1. The Potential of the Blue Economy: Increasing Long-term Benefits of the Sustainable Use of Marine Resources for Small Island Developing States and Coastal Least Developed Countries
Ms. Irena Zubcevic, Chief, Oceans and Climate Branch, Division for Sustainable Development, UN-DESA
Presentation at Workshop "Implementation and Monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Caribbean: The Role of the Ocean"
17 January 2018

2. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets – integrated and indivisible
SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.2 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
14.3 Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.4 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
14.5 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
14.6 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
14.7 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
14.a 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
14.b Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14.c Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 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”

3. Ocean Conference (June 2017)
Historic event, with thousands of high-level participants from Member States, the UN system and other stakeholders
Raised global consciousness on the importance of our ocean and the challenges it is facing
Laid out a roadmap and ambitious work plan for the implementation of SDG 14.
Resulted in a strong intergovernmentally agreed political declaration “Our ocean, our future: call for action”, seven very productive partnership dialogues, and over 1,400 voluntary commitments from governments and other stakeholders – individually or in partnership
In the “Call for action”, Member States, inter alia, called upon all stakeholders to support promotion and strengthening of sustainable ocean-based economies, which, inter alia, build on sustainable activities such as fisheries, tourism, aquaculture, maritime transportation, renewable energies, marine biotechnology and seawater desalination as means to achieve the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, in particular for small island developing States and least developed countries

4. IPWG 6 on Blue Economy
Focus: Blue growth and increasing economic benefits for SIDS and LDCs from sustainable management of marine resources including fisheries, aquaculture and tourism (addressing target 14.7)
World Bank and UN-DESA The Potential of the Blue Economy: Increasing Long-term Benefits of the Sustainable Use of Marine Resources for Small Island Developing States and Coastal Least Developed Countries. World Bank, Washington DC.
Co-conveners: UN-DESA and World Bank
Achievements
Contribution to SG’s background note
Matrix of partnerships
Publication on blue economy with contribution from relevant UN agencies and other stakeholders (such as WTO, OECD, WOC, NOAA, ISA)

5. Publication: Potential of blue economy (I)
Blue economy concept: promote economic growth, social inclusion, and preservation or improvement of livelihoods while at the same time ensuring environmental sustainability of oceans and coastal areas – goal is decoupling of socioeconomic development through oceans-related sectors and activities from environmental and ecosystems degradation
Diverse components, including established traditional ocean industries such as fisheries, tourism and maritime transport, but also new and emerging activities, such as offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed extractive activities, and marine biotechnology and bioprospecting

6. Publication: Potential of blue economy (II)
Oceans and their related resources are fundamental base upon which economies and culture of many SIDS and coastal LDCs are built, and they are also central to their delivery of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the SDGs
Blue economy provides SIDS and coastal LDCs with basis to pursue a low-carbon and resource-efficient path to economic growth and development designed to enhance livelihoods for the poor, create employment opportunities, and reduce poverty
SIDS and coastal LDCs often lack capacity, skills and financial support to better develop their blue economy - in view of challenges facing SIDS and coastal LDCs, partnerships can be looked at as a way to enhance capacity-building

7. Key messages for further action (I)
Different pathways toward blue economy depend on national and local priorities and goals
Nevertheless, there are common steps for countries aiming to adopt this approach to managing their oceans, including:
Accurately value the contribution of natural oceanic capital to welfare to make right policy decisions including trade-offs
Investment in and use of the best available science, data and technology is critical
Each country should weigh the relative importance of each sector of the blue economy and decide, based on its own priorities and circumstances, which ones to prioritize
Anticipating and adapting to the impacts of climate change is an essential component of a blue economy approach

8. Key messages for further action (II)
Anticipating and adapting to the impacts of climate change is an essential component of a blue economy approach complemented by regional and global cooperation around shared priorities and objectives
Ensuring ocean health will require new investment
The effective implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is a necessary aspect of promoting the blue economy concept worldwide
Realizing the full potential of the blue economy also requires the effective inclusion and active participation of all societal groups
Developing coastal and marine spatial plans (CMSP) is an important step to guide decision-making for the blue economy and for resolving conflicts over ocean space
The private sector can and must play a key role in the blue economy
In view of the challenges facing SIDS and coastal LDCs, partnerships can be looked at as a way to enhance capacity- building
More information:

9. Caribbean SIDS and blue economy (I)
Importance of blue economy to Caribbean SIDS
Maritime zones exponentially larger than land territory
Economic development and livelihoods in SIDS is highly dependent on healthy and productive oceans
Important contribution to Caribbean SIDS economies by fisheries and tourism, coupled with the potential for other ocean-related industries
Challenges to Caribbean SIDS
Unique sustainable development challenges to SIDS
Vulnerability to climate impacts
Lack of capacity and financial support to benefit to the fullest from marine resources
Source: World Bank and UN-DESA The Potential of the Blue Economy: Increasing Long-term Benefits of the Sustainable Use of Marine Resources for Small Island Developing States and Coastal Least Developed Countries; and A/CONF.230/8, Concept paper prepared by the secretariat, Increasing economic benefits to small islands developing States and least developed countries and providing access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.

10. Caribbean SIDS and blue economy (II)
Diverse issues highlighted in voluntary commitments relating to the Caribbean covering target 14.7
Vulnerability to climate change / climate-resilient blue economies / weather and climate services / accurate hydrographic and scientific data
Sustainable tourism
Marine and coastal biodiversity / MPAs / coral reefs restoration / regional seas programme / large marine ecosystem
Sustainable fisheries, including small-scale fisheries / sea turtle by- catch management / market access and fish trade
Sustainable energy
Inter-regional cooperation
Ocean education
More information:

11. Ms. Irena Zubcevic, Chief,
Ms. Irena Zubcevic, Chief,
Oceans and Climate Branch, Division for Sustainable Development, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs