ADVANCE UNEDITED

REPORTING MATERIAL

I. Introduction

1. The oceans and seas that have connected and sustained humankind for thousands of years

now face unprecedented pressures from the impacts of anthropogenic activities that threaten their

crucial role in the planetary system. Given the importance of the oceans for food security,

tourism, transportation, cultural values and heritage and for the regulation of the climate, the

declining health of the oceans affects the entire planet.

2. Pressures from fishing, shipping, mining, tourism and other industries have created

unsustainable levels of stress on marine and coastal ecosystems. Half of all living coral has been

lost in the past 150 years and plastic pollution in the sea has increased ten -fold in the past four

decades. A third of all fish stocks are now overexploited, de-oxygenated dead zones are growing

in extent and number and ocean acidification, sea level rise and other impacts of climate change

are taking a massive toll.1

3. These impacts are felt most acutely by low-lying coastal States, small island developing

States (SIDS) and coastal communities, whose daily lives are intimately linked to the oceans.

4. Although the international community continues to address the plight of the oceans, more

urgent action is required to halt and reverse this decline, with greater focus on full and effective

implementation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Convention) .2 The

critical role of the legal framework as set out in the Convention – the world’s “constitution for the

oceans”3 – cannot be overstated in addressing the global emergency regarding the oceans. 4

5. The achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 of the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) and its ten targets, some of which are expected to be

achieved by 2020,5 as well as other ocean-related SDGs is key, as is the implementation of the __________________

1 United Nations, “Secretary-General's remarks to Meeting of States Parties to the UN Convention on

the Law of the Sea on the 25th anniversary of its entry into force”, statement, 17 June 2019, available

at: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2019-06-17/secretary-generals-remarks-meeting-of-

state-parties-the-un-convention-the-law-of-the-sea-the-25th-anniversary-of-its-entry-force-delivered. 2 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, p. 3. 3 https://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/koh_english.pdf . 4 United Nations, “A Constitution for the Oceans”, remarks by Tommy T.B. Koh, of Singapore,

President of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, available at:

https://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/koh_english.pdf . 5 See “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, as adopted by the

General Assembly in resolution 70/1 and, in particular, target 14.2 to sustainably manage and protect

marine and coastal ecosystems, target 14.4 to end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated

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Small Island Developing States Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway, the

progress of which will be reviewed at a high-level event on 27 September 2019.6

6. Urgent action by all stakeholders is needed if we are to ensure the conservation and

sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources. The high-level 2020 United Nations

Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and

sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (2020 Ocean

Conference) to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 2 to 6 June 2020, under the over arching theme

“Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of Goal 14:

stocktaking, partnerships and solutions” will provide a particular opportunity for multi -

stakeholder engagement and new partnerships and voluntary commitments in support of SDG 14.7

7. Action must be taken across an array of sectors to address ocean-related challenges to

protect and preserve this essential resource for sustainable development. 8 In the face of a

multitude of processes and outcomes concerning the oceans, now more than ever cooperation and

coordination at all levels needs to be enhanced in order to promote and ensure consistent

application and implementation of the provisions of the Convention and integrated management

and sustainable development of the oceans and seas.9

8. The present report summarizes activities and developments relating to ocean affairs and the

law of the sea, including those undertaken by the United Nations system and other

intergovernmental organizations in relation to General Assembly resolution 73/124.10 The purpose

of the report is to assist the General Assembly in its annual consideration and review of activities

and developments relating to oceans and the law of the sea. It should be read together with other

reports relevant to oceans and the law of the sea issued by the United Nations during the period

under review.11 It should also be read together with the more detailed contributions provided by

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fishing and destructive fishing practices, target 14.5 to conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and

marine areas, and target 14.6 to prohibit and eliminate certain forms of fisheries subsidies . 6 General Assembly resolution 72/217, para. 27. The zero draft is available at:

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/22886Zero_Draft_SAMOA_Pathway_MTR

.pdf. 7 See General Assembly resolution 73/292, 2020 United Nations Conference to Support the

Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainabl y use the oceans, seas

and marine resources for sustainable development, adopted on 9 May 2019

(https://oceanconference.un.org). 8 United Nations, “Secretary-General's remarks to Meeting of States Parties to the UN Convention on

the Law of the Sea on the 25th anniversary of its entry into force”, footnote 1. 9 See General Assembly resolution 73/124 on oceans and the law of the sea, para. 195 and section XV

on Coordination and cooperation, as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, paras.

17.13-17.14, 63, 65, 70 and 82. 10 Due to word count restrictions on reports of the Secretary-General and the scope of developments

in the field of oceans and the law of the sea, the present report does not purport to be comprehensive,

but to provide an illustrative and thematic overview of major developments. 11 These include: (a) the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea (A/74/70),

which addresses the topic of focus of the twentieth meeting of the United Nations Open-ended

Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (Informal Consultative Process); (b)

the report on the work of the Informal Consultative Process at its twentieth meeting (A/74/119); (c)

the reports of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole on the Regular Process for Global Reporting

and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects, on its

eleventh meeting (A/73/373) and its twelfth meeting (A/74/315); (d) the report of the twenty-eighth

Meeting of States Parties resumed to elect two members of the Commission on the Limits of the

Continental Shelf (SPLOS/327); (e) the report of the twenty-ninth meeting of the Meetings of States

Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (SPLOS/29/9); (f) the statements by

the President of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument

under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use

of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction at the closing of the first, second

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the United Nations specialized agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as other

intergovernmental organizations.12

II. Legal and policy framework

9. Activities in the oceans and seas are governed by a large number of binding instruments,

adopted at the global and regional levels within the overall legal framework set out in the

