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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Promote and Facilitate the Conduct of Marine Scientific Research (MSR) under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations / Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
#SDGAction40014
    Description
    Description
    The overall objective of the partnership is to promote and facilitate the development and conduct of marine scientific research (MSR) in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). More specifically, marine science and MSR play a critical role in sustainable development as consistently recognized by the General Assembly in its annual resolutions on oceans and the law of the sea as well as, recently, by the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20 Conference). Research, and the tools required to conduct it, are essential in the sustainable development of the oceans and seas and their resources, including by supporting informed decision on the conservation and sustainable use of the marine environment and its resources, and by helping to understand, predict and respond to natural events and climate change. At the Rio+20 Conference, States recognized the importance of building the capacity of developing countries to be able to benefit from the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and seas and their resources, and in this regard emphasized the need for cooperation in MSR to implement the provisions of UNCLOS and the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, as well as for the transfer of technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine TechnologyPractice has shown that the awareness of the rights and obligations set out in UNCLOS may be limited among government entities in charge of ocean affairs as well as among marine scientists, thereby hampering the full realization of the benefits that can be derived by all from MSR, and, in some cases, creating obstacles to MSR itself. Practice has also shown that where awareness exists, the capacity to implement the regime may be hampered by limited knowledge of the specific steps, rights and obligations as well as the role of various actors in the consent procedure.The present partnership was developed by DOALOS and IOC in response to the above.
    Implementation of the Project/Activity

    The Partnership activities will include:1. Customized and demand-driven (Sub)Regional training courses (multiple, 3-5 days)2. Internet Portal for MSR Professionals (ongoing) The Target Audience of the activities are:1. Government officials (policy makers, administrators) 2. Scientists (technical staff)

    Capacity

    The two categories of project activities (outputs) focus on the building of capacity, both directly through customized and demand-driven (Sub)Regional training courses (multiple); and indirectly by providing an ongoing opportunity for MSR Professionals to reinforce their knowledge and share experiences within a community of practice which will be networked through an Internet Portal (ongoing).

    Governed

    The partnership is coordinated through a steering group which is composed of representatives of DOALOS and IOC. Delivery partners will be invited to participate as appropriate.

    Partners
    Global level delivery partners: International Seabed Authority and other inter-Governmental Organizations.
    Regional level delivery partners: IOC's Regional Subsidiary Bodies, and other Regional entities.
    Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations / Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

    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

    Multiple sub(Regional) Training Courses
    Establishment of MSR Internet Portal
    In-kind contribution
    DOALOS and IOC, partnership development
    Financing (in USD)
    Sought for course development and deliveries
    Financing (in USD)
    Sought for MSR Internet Portal development and maintenance
    Financing (in USD)
    Sought for substantive contributions to course development and delivery (case-by-case)
    Financing (in USD)
    Sought for substantive contributions to course development and delivery (case-by-case)
    Title Progress Status Submitted
    Partnership Progress 2018-08-10 On track
    False
    Action Network
    Small Island Developing States
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    Timeline
    01 January 2019 (date of completion)
    Entity
    DOALOS
    SDGs
    Region
    1. North America
    Countries
    France
    France
    Contact Information

    G. Goettsche-Wanli (DOALOS) and W. Watson-Wright (IOC), DOALOS Director and IOC Executive Secretary