To increase economic benefits to SIDS through the Blue Growth Initiative
(
Local / Regional Government
)
#OceanAction42102
Description
FAOs Blue Growth Initiative (BGI), is FAOs response to the call at the 2012 Earth Summit for a Green Economy in a Blue World. The concept of Blue Growth, responds to this call and provides developing countries with a framework that allows them to grow their aquatic economies in a sustainable ecological manner. The concept focuses on aquatic renewable resources and provides the framework for countries to make the transition to sustainable management and use of their aquatic resources so that revenues are optimized without compromising the delivery of ecosystem services and the provision of improved social outcomes.
This transition to Blue Growth requires countries to think beyond the business as usual approach of extracting more resources from the ecosystems but to think in terms of generating more value from what is extracted or in the case of aquaculture, optimizing the production of farmed fish as well as its value.
Over the last 4 years FAO has progressed the BGI significantly. It is a major area of work within FAOs Programme of Work with projects in implementation or in development in over 30 countries, including 8 SIDS. Within the BGI FAO is pleased to provide financial support for three regional Blue Growth SIDS projects: Caribbean countries to develop an aquaculture sector including seaweed and aquaponics, African SIDS to access financial resources to make the transition to a Blue Growth economy and in the Pacific for some countries to develop a seaweed sector.
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
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
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
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
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 |
|---|---|
| 14.7 | 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 |
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Contact Information
Jacqueline Alder, FISHCODE Manager, FAO