Convention. In addition, there are other instruments providing policy guidance and commitments,

including the 2030 Agenda and annual resolutions of the General Assembly on oceans and the law

of the sea and on sustainable fisheries.13

10. On the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention, I

encouraged all States that had not yet done so to ratify or accede to the Convention and called for

all States Parties to approach its full implementation with renewed commitment and vigour,

noting that many of the current challenges facing our oceans could be addressed through its

effective and comprehensive implementation.14 As at 31 August 2019, there were 168 parties to

the Convention and 150 parties to the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the

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and third sessions (A/CONF.232/2018/7, A/CONF.232/2019/5 and A/CONF.232/2019/10) and (g)

other relevant documents, such as the statements by the Chair of the Commission on the Limits of the

Continental Shelf on the progress of work in the Commission (CLCS/106, CLCS/106/Corr.1 and

CLCS/108 and CLCS/50/2). 12 Inputs have been received from the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the

Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS), Baltic Marine Environment

Protection Commission – Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), Convention on the Conservation of

Migratory Species of Wild Animals (UNEP/CMS), Commission on Science and Technology for

Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), Department of Political and Peacebuilding

Affairs (DPPA), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International

Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES),

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), International Labour Organization (ILO),

International Maritime Organization (IMO), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of

the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International

Seabed Authority (ISA), Joint Technical Commission of Maritime Front (Comisión Técnica Mixta del

Frente Marítimo, CTMFM), Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), North Atlantic

Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO), North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC),

Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL),

OSPAR Commission, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), Secretariat of the

Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management

Organisation (SPRFMO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Secretariat of the United

Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam

and Stockholm Conventions (BRS), Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Office on Drugs and

Crime (UNODC), World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and World Trade Organization (WTO).

All contributions are available at: www.un.org/Depts/los/general_assembly/contributions74.htm. 13 See, for example, General Assembly resolutions 73/124 and 73/125, both adopted on 11 December

2018. 14 See, for example, SPLOS/29/9, paras. 13-15.

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Convention, adopted in 1994.15 Since last year’s report, the number of parties to the 1995 United

Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (Agreement)16 increased from 89 to 90.

11. The Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and

seas must be carried out and also continues to provide the foundation for the further development

of that legal and policy framework. The Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally

binding instrument under the Convention on the conservation and sustainable use of marine

biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, convened pursuant to General

Assembly resolution 72/249 (BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference), held three sessions in New

York, namely from 4 to 17 September 2018, from 25 March to 5 April 2019 and from 19 to 30

August 2019. During the most recent session, negotiations were guided by a draft text of an

agreement under the Convention on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological

diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (A/CONF.232/2019/6, annex).17

III. Maritime spaces

12. The bodies established by the Convention, namely the Commission on the Limits of the

Continental Shelf (Commission), the International Seabed Authority (Authority) and the

International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (Tribunal), continued their important work,

enhancing legal certainty concerning maritime spaces and thereby promoting t he peaceful and

sustainable development of the oceans and seas.

13. Among other activities, the Commission adopted four sets of recommendations and

established four new subcommissions.18

14. The Authority marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention

and its establishment in a special commemorative session of its Assembly.19 Moreover, the

Assembly adopted performance indicators for its strategic plan for the period 2019-2023,20 as

well as a high-level action plan.21 Preliminary discussions were also held on the

operationalization of the Enterprise, as the organ of the Authority that is to carry out activities in

the Area directly, as well as the transporting, processing and marketing of minerals recovered

from the Area.22 As a priority matter, consideration continued of the draft regulations on

exploitation for mineral resources in the Area for adoption in 2020 as part of the mining code.23

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15 Agreement relating to the implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law

of the Sea of 10 December 1982, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1836, p. 3. 16 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law

of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish

Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2167, p. 3. 17 See also https://www.un.org/bbnj/. 18 See CLCS/106, CLCS/106/Corr.1, CLCS/108, CLCS/50/2 and SPLOS/29/6. 19 ISA contribution. Also see https://www.isa.org.jm/. 20 Ibid. 21 Ibid. 22 Section 2(1) of the Annex to the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United

Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 provides that “[T]he Secretariat of

the Authority shall perform the functions of the Enterprise until it begins to operate independently of

the Secretariat. The Secretary-General of the Authority shall appoint from within the staff of the

Authority an interim Director-General to oversee the performance of these functions by the

Secretariat”. 23 See ISBA/25/C/26 and ISBA/25/C/37. Written comments on the draft regulations

[ISBA/25/C/WP.1], including specific drafting suggestions, may be sent to the ISA Secretariat no

later than 15 October 2019 at: consultation@isa.org.jm. The ISA Secretariat will subsequently prepare

a compilation of the proposals and observations sent by members of the ISA Council and a

compilation of proposals and observations sent by other States members of the Authority, Observers

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15. A workshop was held on the requirements of States under the Convention to have due

regard to the rights and duties of other States and reasonable regard for other activities. The

workshop advanced the identification of practical tools to coordinate the activities of contractors

and submarine cables operators in the Area.24

16. With regard to the settlement of disputes, the Tribunal delivered its judgment in the M/V

“Norstar” Case (Panama v Italy) (Case No. 25) 25 and also ordered provisional measures in the

Case concerning the detention of three Ukrainian naval vessels (Ukraine v Russian Federation)

(Case No. 26)26 and in the M/T “San Padre Pio” Case (Switzerland v Nigeria) (Case No. 27).27

17. The International Court of Justice delivered its judgment on the merits in the case

Obligation to Negotiate Access to the Pacific Ocean (Bolivia v Chile).28

18. In my capacity as depositary under the Convention, I received one additional deposit

pursuant to article 76, paragraph 9, of the Convention, permanently describing the outer limits of

the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles,29 as well as several other deposits by States

Parties of charts and/or lists of geographical coordinates of points concerning baselines and the

outer limits of maritime zones.30

IV. Importance of the human dimension

19. Our future depends on the health, resilience and productivity of the oceans. C oastal

communities are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of multiple and cumulative pressures on

the oceans, especially climate change (see paras. 2-3 and 46).

