Human activity poses a serious and diverse threat to the Earth’s oceans, which make up the largest ecosystem on our planet. The rising temperatures, acidification, pollution, and overfishing of these waters significantly impact the marine life inhabiting them and the individuals who rely on them for their livelihoods.
The sustainable use and conservation of life below water is essential to human existence. For this reason, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Report (2022) emphasises the urgent need for increased efforts to safeguard the oceans and seas, which comprise 70percent of our planet’s surface.
Goal 14 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals is solely dedicated to preserving and maintaining the health and sustainability of our oceans, seas, and marine resources. It recognises the crucial role that these natural resources play in sustaining life on Earth. Some specific targets under this goal are:
- By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
- 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.
- Minimise and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
- 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.
Unfortunately, despite numerous efforts and programs aimed at protecting marine life, our planet’s underwater ecosystems still face significant challenges and hazards. These include pollution, overfishing, habitat destruction, and the effects of climate change.
The current state of the aquatic ecosystem is of significant concern. Despite efforts to safeguard the environment, progress towards achieving the necessary goals for preservation and protection has been very slow. This slow trend is alarming and demands urgent attention from all stakeholders involved in environmental conservation. The relatively slow progress could have severe consequences for the health and well-being of planet Earth and its inhabitants.
Ocean acidity
According to the report, “continuing ocean acidification and rising ocean temperatures are threatening marine species and negatively affecting marine ecosystem services.” It notes that between 2009 and 2018, “the world lost about 14 per cent of coral reefs” (UN Sustainable Development Goals Report, 2022).
Since the “ocean absorbs around one-quarter of the world’s annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions,” it helps to mitigate climate change and alleviate its impacts. However, this absorption of carbon dioxide “is altering the carbonate system and increasing the acidity of the ocean” (UN Sustainable Development Goals Report, 2022).
The report notes that “ocean acidification threatens organisms and ecosystem services, endangers fisheries and aquaculture, and affects coastal protection by weakening coral reefs.” Furthermore, “as acidification worsens, the ocean’s capacity to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere will diminish, limiting its role in moderating climate change” (UN Sustainable Development Goals Report, 2022).
Plastics
Various types of pollution remain a persistent threat to aquatic life, as they seep into the food chain and affect human health. The primary source of water pollution is land-based. A recent study conducted in 2021 revealed that over 17 million metric tons of plastic found their way into the ocean, comprising about 85percent of all marine waste. This trend is expected to worsen, with estimates indicating that the amount of plastic entering the ocean will double or triple by 2040, thereby endangering all marine life. (UN Sustainable Development Goals Report, 2022).
Global fish stocks under pressure
“Rapidly growing consumption of fish (an increase of 122 per cent between 1990 and 2018), along with inadequate public policies for managing the sector, have led to depleting fish stocks” (UN Sustainable Development Goals Report, 2022).
Overfishing, illegal and unregulated fishing is placing pressure on global fish stocks. According to the report, “more than a third (35.4 per cent) of global stocks were overfished in 2019, up from 34.2 per cent in 2017 and 10 per cent in 1974.”
However, it notes that in recent years “effective monitoring and surveillance have been successful in reverting overfished stocks to biologically sustainable levels” (UN Sustainable Development Goals Report, 2022).
According to the United Nations Report, “combating the decline in ocean health requires intensified protection efforts and the adoption of solutions for a sustainable blue economy. This includes a “source-to-sea” approach that directly addresses the links between land, water, delta, estuary, coast, nearshore and ocean ecosystems in support of holistic natural resources management and economic development.”
In Accra, the National Blue Economy Summit made headlines as the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, took a strong stance on the sustainable management and stewardship of the ocean. This firm commitment is geared towards achieving Goal 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which aims to ensure that the ocean’s resources are preserved and sustainably utilised for the betterment of the present and future generations. “It is imperative that we act swiftly and decisively, with compassion and respect for our oceans and all the species that call them home”. The President warned
The President’s and other world leaders’ assurances are rays of hope in the fight against climate change and environmental degradation, bringing to the fore the need for proactive measures to safeguard planet Earth’s natural resources. These commitments offer significant steps towards attaining a sustainable future and creating a world where humans and nature coexist harmoniously.
To conclude, the urgency to protect life below water cannot be overstated. The current measures are inadequate and demonstrate a global lack of commitment towards this critical issue. Immediate and substantial action must be taken to address this pressing matter. Failure to do so would harm marine ecosystems and have far-reaching consequences for the entire planet. The time for half-hearted efforts is over; a bold and unwavering commitment is needed to ensure the preservation of our oceans and the diverse life they harbour for generations to come.
>>>The writer is an international chartered director and Africa’s first-ever appointed Professor Extraordinaire for Industrialisation and Supply Chain Governance. He is the CEO of PanAvest International and the founding non-executive chairman of MY-future YOUR-Future and OUR-Future (“MYO”) and the “thought-provoking” daily Nyansa Kasa(words of wisdom) series. Professor Boateng is currently the non-executive chairman of the Minerals Income and Investment Fund (MIIF). He was previously the non-executive chairman of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA). For more information on Nyansakasa, visit www.myoglobal.org and www.panavest.com
