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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Avoid and Intercept ocean plastics by the fisheries industry of the Maldives

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Government
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#OceanAction40982
    Description
    Description
    Waste management, especially management of plastic waste has become a huge problem for the Maldives. With islands scattered across 820 km from North to South, the logistics for transportation of waste and the lack of local recycling have been the biggest hurdle for management of plastics in the Maldives Plastic remain in the natural environment for hundreds of years and are finding their way into our oceans and beaches .

    Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture and Parley have been working together to address the issue of ocean plastics in the Maldives. One of the key goals of the commitment is to AVOID as much as possible the use of plastics in all fishing vessels and to INTERCEPT all plastic waste that are produced by fishing vessels cruising in the Indian Ocean.

    Maldives pole and line one by one skip jack fishery is renowned for its sustainability and high environment standards and has been awarded Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. In addition, some of the exporting companies have also obtained fair trade certification for their products.

    Maldives licenses around 800 traditional fishing vessels and under this goal it will be a requirement for licensed vessels to avoid and intercept ocean plastic waste. All the intercepted plastic waste will be collected at the fish processing facilities across the Maldives and be delivered to Parley for reuse.

    The Government of Maldives together with, the fisheries industry is working to maintain the pole and line one by one fishery as the gold standard for fisheries practices; and this would further enhance the standard of Maldives fisheries products ensuring premium prices are maintained and all parties across the value chain including the coastal fishermen benefit from the initiatives.
    Partners
    1. Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, Maldives (Government Organization)
    2. Parley International (NGO)

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    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

    14.2

    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

    14.3

    Minimize 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

    14.4

    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

    14.5

    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

    14.6

    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, recognizing 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

    14.7

    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

    14.a

    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

    14.b

    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 recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    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

    Name Description
    14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
    Introduce AVOID and INTERCEPT concepts in licensing
    Implementation of reuse and recycling
    In-kind contribution
    Transportation of plastic waste from processing facilities to Parley collection center
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
    False
    Action Network
    Small Island Developing States
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    Timeline
    01 December 2017 (start date)
    01 January 1970 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, Maldives
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Male', Maldives
    Ocean Basins
    Indian Ocean
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine pollution
    Website/More information
    N/A
    Countries
    N/A
    Contact Information

    Hussain Sinan, Permanent Secretary