Ocean Activist Vows at COP30 to Take on Deep-Sea Mining, Krill Industry – Marine News Magazine

Report on Marine Conservation Advocacy and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Advocacy for Ocean-Centric Climate Action

At the COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, marine conservationist Paul Watson highlighted the critical link between ocean health and global climate stability, advocating for a broader environmental perspective that aligns with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The activist underscored the necessity of protecting marine ecosystems to achieve SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

• Emphasis was placed on the role of phytoplankton in oxygen production and carbon sequestration, highlighting the ocean’s function as a primary climate regulator.
• Concerns were raised regarding threats to marine organisms from rising ocean temperatures and melting sea ice, directly impacting the targets of SDG 14.

Strategic Shift in Conservation Focus

Following a career focused on anti-whaling campaigns, which contributed to the cessation of Japan’s international whaling activities, Watson’s new initiative, the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, has identified emerging threats to marine biodiversity. The foundation’s new strategic priorities directly address critical targets within SDG 14.

1. Norwegian Krill Harvesting: This activity is targeted for its potential disruption of the Antarctic food web, impacting whale and penguin populations. This challenge aligns with SDG 14.4 (End overfishing and regulate harvesting) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), as the krill is primarily used for aquaculture feed.
2. Deep-Sea Mining: Opposition to the mining of seabed minerals is based on the severe and potentially irreversible damage to unique and poorly understood benthic ecosystems. This stance supports SDG 14.2 (Protect and restore ecosystems) by seeking to prevent habitat destruction.

Initiatives and Planned Actions for SDG 14

Specific actions are planned to confront activities deemed detrimental to the sustainable management of marine resources, leveraging international legal frameworks to advance conservation objectives.

• High Seas Treaty Implementation: The foundation plans to challenge Norway’s krill fishery upon the High Seas Treaty’s entry into force. The stated goal is to address the extraction of approximately 620,000 metric tons of krill, a foundational species in the Southern Ocean ecosystem. This action directly supports the sustainable management of marine resources as called for in SDG 14.
• Opposition to Seabed Exploitation: The campaign against deep-sea mining aims to prevent the disruption of deep-sea ecosystems, in line with scientific warnings and the precautionary principle embedded within SDG 14. This counters national efforts, such as those in the United States, to accelerate mineral extraction from the seabed.

International Context and Support

Despite a long-standing request for arrest from Japan on charges of trespassing, which Watson denies, the activist has engaged with high-level officials in Brazil, including the Environment Minister and the First Lady. The dismissal of an Interpol notice in July 2023 and the apparent lack of action from Brazilian authorities suggest a supportive environment for his advocacy, which promotes global partnerships for sustainable development (SDG 17).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The entire article is centered on this goal. It discusses the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources. Specific issues mentioned include the protection of phytoplankton, the fight against deep-sea mining, challenging the krill industry, and past anti-whaling campaigns. Paul Watson’s activism is explicitly aimed at “marine protection.”
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article connects ocean health directly to climate change. It highlights that oceans “help to limit climate change” and that “phytoplankton producing much of the oxygen that we breathe” are threatened by warming ocean temperatures. This establishes a clear link between marine conservation and urgent climate action.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The article touches upon unsustainable production patterns. The challenge to “Norway’s harvesting of ocean krill to feed its salmon farms” questions the sustainability of the aquaculture supply chain. Similarly, the opposition to deep-sea mining for rare earth minerals addresses the environmental impact of resource extraction for production.
4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • This goal is relevant through the article’s references to international law and legal institutions. The mention of the “International Court of Justice” ruling that Japan’s whaling was illegal, the upcoming “High Seas Treaty,” and the legal challenges Watson faces (Interpol warrants, arrest requests) all point to the role of strong institutions and the rule of law in governing international waters and environmental disputes.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
   • Target 14.2: “By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts…” The activism against deep-sea mining, which could “tear up ecosystems,” and the fight to protect the Southern Ocean from excessive krill harvesting directly align with protecting marine ecosystems from adverse impacts.
   • Target 14.4: “By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing…” Watson’s plan to “confront the Norwegian krill fishery” for taking krill “right out of the mouths of the whales and the penguins” is a direct effort to regulate harvesting and address its impact on the food web. The past success in ending Japan’s whaling in international waters also relates to this target.
   • Target 14.c: “Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law…” The article references the “High Seas Treaty” and the “International Court of Justice” decision on whaling, both of which are examples of using international law to conserve marine resources.
2. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.3: “Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation…” Watson’s presence and speech at the “U.N. climate summit in the Amazon city of Belem” is an act of awareness-raising. He urges delegates to “remember that oceans also help to limit climate change,” thereby improving human and institutional understanding of the ocean’s role in climate mitigation.
3. Under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
   • Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The opposition to “deep-sea mining” for rare earth minerals and the challenge to the “harvesting of ocean krill to feed its salmon farms” are both aimed at promoting the sustainable management of marine natural resources.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 14.4 (Regulate harvesting):
   • The article provides a specific quantitative measure: “620,000 metric tons of krill” being harvested from the Southern Ocean. This figure serves as a direct indicator of the scale of the krill fishery. Progress towards the target could be measured by a reduction in this tonnage.
2. Indicator for Target 14.2 (Protect ecosystems):
   • The article implies indicators related to ecosystem health. The status of “phytoplankton” populations and the health of species dependent on krill, such as “whales and the penguins,” can be used as indicators of the ecosystem’s condition. Furthermore, the number of new deep-sea mining operations approved or prevented would be a clear indicator of progress in protecting seabed ecosystems.
3. Indicator for Target 14.c (Implement international law):
   • The article mentions the “High Seas Treaty” coming into effect. The ratification and enforcement of this treaty by nations would be a key indicator of progress. Similarly, compliance with rulings from the “International Court of Justice” serves as an indicator of the effectiveness of international law in marine conservation.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: marinelink.com