World assembles to save oceans, China shows the way

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The world oceans and seas that have been largely ignored by policymakers are likely to witness a turnaround with experts and industry leaders working to implement United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to conserve the oceans.

In the last few years, a debate has been raging to initiate adequate action to protect oceans that take the maximum impact of climate change. Studies show that 93 percent of the heat generated by burning fossil fuel has been absorbed by oceans, adversely affecting marine life.

Experts have also been arguing for more funding and legislation similar to that of conserving forests, claiming time has come to consider that “blue is the new green.”

The worry of a polluted marine life littered with plastic waste and acidification has also trickled down to shipping major and allied industries. Experts and business leaders have got together at 5th Sustainable Ocean Summit from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 in Halifax, Canada to chart out a plan on how to efficiently implement SDG 14 goal that elaborately mentions actions needed for protecting oceans by 2030.

“Business leaders from around the world have gathered here to discuss and prepare an action plan to deal with marine pollution, sustainable fishing, ocean acidification and related issues,” Clothilde Deschamps, summit’s spokesperson told CGTN.

Workers clean up the leaking oil on the seaside of New Taipei City, southeast China's Taiwan, March 29, 2016. The stranded vessel carrying 447 tonnes of fuel broke into two pieces on March 25. /Xinhua/Zhang Guojun

Actions recommended under SDG 14 to protect oceans and seas

Worried over the exploitation of oceans, United Nations included action points needed to preserve the marine life. The major worries include rampant pollution, acidification, overfishing that has taken a toll or in some cases depleted marine life.

Polluted run-off water from land has led to dense plant growth and the death of marine life. While ocean acidification has resulted in the weakening of shell and skeleton of many aquatic species, overfishing has reduced biodiversity in oceans.

In order to control the menace, a timeline has been created to improve poor condition of oceans. The recommendation has been made to significantly reduce marine pollution by 2025 and remove debris, plastics and reduce ocean noise.

A deadline of 2020 has been decided to regulate harvesting effectively, and end overfishing, in the same year UN wants to protect marine and coastal ecosystems to be restored by 10 percent.

China acts to protect coastal areas and curb overfishing

While the delegates are discussing the various aspects of protecting oceans, China has already taken a few decisive actions. “China role in protecting ocean is crucial,” experts at the Summit said.

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) figures, nearly 80 percent of the global business is executed through sea routes. And almost 60 percent of that volume of trade passes through Asian seas. South China Sea has a lion share in this trade that accounts for around 5.3 trillion US dollars.

A significant trade also means massive movement of ships that contribute to pollution and threat to marine life.

To protect the seas and oceans, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and State Oceanic Administration (SOA) implemented a regulation early this year to ensure 35 percent of the total shoreline should be natural by 2020. The legislation also protects 30 percent of the ocean from coastal development activities.

China has already accepted five commitments of SDGs mandate to conserve oceans and seas. This year, China extended annual fishing banning from four months to five months to reduce overfishing.