Thematic Review of SDG implementation: SDG 14 Thursday 13 July Technical Segment of HLPF

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

 

Oceans –vital for food security and nutrition, source of livelihoods and prosperity, climate regulator and engine for growth and development - are key to the 2030 agenda.

 

SDG 14 responds to the urgent need for transformative change towards more sustainable use of our aquatic resources where we must reconcile ocean-related economic growth with improved livelihoods and social equity.

 

To achieve SDG 14, countries should:

 

-      become Party to and implement conventions, treaties and arrangements (binding and non-binding), aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of aquatic resources;

 

-      support and promote mechanisms to help minimize impacts of ocean acidification and pollution;

 

-      reduce harmful fishing efforts (including through combatting Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing - eg. through the FAO Port State Measures Agreement);

 

-      removing, where possible, harmful fishery subsidies;

 

-      enhance effective area-based management for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity taking into consideration the socio-economic aspects of the local communities and their traditional knowledge; and

 

-      strengthen implementation of global agreements on climate.

 

We must look at rebuilding fisheries with a focus on recovering catches, including through relevant partnerships and actions, while leveraging technology to increase traceability through better catch documentation and vessel identification.

 

We must be people-centric, with a need to prioritise small-scale artisanal fisheries - the engine for food security, nutrition and livelihoods for millions of poor coastal communities, as well as Small Island Developing States. This means finding greater agreement on market access issues to make them resource stewards – not just resource-users.

 

Finally, strategic partnerships and cooperation can boost capacity, amplify good practices and scale-up responses, especially across developing countries.

 

SDG14 provides us the framework and the opportunity to do better today for a brighter future. We must seize it now also by implementing the commitments made at the UN Oceans Conference. FAO stands ready to continue to provide support to member States to ensure the full implementation and monitoring of those commitments as well as those envisaged in binding and non-binding instruments.