Government of New Zealand commits over USD $50 million to Support Pacific Ocean Science, Management and Governance.

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (

Government

)

#OceanAction58738

Description

New Zealand has committed over USD $52 million towards supporting enhanced ocean governance, management and science in the Pacific Islands region. A resilient ocean and abundant, sustainable marine resources are critical for the health, prosperity and overall well-being of communities. Nowhere is this more significantly felt than in the Blue Pacific, where seafood is a core element of Pacific diets and regulator of marine ecosystems; where housing and infrastructure are threatened by oceanic events; and where fisheries and marine tourism industries are fundamental to economic survival. As stewards of a vast oceanic continent, Pacific Leaders stated their ambition for all Pacific peoples to live in a sustainably managed Blue Pacific Continent, while steadfastly maintaining resilience against threats to its environment, under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. New Zealand is working with Pacific countries to respond to this ambition. We are doing this through: • Building Collective Capacity within five Pacific countries (Niue, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Palau), alongside regional partners, SPREP and SPC to lead tailored approaches to marine spatial planning and integrating these at regional level to develop best practice that builds resilience to climate change (USD 8.8 m) • Supporting the development of a Tuna Climate Intelligence System to forecast and monitor shifts in the economically-critical Pacific tuna populations in response to climate change (USD 15 m) and investing in an ocean and fisheries ocean research vessel for the Pacific region (USD 5m). • Investing in the Global Fund for Coral Reefs to support sustainable businesses that have a positive impact on the resilience of coral reefs, economies and communities (USD 10m). • Supporting the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner to support implementation of regional and global policies and frameworks, and promoting inclusive and effective partnerships (USD 2 m) • Continued support for the Pacific Community Centre for Ocean Science (PCCOS) which helps governments and communities easily access the ocean science and expertise they need to make informed decisions and to protect and sustainably manage ocean resources (USD 3.6 m). • Ongoing support to strengthen the sustainability of coastal fisheries and aquaculture resources in the Pacific Islands region to improve food security and economic resilience (USD $7.6m).

Partners

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (lead), The Pacific Community (SPC – CROP agency), Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA, CROP agency), Secretariat of the Regional Pacific Environment Programme (SPREP, CROP agency), Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC, part of PIFS) Niue Ocean Wide Trust (public/private partnership), Pacific Island Governments, , Tungaru Youth Association (youth NGO), Global Fund for Coral Reefs (global public private partnership), National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Government)

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

Name	Description
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
14.3	Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
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
14.5	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.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

Deliverables & Timeline

30 December, 2027

Over USD $50 million invested in ocean governance, science and management to benefit the Pacific region

01 December, 2026

Develop Tuna Climate Intelligence System

30 December, 2026

Produce guidance for including Traditional Knowledge in MSP

30 December, 2026

Produce indicators to support MSP in the Pacific region

Resources mobilized

Financing (in USD)

USD $53 Million

Partnership Progress

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Timeline

01 January 2022 (start date)

01 December 2028 (date of completion)

Entity

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

SDGs

Other beneficiaries

Ocean managers within Pacific region, communities within Pacific islands, Early Career Ocean Professionals

Ocean Basins

South Pacific

Communities of Ocean Action

Ocean acidification, Marine and coastal ecosystems management, Sustainable blue economy, Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology