SDG-14: Life Below Water

Abstract

Global systems and processes that assure the supply of rainwater, drinking water and oxygen are regulated by oceanic temperature chemistry, currents and life. Pollution, diminished fisheries and the loss of coastal habitats all have negative impacts on the ocean’s sustainability. Such activities have severely impacted around 40% of the world’s oceans. SDG-14, Life Below Water, aims to conserve marine ecosystems by establishing regulations for removing pollutants from the sea, decreasing sea acidification and regulating the fishing sector to ensure sustainable fishing. As a result, the major incentive for this goal is to protect and utilise marine ecosystem services sustainably. This chapter presents the business models of 36 companies and use cases that employ emerging technologies and create value in SDG-14. We should highlight that one use case can be related to more than one SDG and it can make use of multiple emerging technologies.

Oceans covering nearly 3/4 of the planet’s surface contain 97% of the planet’s water and account for 99% of living space by surface area. Nonetheless, nearly 95% of the ocean remains unknown, 91% of oceanic species are still unclassified, and a large number of fish species (1851 as of 2010) are threatened with extinction. Even though human beings live mostly on continents, they are heavily reliant on the oceans. Oceanic processes and biodiversity generate various ecological functions, enabling many species to live on the Earth. Moreover, coastal and marine resources contribute a total of US$28 trillion to the global economy on an annual basis. Noticeably, oceans absorb approximately 40% of the carbon dioxide emitted by humans, thereby mitigating the effects of global warming. Moreover, the oceans are the world’s primary protein resources, with nearly 3 billion people relying on them. The estimated market value of such marine and coastal resources and industries is approximately US$3 trillion per year. On the other hand, the quality and biodiversity of marine ecosystems are rapidly declining. Because of primarily human-caused activities, it may be too late to save the oceans if action is not taken quickly. As a result, countries must take precautionary measures to protect marine ecosystems and improve the quality of biodiversity beneath the sea.

Global systems and processes that assure the supply of rainwater, drinking water and oxygen are regulated by oceanic temperature chemistry, currents and life. Pollution, diminished fisheries and the loss of coastal habitats all have negative impacts on the ocean’s sustainability. Such activities have severely impacted around 40% of the world’s oceans. There is also the economic impact. Ocean fisheries are now generating $58 billion less per year than they could be due to unregulated fishing (Pandey et al. 2021). Many of today’s and future concerns, such as food security and climate change, as well as the availability of energy and natural resources, are recognised as dependent on the oceans (Franco et al. 2020). By increasing fish catches, income and improved health are two ways that Marine Protected Areas help ease poverty. They also contribute to gender equality because women own many small-scale fisheries. The maritime environment is also home to a wide variety of magnificent species, ranging from single-celled organisms to the world’s largest animal – the blue whale. Moreover, coral reefs, which are among the world’s most diversified ecosystems, also lie within the oceans (Nicklin and Cornwell 2020). The utilisation of the sea and its resources for long-term economic development (blue economy), which contributes to today’s and tomorrow’s prosperity, is growing rapidly; however, the oceans are under stress. They are already overexploited, contaminated and threatened by global warming (Franco et al. 2020). Debris levels in the world’s oceans are rising, causing a severe environmental and economic threat. Entanglement or swallowing of trash by organisms negatively influences biodiversity, as it can kill or prevent species from breeding (Nicklin and Cornwell 2020). The ocean has absorbed a considerable amount of carbon dioxide as carbon emissions have gone up significantly, causing acidification. Rising sea levels and temperatures are causing biodiversity and habitat loss and changes in the composition of fish stocks. Furthermore, approximately 20% of the world’s coral reefs have been seriously damaged, with no signs of recovery. Due to human pressures, approximately 24% of the remaining reefs are in impending danger of collapsing, with another 26% facing a longer-term risk of collapsing (Nicklin and Cornwell 2020). In addition to the coral reef problem, overfishing and decreased fish stocks are threatening future ocean development in many parts of the world (Franco et al. 2020). The value of lost economic gains from the fishing industry is estimated to be over $50 billion per year. Poor ocean management practices are estimated to cost the global economy at least US$200 billion each year, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. Climate change will increase the cost of ocean damage by an additional US$322 billion per year by 2050 if no mitigating measures are taken (Nicklin and Cornwell 2020).

