The Marshallese people have a proud history of sustainably drawing from available resources and protecting and conserving the natural environment upon which their livelihoods depend. The Reimaanlok National Conservation Plan was developed in 2008 as an overarching framework to provide principles, processes, and guidelines for the development of community-based resource management plans and conservation areas based on scientific evidence, cultural values and future needs. In response to the need for effective monitoring and sustainable financing for the growing number of protected areas throughout the Republic of the Marshall Islands, a Protected Areas Network was established in 2015. Despite ongoing efforts on the ground, the Marshall Islands continues to face a range of environmental issues as highlighted during a recent National Oceans Symposium in 2017, whereby a policy and implementation plan was developed to address SDG 14, building on input from local stakeholders and addressing climate change, sustainable fisheries, marine and coastal pollution, and coral reefs and protected areas. All of these efforts led to the approval of a blue fee program. This impact fee strategy uses 3 percent of fishing revenues to not only protect fisheries and address coastal and marine resource conservation, as well as to enhance their protection through reduced pollution, and other stressors, but also to maximize economic opportunities, and therefore securing local livelihoods for generations to come.
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
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
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
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
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
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
2018
