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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Blue Belt Programme

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Government
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#SDGAction43334
    Description
    Description
    The UK has demonstrated strong progress on Sustainable Development Goal 14, including on the protection and sustainable management of the marine environment. Since its launch in 2016, the UK Government’s £20 million Blue Belt Programme is on track to protect over four million km² of marine environment across UK Overseas Territories by 2020, enabling the UK and Overseas Territories to protect over half of British waters within designated Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

    At the G7 summit in August 2019 the Prime Minister pledged a further £7 million to extend the programme to protect and manage the Blue Belt network and provide support for effective marine protection to the remaining OTs. The Blue Belt around the UK and the UK Overseas Territories makes a significant contribution to the health of the global ocean and to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14.
    Expected Impact

    The Blue Belt has large-scale MPAs protecting vital habitats and unique species in every major ocean.

    Partners
    Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and Marine Management Organisation

    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

    Protection of 4 million square kilometres of ocean by 2020. With the designation of the Ascension Island MPA on 30 August 2019, the Blue Belt initiative is currently protecting 3,600,000 square kilometres.
    Financing (in USD)
    A further £7million ($8.75m) pledged in August 2019
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
    False
    Action Network
    SDG Acceleration Actions
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    Timeline
    01 August 2019 (start date)
    01 August 2030 (date of completion)
    Entity
    UK Government - Foreign and Commonwealth Office
    SDGs
    Region
    1. Global
    Geographical coverage
    London, United Kingdom
    Website/More information
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    Contact Information