAN, the network of Mediterranean MPA managers, are joining their strengths to provide a global support to the management of MPAs in the Mediterranean. They will lead an International Waters GEF funded project starting in 2022.

To achieve post 2020 MPA targets, it will be crucial to ensure effective management of MPAs and to ensure adequate and sustainable financing of MPAs.
To do so, effective operational tools are needed such as networks of MPA managers (such as MedPAN in the Mediterranean) and environmental funds for MPAs (such as The Medfund in the Mediterranean).
At global level, the new Global Alliance for Marine Protection, launched in 2021, that gathers Conservation Trust Funds (CTFs), networks of CTFs and networks of Marine Protected Area (MPA) managers will act as a global community of actors to support effectively managed and sustainably financed MPAs, to make sure the Post 2020 MPA targets are fully implemented on the ground.

Yes

Non-Governmental Organization

Trends: Using data to drive decision-making with emerging sensors and technologies for sensing, forecasting, tracking, managing, through a shared data platforms have the potential to conserve and restore marine and coastal ecosystems

Challenges: No single country can afford to develop a complete set of sensors and system for sustainable management of ocean ecosystem. There is a need to create a common platform that allows sharing of data segments with its ability to serve as a strong tool for bridging the gaps between the developed and developing countries.

Opportunities:
By creating common data and access standards across communities and by working together as shared system, stakeholder agencies can improve the implementation of Goal 14.

Possible area includes need to establish a public/private partnership, which would create a low-cost, internationally shared monitoring communication platform with no barriers for poorer countries and ocean users having little or no access to data that could help them adopt sustainable practices.

CANEUS Proposes
1. To coordinate and organize the disparate efforts representing national agencies, NGO’s, and commercial interests those active in data and sensors monitoring capabilities, especially one that ensures their availability to otherwise underserved countries.

2. To undertake a dialogue to help create a new collaborative framework for sharing of interdisciplinary ocean data, derived from multiple sensors and space-based technologies as well other scientific methods that will define and address issues, and to frame an implementation plan for achievement of Goal 14.

3. To promote ecosystem-based tools, e.g., integration of Indigenous knowledge for ocean management to cover monitoring of ocean-related rights and contracts.

Yes

MedPAN, Mediterranean Protected Areas Network / MPA NETWORKS Interreg-Med project

http://medpan.org/ ; https://mpa-networks.interreg-med.eu/

In the Mediterranean, there has been progress in terms of MPA coverage but with no effective results in many MPAs. MPAs lack human capacity, skills and financial resources.
This global pandemic will have long-term effects on marine protected areas. Because staffing levels are key to protected area effectiveness, this can have serious impacts on conservation.
MPAs have to pave the way for a sustainable development of these areas, demonstrating the opportunities and socio-economic benefits they can offer when they are well-managed.
MPAs need to adapt, learn and develop crisis response mechanisms to be more resilient and ensure continuity in the conservation planning in the long term.

Over the years, MPAs have realise that working together helps to address
challenges they face and networks have emerged. The Interreg-Med MPA NETWORKS project intends to boost this dynamics with the cooperation of MPA managers in the Mediterranean. This dynamics is also supported by MAVA and FFEM.

Through strong and connected networks of MPA managers at regional, sub-regional, national levels, effectively managed MPAs will be achieved by providing sustainable solutions to challenges requiring a supra-MPA approach: management effectiveness, small scale fisheries management, mobile species conservation and sustainable financing.

Networks of MPA managers are successful in sharing knowledge and best practices through exchanges between managers, they generate creativity and problem solving. They build “MPA communities” at all levels by connecting MPA managers.

The EU Ocean Governance project intends to enlarge this cooperation and dynamics beyond the Mediterranean, at Transatlantic level.

