π Life Below Water Intelligence Platform
Comprehensive monitoring and analysis of SDG 14 progress: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. Real-time data from UN agencies, scientific institutions, and verified sources.
Ocean Coverage
70%
of Earth's surface (361M kmΒ²)
Explored5%
Marine Protected Areas
8.16%
of global ocean under protection
Progress to 10% target81.6%
Overfished Stocks
34.2%
of fish stocks beyond sustainable levels
β +1.2% since 2017
Annual Plastic Pollution
12M
tons entering oceans yearly
Growing 4% annually
Ocean Acidification
8.1 pH
30% more acidic since industrial era
β -0.02 pH per decade
Annual Funding Gap
$153B
Required: $175B | Current: $22B
Funding Coverage12.6%
Active Organizations
347
NGOs, UN agencies, research institutions
β +23 new partners in 2024
Coastal Population
3.1B
people live within 100km of coast
40% of global population
Ocean Health Index (2024)
Fish Stock Status (Global)
SDG 14 Target Progress Overview
π Ocean at a Glance
97% of Earth's water
99% of living space by volume
50-80% of oxygen production
30% COβ absorption
$24T ocean economy value
350M jobs dependent
200K+ known marine species
2.2M estimated total species
π― SDG 14 Targets & Indicators
Comprehensive breakdown of all 10 SDG 14 targets with official UN indicators, current status, and progress tracking toward 2030 goals.
14.1
Marine Pollution Prevention
Deadline: 2025
Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
Indicator 14.1.1
Index of coastal eutrophication and floating plastic debris density
12M
Tons plastic/year
5T
Pieces in ocean
14.2
Marine Ecosystem Management
Deadline: 2020 (ongoing)
Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, strengthening resilience and restoration.
Indicator 14.2.1
Proportion of EEZ managed using ecosystem-based approaches
60
Countries with EBM
50%
Coral reefs lost
14.3
Ocean Acidification
Ongoing
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels.
Indicator 14.3.1
Average marine acidity (pH) at representative sampling stations
8.1
Current pH
30%
Acidification increase
14.4
Sustainable Fishing
Deadline: 2020 (ongoing)
Effectively regulate harvesting, end overfishing, IUU fishing and destructive practices; implement science-based management plans.
Indicator 14.4.1
Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels
65.8%
Sustainable stocks
$23.5B
IUU fishing loss/yr
14.5
Marine Conservation
Target: 10% by 2020, 30% by 2030
Conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law, based on best available science.
Indicator 14.5.1
Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas
8.16%
Total MPA coverage
2.9%
Highly protected
14.6
Fisheries Subsidies
Deadline: 2020 (ongoing)
Prohibit fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate IUU fishing subsidies.
Indicator 14.6.1
Implementation of instruments to combat IUU fishing
$35B
Harmful subsidies/yr
67
Countries with reform
14.7
Blue Economy Benefits
Deadline: 2030
Increase economic benefits to SIDS and LDCs from sustainable use of marine resources through fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism.
Indicator 14.7.1
Sustainable fisheries as proportion of GDP in SIDS, LDCs
$6.9T
Blue economy value
58
SIDS nations
14.A
Scientific Research
Ongoing
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology to improve ocean health.
Indicator 14.A.1
Proportion of research budget allocated to marine technology
<2%
Research budgets
95%
Ocean unexplored
14.B
Small-Scale Fishers
Ongoing
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.
Indicator 14.B.1
Degree of application of legal/regulatory framework for small-scale fisheries
90%
Fishers artisanal
50%
Global catch
14.C
UNCLOS Implementation
Ongoing
Enhance ocean conservation through implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS.
Indicator 14.C.1
Countries making progress in implementing UNCLOS frameworks
168
UNCLOS parties
2023
BBNJ treaty signed
ποΈ Ocean Conservation Organizations Database
Comprehensive directory of 347 organizations working on SDG 14 targets including UN agencies, NGOs, research institutions, and private sector partners.
Organizations Directory (347 total)
| Organization | Type | Focus Area | Headquarters | Founded | Budget | Status |
|---|
π‘οΈ Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
Global tracking of marine protected areas progress toward the 10% by 2020 target and the new 30x30 commitment by 2030.
Total Ocean Area
361M kmΒ²
70% of Earth's surface
Protected Area
29.5M kmΒ²
8.16% of global ocean
β +2.3% since 2020
Highly Protected
10.5M kmΒ²
2.9% no-take zones
Gap to 30% Target
78.9M kmΒ²
Need to protect by 2030
MPA Coverage by Region
MPA Growth Over Time
Major Marine Protected Areas (Top 50)
| MPA Name | Country/Region | Area (kmΒ²) | Protection Level | Established | Status |
|---|
π Global Fisheries Intelligence
Comprehensive data on global fish stocks, sustainable fishing practices, aquaculture production, and IUU fishing monitoring.
Global Fish Production
178M
tonnes annually (capture + aquaculture)
Sustainable Stocks
65.8%
within biologically sustainable levels
Overfished Stocks
34.2%
beyond sustainable limits
IUU Fishing Losses
$23.5B
annual economic losses
Fish Stock Status Trends (1974-2024)
Top 10 Fishing Nations (Million Tonnes)
π Key Fisheries Statistics
- Capture Fisheries Production94M tonnes/year
- Aquaculture Production84M tonnes/year
- Global Fishing Fleet4.6M vessels
- People Employed in Fisheries59.5 million
- MSC Certified Fisheries566 certified
- Fish as Protein Source17% of animal protein globally
β οΈ Marine Pollution Monitoring
Tracking plastic pollution, chemical contamination, oil spills, and nutrient runoff impacting ocean health worldwide.
Annual Plastic Input
12M
tonnes entering oceans yearly
Ocean Microplastics
5.25T
particles floating in ocean
Ocean Dead Zones
700+
hypoxic areas globally
Oil Spills Annually
~7,000
tonnes average (trending down)
Plastic Pollution Sources
Pollution by Region (Million Tonnes/Year)
π Top 10 Polluting Rivers
- Yangtze River (China)333,000 tonnes/year
- Ganges River (India)115,000 tonnes/year
- Xi River (China)73,900 tonnes/year
- Huangpu River (China)40,000 tonnes/year
- Cross River (Nigeria)35,000 tonnes/year
- Brantas River (Indonesia)32,000 tonnes/year
- Amazon River (Brazil)31,000 tonnes/year
- Pasig River (Philippines)27,000 tonnes/year
- Irrawaddy River (Myanmar)25,000 tonnes/year
- Solo River (Indonesia)23,000 tonnes/year
πͺΈ Ocean Ecosystem Health
Monitoring coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass meadows, kelp forests, and other critical marine ecosystems.
Coral Reef Loss
50%
lost since 1950s
Mangrove Loss
35%
lost in last 50 years
Seagrass Loss
30%
since 1879
Ecosystem Services Value
$49.7T
annual value to humanity
Ecosystem Health Trends (2000-2024)
πͺΈ Coral Reef Status
- Total Reef Area284,300 kmΒ²
- Countries with Reefs100+
- Species Supported25% of marine life
- Economic Value$9.9T annually
- Reefs at Risk75% threatened
- Bleaching Events4th global event (2023-24)
π³ Mangrove & Seagrass Status
- Mangrove Area147,359 kmΒ²
- Seagrass Area300,000 kmΒ²
- Mangrove Carbon Storage6.4B tonnes
- Mangrove Restoration+8,000 kmΒ² protected since 2010
- Countries Committed44 for mangrove restoration
- Blue Carbon Potential3-5x more than forests
πΊοΈ Regional Ocean Analysis
Comparative analysis of ocean health, MPA coverage, and SDG 14 progress across major ocean regions and basins.
Pacific Ocean
OHI: 71
168.7M kmΒ² | 12.5% MPA
Atlantic Ocean
OHI: 68
106.5M kmΒ² | 6.8% MPA
Indian Ocean
OHI: 65
70.6M kmΒ² | 5.2% MPA
Arctic Ocean
OHI: 74
14.1M kmΒ² | 3.5% MPA
MPA Coverage by Ocean Basin
Coastal Nations by Region
ποΈ Small Island Developing States
Dedicated tracking of the 58 SIDS nations most vulnerable to ocean change and dependent on marine resources.
Total SIDS
58
nations across 3 regions
Combined Population
65M
across all SIDS
Combined EEZ
30M kmΒ²
exclusive economic zones
Ocean Economy Share
~30%
average GDP from marine sectors
π΄ Pacific SIDS (20 Nations)
- FijiEEZ: 1.29M kmΒ²
- Papua New GuineaEEZ: 2.40M kmΒ²
- Solomon IslandsEEZ: 1.59M kmΒ²
- KiribatiEEZ: 3.55M kmΒ²
- MicronesiaEEZ: 2.98M kmΒ²
- PalauEEZ: 0.60M kmΒ²
- Marshall IslandsEEZ: 1.99M kmΒ²
- TuvaluEEZ: 0.76M kmΒ²
π΄ Caribbean SIDS (25 Nations)
- JamaicaEEZ: 0.26M kmΒ²
- BahamasEEZ: 0.65M kmΒ²
- CubaEEZ: 0.35M kmΒ²
- Dominican RepublicEEZ: 0.26M kmΒ²
- HaitiEEZ: 0.13M kmΒ²
- Trinidad & TobagoEEZ: 0.08M kmΒ²
- BarbadosEEZ: 0.19M kmΒ²
- Saint LuciaEEZ: 0.02M kmΒ²
π° Blue Economy & Financing
Tracking investments, funding mechanisms, and economic opportunities for sustainable ocean development.
