FAO statement at 2022 HLPF – SDGs in focus: SDG 14 and interlinkages with other SDGs

High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2022

SDGs in focus: SDG 14 and interlinkages with other SDGs – Life below water

Statement by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Delivered by

Stefanos Fotiou, Director of the FAO Office of the Sustainable Development Goals

With this discussion coming in the heels of the UN Ocean Conference, I would like to begin by congratulating the co-hosts Portugal and Kenya and all those that presented commitments in Lisbon, almost 700 in total. FAO pledged 12 commitments, worth 140 million USD covering most aspects of SDG 14. These commitments reflect the importance of oceans, fisheries and aquaculture to our work, and vice-versa. 

This relationship is also reflected in FAO’s role as custodian, co-custodian or partner agency of seven SDG 14 targets. Complementing the presentation on progress towards SDG 14, FAO would like to share additional insights on some of the seven SDG 14 indicators. 

Target 14.4 calls to restore fish stocks so that they may produce maximum sustainable yield by 2020. We are not achieving this target.

The fraction of stocks fished at sustainable levels dropped 1.2 percent to 64.6 percent in the last assessment. However, if weighted by volume we have estimated that 82.5 percent of all marine fisheries landings were from biologically sustainable stocks, an almost 4 percent increase over 2017. This reinforces evidence that fisheries stocks that are managed effectively are above target levels and are rebuilding. In other words, effective Management is the best conservation.

Target SDG 14.6 looks at eliminating subsidies that contribute to overfishing and Illegal Unregulated and Unreported fisheries, or IUU.   

IUU is complex, but we are making strong progress. We now have global binding tools to combat IUU fishing so to meet Target 14.6. The key is to ENFORCE what is IN FORCE.  

This includes the FAO Port State Measures Agreement on IUU Fishing and the recent landmark agreement on fisheries subsidies at the WTO, among others. 

I am pleased to say that FAO has also concluded technical consultations for new Voluntary Guidelines for the control of transhipment, to be endorsed at the FAO governing bodies in 2022. This will continue to limit the options for IUU fisheries to offload their product.

Target SDG 14.7 is designed to demonstrate the contribution of fisheries to GDP, particularly in SIDS and least developed countries.  We are seeing progress, and economic returns can increase further with effective management that recovers stocks and restores degraded ecosystems, in line also with the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration that FAO co-leads with UNEP. The evidence shows us that we must upgrade value chains to reduce fish loss and waste, add value, ensure transparency in trade and distribute benefits equitably, to deliver accessible and affordable aquatic foods. 

Target 14.b calls to provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets, It is perhaps the most crucial of all in relation to food security and nutrition and sustainable livelihoods.   

We are pleased to share that the target is trending positively. We have seen improvements in the application of national frameworks that recognize and protect access rights for small-scale fishers.   

Key to this is the global implementation of the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small Scale Fisheries – a cornerstone document.            

 We have a big opportunity in 2022 to advance Target 14.b since this year we are celebrating theInternational Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture.  

Ladies and gentlemen, 

FAO believes that achieving SDG14 is essential not only for the ocean, but also to reduce poverty and eradicate hunger. 

Our message today is simple: our oceans, rivers and lakes can help feed the world, but only if we use their valuable resources responsibly, sustainably and equitably.

Aquatic food systems offer highly accessible and affordable sources of animal proteins and micronutrients, playing a vital role in the food and nutrition security of many people across the world, particularly vulnerable coastal populations, including women, youth and indigenous communities.  

But, without urgent action to conserve, protect, restore, and sustainably manage marine ecosystems, the ocean will not be able to maintain its significant role in providing food security and economic prosperity.

We need to urgently transform our aquatic food systems to make them more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable.

With this responsibility in mind, FAO has launched a Blue Transformation programme that offers high-impact solutions to meet the twin challenges of food security and environmental sustainability.

Blue Transformation has three core objectives: 

Sustainable aquaculture intensification and expansion;

Effective management of all fisheries; and 

Upgraded value chains that ensure the social, economic and environmental viability of aquatic food systems. 

Colleagues,

The sustainable management of oceans requires a repurposing of means of implementation and particularly finance and trade towards a holistic approach that will create benefits for all and especially for the ones that usually left behind like the small-scale fishermen and the families that depend on aquatic ecosystems for their livelihood.

What happens in the ocean is very much connected with happens in land. We cannot separate and isolate the way we manage our landscapes from the way we want to make our seascapes more sustainable. 

Investment needed to sustainably manage our oceans. And many cases show that these investments make business sense. Every $1 in actions that improve sustainable management of oceans can generate $5 in economic, health, and environmental benefits.

Blue Transformation requires commitment from governments, the private sector, academia and civil society, and all stakeholders.

Proactive public and private partnerships are needed to improve production, reduce food loss and waste and enhance equitable access to lucrative markets. 

It is critical that aquatic foods be included in national food security and nutrition strategies with enabling policies on investment and innovation.

The sustainable management of the oceans is an accelerator for all SDGs and a catalyst for sustainable food systems transformations.

In pursue of this goal FAO is committed to continue to support its Members to boost and accelerate actions for our blue planet, people and prosperity.

Thank you.