Yes

MedPAN, Mediterranean Protected Areas Network

http://medpan.org/ ; https://medmpaforum.org/en/actualites-2020-2021

These last years, progress has been made for Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean. But many sites do not have sufficient resources to be effectively managed.
This global pandemic will have long-term effects on MPAs. MPAs have to pave the way for a sustainable development of these areas, demonstrating their socio-economic benefits.
The global response to the Covid pandemic has shown that governments and society can swiftly react to challenges. As we consider how to “build back better” in the post-Covid world, it is imperative to have an appropriate policy response that promotes resilience in marine ecosystems.

The MPA Forum is a unique process, lead since 2012 by the UNEP/MAP-SPA/RAC and MedPAN, that gathers all Mediterranean key players to develop a joint Roadmap. This operational document aims to generate the buy-in of all stakeholders to be involved in the implementation of its recommendations.

The 2020-2021 Forum process gathered representatives of national environmental agencies, fishing and tourism, land managers, scientists, non-governmental and civil society organisations, local economic actors and European, Mediterranean and international institutions. The Post-2020 Roadmap for Mediterranean MPAs resulting from this extensive participatory process set one objective related to “Develop or contribute to post-pandemic recovery plans that establishes how MPAs can contribute to “build back better” the Mediterranean Sea”.
The finalisation of the Roadmap is the start of a wide mobilisation to ensure that 30% of the Mediterranean is effectively protected by 2030.

Yes

Comunidad y Biodiversidad A.C. (COBI)

Latin America and the Caribbean

Non-Governmental Organization

The good practices of sustainable fishing and conservation that SSF sector had already carried out since pre-pandemic times prevailed. However, there are challenges: 1) monitoring, surveillance activities and some voluntary reserves have been affected, having to be temporarily opened for self-consumption by some fishing communities. 2) Illegal fishing has increased during the pandemic; communities have organized themselves to carry out vigilance activities to protect their resources. 3) Achieving resources governance for women, indigenous peoples, and Afro-descendants, to have a voice and a vote on their livelihoods. Opportunities: the use of digital tools by SSF members to connect conservation and management solutions with their peers.

Sharing experiences through a digital network so that fishers learn about conservation and management solutions applied by their peers to replicate them in other communities. Strategic alliances including government, academia, NGOs and fishing communities to achieve resilience and healthy oceans

It is a priority to have support and coordination by government agencies to implement collective actions that help solve the problem of illegal fishing. Additionally, in the context of the “new normality”, it is necessary to have the advice and information of government agencies for the reactivation of economic activities (fishing and tourism) of fishing communities, safely, without neglecting sustainability, including the management of marine reserves. Furthermore, it is necessary to create communication and support mechanisms to ensure that sustainability projects continue, considering economic and social aspects. We also recommend encouraging and recognizing sustainable initiatives through diverse mechanisms.

Yes

The Danish Institute for Human Rights

National Human Rights Institution

https://www.humanrights.dk/promoting-human-rights-fisheries-aquaculture

Conservation measures in the form of fishing bans, and creation of marine sanctuaries, etc. are measures that risk pushing vulnerable fishermen into desperate poverty. This is particularly grave in a Covid recovery situation where many poor fishers are struggling to rebuild their income and livelihood, as documented by DIHR and partners in a recent Sector Wide Impact Assessment from the small-scale artisanal fisheries sector in Bangladesh. Fishers' right to an adequate standard of living must be taken into account when conservation measures are put into place, for example in the form of social protection allowances that compensate for the economic loss they incur when banned from fishing.

In line with Framework Principle 9 on human rights and the environment, fishers should be included in policy development concerning conservation of marine resources on which their livelihoods depend. Adequate stakeholder involvement enables sound policy development.

As mentioned above, public hearings are essential to foresee how affected populations of any given environmental policy or measure are affected, allowing measures to be put into place to avoid untoward, unjust or disproportionate effects on particular groups. When livelihoods of poor and vulnerable groups are affected by conservation measures such as fishing bans, it is key to ensure adequate social protection measures towards the groups affected by these measures. Otherwise conservation risks pushing already vulnerable people further into poverty.

