Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14)—Life Below Water—calls for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas, and marine resources. Covering more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, oceans are essential to life, regulating the climate, absorbing carbon dioxide, and supporting the livelihoods of over 3 billion people (UN, 2022).
Despite their importance, oceans are under growing pressure. Overfishing, habitat destruction, plastic pollution, and ocean acidification threaten marine ecosystems and coastal economies alike. An estimated 35% of global fish stocks are overfished, and 11 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the oceans every year (FAO, 2022; UNEP, 2021).
Achieving SDG 14 requires stronger marine governance, expanded marine protected areas, reduction of land-based pollution, and investment in sustainable fishing and aquaculture. Ocean health is global—and its restoration must be as well.