Sustainable Development Goal 14
"Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development"
Linkage with other SDGs
Conserving and sustainably using oceans, seas, and marine resources is vital for protecting biodiversity, ensuring food security, mitigating climate change, and supporting livelihoods. SDG 14 is central to the health of the planet and directly influences human well-being and economic development.
The following direct and indirect interlinkages exist between SDG 14 and all other SDGs:
SDG 1 - No Poverty: Healthy marine ecosystems support the livelihoods of millions of people, particularly in coastal communities reliant on fishing and tourism. Degraded oceans disrupt these opportunities, deepening poverty. Example: Sustainable fishing initiatives in Indonesia have provided economic opportunities for coastal populations while preserving fish stocks.
SDG 2 - Zero Hunger: Oceans are a key source of protein for billions of people. Overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution threaten food security, especially in developing countries. Sustainable fisheries ensure reliable food supplies. Example: In Norway, sustainable fishery management practices have helped stabilise fish stocks, ensuring consistent food availability.
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being: Ocean pollution, such as plastic and chemical waste, leads to contaminated seafood and deteriorating coastal health conditions. Protecting marine environments improves public health outcomes. Example: Efforts in Thailand to reduce mercury pollution in seafood have improved health outcomes for fishing communities.
SDG 4 - Quality Education: Education programs focused on marine conservation increase awareness of sustainable practices and empower future generations to address ocean degradation. Example: Environmental education initiatives in the Philippines teach students the importance of protecting coral reefs and marine ecosystems.
SDG 5 - Gender Equality: Women play essential roles in fisheries and coastal economies, yet they often face barriers to resources and decision-making. Empowering women in marine resource management promotes equality and improves community resilience. Example: Women-led seaweed farming initiatives in Zanzibar have boosted household incomes and increased women’s participation in local economies.
SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation: Reducing marine pollution improves water quality in coastal areas, benefiting human health and preserving marine ecosystems. Example: Wastewater treatment systems in Cape Verde have reduced water pollution, protecting marine and freshwater resources.
SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy: Offshore renewable energy, such as wind and wave power, provides sustainable energy while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. These systems also minimise damage to marine ecosystems. Example: Offshore wind farms in Denmark generate clean energy while protecting marine biodiversity.
SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth: Marine industries, such as fishing, tourism, and shipping, drive economic growth for millions. Sustainable practices ensure these industries remain viable and equitable. Example: Eco-tourism focused on whale watching in Iceland has created sustainable jobs while conserving marine life.
SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Innovative technologies reduce ocean pollution, manage resources sustainably, and protect marine biodiversity. Coastal infrastructure also safeguards communities from rising sea levels. Example: Smart fishing technologies in Japan minimise bycatch, ensuring sustainable practices.
SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities: Sustainable management of marine resources reduces inequalities by ensuring that benefits from oceans are shared equitably, particularly with marginalised coastal communities. Example: Community-led marine resource management in Fiji has empowered indigenous groups to benefit from sustainable fisheries.
SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities: Coastal cities rely on healthy oceans for their economies, infrastructure, and disaster resilience. Sustainable management ensures the long-term viability of urban coastal communities. Example: Mangrove restoration projects in Vietnam have protected coastal cities from storm surges and flooding.
SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production: Responsible consumption of seafood and sustainable production systems reduce overfishing and protect marine ecosystems. Sustainable aquaculture complements wild-caught fish while preserving biodiversity. Example: Certification programs like the Marine Stewardship Council encourage responsible seafood consumption globally.
SDG 13 - Climate Action: Oceans play a critical role in regulating the Earth’s climate by absorbing carbon dioxide and storing heat. Protecting marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs and mangroves, enhances climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Example: Coral reef restoration projects in the Maldives have helped combat climate impacts on marine biodiversity.
SDG 15 - Life on Land: Land-based activities, such as deforestation and agriculture, contribute to ocean degradation through runoff and pollution. Integrated land and ocean management protects both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Example: Agricultural practices in New Zealand have reduced nutrient runoff, improving coastal water quality.
SDG 16 - Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Transparent governance of marine resources reduces conflicts over fishing rights, ensuring fair and sustainable use. International cooperation supports peaceful and equitable ocean management. Example: Regional agreements in the Arctic Council have resolved disputes over fishing and protected marine ecosystems.
SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals: Global partnerships are essential for addressing transboundary ocean challenges, such as overfishing, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Collaborative efforts drive innovation and policy implementation. Example: The United Nations’ Clean Seas campaign has united governments, industries, and individuals to tackle marine plastic pollution.
Consquence of failing to reach targets
Neglecting ocean conservation has cascading effects:
- Poverty (SDG 1) deepens as coastal communities lose access to sustainable livelihoods.
- Hunger (SDG 2) increases as fish stocks decline and marine resources are overexploited.
- Climate action (SDG 13) is undermined as the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide and regulate temperature diminishes.
- Biodiversity loss (SDG 15) accelerates as marine ecosystems collapse due to pollution and overfishing.
Conserving life below water is essential for the health of the planet and human societies. Addressing ocean degradation ensures food security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability for future generations.
SDG 14: Targets, Indicators, Progress and Data
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
14.1.1: (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density.
The global trend of elevated coastal eutrophication continued in 2022 above the 2000-2004 baseline conditions, though different in magnitude from recent years. The highest rates are in the Arabian Sea.
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 in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
14.2.1: Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas.
Not reported on the UN SDG website.
Minimise and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels.
14.3.1: Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations.
Ocean acidification is increasing and will continue to do so if carbon dioxide emissions do not stop rising. An increasing number of countries and stations (from 178 stations in 2021 to 638 in 2024) highlights the growing capacity of countries to observe the continued decline of ocean pH in the global ocean as well as the strong regional differences in the pace of change.
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order 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.
14.4.1: Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels.
Fishery resources continue to be threatened by overfishing, pollution, poor management and other factors, including illegal fishing. More than a third (35.4%) of global stocks were overfished in 2019, an increase of 1.2% since 2017. Despite ongoing deterioration, the rate of decline has decelerated in recent years. However, the trend continues to deteriorate from the 2020 target to restore fish stocks to biologically sustainable levels.
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.
14.5.1: Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas.
Not reported on the UN SDG website.
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.
14.6.1: Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing threatens the social, economic and environmental sustainability of global fisheries, hindering countries’ abilities to manage their fisheries effectively. The first binding international agreement to specifically target IUU fishing, the Agreement of Port State Measures, now has 102 States covered under the Agreement (from 25 in 2016), covering 63% of the world’s coastal States. States have made good overall progress with close to 75% scoring highly in their degree of implementation of relevant international instruments in 2022 compared to 70% in 2018.
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.
14.7.1: Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries.
Not reported on the UN SDG website.
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, 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.
14.A.1: Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology.
Even though the ocean covers more than 70% of the surface of our planet and contributes to 2.5% of the world gross value added, on average, between 2013 to 2021, only 1.1% of national research budgets were allocated for ocean science.
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.
14.B.1: Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognises and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries.
Globally, the degree of application of frameworks that recognise and protect access rights for small-scale fisheries in 2022 was at the highest level based on available data, reaching a maximum score of 5 out of 5. However, this score conceals a reduced number of countries that contributed to the reporting.
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 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."
14.C.1: Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources.
Not reported on the UN SDG website.