Yes

Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC) of the UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention

Inter-governmental organisation

The Barcelona Convention COVID-19 response plan called for a transformational change for nature and people:
a) A better understanding and responding to zoonotic threats: Migratory marine species (birds, mammals, etc.) could transmit zoonotic diseases to humans. These aspects were considered in the “Post-2020 Strategic Action Programme for the Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources” and “Post-2020 Regional Strategy for MCPAs and OECMs” in the Mediterranean.
b) Better understanding poverty, human and environment health linkages: This could be addressed by strengthening MCPA/OECM networks based on their role in supporting the environment, human well-being and socioeconomic stability.

The 5 strategic pillars of the Post-2020 MCPA-OECM Regional Strategy could constitute areas for partnership among Mediterranean countries, and regional/international organizations and donors: Governance; MCPA coverage; OECMs; MCPA effectiveness; and Government and stakeholder action and support.

The Post-2020 MCPA-OECM Regional Strategy targets could constitute the main recommendations and orientations to advance on the implementation of SDG 14 in the Mediterranean:
1) By 2030, at least 30% of the Mediterranean Sea is protected and conserved through well connected, ecologically representative and effective systems of MCPAs and OECMs, ensuring adequate geographical balance, with the focus on areas particularly important for biodiversity; and
2) By 2030, the number and coverage of MCPAs with enhanced protection levels is increased, contributing to the recovery of marine ecosystems.

Yes

EU Ocean Governance Project

Project funded by European Union- Partnership Instrument

https://oceangovernance4mpas.eu

Increasing the number of MPAs is widely seen as a priority to achieve CBD Targets and the UN SDGs. However, many MPAs in all regions lack management measures, suffer from limited budgets and other weaknesses.
The current Covid-19 and its aftermath could undermine decades of conservation effort. This global pandemic will have long-term effects on MPAs, such staff being sent home to self-isolate or even being laid off. Most MPAs having sustainable finance plans that heavily rely on tourism incomes have been severely impacted by the pandemic.
The MPAs need to adapt, learn and develop crisis response mechanisms to be more resilient and ensure long-term continuity in the conservation planning, management and sustainable funding.

The national and regional networks of MPA mangers play an important role supporting MPA management effectiveness on the long-term. The Transatlantic partnership between those networks, as part of the EU Ocean Governance Project, offers a unique space to exchange and design joint strategies.

Networks of MPA managers are successful in sharing knowledge and best management practices through exchanges between managers facing common challenges in different contexts. They generate creativity, problem solving and resource sharing; and they build “MPA communities” at all levels by strengthening and connecting MPA managers at national, supranational, regional and global levels.

The EU Ocean Governance project intends to boost this cooperation and dynamics. Currently, several regional and national networks of MPA managers cooperate through a Transatlantic Partnership and a Common Strategy. They are joining efforts in addressing common issues to support MPAs technically, financially and strategically.

Yes

Non-Governmental Organization

https://www.caritas.org/where-caritas-work/oceania/

• Cut carbon emissions urgently
• Keep alive the 1.5ºC Paris Agreement goal
• Support urgent climate adaptation, financed by government and partnered
by communities.
• Strengthen knowledge sharing across the region to learn from each other and find common solutions, for example on resilience-building, and early warning systems.
• Develop climate response projects based on sound science, Indigenous and local knowledge, and with the full participation and involvement of affected communities.
• Ban further seabed mining and exploration.
• Listen to young people, to elders, to Indigenous and local people who know their place
well. Ensure all these voices are heard and heeded in problem-solving, decision-making and implementation.

