GOAL 14: LIFE BELOW WATER

The oceans, with their temperature, chemistry, currents, and life, sustain the global systems that make Earth habitable for humans. How we manage this vital resource is crucial for humanity as a whole and for balancing the impacts of climate change. Over three billion people rely on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. However, 30% of the world's fish stocks are overexploited and below sustainable levels. Oceans absorb about 30% of the carbon dioxide produced by humans; since the industrial revolution, ocean acidification has increased by 26%. Pollution from land-based sources has reached alarming levels, with an average of 13,000 pieces of plastic waste per square kilometer of ocean. The Sustainable Development Goals aim to sustainably manage marine and coastal ecosystems, protect them from pollution, and address the effects of ocean acidification. Enhancing protection through international law and sustainable use of ocean-based resources will help mitigate some of the issues facing our oceans.SDG-14 LIFE BELOW WATER