Recent Historic Agreements May Save Our Oceans – The Santa Barbara Independent

Report on Recent International Agreements for Ocean Conservation and Sustainable Development

Introduction: Addressing Marine Degradation in Line with SDG 14

The world’s oceans face severe threats from anthropogenic activities, compromising the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water). Key challenges include:

• Pollution from plastics, pesticides, fertilizers, and sewage.
• Increased carbon absorption from fossil fuel emissions, leading to ocean acidification.

Historically, the vastness of the oceans was perceived as a buffer against human impact. However, recent scientific understanding confirms significant degradation, necessitating urgent international action to conserve and sustainably use marine resources.

The High Seas Treaty: A Landmark Achievement for SDG 14 and SDG 15

A significant advancement in global ocean governance is the 2023 High Seas Treaty. This agreement directly supports the achievement of several SDG 14 targets by establishing a framework for conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Key Objectives of the Treaty:

1. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): The treaty sets a crucial target to designate 30 percent of the high seas as protected areas by 2030 (the “30×30” goal). This is a substantial increase from the 1.2 percent protected at the time of signing and is critical for SDG Target 14.5 (conserve at least 10 percent of coastal and marine areas).
2. Equitable Resource Sharing: It establishes guidelines for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from marine genetic resources, which are increasingly valuable for pharmaceuticals and industrial applications.
3. Regulation of Activities: The agreement provides a mechanism for governments to impose restrictions on potentially harmful activities, including fishing, shipping routes, and deep-sea mining.

This treaty complements the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets a similar 30×30 target for land. This synergy creates a comprehensive approach to conservation, linking the objectives of SDG 14 (Life Below Water) with SDG 15 (Life on Land).

WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: Targeting SDG 14 and SDG 2

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has adopted its first multilateral agreement centered on environmental protection, specifically targeting unsustainable fishing practices. This pact is a direct contribution to SDG Target 14.6, which calls for the prohibition of certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing.

Core Provisions of the Agreement:

• Subsidy Reduction: The agreement mandates the reduction of an estimated $22 billion in harmful subsidies that encourage unsustainable fishing.
• Focus on Overfished Stocks: It specifically targets subsidies linked to illegal fishing and the exploitation of overfished stocks, which currently comprise an estimated 33 percent of all fish species.
• Promoting Food Security: By protecting dwindling marine life, the treaty aims to enhance global food security, aligning with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).

Future negotiations will address subsidies that fund the construction of industrial fishing vessels, further strengthening the commitment to sustainable marine resource management.

Implementation and National Commitments: Progress Towards SDG Targets

While international agreements represent progress, their success depends on national implementation. Past efforts have highlighted challenges, as countries failed to meet the 2010 pledge to protect 10 percent of coastal and marine areas by 2020. However, several jurisdictions provide a blueprint for effective action.

1. Gabon: The Central African nation serves as a model for marine conservation. In 2014, Gabon expanded its network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) from one percent to 26 percent of its national waters. The nation has since committed to the 30×30 pledge, designing its MPAs to protect vital ecosystems and key species like sea turtles.
2. California: The U.S. state is actively expanding its network of offshore MPAs along its coast, demonstrating sub-national leadership in achieving conservation goals aligned with SDG 14.

These examples demonstrate that ambitious conservation targets are achievable with dedicated political will and strategic planning, providing a pathway for other nations to follow in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

• SDG 14: Life Below Water: This is the primary SDG addressed. The article focuses extensively on ocean conservation, including protecting marine biodiversity, reducing pollution, managing marine protected areas (MPAs), and combating overfishing through international agreements.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The article connects the issue of overfishing directly to food security. The World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement aims to reduce unsustainable fishing practices with the stated goal of “promoting global food security.”
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article is centered on the importance and impact of international cooperation. It highlights several multilateral agreements, such as the High Seas Treaty and the WTO treaty on fishing subsidies, as critical mechanisms for achieving ocean conservation goals.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The discussion on overfishing, fueled by subsidies for industrial fishing fleets, directly relates to unsustainable patterns of production and consumption. The WTO agreement aims to correct these patterns by scaling back subsidies that encourage these practices.

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

1. Target 14.5: By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information.
   • The article explicitly discusses the new goal to designate “30 percent of open ocean as protected areas by 2030” (the 30×30 pledge), which builds upon and surpasses the original 10% target. It also notes that countries “fell short on their 2010 pledges to make 10 percent of coastal and marine areas protected by 2020.”
2. Target 14.6: By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, and eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
   • This target is directly addressed by the WTO agreement, which “requires countries to scale back subsidies (estimated at $22 billion) that encourage unsustainable fishing practices.” The agreement specifically targets subsidies tied to “illegal fishing and overfished stocks.”
3. Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.
   • The High Seas Treaty, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the creation of MPAs in Gabon and California are all actions aimed at sustainably managing and protecting marine ecosystems. The article mentions that Gabon’s MPAs were designed “to protect essential ecosystems and key global marine populations like sea turtles.”
4. Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
   • The article’s opening statement, “Oceans have long been a dumping area for plastics, pesticides, fertilizers, sewage, and just about everything else,” directly identifies the problem this target seeks to address, even though the main focus of the article is on subsequent agreements.
5. Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices.
   • The article links the WTO agreement on fishing subsidies to this target by stating its goal is to protect “dwindling marine life and promoting global food security.” This implies that sustainable fishing is a key component of a sustainable food production system.
6. Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.
   • The article highlights how the High Seas Treaty “adds the missing piece to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” demonstrating an effort to create coherent international policies for land and sea conservation. The WTO’s first treaty centered on environmental protection is another example of integrating sustainability into global trade policy.

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

• For Target 14.5: The primary indicator is the percentage of marine areas designated as protected. The article provides several data points:
  • A baseline of “1.2 percent of open seas were designated protected areas” at the time of the High Seas Treaty signing.
  • A future goal of “30 percent of open ocean as protected areas by 2030.”
  • A past goal of “10 percent of coastal and marine areas protected by 2020.”
  • A national example from Gabon, which increased its MPAs “from one percent to 26 percent.”
• For Target 14.6: The indicator is the value of subsidies contributing to overfishing. The article mentions an estimated “$22 billion” in such subsidies. Progress would be measured by the reduction of this amount.
• For Target 14.2: An implied indicator is the proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels. The article states that subsidies are tied to “overfished stocks (estimated at 33 percent of species),” providing a quantifiable measure of the problem.
• For Target 17.14: An indicator is the number and scope of international agreements that integrate sustainable development principles. The article explicitly names the “High Seas Treaty,” the “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” and the “World Trade Organization (WTO)” agreement as key instruments of policy coherence.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: independent.com