20. Notwithstanding the close connection between the oceans and the health, welfare, safety

and security of people around the world, as also demonstrated in the following sections (see

Sections V, VI and VII below), the human dimension has not featured prominently in the law of

the sea.

21. Yet, people at sea, whether employed or migrating, often find themselves in a position of

vulnerability and require protection against threats to their basic human rights, in parti cular those

individuals who are not under the effective jurisdiction of States capable of protecting such

rights. Moreover, gender equality and the empowerment of women have not yet been achieved in

all ocean-related sectors.

22. Recent events have drawn attention to the need to raise awareness of the importance of the

human dimension and the protection of human rights, 31 including World Oceans Day 2019, which

focussed on the theme “Gender and the Ocean”.32 The vital, yet underutilized contributions of

women in the maritime sector will also be the focus of World Maritime Day 2019 on the theme

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and other Stakeholders, to be submitted by the President of the ISA Council and published no later

than 30 December 2019, for consideration by the ISA Council at its twenty-sixth session. 24 ISA contribution. Also see, Deep Seabed Mining and Submarine Cables: Developing Practical

Options for the Implementation of the ‘Due Regard’ and ‘Reasonable Regard’ Obligations under

UNCLOS (2019). ISBA Technical Study No. 24. 25 https://www.itlos.org/cases/list-of-cases/case-no-25. 26 https://www.itlos.org/cases/list-of-cases/case-no-26. 27 https://www.itlos.org/en/cases/list-of-cases/case-no-27. 28 https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/153. 29 M.Z.N.140.2018.LOS.Rev (New Zealand), available from:

https://www.un.org/Depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/PDFFILES/mzn_s/MZN.140.2018.LO

S.Rev.pdf. 30 See Maritime Zone Notifications 141 to 147 concerning deposits made by Nicaragua, France,

Australia, Cyprus, Panama, Tuvalu and Madagascar, respectively. See:

https://www.un.org/Depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/depositpublicity.htm. 31 Human Rights at Sea: Geneva Declaration on Human Rights at Sea (Version 1), 5 April 2019. 32 https://www.un.org/en/events/oceansday.

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“Empowering Women in the Maritime Community”.33 It will be important for the international

community to continue building on these initiatives.

23. In light of the interlinkages between the SDGs, the achievement of SDG 14 will ultimately

depend on progress also being made on the other SDGs, including Goal 5, on gender equality and

the empowerment of all women and girls and Goal 8, on full and productive employment and

decent work for all.

a. Labour at sea

24. Concrete efforts are needed to promote decent work conditions and opportunities for

women seafarers,34 other seafarers and fishers at sea as they continue to face significant

occupational risks while working in difficult conditions.35 These workers, in particular migrant

labourers and youth, are vulnerable to exploitation, labour abuses and human rights violations.36

Instances of seafarer abandonment have continued to occur.37

25. The 2016 amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, of the ILO entered into

force on 8 January 2019 and included a call upon States to take into account guidance on

eliminating shipboard harassment and bullying.38 An ILO bipartite meeting between seafarers and

shipowners agreed to increase the minimum monthly basic wage of seafarers, with the first

increase effective on 1 July 2019.39

26. In relation to fisheries, best practices concerning sustainable small -scale fisheries40 and a

review of safety at sea in the fisheries sector were published by FAO. 41 Projects were also

initiated for capacity-building programmes on safety at sea for small-scale fisheries and the

development of an accident and fatality reporting system. 42

b. Migration by sea

27. Thousands of people continue to take perilous journeys by sea in many parts of the world,

risking death and injury. Strained search-and-rescue responses, difficulties in securing safe

disembarkation and exploitation by smuggling operations are common along many routes.43

28. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, adopted at an

intergovernmental conference and endorsed by the General Assembly, includes a commitment to

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33 http://www.imo.org/en/About/Events/WorldMaritimeDay/Pages/WMD-2019.aspx. 34 Sectoral Meeting on the Recruitment and Retention of Seafarers and the Promotion of

Opportunities for Women Seafarers. See https://www.ilo.org/sector/activities/sectoral-

meetings/WCMS_674553/lang--en/index.htm. 35 FAO contribution. 36 Ibid. 37 In 2018, there were 44 reported cases of seafarer abandonment, of which 15 were resolved by the

time of reporting. See ILO and IMO contributions. 38 https://www.ilo.org/global/standards/maritime-labour-convention/text/WCMS_554767/lang--

en/index.htm. 39 ILO Subcommittee on Wages of Seafarers of the Joint Maritime Commission, Geneva, 19 -20

November 2018, available at: https://www.ilo.org/sector/activities/sectoral-

meetings/WCMS_619085/lang--en/index.htm. See ILO contribution for the annual increased

minimum monthly basic wage figures up to 2021. 40 FAO contribution. See, for example, FAO, 2019. “Securing sustainable small -scale fisheries:

sharing good practices from around the world”, available at:

http://www.fao.org/3/CA3041EN/ca3041en.pdf. 41 FAO, 2019. “Global review of safety at sea in the fisheries sector”, available at:

http://www.fao.org/3/I9185EN/i9185en.pdf. 42 FAO, 2019. “Joining forces in the fisheries sector: Promoting safety, decent work and the fight

against IUU fishing”, available at: http://www.fao.org/3/ca2511en/CA2511EN.pdf. 43 UNHCR contribution. UNHCR conducted trainings for law enforcement officials on protect ion at

sea, trafficking in persons and shipwreck responses.

