Conservation And Sustainability Of Oceans, Seas And Marine...

Conservation and Sustainability of the Use of Oceans, Seas and Marine Resources for Sustainable Development The UN has created a list of Sustainable Development Goals in order to improve global sustainability. This paper will focus specifically on Goal 14 and its associated targets to â€Å"conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development† (Proposal for Sustainable Development Goals: Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform). Measurability of Targets The measurability of a target is the ability to measure progress over a period of time. Targets from Goal 14 are ambiguous and unclear. Certain targets are not measurable, some are, and some can be measured in part. Firstly, some targets are†¦show more content†¦Thirdly, target 14.4 can be measured in part. Because of the nature of illegal activities, it is hard to collect accurate and complete numbers regarding the amount of illegal fishing there is. However, it is possible to increase and measure the number of laws and regulations surrounding this activity. Measurements of Targets The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 was drafted to preserve oceans. This goal describes various targets that are currently measured in part. However, barriers still exist in terms of accurate assessment of certain targets. Currently, to measure target 14.1, there are simulation models based on global waste production and ocean currents that identify zones of floating-debris accumulation in world oceans (Lebreton, Greer, Borrero, 2012). As for non-floating debris, the use of skin samples from sperm whales for the measurement of toxic chemicals and metals in the oceans has been studied (Savery, Catherine, 2013). Such examination would be limited to localization of the whales as well as the number of chemicals absorbed into the skin, and thus may not serve as the best measurement of target 14.1. Target 14.2 is measured in part. A study has been conducted in China about the restoration of marine ecosystems following urbanization and industrialization of the country (Chen, Bin, et al, 2013). Restoration of different habitats including rocky shore systems, seagrass systems, disused docks have also been studied (Hawkins,