SDG-14 aims to conserve marine ecosystems by establishing regulations for removing pollutants from the sea, decreasing sea acidification and regulating the fishing sector to ensure sustainable fishing. As a result, the major incentive for this goal is to protect and utilise marine ecosystem services sustainably. SDG-14 also intends to restrict fishery subsidies that lead to overfishing in specific areas. Several fish species are being rapidly depleted as a result of uncontrolled and subsidised fishing. There is greater competition in markets with limited resources to catch as many fish as possible. Therefore, member states must develop and implement legislation to restrict fishing operations to ensure the fish stock’s long-term viability. States must coordinate to control fishing operations in regions where the coast is shared by more than one state. Pollution from land-based activities poses a danger to coastal life. If pollution from the land is poured into the sea without being treated, it will produce eutrophication, characterised by excessive algae development. While eutrophication may appear to be a natural process, it deprives the water of oxygen, which breaks the fish bio-chain. As a result, eutrophication may result in the extinction of living species in the coastal area. Another major issue is ocean acidification. The origins and consequences of ocean acidification are still a source of scientific dispute. However, it is impossible to predict exactly how the ocean food chain would be affected in terms of life. What we do know is that some micro-species are more susceptible than others. As a result, the future of these micro-species may be jeopardised. We need to develop immediate ways to mitigate abnormal levels of acidity as the rate of ocean acidification rises. According to the United Nations, at least 10% of marine and coastal habitats should be legally protected (Gulseven 2020). The long-term benefits largely compensate for the short-term costs of acting. However, while progress is being made, substantial obstacles remain. According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, scaled-up efforts to sustain the global ocean need a one-time public expenditure of US$ 32 billion and ongoing expenses of US$ 21 billion each year. Apart from the need for considerable multi-year fundraising to reach the level of ambition, the ongoing negative aspect of climate change; inadequate industrial, agricultural and household waste management; chemical and plastic pollution; corruption; and a lack of effective governance activities, the alarming rate of biodiversity loss in ecosystems and wilful ignorance of scientific evidence must all be resolved (Nicklin and Cornwell 2020). Imagine how powerful it would be if we collectively harnessed “the ocean in us” as a driving force to increase ocean ambition and enhance ocean action as our planet’s “Blue Lung” as we need to see the nexus between the ocean and sustainable human, social and economic development (Nicklin and Cornwell 2020). Figure 16.1 summarises the targets and sub-targets of SDG-14 for 2030, which the United Nations present.

Fig. 16.1

Targets of SDG-14. (UNDP 2021)

The oceans encompass more than 70% of the Earth’s crust. Oceans create more than 50% of the planet’s oxygen. They help regulate the climate and offer vital habitats for a wide range of marine and coastal organisms. Oceans also contribute to the global economy and regional life by serving as a means of transport and trading (Kan et al. 2020). Marine fisheries employ 57 million people worldwide and are the major protein source for more than half of the population in LDCs, with over 3 billion people relying on oceans and terrestrial biodiversity for a living. That’s why the health of the oceans, the world’s water resources and the life below water is important as a matter of being an economic resource and vital to many of the world’s population. The yearly market value of coastal and marine sources and businesses is estimated to be $3 hundred billion or approximately equal to 5% of total global GDP. Nonetheless, human activities, such as pollution, reduced fisheries and coastal habitat loss, are harming up to 40% of the seas. The oceans are the planet’s largest source of protein, with over 3 billion human beings dependent on them as their main resource. Nonetheless, the proportion of stocks fished at unsustainable levels was 28.8% in 2011: a slight reduction from the previous high of 32.5% in 2008 but still cause for concern. Fisheries, food, aquaculture and the tourism sector are particularly dependent on clean oceans and coastal areas. They play an important role in dealing with problems to the well-being of our oceans and coastal regions. Notwithstanding, if natural coastal flood protection is destroyed or food security is jeopardised, all sectors may suffer, and all may contribute to reducing marine pollution or the maintenance of sustainable fisheries (PwC 2021).

The ocean is a massive economic resource. Ninety percent of the planet’s commodities are traded throughout the seas. Millions of people operate in fishery and mariculture, shipping and docks, tourist industry, offshore energy, medicines and cosmetics, which all depend on marine-related sources (Stuchtey et al. 2021). The ocean food industry itself supports up to 237 million employment, encompassing fishery, mariculture and processing. Thousands of people operate in other ocean industries, such as shipping, docks, energy and the tourist industry, and many others are indirectly related to the marine sector and economy. Coastal ecosystems protect millions of people, foster wildlife, detoxify pollutants that run off the land and serve as nursery grounds for fisheries, boosting food supply and giving jobs. They additionally serve as a source of money. Coral reefs on their own generate $11.5 billion worldwide tourism each year, supporting more than 100 nations and giving food and employment to the locals (Stuchtey et al. 2021).

