10 April 2015: The 16th Meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (ICP-16) discussed proposed Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 on oceans and seas and its implementation, and reflected on the utility of the Consultative Process in the evolution of the international oceans agenda. ICP-16 resulted in a Co-Chairs’ summary of discussions.

ICP-16 took place under the theme, ‘Oceans and sustainable development: integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development, namely, environmental, social and economic.’ Delegates addressed segments on: the environmental, social and economic dimensions of oceans and progress made in integrating the three dimensions, including an overview of activities and initiatives promoting their integration; opportunities for, and challenges to, the enhanced integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development in relation to oceans; inter-agency cooperation and coordination; process for the selection of topics and panelists so as to facilitate the work of the UN General Assembly (UNGA); and issues that could benefit from attention in UNGA’s future work on oceans and the law of the sea.

Many delegates supported SDG 14. Fiji described SDG 14 as “the paradigm shift we have been waiting for” and drew attention to the recent formation of the Group of Friends of Oceans and Seas. Tonga stressed the great importance of SDG 14, noting that oceans and seas are critical to the sustainable development of Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), which have limited capacity to diversify their economies. South Africa, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China (G-77/China), said technology transfer should be an integral part of the SDGs’ means of implementation (MOI). The US underscored the value of ICP-16 for providing expertise and input into the process to agree on a post-2015 development agenda. Canada suggested that the ICP is well placed to support SDG 14.

Speakers also addressed the post-2015 development agenda within the context of the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS). Fiji stressed that UNCLOS provides the ultimate legal framework under which all activities related to oceans and seas must be carried out, called for a specific global indicator on monitoring illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and proposed that the ICP focus on how to integrate SDG 14 into countries’ national planning in 2017 or 2018. The Philippines stressed the importance of UNCLOS in SDG 14 discussions, describing it as the “bedrock for a rules-based approach to global ocean governance.”

New Zealand expressed surprise that none of SDG 14’s targets were referenced in the UN Statistical Commission’s review of targets and, supported by Iceland, Norway and the EU, voiced concern over the wording of SDG Target 14.c, which currently states: “ensure the full implementation of international law, as reflected in UNCLOS for states parties to it, including, where applicable, existing regional and international regimes for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by their parties.”

Speakers also addressed, inter alia: support for monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing vessels to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing; the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy, which reflects Africa’s commitment to oceans issues; the importance of oceans and seas for tourism and fisheries; and the blue economy. Sweden stressed that overfishing, pollution, ocean acidification and deep seabed mining constitute stressors that jeopardize ecosystem services with implications for food security and biodiversity.

ICP-16 convened from 6-10 April 2015 at UN Headquarters in New York, the US. [IISD RS Coverage of ICP-16] [IISD RS Summary]