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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program

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Scientific community
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#OceanAction42482
    Description
    Description
    The Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program is a 4-week marine science based summer program that uses the ocean as the lens through which we teach Virgin Islands youth about Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics. Although our proximity is close to the ocean, some Virgin Islanders do not swim and thus lack environmental stewardship ethics. Through YOE, students in grades 7-12 learn about commercially and ecologically important flora and fauna, basic concepts in oceanography, stressors that are affecting our coastal ecosystems, and take part in activities to help reduce these impacts.
    Partners
    Coki Dive Shop (Partnership), Coastal Estuarine Research Federation (Scientific community), Sea Grant (Government), University of the Virgin Islands (Academic institution)
    Quantify
    Number of coastal cleanups conducted, number of volunteers engaged, number of pounds of debris removed.

    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.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
    Plant over 500 red mangrove seedlings around the island of St. Thomas, USVI
    Remove approximately 5,000 pounds of debris from U.S. Virgin Islands coastlines
    Engage approximately 1,000 Virgin Island's youth to marine science concepts through the Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program
    Open water scuba certify 100 Virgin Island's youth
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Working with the Coki Dive Shop, we are able to provide scuba certification for YOE students to help introduce them to careers in marine science.
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
    False
    Action Network
    Ocean conference wheel logo
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    Timeline
    01 July 2016 (start date)
    01 August 2025 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service - University of the Virgin Islands
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas - USVI
    Ocean Basins
    South Atlantic
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Mangroves, Coral reefs, Marine pollution, Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology
    Countries
    N/A
    Contact Information

    Howard Forbes , Mr.