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“cooperate internationally to save lives and prevent migrant deaths and injuries through

individual or joint search and rescue operations, standardized collection and exchange of relevant

information, assuming collective responsibility to preserve the lives of all migrants, in

accordance with international law”.44

29. It is estimated that more than 160,000 people crossed the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea to

reach the Arabian Peninsula in 2018.45 In the first four months of 2019, 55,430 individuals also

entered Yemen from Djibouti or Somalia by sea.46 A growing number of people arrived in the

Caribbean region in 2018 due to outflows from Venezuela. 47 Small-scale mixed migration also

occurred by sea from West Africa towards Europe and through the Bay of Bengal and the

Andaman Sea to Indonesia and Malaysia.48 In 2018, approximately 17,000 Rohingya reportedly

crossed from Myanmar to Bangladesh, mostly by boat. 49

30. Approximately 116,650 people reportedly travelled to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea in

2018, a decrease from over 172,300 refugees and migrants in 2017.50 Approximately 2,275 people

were believed to have died during those crossings.51 UNHCR reported a dire humanitarian

situation in the Central Mediterranean with regard to rescue at sea, safe disembarkation and

access to asylum procedures.52

V. Maritime safety and security

31. Safe and secure navigation is not only vital for people on board ships, but for the entire

shipping industry and global economy. Around 80 per cent of global trade by volume and more

than 70 per cent of its value is being carried by sea and handled by ports worldwide.53

32. Efforts to address climate change (see para. 49) and technological advances are currently

among the key drivers of change in global shipping. 54

33. IMO endorsed the methodology and framework for a regulatory scoping exercise on

maritime autonomous surface ships to assess the applicability of instruments to ships with

varying degrees of autonomy and to develop guidelines for trials. 55

34. With regard to e-navigation, IMO and the IHO continued to work towards its full

implementation.56 Worldwide coverage of electronic navigational charts now corresponds to

existing paper charts, however, many areas of the oceans are still not supported by adequate

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44 General Assembly resolution 73/195, Annex, para. 24, adopted on 19 December 2018. 45 IOM, 2019. “Fatal Journeys 4: Missing Migrant Children”, p. 39, available at:

https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/fatal_journeys_4.pdf. 46 UNHCR contribution, citing IOM data. 47 UNHCR contribution. 48 Ibid. 49 Ibid. 50 Ibid. 51 Ibid. 52 Ibid. Also see Report of the Secretary-General on Implementation of Security Council resolution

2437 (2018), S/2019/711. 53 https://unctad.org/en/pages/PublicationWebflyer.aspx?publicationid=2245. 54 Review of Maritime Transport 2018 , UNCTAD, p. xii. See also “Seven key trends shaping maritime

transport” (3 October 2018) at https://unctad.org/en/pages/PressRelease.aspx?OriginalVersionID=474. 55 IMO contribution. See also the Report of the Maritime Safety Committee on its 100 th session (MSC

100/20) at para.5.1-32; the Report of the Maritime Safety Committee on its 101 st session (MSC

101/24) at para.5.1-22; and the Report of the Legal Committee on the Work of its 106 th session (LEG

106/16) at para. 8.1-10. 56 IHO contribution. See also the Report of the Maritime Safety Committee on its 101 st session (MSC

101/24) at para.11.10-11.

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surveys or charts. Progress is hindered by lack of reliable survey data and the allocation of

appropriate resources and priority by coastal States. 57

35. A roadmap for the development of measures for ships operating in polar waters not

currently covered by the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters was agreed upon,

including possible revisions to relevant instruments for adoption by IMO in 2022. 58

36. IMO also endorsed a series of measures to prevent unlawful practices associated with the

fraudulent registration and fraudulent registries of ships, which continued to negative ly impact

the shipping sector. Such measures include a comprehensive database of registries and related

procedures for communication, as well as recommended best practices to assist in combating such

practices.59 IMO also agreed to work with the Security Council to establish a searchable database

of vessels currently the subject of, or designated pursuant to, Security Council resolutions. 60

37. Maritime security continued to be also threatened by acts of piracy and armed robbery

against ships and other crimes at sea, endangering the lives and livelihoods of people and

interfering with international trade and navigation and other lawful uses of the oceans. Illicit

traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, intentional and unlawful damage to the

marine environment and illegal activities in the fisheries sector and other criminal activities also

continued to undermine the ability of States to develop sustainable ocean-based economies. Thus,

addressing criminal activities, including in the context of the broader category of transnational

organized crimes at sea, remained a priority for the international community.

38. On 5 February 2019, the Security Council held an open meeting on transnational organized

crimes at sea as a threat to international peace and security, following an Arria -formula meeting

on the same topic on 13 June 2018.61 The subject of transnational organized crimes and illicit

drug trafficking in the Caribbean Region as a threat to international stability was featured in an

Arria-formula meeting on 7 June 2019.62 The Counter-terrorism Committee of the Security

Council also met to discuss maritime security issues, including terrorist acts committed at sea,

among other issues.63

39. Effective cooperation among States and among other relevant stakeholders is of central

importance in addressing threats to maritime security, as demonstrated by the joint container

control programme between the UNODC and the World Customs Organization, 64 which in 2018

witnessed its most successful year in the quantity of drugs seized. 65

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57 IHO contribution. 58 IMO contribution. See also the Report of the Maritime Safety Committee on its 101 st session (MSC

101/24) at para.7.1-11. 59 IMO contribution. See also the Report of the Legal Committee on the Work of its 106 th session

(LEG 106/16) at para.7.12 and 7.20-25. 60 IMO contribution. See also the Report of the Legal Committee on the Work of its 106 th session

(LEG 106/16) at para.7.28. 61 S/PV.8457, Record of the 8457 th meeting of the Security Council. 62 https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2019/June/unodc-co-organizes-security-council-open-

arria-formula-meeting-on-transnational-organized-crime-in-the-caribbean-as-threat-to-peace-and-

stability.html. 63 Security Council report, Monthly Forecast for July 2019, available at:

https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-

CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/2019_07_forecast.pdf. 64 UNODC contribution. 65 Container Control Programme Annual Report 2018, p.18, available at: http://www.wcoomd.org/-

/media/wco/public/global/pdf/topics/enforcement-and-compliance/activities-and-programmes/drugs-

and-precursor-chemicals/ccp/ccp-annual-report-2018.pdf?db=web.