Global Blue Economy
$6.9T
annual economic value
Current Annual Funding
$22B
for ocean conservation
Annual Funding Gap
$153B
to meet SDG 14 targets
Blue Bonds Issued
$4.8B
cumulative since 2018
Ocean Financing Sources (%)
Blue Bond Issuance Growth
π Major Blue Bond Issuances
- Seychelles Blue Bond (2018)$15M - First sovereign blue bond
- Nordic Investment Bank (2019)$200M - Baltic Sea protection
- Asian Development Bank (2021)$151M - Ocean health bonds
- Bank of China (2020)$942M - Blue economy sectors
- Republic of Fiji (2022)$50M - Blue bond framework
- Indonesia (2023)$150M - Coral reef protection
π Ocean Conservation Case Studies
Detailed examples of successful ocean conservation initiatives, restoration projects, and sustainable blue economy models.
πͺΈ
Great Barrier Reef Restoration
π Queensland, Australia
World's largest coral reef restoration program combining heat-resistant coral cultivation, water quality improvements, and crown-of-thorns starfish control.
$2B
Investment
344K kmΒ²
Protected
+15%
Coral Cover
π°
Seychelles Blue Bond
π Seychelles, Indian Ocean
World's first sovereign blue bond, restructuring national debt for marine conservation commitments protecting 30% of territorial waters.
$15M
Bond Value
30%
Waters Protected
2018
Launched
π
Alaska Pollock Fishery
π Bering Sea, USA
World's largest MSC-certified sustainable fishery demonstrating effective quota management and ecosystem-based approaches.
1.5M
Tonnes/Year
100%
Observer Coverage
A
Sustainability Rating
π§Ή
The Ocean Cleanup
π Pacific Ocean & Rivers
Revolutionary plastic collection systems removing debris from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and intercepting riverine plastic.
10M+
kg Removed
23
Interceptors
2040
90% Target
π³
Sundarbans Mangrove Protection
π Bangladesh & India
World's largest mangrove forest conservation combining community-based management with climate resilience programs.
10K kmΒ²
Protected
4.5M
People Benefit
UNESCO
Heritage Site
ποΈ
Palau National Marine Sanctuary
π Palau, Pacific Ocean
One of the largest fully protected ocean areas demonstrating bold conservation leadership by small island nations.
500K kmΒ²
Protected
80%
EEZ Coverage
2015
Established
π¬ Ocean Technology & Innovation
Emerging technologies transforming ocean monitoring, research, conservation, and sustainable resource management.
π°οΈ
Satellite & Remote Sensing
Advanced satellite systems monitoring ocean temperature, currents, fishing activity, and pollution in real-time globally.
95%
Ocean Coverage
Daily
Update Frequency
π€
Autonomous Systems
AUVs, ROVs, and gliders exploring deep ocean environments and collecting continuous oceanographic data.
11,000m
Max Depth
4,000+
Active Floats
π§
AI & Machine Learning
AI-powered analysis of marine biodiversity, fish stock assessment, and IUU fishing detection from vessel tracking.
99%
IUU Detection
1M+
Species ID/Day
βοΈ
Blockchain Traceability
Transparent seafood supply chains from catch to consumer, verifying sustainable sourcing and combating fraud.
30+
Countries
$2B
Traced Value
π
Acoustic Monitoring
Passive acoustic monitoring of marine mammals, fish populations, and ecosystem health through underwater soundscapes.
200+
Species Tracked
24/7
Monitoring
π§¬
eDNA & Biotechnology
Environmental DNA sampling revolutionizing biodiversity assessments and species detection from water samples.
1,000+
Species/Sample
24hrs
Results Time
π SDG 14 Official Indicators
Complete tracking of all UN-defined indicators for measuring progress toward Life Below Water targets.
Indicator Progress Score by Target
Official UN Indicators (10 Total)
| Indicator | Description | Current Value | Target | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14.1.1 | Index of coastal eutrophication and floating plastic debris density | 12M tonnes/year plastic | Significant reduction by 2025 | Off Track |
| 14.2.1 | Proportion of EEZ managed using ecosystem-based approaches | ~40% of nations | Universal adoption | In Progress |
| 14.3.1 | Average marine acidity (pH) at representative sampling stations | pH 8.1 | Minimize acidification | Declining |
| 14.4.1 | Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels | 65.8% | 100% sustainable | Moderate Progress |
| 14.5.1 | Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas | 8.16% | 30% by 2030 | On Track |
| 14.6.1 | Implementation of instruments to combat IUU fishing | Medium-high implementation | Full implementation | In Progress |
| 14.7.1 | Sustainable fisheries as proportion of GDP in SIDS, LDCs | ~1.5% average | Increased benefits | Slow Progress |
| 14.a.1 | Proportion of research budget allocated to marine technology | <2% global | Increased capacity | Insufficient |
| 14.b.1 | Degree of application of framework for small-scale fisheries | Medium implementation | Full access rights | In Progress |
| 14.c.1 | Countries making progress in implementing UNCLOS frameworks | 168 parties | Universal ratification | Strong Progress |