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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Ocean Commitment for Tamil Nadu

AIDENT SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANISATION (
Non-governmental organization (NGO)
)
#OceanAction57629
    Description
    Description

    The Tamil Nadu Ocean Commitment is a voluntary initiative dedicated to the conservation and sustainable management of Tamil Nadu’s marine and coastal ecosystems. This commitment aims to enhance biodiversity protection, support sustainable fisheries, mitigate ocean pollution, and strengthen climate resilience among coastal communities.

    Objectives
    Marine Biodiversity Conservation – Protect and restore key marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass meadows.
    Sustainable Fisheries Management – Promote responsible fishing practices, support small-scale fishers, and integrate traditional knowledge with modern sustainability approaches.
    Pollution Reduction and Waste Management – Reduce marine plastic pollution, promote circular economy initiatives, and enhance coastal waste management systems.
    Climate Change Adaptation – Implement nature-based solutions to strengthen coastal resilience against rising sea levels, cyclones, and ocean acidification.
    Community Empowerment and Livelihood Support – Train and support coastal communities, particularly fisherfolk, in sustainable livelihoods such as eco-tourism, seaweed farming, and marine conservation.
    Marine Research and Innovation – Strengthen scientific research on ocean health, encourage data-driven policies, and foster collaboration between academic institutions and local authorities.
    Policy and Governance – Strengthen marine and coastal governance frameworks by aligning with national and global ocean conservation goals, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 14 – Life Below Water).

    Partners

    Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India (Government Agency)
    Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department (Government Agency)
    National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) (Research Institution)
    Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) (Research Institution)
    Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust (GOMBRT) (Conservation Organization)
    WWF-India, Tamil Nadu Chapter (NGO)

    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

    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
    Establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
    Reduction of Marine Plastic Pollution by 50%
    Training and Capacity Building for 10,000 Coastal Community Members
    Development of a Tamil Nadu Blue Economy Policy Framework
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Resources devoted to delivery Please specify at least one, and up to four, resources that are devoted to this initiative. Type of resource Staff / Technical expertise Description of resource
    Financing (in USD)
    Funding from the Tamil Nadu State Government, UN agencies, and international environmental organizations will be allocated to support marine conservation projects, plastic waste management programs, and capacity-building initiatives for coastal communitie
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Timeline
    01 September 2025 (start date)
    31 March 2030 (date of completion)
    Entity
    AIDENT SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANISATION
    SDGs
    Other beneficiaries
    Coastal and Fishing Communities (Livelihood & Economic Empowerment) Small-scale and Artisanal Fishermen (Sustainable Fisheries & Training) Marine Biodiversity (Coral Reefs, Mangroves, Seagrass, and Marine Life) (Conservation & Restoration) Tourism and Eco-tourism Sectors (Sustainable Economic Growth) Students and Researchers in Marine Science (Education & Capacity Building) General Public (Marine Awareness & Climate Resilience)
    Ocean Basins
    Global
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Mangroves, Coral reefs, Marine pollution
    Website/More information
    N/A
    Countries
    India
    India
    Headquarters
    Delhi
    Contact Information