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40. International cooperation to address piracy continued through existing fora, including the

Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, 66 the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre67

and the Friends of the Gulf of Guinea group.68 The Security Council adopted resolution 2442 on

piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia.69

41. In 2018, reported incidents of actual and attempted piracy and armed robbery against ships

globally rose to 223 from 204 in 2017, with the largest percentage occurring in West Africa (81

incidents) and the South China Sea (57 incidents). 70 While the number of incidents attributed to

Somalia-based pirates decreased to ten in 2018 from 21 in 2017,71 the distance from the coast at

which some incidents occurred demonstrated the continued capability of Somali pirate groups. 72

During the first six months of 2019, 78 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were

reported worldwide, as compared with 107 during the first six months of 2018. 73

42. Of particular concern was the continued risks to seafarers, with 141 persons taken hostage

and 83 kidnapped in 2018,74 and 38 persons taken hostage and 37 kidnapped in the first six

months of 2019.75

43. UNODC continued to carry out technical assistance and other activities in East and West

Africa and the Caribbean,76 the Horn of Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia to build the

capacity of maritime law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges in tackling maritime

crimes.77 It also implemented a project with IMO aimed at enhancing national capacity to

implement maritime-related international legal instruments on counter-terrorism in selected South

and Southeast Asian States.78 Through its integrated technical cooperation programme, IMO

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66 See:

http://foreign.govmu.org/English/Documents/2019/Ministry/Maritime%20security%20at%20intercont

inental/CGPCS%20Plenary%20final%20communique.pdf. 67 www.recaap.org. 68 Report of the Maritime Safety Committee on its 101st session (MSC 101/24), para. 18. 69 Security Council resolution 2442, adopted on 6 November 2018. 70 See the Reports on Acts of Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships: Annual Report – 2018, IMO

document MSC.4/Circ.263, p. 2. 71 Ibid. 72 See the Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships Report of the International Maritime Bureau of

the International Chamber of Commerce for the Period 1 January – 31 December 2018, p. 29 at:

https://www.icc-ccs.org/reports/2018_Annual_IMB_Piracy_Report.pdf. The Secretary-General has

pointed out that “The continued piracy attempts demonstrate that the underlying conditions fuelling

piracy have not yet changed and that piracy networks are still very much active.” See, Report of the

Secretary-General on the situation with respect to piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of

Somalia, S/2018/903, para. 6. 73 See the Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships Report of the Internat ional Maritime Bureau of

the International Chamber of Commerce for the Period 1 January – 30 June 2019, p. 22 at:

https://www.icc-ccs.org/reports/2019Q2IMB-Piracy-Report.pdf. 74 See the Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships Report, footnote 72, p. 29. 75 See the Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships Report, footnote 73, p. 22. 76 See UNODC website at: www.unodc.org/unodc/en/piracy/latin-america-and-the-caribbean.html. 77 UNODC contribution. Also see UNODC, Maritime Crime: A Manual for Criminal Justice

Practitioners (United Nations, second edition, June 2019), including chapters on Illicit Oil and Fuel

Activities in the Maritime Domain; Human Rights in the Maritime Domain; Kidnapping and Hostage -

Taking at Sea; Maritime Terrorism Offenses; and Smuggling of Migrants by Sea available at:

https://www.unodc.org/documents/Maritime_crime/19-

02087_Maritime_Crime_Manual_Second_Edition_ebook.pdf. 78 UNODC contribution.

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supported countries in enhancing security measures to protect ships and ports from threats posed

by terrorism and other criminal activities at sea. 79

44. UNODC also reported on activities to enhance the capacity of States to prevent and

respond to illegal activities in the fisheries sector, including through regional programmes,

seminars and symposiums, as well as the development of a guide on addressing corruption in the

fisheries sector.80 A framework to assist States in ensuring the protection and resilience of

submarine cables within their maritime zones was also developed through the UNODC global

maritime crime programme and could be tailored to the needs of individual States. 81

VI. Climate change

45. The oceans play a central role in regulating global temperature and climate . But physical

and chemical changes to the oceans resulting from increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in

the atmosphere are already driving significant changes to ocean systems. 82 Climate change poses

a major threat to the health and safety of humans and to an increasing number of ecosystems.

46. In particular, according to IPCC, under a scenario of 1.5°C temperature increase, 31-69

million people worldwide are projected to be exposed to flooding in 2100, assuming no

adaptation or protection at all, compared with 32-79 million at a 2°C temperature increase.83 The

International Law Commission included sea-level rise in international law in its programme of

work and established an open-ended Study Group on the topic.84 Tuvalu proposed the

development of an international legally binding instrument to create appropriate protections for

persons displaced by the impacts of climate change. 85 Human mobility in the context of climate

change and natural disasters was discussed during the Caribbean migration consultations.86

47. Ocean warming and acidification associated with 1.5°C global warming will impact a wide

range of marine organisms and ecosystems, as well as food production sectors , such as

aquaculture and fisheries and, consequently, many coastal communities that depend on the oceans

and their resources.87

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79 Measures to enhance maritime security, Updates on recent developments related to maritime

security, IMO document, MSC 101/4. 80 UNODC piloted the guide to support the national conduct of a corruption risk assessment and

development of a risk mitigation plan. 81 See https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2019/February/key-actions-to-protect-submarine-

cables-from-criminal-activity-identified-at-unodc-global-expert-meeting.html and S/PV.8457, Record

of the 8457th meeting of the Security Council at p. 24. 82 Ove Hoegh-Guldberg and others, 2018: Impacts of 1.5°C Global Warming on Natural and Human