Yes

EU Ocean Governance Project

Project funded by European Union- Partnership Instrument

https://oceangovernance4mpas.eu

Policies, legal and technical measures, and financial investments support effective management of MPAs. However, despite significant progress in expanding MPA coverage, current investments are not sufficient to secure long-term efficient management. COVID-19 pandemic is adding economic and financial pressures that could undermine decades of conservation effort through several impacts e.g., from MPA staff being sent home, to reduced revenues from tourism.
MPAs need to develop crisis response mechanisms to be resilient. If national budgets become scarce, more private funds will be needed. New innovative funding mechanisms are crucial to support and secure daily MPA operations and management.

National and regional Conservation Trust Funds (CTF), networks of CTFs and of MPA managers, launched a "Global Alliance for Marine Protection” to act as a community of actors to support effectively managed and sustainably financed MPAs for the full ground implementation of Post 2020 targets.

CTFs (Costa Rica por Siempre, MedFund, MAR Fund, Caribbean Biodiversity Fund…) support MPA long-term operation by providing financial resources. Networks of CTFs (RedLAC, Café…) build learning communities sharing best practices.
Networks of MPA managers (MedPAN, CaMPAM, NAMPAN, RAMPAO…) support effective management by building communities of actors, gathering managers facing common challenges, enabling creativity, problem solving, and capacity building. They connect ground actions with decision-making processes. A Common Strategy for Cooperation in the Atlantic, allows them acting together, under the EU Ocean Governance project. The Global Alliance unites efforts by supporting MPA management effectiveness and long-term sustainability.

Yes

Fauna & Flora International

Non-Governmental Organization

FFI conducted surveys of our field sites in 2021 to document site impacts following the pandemic. We recorded reduced delivery of conservation activities in sites with a heavy reliance on both international and domestic tourism.
Marine management activities were paused, postponed or cancelled, including community and government engagement, MPA patrols, monitoring and policy development. We recorded variable impacts on the incidence and nature of illegal activities with no changes observed in some places; but increased illegal fishing (Cambodia, Raja Ampat); increased turtle poaching (Honduras, Nicaragua and Sao Tome & Principe); and decreased fishing pressure in Myanmar (decreased market demand) and Cape Verde (travel restrictions).

Marine conservation cannot be achieved by working in siloes. Conservation, fisheries, financial and development organisations must collaborate and work holistically to better manage, protect, conserve and restore marine and coastal ecosystems.

Making fisheries sustainable and providing access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.

Following and implementing FPIC at every stage when engaging community groups, and prioritise funding to those closest to the problems on the ground.

Prioritizing restoration in areas where underlying, chronic threats did not result in the loss of the habitat in the first place.

Ensuring designated areas are effectively managed with appropriate enforcement and monitoring.

Promoting and strengthening sustainable ocean-based economies, in particular for small island developing States and least developed countries.

Yes

EU Ocean Governance Project

South-East Asia and Atlantic

Project funded by European Union- Partnership Instrument

https://oceangovernance4mpas.eu

Increasing the number of MPAs and OECMs is widely seen as a priority to achieve CBD Targets and UN SDGs. However, many MPAs in all regions lack management measures, suffer from limited budgets and other weaknesses. The new proposed target of 30x30 in the Post 2020 biodiversity Framework will demand even bigger efforts.
The current Covid-19 pandemic will have long-term effects on MPAs and MPA systems that will very much impact at enforcement, governance, and management levels, due to staff being sent home to self-isolate or even being laid off and budget restrictions.
MPA managers and other country officials and stakeholders need to learn to become resilient, ensure long-term conservation and enable the conditions to achieve the new targets

The EU Ocean Governance Project creates connections and partnerships between relevant MPA actors in the Atlantic and South-East Asia regions to exchange and promote practical learning experiences, directly applicable at different MPA levels, from planning to management, enforcement, funding…

