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

SEAS AND MARINE RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Symptom – The Tip of the Iceberg:

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

Introducing the SDG 14 and the Targets:

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

 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular
from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.[ CITATION
UND19 \l 1033 ]
 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid
significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take
 action for their restoration to achieve healthy and productive oceans.[ CITATION
UND19 \l 1033 ]
 Minimise and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced
scientific cooperation at all levels. [ CITATION UND19 \l 1033 ]
 By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and
unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based
management plans, to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels
that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological
characteristics.[ CITATION UND19 \l 1033 ]
 By 2020, conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national
and international law and based on the best available scientific information. [ CITATION
UND19 \l 1033 ]
 By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to
overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported
and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognising
that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and
least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization
fisheries subsidies negotiation.[ CITATION UND19 \l 1033 ]
 By 2030, increase the economic benefits to small island developing states and least
developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through
sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism. [ CITATION UND19 \l
1033 ]
 Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine
technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology[ CITATION IOC05 \l
1033 ], in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine
biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island
developing states and least developed countries. [ CITATION UND19 \l 1033 ]
 Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by
implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS, which provides the legal
framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as
recalled in paragraph 158 of The Future We Want. [ CITATION UND19 \l 1033 ]

India and SDG 14 – Government Efforts[ CITATION Uni191 \l 1033 ] :

As is true for any other crisis, India is in the thick of the thins of this one too. With about
13.36% of the Indian population residing in the coastal districts spanning across the 7500 km
long coastline and with the sea level rising at an alarming rate of 1.3 mm/year on coasts – the
crisis is not in the future; it is right here. Fishing is an essential industry in India as it is the
second-largest producer of fish. Unfortunately, it also ranks 12th in the list of Top 20
countries most responsible for marine pollution.
There is perhaps some solace to be found in the fact that this crisis, unlike many others, has
not gone unnoticed. There have been policy directives and actions from the government and
initiatives from the industry and civil society as well.
The proposed policy of “Blue Revolution” while simultaneously tracking the levels of marine
pollution along the coastline has led to the formation of the Coastal Ocean Monitoring and
Prediction System. An oil spill management system is also ready. The Integrated National
Fisheries Plan 2016 aims to promote not just the livelihoods of the fishing communities but
also ensure the ecological integrity of marine environment. Achieving the real goals of blue
economy will require further cooperation not only between the community of coastal states
but also amongst the private actors, non-governmental organisations, scientific and local
communities nationally and internationally.
The Sagarmala Programme has been initiated keeping in viewport connectivity, and port
linked industrialisation and coastal community development sustainably.[ CITATION Gov19 \l
1033 ] This goes on to show that Indian goals and targets cannot be a direct imitation of the
international ones. They have toe modified to suit the India context. Working on these lines,
NITI Ayog in a paper with RIS has published sets of relevant national indicators for SDG 14
– tweaked to suit the federal requirements. [ CITATION Res19 \l 1033 ]

SDG 14 – Industry Collaboration:

Government is but one of the stakeholders in the current crisis. The Great Pacific Garbage
Patch in the Pacific Ocean, which has now become the size of France can find its roots to
widespread manufacture and usage of the plastics in consumer goods. Fortunately, many
global companies have recognised this and have begun taking steps to reduce the amount to
plastics released into the marine ecosystem.
For example, P&G’s Alliance to End Plastic Waste aims at creating solutions so that no
plastic packaging waste finds its way into the oceans[ CITATION PG19 \l 1033 ]. It is also
collaborating with organisations with similar aims – for example, the “Trash Free Seas
Alliance” in South East Asia. Other goals of reducing the supply chain footprint, reducing the
amount of virgin petroleum in plastic packaging and aiming for circular solutions based on
regeneration and restoration – all feed into the overarching sustainability goals of the
organisation. [CITATION PG17 \l 1033 ]
Similar is the Unilever’s commitment to 100% recyclable plastic usage by 2025. The effort is
to move away from the “Take – Make – Dispose” model to one which is genuinely circular
and uses plastic packaging, which is reusable, recyclable or compostable. Many processed
food companies, fishing corporations and retailers like Walmart and Marks & Spencer’s have
adopted the marine stewardship council certifications and announced dramatic shifts in
seafood sourcing policies. [ CITATION HUL17 \l 1033 ]

Challenges:
No doubt, there could be a definite shift in policy for both government and corporate actors.
However, two questions are still left to be answered – Whether this shift is real and not just
green hogwash and if it is really – what challenges have to be overcome to make it
sustainable?
There is reason to distrust corporate efforts. For example, P&G’s claim that 88% of their
plastic packaging is considered recyclable hides the fact that hardly any significant proportion
of that plastic packaging is recycled.[CITATION Jim19 \l 1033 ] However, sustained pressure,
built by vigilant citizen activists do pressurise them to act. Some good has perhaps come out
of the reluctant steps as well. For example, a few years ago, under pressure from the
environmental organizations, major food corporations like McDonald’s and Young Seafood
in Britain led a drive requiring random inspection of fishing boats and blacklisting the errant
and illegal fishing vessels had an impact of reducing unreported and illicit fisheries in the
Barents’ Sea by almost half. [ CITATION Nic08 \l 1033 ]
However, going further, multiple challenges could plague the initiatives. The first handicap is
the unavailability of reliable and accurate data – which could be very useful in assessing
national progress and implementing the policy actions. Financing is another handicap.
Sustainability is not cheap – it includes the prices of the externalities which we have
historically neglected to add up. The role and relevance of private findings are still to be fully
assessed.
While a national level framework is required for channelling investments, finance, outreach
and expertise, differential approaches have to be designed for more impactful results in
different regions – A one size fits all approach will not work.

Conclusion:
SDG 14 is a multi-dimensional goal – with its impact tentacles spread across many
significant issues. India’s asset lies the diversity of the institutions who have gained expertise
in dealing with issues related to achieving this SDG over the years. But things would not
move without a significant overhaul of the current plans and approaches. People on the
ground affected most by marine pollution, and ecosystem exhaustion will have to take up
more responsibility and hold the institutions higher up accountable for their policies and
actions.
Colour in the corals will not come by its own. It calls for our voice and efforts.[ CITATION
Chr16 \l 1033 ] We must answer this call, for this grey morbidity will not stop at the corals – it
is coming for all of us.
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