Systems. In: Global Warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of

1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the

context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development,

and efforts to eradicate poverty. In Press. At p. 222 available at:

https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2019/06/SR15_Chapter3_Low_Res.pdf . 83 Ibid, p. 231. 84 See seventy-first session of the International Law Commission, Sea-level rise in relation to

international law,” Summaries of the Work of the International Law Commission in 2019 available at:

http://legal.un.org/ilc/summaries/8_9.shtml. 85 See draft resolution, “Providing Legal Protection for Persons Displaced by the Impacts of Climate

Change”, A/73/L.105, paras. 10 and 11. 86 UNHCR contribution. 87 See Ove Hoegh-Guldberg and others, footnote 82. Also see the report of the Secretary-General on

Oceans and the law of the sea, A/72/70, for details of the environmental, social and economic

consequences of climate change.

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48. The important interlinkages between oceans and climate change are increasingly being

recognized by the international community. The 2019 Climate Action Summit will, inter alia,

focus on oceans in the context of nature-based solutions.88 Oceans and coastal zones was also a

key theme of the UNFCCC global climate action agenda. The Marrakech Partnership for Global

Climate Action will support implementation of the Paris Agreement by enabling collaboration

between governments, cities, regions, businesses and investors, including in relation to ocean and

coastal zones.89 Over 70 per cent of the current nationally determined contributions (NDCs)

submitted under the Paris Agreement include ocean and marine issues.90

49. Air pollution from ships will be reduced as a result of the entry into force on 1 January

2020 of the global limit of 0.50 per cent on sulphur in fuel oil under Annex VI to the International

Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. For ships operating in de signated

emission control areas the limit continues to be 0.10 per cent. 91 IMO approved a programme up to

2023 of follow-up actions to its initial strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships. Work

also began on the fourth IMO GHG study that will update emissions estimates from international

shipping from 2012 to 2018. With respect to energy efficiency, new guidelines were adopted on

the method of calculation of the attained energy efficiency design index for new ships and

measures were approved to strengthen mandatory requirements for new ships and to encourage

their cooperation with ports. A voluntary multi-donor trust fund was also established to support

technical cooperation and capacity-building activities on reduction of GHG emissions from ships.

Furthermore, an IMO-Norway project, GreenVoyage-2050, was launched to demonstrate and test

technical solutions for reducing GHG emissions in shipping and to build capacity in developing

countries, including SIDS and least developed countries (LDCs).92

50. Further required mitigation and also adaptation measures will be informed by the Special

Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on the Ocean and Cryosphere

in a Changing Climate, expected to be launched in late September 2019,93 as well as by other

studies. For example, ICES published its annual report on ocean climate to present measurements

of water temperatures at different depths, salinity, sea level pressure, air temperature, and ice

cover throughout the North Atlantic as well as to identify key trends.94 ICES and several partners

also organized the fourth International Symposium on the Climate Change Effects on the World's

Oceans.95 OSPAR established an expert network on climate change and began working on

impacts of climate change in the region. It also began monitoring ocean acidification levels and

created a group of experts to develop a new measurable indicator for the next assessment in

2023.96

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88 See "Information Note on the 2019 Climate Action Summit of the Secretary-General", 2019,

https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/assets/pdf/Information_Note_Climate%20Summit_20Mar2019.

pdf. 89 UNFCCC contribution. 90 Ibid. Also see, Gallo et al., "Ocean commitments under the Paris Agreement", Nature Climate

Change, volume 7, pp. 833-838 (30 October 2017) at:

https://www.nature.com/articles/nclimate3422?draft=journal&proof=true1. 91 IMO contribution. 92 Ibid. 93 See "Authors of IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere meet in Russia ", 2019,

https://www.ipcc.ch/2019/02/28/srocc-lam4/. 94 ICES contribution. 95 Ibid. 96 OSPAR contribution.

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51. FAO published a technical paper on deep-ocean climate change impacts on habitat, fish and

fisheries,97 while NASCO’s symposium recommended the need to identify strategic activities to

deal with climate change and cascading effects on salmon and salmon habitat .98

VII. Balancing economic growth with environmental protection and social development for a sustainable ocean-based economy and to build resilience

52. Healthy, resilient and productive oceans are critical for climate regulation and carbon

sequestration, economic growth and social development (see section VI). They are also important

for the identity and culture of SIDS.99

53. States and other stakeholders continued to attach great importance to the development or

expansion of an ocean-based economy. At the same time, the declining state of the marine

environment has led to an increased recognition of the need to ensure that such development or

expansion is sustainable. For example, the 2018 Sustainable Blue Economy Conference

highlighted the importance of promoting action-oriented global strategies that place people and

the blue economy resources at the center of sustainable development. 100 The High-Level Panel for

a Sustainable Ocean Economy, comprising 14 heads of government and the Special Envoy for the

Ocean, intends to provide recommendations in 2020 for transitioning to a fully regenerative,

sustainable ocean economy.101

54. Over 65 per cent of the ocean area is now experiencing cumulative impacts from human

activities, including direct exploitation, in particular, overexploitation of fish, shellfish and other

organisms, land- and sea-based pollution, and land/sea-use change, including coastal development

for infrastructure and aquaculture.102 More food, energy and materials are being supplied than

ever before, but increasingly at the expense of the planet’s ability to contribute to fut ure

generations. Biodiversity is now declining faster than at any time in human history. 103 Current

negative trends in biodiversity and ecosystem health will undermine progress towards 80 per cent

of the assessed targets underpinning the SDGs related to oceans, poverty, hunger, health, water,

cities, climate and land.104

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97 FAO contribution; FAO, 2019. Deep-ocean climate change impacts on habitat, fish and fisheries ,

by Lisa Levin, Maria Baker, and Anthony Thompson (eds). FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical

