We have skirted our responsibility to ensure 70% of the planet thrives alongside the human race. Though the ocean is the source of life and has its own limitations and intrinsic worth, we continue to treat marine species and ecosystems as endless resources. Over a century since the first marine protected area was created, approximately only 3 percent of the ocean has been put aside to provide for protection and restoration of marine species and their habitat.
Earth Law Center is committed to supporting the establishment and enforcement of marine protected areas, by promoting laws and policies that grant those marine ecosystems legal rights. In particular, ELC strives to ensure 5 marine protected areas are granted legal rights by 2022.
Codifying legal rights for the ocean into our laws and policies:
Ensures that we create a sustainable relationship with the ocean, and manage our activities as it pertains to the health of the whole system;
Allows lawsuits to be filed on behalf of the respective marine species or ecosystems themselves when they are unduly harmed;
Creates guardian and management boards responsible for protecting the oceans rights;
Prevents degradation and encourages more proactive and restorative activities; and
Adopts a precautionary approach in decisions that may affect the health/rights of the ocean.
Rather than asking ourselves how many fish we can take out of the system to achieve a profit, we would ask ourselves how much fish does the ecosystem require to remain healthy and exhibit normal form and function, for the benefit of all species, including humans, now and into the future.
The recognition and protection of the inherent rights of the ocean will advance SDG Goal 14, including targets 14.1, 14.2, 14.2.1, 14.4, 14.5 and 14.C. Adopting a holistic and rights-based approach to ocean governance is necessary to effectively guide policy that protects and conserves the ocean.
ELC has gained support from organizations worldwide supporting the initiative to adopt legal frameworks that respect and protect the rights of the ocean to implement SDG 14. Available here: http://bit.ly/531CFA
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
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
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
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
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
06/18
First existing marine protected area adopts legal rights
08/17
'How Legal Rights Can Save Our Ocean' Report
08/17
Key marine ecosystems identified to apply rights-based governance
12/18
First marine protected area created with legal rights
