Implementing Outcomes from RMIs 1st National Ocean Symposium

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Government

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#OceanAction42021

Description

As a nation of many low-lying and scattered atolls, it is crucial to combat climate change and other environment-related issues, whether natural or human-induced, and to mitigate their effects as they pose an imminent threat to the Marshallese society and culture. Understanding of the value and efficacy of supporting and strengthening cross-scale linkages between local, national, and international levels when it comes to addressing environmental issues, the RMI held its first National Oceans Symposium (NOS) on March 2017 bringing together all levels of government and civil society to raise priorities and key areas of concern particularly on climate change, sustainable fisheries, marine and coastal pollution, and coral reefs & marine protected areas. As the lead agency, the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority was supported in this initiative by partner agencies in the Coastal Management Advisory Council, which provides a platform for collaboration, integration, and technical advice across multiple sectors to support national conservation work (i.e. Reimaanlok) and other national priorities. The RMI NOS was a bottom-up approach, which proved to be an effective strategy to allow active engagement from local actors, who are essentially the resource owners and users, through awareness raising, stock-taking of resources and challenges, and prioritization of issues and appropriate actions for implementation at both local and national levels to support international obligations including SDG 14s specific targets and addressing its intended statistical indicators. The guiding principles outlined in the NOS Implementation Plan will help bridge gaps by building upon existing long-term interagency relationships in addition to introduction of new partnerships within and outside the RMI.

Partners

Marshall Islands Coastal Management Advisory Council and key stakeholders

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
14.1	By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.2	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
14.7	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.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.b	Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
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"

Deliverables & Timeline

17 December, 2021

Endorsement of NOS Implementation Plan by all key stakeholders

01 January, 1970

Support for NOS activities via Regional and International Partnerships

Resources mobilized

In-kind contribution

National and local governments and NGOs

Partnership Progress

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Feedback

Action Network

Timeline

01 January 2017 (start date)

01 January 1970 (date of completion)

Entity

Ministry of Resources & Development (Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority)

SDGs

Geographical coverage

Majuro, Marshall Islands

Ocean Basins

North Pacific

Communities of Ocean Action

Marine pollution, Ocean acidification, Marine and coastal ecosystems management, Sustainable fisheries, Sustainable blue economy, Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology, Implementation of international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Coral reefs

Website/More information

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Countries

N/A

Contact Information

Emma Kabua-Tibon, Ms.

ekabua.tibon@mimra.com