There are thousands of positive experiences that could be shared and scaled up to provide solutions to manage, protect, conserve and restore marine and coastal ecosystems; most of them implemented in MPAs, but there are very few spaces to share this knowledge.
The EU Ocean Governance Project acts on all those dimensions by promoting the transboundary and regional cooperation between countries and key regional institutions in South-East Asia; as well as enabling the inter-regional exchanges between relevant actors, including national and regional networks of MPA managers, of South-East Asia and the Atlantic. This allows building a community sharing from ground management or planning topics until supporting international conservation policies

Yes

Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (OPRI-SPF)

Science & Technological Community

https://www.spf.org/en/opri/

A gap exists between countries that are successfully expanding their marine protected areas and those countries that are lagging in their efforts. Many countries still struggle to address the conservation and sustainable use of marine ecosystems and resources as marine and coastal issues span multiple sectors and require interdisciplinary approaches. Countries with complex coastlines and dependence on fisheries require innovative approaches in promoting the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, e.g. carbon crediting mechanisms. During the pandemic, due to resource constraints, marine and coastal monitoring and surveillance decreased, and cases of poaching and IUU fishing increased in some countries and regions.

International NGOs are proactive in supporting governments and stakeholders and promoting dialogues towards expanding MPAs without undermining the blue economies. It is encouraging to receive the endorsement of the 30 x 30 target by groups such as the Ocean Panel and the G7 Summit.

It is vital to explore enabling conditions to scale up MPAs and OECMs while enhancing local income-generating opportunities, economic revenue, and livelihood. A financing mechanism needs to be reinforced under the CBD to develop schemes that promote co-benefits and synergies of promoting marine ecosystem conservation and blue economies and optimize trade-offs. It is important to assess climate change impacts including extreme climatic events and seawater warming on marine and coastal ecosystems and explore mitigation and adaptation measures. Negotiations should be facilitated and concluded expeditiously to adopt and promote the effective implementation of a proposed BBNJ agreement.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Non-Governmental Organization

Being able to get out on the water (coral reefs) and funding.

More large-scale education to the masses. Developing masks that are safe to our health and biodegradable. Integrating organzations that focus on technology and innovation to develop new techniques to advance coral reef restoration (e.g., 3D biodegradable corals to complement coral reef restoration actions). Integrating the communities in coral reef conservation activities.

Funding for islands focused on coral reef restoration and coastal habitats. Carrying out pilot and research studies to enhance in-situ coral reef restoration. Expanding land-based coral nurseries around the coral regions world-wide, especially in islands (not just island countries), especially in the Caribbean where coral health due to the present virus is an issue. Focus on the establishment of regional "seed banks" for coral species, especially endangered and red-listed species.

Wester Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council

regional fishery management council

The ubiquity and reduced costs of electronic technologies for monitoring and enforcement have provided opportunities for managing ecosystems and optimizing sustainable fisheries. Advances in our ability to implement dynamic area-based management tools offer opportunities to efficiently manage and conserve ecosystems for sustainable human use. Capacity building in developing island states and territories remain a challenge. It is important to remember that marine ecosystems that are managed to meet SDG 14 and the benefits to human societies will not be pristine ecosystems but will be modified to some extent. So the actions should not be directed towards producing pristine ecosystems, but rather ecosystems that sustainably produce benefits.

Coordination between regional fishery management organizations (RFMOs) and other international bodies is more important now than ever. The competency of these organizations need to not be undermined and they need to be included in any relevant international policy discussions related to implementing SDG 14. Almost all major advances in managing protecting conserving and restoring marine ecosystems have involved collaboration with those who use those resources.

Legal instruments, domestic and international, that have demonstrated their ability to successfully manage and conserve marine biodiversity while promoting sustainable fisheries should have their management paradigms emulated. This includes the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of the US and other”bottom-up” management structures in other areas. The use of area-based management tools should not be used as an insurance policy in implementing SDG14 in regions without abatable threats or in regions where sufficient enforcement and monitoring mechanisms exist. In particular for regions of the world where we have good data, there is essentially no evidence that MPAs such proposed in 30x30 would increase human benefits or increase the biodiversity of the marine ecosystems.