Paper No. 638. Rome, FAO. 186 pp. 98 NASCO contribution. Also see: Report from the Tromsø Symposium on the Recommendations to

Address Future Management Challenges, "Managing the Atlantic salmon in a rapidly changing

environment - management challenges and possible responses," NASCO document CNL(19)16. 99 Apia Outcome, Inter-Regional Meeting for the Mid-Term Review of the SAMOA Pathway, Apia,

Samoa, 30 October to 1 November 2018. 100 See the Nairobi Statement of Intent on Advancing the Global Sustainable Blue Economy available

at: http://www.blueeconomyconference.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Nairobi-Statement-of-

Intent-Advancing-Global-Sustainable-Blue-Economy.pdf. 101 https://oceanpanel.org/the-report.html. 102 Summary for policymakers of the global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services

of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (advance

unedited version), 6 May 2019, pp. 3-4, available at: https://www.ipbes.net/news/ipbes-global-

assessment-summary-policymakers-pdf. See also the First Global Integrated Marine Assessment,

chapter 54, for an overall assessment of human impact on the oceans. 103 See IPBES, Summary for policymakers, footnote 102, p. 2. 104 Namely, SDGs 1, 2, 3, 6, 11, 13, 14, and 15. See IPBES, Summary for policymakers, footnote 102,

p. 6.

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55. UNEP indicated105 that only one of the indicators underpinning SDG 14, regarding

coverage of protected areas, represented a positive trend,106 while a negative trend was assessed

for sustainable fish stocks.107 Insufficient data was available to analyze all the other SDG 14

indicators, however, a negative trend was expected as these indicators received less attention in

terms of policy interventions and investment in monitoring.108 As noted in para. 96, data for SDG

indicator 14.c.1 had not been collected pending the approval of a methodology.

56. Therefore, in spite of the number of actions that have been taken by the international

community, mainly in the context of sectoral activities, such as fisheries (see para s. 69-77), and

shipping (see paras. 33-36), as well as in relation to the protection and preservation of the marine

environment and conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity, as noted in

paras. 79-88, addressing the current multiple and cumulative pressures on marine biodiversity and

ecosystems will require more concerted efforts towards fully implementing the comprehensive

legal and policy framework (see section II) and more effective cross-sectoral coordination and

cooperation among States at all levels and among all relevant stakeholders, as indicated in section

VIII.

57. The full and effective implementation of the Convention is an essential prerequisite for the

integrated management and sustainable development of the oceans and seas. The Convention

embodies the three dimensions of sustainable development by establishing a delicate balance

between the need for economic and social development through the use of the oceans and their

resources and the need to conserve and manage marine resources in a sustainable manner and

protect and preserve the marine environment.

A. Increasing knowledge and understanding and promoting

marine science and technology

58. Marine science is critical for the overall achievement of the SDGs. It increases

understanding and knowledge of the oceans and seas and their crucial role in the planetary

system, for improved application in management and decision-making and in preparedness for

extreme weather events, sea level rise and other ocean-related challenges.109 However, significant

knowledge and capacity gaps remain to be filled. For example, UNEP reported that there was

insufficient data to assess progress with respect to 68 per cent of the 93 environment-related SDG

indicators.110

59. As recognized by the General Assembly greater efforts are needed at all levels to increase

marine scientific research activities and the development and transfer of marine technologies, in

accordance with the Convention, in order to improve overall understanding and knowledge of the

oceans and marine ecosystems and address ongoing gaps in capacity-building in marine

science.111 States will have an opportunity during the UN Decade of Ocean Science for

Sustainable Development, 2021-2030 (UN Decade) and at the upcoming 2020 Ocean Conference

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105 UNEP, 2019. “Measuring Progress: Towards achieving the environmental dimension of the SDGs”,

pp. 6-7, available at: https://www.unenvironment.org/resources/global-environment-outlook-6 and at:

https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/27627/MeaProg2019.pdf?sequence=1&isAllo

wed=y. 106 SDG indicator 14.5.1. 107 SDG indicator 14.4.1. 108 See UNEP, Measuring Progress, footnote 105, pp. 5 and 7. 109 See, for example, SDG target 14.A to increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and

transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and

to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in

particular small island developing States and least developed countries. 110 See UNEP, Measuring Progress, footnote 105, pp. 6-7. 111 See, for example, General Assembly resolution 73/124, paras. 11, 12 and 33.

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to explore what action is needed to enhance science and technology in conserving and sustainably

using the oceans, seas and marine resources (also see paras. 6, 63 and 94).

60. A vital prerequisite for increasing marine scientific activities is a common understanding of

the legal regime in the Convention, in particular, Part XIII on marine scientific research. The

increasing use of commercial ships for the collection of data, including for meteorological and

oceanographic observations, and the potential use of other maritime infrastructure, including

subsea fibre-optic telecommunications networks, knows as SMART cables, to augment tsunami

monitoring,112 has raised questions of interpretation and application of the legal regime. With

regard to marine meteorological and oceanographic observations in coastal regions, the WMO

Congress confirmed the importance of respecting relevant legal frameworks for the taking and

sharing of ocean data in waters under national jurisdiction113 and urged its members to facilitate

and promote marine meteorological and related oceanographic observation programmes, in

particular from within exclusive economic zones.114

61. During the discussions in the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on

Oceans and the Law of the Sea (ICP) on the topic of “Ocean Science and the United Nations

Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development”, the UN Decade was identified by many

delegations as a good opportunity to further support the implementation of the applicable

provisions of the Convention. The ICP also outlined other initiatives, ideas, proposals and

perspectives by States and entities with respect to the UN Decade.115

62. In anticipation of the UN Decade, IOC-UNESCO convened the first global planning

meeting and identified deliverables and partnerships to meet the objectives for the UN Decade.

