Big Ocean

United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

#SDGAction40019

Description

Big Ocean members have identified three primary aims for the network. - LEARNING: To share information and experience that will improve large-scale MPA management practice;- KNOWLEDGE: To collaboratively analyze large-scale MPAs in order to increase the conservation community's knowledge and understanding of the unique challenges and needs associated with marine protection at a large-scale; and- COMMUNICATION: To enable communication between managers, management teams, and supporting partner staff among all member sites, as well as to provide member sites with a vehicle through which their learning, knowledge, and progress can be shared with the outside worldSIDS can benefit from the products and services developed around the network's objectives as they will have access to lessons learned, expertise and in some cases material resources, which could include funding, to aid in improving the management of their ocean resources as well as developing relationships (and possibly partnerships) with other countries and natural resource management agencies.

Implementation of the Project/Activity

Big Ocean seeks to achieve its aims by:- Fostering peer learning through sharing of experiences and information, and collaborative analysis and communications around specific topics;- Provisioning of peer-based technical guidance, mentoring, and support regarding specific management challenges,- Collaborating on key scientific research issues of mutual interest or concern, and periodic joint scientific investigation and partnerships; and- Sharing and testing of new management tools and techniques, including remote surveillance and enforcement expertise and technology

Capacity

Big Ocean seeks to engage in a variety of activities and initiatives, as well as create products that produce tangible, practical outcomes. Although there is overlap between the purpose and benefits of any given activity, to date the network has employed three general approaches to accomplishing our purpose and aims:Capacity Building: expanding the skills and professional experience of member site staff to improve operations at the site level and to enhance functioning of the network. Activities include: business meetings, staff exchanges and joint research cruises.Communication: enhancing the development, collection, analysis and sharing of information (and knowledge) internally and externally. Activities include: membership surveys, outreach materials, maintaining a presence on the web and across social media, and presentations at international conferences.Product Development: the creation of tools and services that enhance management efforts; improve the design, establishment and long-term management of large-scale MPAs; increase the effectiveness of management actions; and further professionalize the field. Examples of tools and services include: Learning Exchanges, the Shared Research Agenda for Large-Scale Marine Managed Areas (published 2012), and Management Guidelines for Large-Scale MPAs (in development)

Governed

Big Ocean is an informal network, in which members and partners participate voluntarily. As a non-binding entity, the activities and commitments made by the network (or subset of the network) are also non-binding and carried forward voluntarily by members and partners who find value in the effort.No formal charter or operating agreement has been developed. This decision was made at the inaugural meeting with the understanding that this could change over time as the network grows.

Partners

All government agencies connected to the large-scale MPAs of each member site, e.g. NOAA for Papahnaumokukea Marine National Monument, and the Chilean Undersecretariat for Fisheries in relation to the Motu Motiro Hiva Marine Park. Examples of other partners are:
Conservation International and New England Aquarium for the Phoenix Islands Protected Area; PEW (Global Ocean Legacy), the Chagos Conservation Trust and the Zoological Society of London (amongst others) for the British Indian Ocean Overseas Territory Marine Reserve; The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and other local partners such as the Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology for Papahnaumokukea Marine National Monument; Oceana for Motu Motiro Hiva; Te Ipukarea Society for the Cook Islands Marine Park

SDGS & Targets

Goal 14

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

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

SDG 14 targets covered

Deliverables & Timeline

17 December, 2021

Launch of the Guidelines for the Design and Management of Large-Scale MPAs in partnership with IUCN WCPA-Marine

Resources mobilized

Financing (in USD)

Example: PapahÄnaumokuÄkea MNM, the Phoenix Islands Protected Area and partners the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Conservation International, and the New England Aquarium have underwritten the costs of all the network business meetings to date.

Staff / Technical expertise

Example: British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Reserve and their partner the Chagos Conservation Trust sponsored key staff from PapahÄnaumokuÄkea MNM, to participate in a cruise to the Chagos Archipelago to support existing research and monitoring effor

In-kind contribution

Each site and relevant partners bring financing, in-kind labor, technical assistance and other resources to those events, projects and/or network initiatives that interest them and/or when they are able.

Partnership Progress

No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.

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