Investing in a healthy ocean economy benefits more than simply the ocean. They are a fantastic business prospect. Putting money $2.8 hundred billion presently within only four ocean-based solutions – offshore wind production, sustainable ocean-based production of food, international logistics, decarbonisation and mangrove restoration and production – would yield a real earning of $15.5 hundred billion by 2050, a benefit-cost ratio of more than 5 (Stuchtey et al. 2021). One single source of stress, like overfishing event pollution, can cause significant harm. Moreover, single stressors regionally reinforce each other, with devastating effects on the ecosystem. If nothing is done, these issues might cost the world economy more than $400 billion per year by 2050. The yearly cost might reach $2 trillion by 2100 (Stuchtey et al. 2021).

The “Blue Economy (BE)” or “Oceans/Marine Economy” has been extensively supported by a variety of relevant stakeholders in recent years as a paradigm or strategy for protecting the oceans and water sources. The notion of BE arose from the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro. The concept “Blue Economy” is being used in a variety of contexts, and related topics such as “ocean economy” or “marine economy” are used without clarity (Lee et al. 2020).

Approximately 820 million people rely on fisheries for income, both directly and indirectly, to ensure food security (Steinbach et al. 2017). Furthermore, fisheries offer 20% of the protein consumed by more than three billion people. Fish accounts for 50–60% of total dietary protein in several regions of our planet, including South Asia, Southeast Asia, West Africa and SIDS (small island developing states). Over the last five decades, the worldwide fishing sector has experienced tremendous growth. The yearly fish caught globally increased from approximately 20 metric tonnes in 1950 to more than 90 metric tonnes in 2014. Annual per capita fish intake increased from roughly 10 kilogrammes in the 1960s to nearly 20 kilogrammes in 2013. Production and consumption of fisheries have increased at a cost. According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), solely 11% of world fish stocks were under-fished in 2013. On the other hand, 58.1% were completely fished, and 31.4% were fished at biologically unsustainable levels. With a projected worldwide population of 9 billion people by 2050, overfishing has major consequences for the overall health of marine ecosystems, poverty reduction and food security. Millions of livelihoods might be lost if threats to oceans and the services they provide are not addressed, and many people could lose access to a food staple that they rely on to survive (Steinbach et al. 2017). Effects of the climate changes on the oceans, such as sea-level rise, storms and consequences on fisheries, are expected to cost between US 600 million and US 2 trillion dollars by 2100. SIDS and coastal communities in developing countries are threatened by climate change, which poses a threat to their well-being and survival. For example, the climate crisis is expected to boost the intensity and frequency of disasters such as floods and hurricanes, which has already started to cost several small-island developing countries more than 20% of their GDP (gross domestic product). Almost a quarter of the world population is particularly vulnerable since at least 20% are still categorised as least developed countries (LDCs) (Recuero Virto 2018).

SDG-14 advocates for the sustainable use and conservation of marine resources, oceans and seas and achieving sustainable development (Steinbach et al. 2017). SDG-14 indicators rely on present short-term relationships. They will undoubtedly benefit society in the long run, while building marine protected areas, reducing harmful fishing subsidies and ending overfishing may incur short-term costs for individuals. Through suitable mechanisms, policies can be made to reduce these costs. As a result, these trade-offs may be spurious, and achieving decent work and economic growth does not always require giving up aquatic life (Gulseven 2020).

For the future, new data science and engineering approaches offer optimism that data will be acquired for a certain purpose in the first place but subsequently used for various assessments other than the original one, following the principle of “collect once, use many times”. By combining data from various old and new sources, researchers will be able to use artificial intelligence techniques, such as machine learning (ML) to acquire fresh perspectives on ocean dynamics. New algorithms have become an effective and efficient tool for accurately analysing oceanographic and environmental datasets. Prediction of ocean weather and climate, habitat modelling, distribution, species detection, coastal water observation, marine resource management, identification of oil spills and pollution and wave modelling are the key applications of machine learning in oceanography. Nonetheless, future advances are projected to expand the number of users and lead to their integration into daily data administration (UNESCO 2020).

16.1 Companies and Use Cases

Table 16.1 presents the business models of 36 companies and use cases that employ emerging technologies and create value in SDG-14. We should highlight that one use case can be related to more than one SDG and it can make use of multiple emerging technologies. In the left column, we present the company name, the origin country, related SDGs and emerging technologies that are included. The companies and use cases are listed alphabetically.¹

Table 16.1 Companies and use cases in SDG-14