Marine Pollution and SDG 14 Implementation Degree of Challenges and Combat Strategies

Abstract

This literature review aims to highlight on current scenario and identify research needs related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to explore options for making structural changes in research policy and creating more resources to foster progress on the SDGs related to environmental issues, climate change, marine plastic litter and debris, ocean acidification, eutrophication and specifically    Goal 14: Life Below Water.  Marine pollution can have a wide range of impacts on ocean ecosystems, including damage to marine life, habitats, and food webs. The ocean provides important ecosystem services to society, but its health is in crisis due to the impacts of human activities. Ocean sustainability requires ambitious levels of scientific evidence to support governance and management of human activities that impact the ocean.  However, due to the size, complexity and connectivity of the ocean, monitoring and data collection pre-supposes high investments, and nations need to cooperate to deliver the ambitious, costly science that is required to inform decisions (Ref: Atlantic Ocean Science Diplomacy in action - Andrei Polejack, Sigi Gruber et al.). 

New challenges, including climate change and sea-level rise, plastics and microplastics, anthropogenic underwater noise, ocean warming, and ocean acidification, are more prominent. Plastics and microplastics in the marine environment have increased dramatically and are a serious threat with complex eco-toxicological effects (Avio et al., 2017).  Carbon pollution is changing the ocean’s chemistry making it more acidic. Ocean warming and acidification, although different phenomena, interact to the detriment of marine ecosystems, affecting primary productivity, nutrient cycles, and ultimately the survival of marine species. Anthropogenic underwater noise production has serious detrimental effects on ocean biodiversity (Williams et al., 2015).   In 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of the 2030 Agenda.  Most notably the SDG-14 - Life Below Water and Target 14.1 entails that by 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris & nutrient pollution.