15 April 2016: UN agencies, governments and partners are taking steps towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources. Recent actions include: agreement on the ‘Rome Call to Action’ to promote the design of effective, equitable and financial sustainable marine protected areas (MPAs); and a set of guidance material and a video to raise awareness on how recreational diving can contribute to marine conservation and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

SDG 14 on oceans includes Target 14.2, to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and taking action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans, and Target 14.5, for conserving at least 10% of coastal and marine areas by 2020.

To support achievement of Target 14.5, the Government of Italy, the Ocean Sanctuary Alliance and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) organized a conference in Rome, Italy, as part of the ‘10×20′ Initiative, which promotes achievement of Target 14.5. The Conference resulted in the ‘Scientists’ Consensus Statement,’ which summarizes ways and means to establish successful MPAs, and the Rome Call to Action.

The 14-point Rome Call to Action includes measures for: incorporating MPA establishment into national strategies being adopted to implement and localize the 2030 Agenda; considering Target 14.5 as “an important waypoint rather than an endpoint” in the implementation of SDG 14 and the achievement of healthy, resilient and productive oceans; and prioritizing protection of vulnerable species and habitats as an initial measure for the 2020 target, with consideration of biodiversity distribution and ecosystem functioning. It also calls for, inter alia: using the best available science and institutional and operational experience to establish, maintain and effectively manage MPAs; developing and promoting MPA governance frameworks; and devising approaches for MPA sustainability and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits. The Call to Action further requests the 10×20 Initiative to present the Call to Action to the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) and requests the Triennial Oceans and Seas Conference in 2017 to assess progress towards Target 14.5.

To promote the protection of coral reefs and raise awareness on how the dive industry and dive tourists can reduce their environmental impacts, UNEP and the Reef-World Foundation’s Green Fins Initiative developed ‘The Green Fins Toolbox’ and a video on sustainable diving, ‘Green Fins for a Blue Planet.’ The Green Fins Initiative, established in 2004, supports governments and the dive industry to develop and implement environmental regulations; provides capacity building and outreach to dive centers and their customers; and assesses industry performance using a Code of Conduct.

‘Green Fins for a Blue Planet,’ produced in partnership with cartoonist Jim Toomey and UNEP’s Regional Office for North America, is part of UNEP’s ‘Two Minutes on Oceans’ video series. “Green Fins provides guidance based on solid coral reef and diving industry know-how,” said Isabelle Louis, acting UNEP Regional Director. She elaborated that the Initiative “helps small and medium sized businesses show conservation leadership and turn environmental risks into opportunity, ensuring a sustainable industry that protects marine ecosystems, creates long-term livelihoods, and contributes to implementation of the 2030 Agenda.” Green Fins is active in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam and plans to expand to other regions. [Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN Press Release] [Rome Call to Action] [10×20 Conference Report] [UNEP Press Release] [Green Fins Website] [Reef World Foundation Website] [Video] [SDGs Website]