WWF is committed to ensuring that the economic development of the ocean contributes to true prosperity and resilience, today and long into the future, with special recognition of the needs of developing countries. This commitment will support the efforts of the public and private sector to understand exactly what a truly sustainable approach to the Blue Economy consists of and through our advocacy efforts, will work to embed these definitions, descriptions and actions into marine policy and activities all around the world.
The Blue Economy defined as the economic benefit and value we realize from the Earths oceans and coastlines is expanding rapidly. Globally, the Blue Economy generates $2.5 trillion per year from the combination of fishing and aquaculture, shipping, tourism, and other activities. These figures do not include cultural and other important, but less tangible, values as well as the non-quantifiable benefits of maintaining the systemic health of the 70% of our planet that is ocean. But these figures, and all the food, employment and livelihoods that they represent, are not guaranteed if we do not take action to ensure the long-term sustainability of this invaluable planetary asset.
Ocean stresses are well documented: biodiversity is rapidly declining, acidity is increasing, plastic and other wastes are accumulating, and the temperature is rising. Our oceans are moving deeper into ecological crisis just at the moment when we need them more than ever. If we are to realize the full benefit of the oceans, both now and long into the future, we urgently need a set of guidelines and guardrails for investment and development policy. Following the wisdom of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, we need to ensure that our economic use of the seas also leads to their long-term conservation, and indeed their restoration.
This is why WWF is committed to continuing its work around the globe to both clearly define as well as contribute to the public and private sector actions and leadership needed to secure to a truly Sustainable approach to the Blue Economy.
1. Promoting the use and adoption of the WWFs Sustainable Blue Economy Principles and working to embed this approach into global instruments and business practices and activities.
2. Contributing to the development of a set of guidelines and guardrails for investment and development policy consistent the WWF Principles for a Sustainable Blue Economy.
3. Identifying and driving new and innovative ways to mobilise significant up-front investment to achieve ecosystem recovery, by developing Ocean conservation finance and business cases.
WWF will provide updates on its progress towards the three objectives on yearly basis.
Progress reports
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
Type of commitment
NUTRIENTS
- Other (please specify): Blue Economy is cutting across all SDG14 targets, as a means of implementation
PLASTICS
- Other (please specify): Blue Economy is cutting across all SDG14 targets, as a means of implementation
SHIPPING
- Other (please specify): Blue Economy is cutting across all SDG14 targets, as a means of implementation
OTHER POLLUTANTS (please specify)
- Other (please specify): Blue Economy is cutting across all SDG14 targets, as a means of implementation
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
Type of commitment
- Other (please specify): Blue Economy is cutting across all SDG14 targets, as a means of implementation
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
Type of commitment
- Other (please specify): Blue Economy is cutting across all SDG14 targets, as a means of implementation
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
Type of commitment
- Other (please specify): Blue Economy is cutting across all SDG14 targets, as a means of implementation
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
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
Type of commitment
- Removal or reduction of harmful fisheries subsidies
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
Type of commitment
- Other : Blue Economy is cutting across all SDG14 targets, as a means of implementation
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
Type of commitment
- Other (please specify): Blue Economy is cutting across all SDG14 targets, as a means of implementation
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS, 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
Type of commitment
- Other (please specify): Blue Economy is cutting across all SDG14 targets, as a means of implementation
December 2020