This dialogue will continue throughout 2019 and 2020, in particular via regional and thematic

workshops, to inform the planning of the UN Decade. The implementation plan is scheduled to be

presented to the General Assembly in 2020.116

63. IOC-UNESCO also progressed preparation of the second edition of the Global Ocean

Science Report,117 which will be launched at the 2020 Ocean Conference and will provide

baseline information for the UN Decade. The International Oceanographic Data and Information

Exchange Committee recommended that IOC-UNESCO formulate common guidelines or

principles regarding data collected during the UN Decade.118 The Committee also recommended

that the IOC Secretariat explore, through UN-Oceans, the development of a joint data and

information system.119

64. The WMO Congress approved the WMO Strategic Plan 2020-2023,120 which set five long-

term goals for 2030, each of which was ocean-related.121 It also adopted resolutions targeting

better scientific understanding of the oceans.122

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112 See Roundtable “Maritime Sector Strategies to Augment Tsunami Monitoring with Economic,

Safety and Environmental Co-benefits”, Singapore, 22-23 August 2019. 113 WMO document, Resolution 46 (Cg-18). 114 WMO document, Resolution 45 (Cg-18). 115 See Report of the twentieth meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative

Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, held in New York, from 10-14 June 2019, A/74/119, para.

7. 116 IOC-UNESCO contribution. As stated in the IOC roadmap, the activities to be developed in the

framework of the UN Decade of Ocean Science should be seen as complementary and supportive of

the Regular Process. See Revised Roadmap for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable

Development, IOC/EC-LI/2 Annex 3, 18 June 2018, available at https://en.unesco.org/ocean-

decade/resources. 117 IOC document, IOC/INF-1366. 118 IOC-UNECO contribution. 119 Ibid. 120 WMO document, Resolution 3(1)/1 (Cg-18). 121 WMO contribution. 122 Ibid.

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65. The Global Ocean Observing System 2030 Strategy, 123 was approved by the WMO

Congress124 and the IOC-UNESCO Assembly, with strategic objectives to shape development of

an implementation plan and partnership strategy. In recognition of the need to collaborate to

achieve improved accessibility, unrestricted use and interoperability of data and information,

IOC-UNESCO also launched an ocean data and information system catalogue of sources. 125

66. Interoperability of ocean information systems and data is also important in the preparation

of scientific assessments of the state of the oceans. The current multitude of processes and

methodologies involved can create challenges for States in the consideration and integration of

scientific outcomes and advice in policy decisions in support of the sustainable development of

the oceans and seas.

67. The Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine

Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects (Regular Process) has a critical role in

addressing these challenges. It provides a global mechanism to regularly review the

environmental, economic and social aspects of the world’s oceans and contributes to the

strengthening of the regular scientific assessment of the state of the marine environment in order

to enhance the scientific basis for policymaking.

68. The second world ocean assessment, currently under preparation, is scheduled to be

considered by the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole and then the General Assembly in 2020.

Its preparation will be informed, inter alia, by the second round of regional workshops completed

in 2018 and by a two-day Multi-stakeholder Dialogue and Capacity-building Partnership Event

held in 2019. The event provided an opportunity to build awareness and collaboration with

respect to capacity-building in support of the Regular Process. One of the conclusions of the

event related to the importance of developing a coherent programme for capacity-building for

conducting marine assessments, and particularly integrated assessments.126 In August 2019, the

Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole approved the conclusions from the event. It also, inter alia,

approved the possible outcomes and building blocks of the third cycle of the Regular Process . A

programme of work for that third cycle, including resource requirements, will be considered by

the Ad Hoc Working Group in 2020.127

B. Conservation and sustainable use of living marine resources

69. Urgent action is needed to improve the conservation and sustainable use of marine living

resources, in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement, in order to achieve the ocean-

related commitments in the 2030 Agenda, including by strengthening international cooperation

and coordination in fisheries management, combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU)

fishing, addressing unsustainable fishing practices and reducing overcapacity. 128 Activities and

measures to strengthen international cooperation and coordination in fisheries management,

continued to be a priority. For example, cooperation among States led to the adopt ion of the

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123 IOC Assembly decision IOC-XXX/7.1.1 and WMO resolution 47 (Cg-18). 124 WMO document, Resolution 6.1(3)/4 (Cg-18). 125 IOC-UNESCO contribution; available through http://catalogue.odis.org. 126 See Multi-stakeholder Dialogue and Capacity-building Partnership Event for the Regular Process

for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including

Socioeconomic Aspects, Summary of Discussions and Way forward: Conclusions from the Multi-

Stakeholder dialogue and capacity-building partnership event at:

https://www.un.org/regularprocess/content/multi-stakeholders. 127 Report of the twelfth meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole, held in New York from

29-30 July 2019, (A/74/315). 128 See, in particular, targets 14.2, 14.4, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7, 14.b and 14.c of the 2030 Agenda, as well as

the outcome of the resumed Review Conference of the Agreement available here:

https://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/review_conf_fish_stocks.htm.

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International Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean

in October 2018.

70. The Informal Consultations of States Parties to the Agreement provided an opportunity for

regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements (RFMO/As) to report on progress

in performance reviews and implementing related recommendations 129 and to, inter alia, explore

the importance of performance review processes and ways for their strengthening. The

Consultations agreed that the Review Conference on the Agreement would be resumed in 2021,

approved revised Terms of Reference for the Part VII Assistance Fund with the aim of facilitating

future contributions to assist developing States Parties in implementing the Agreement and

decided that the Informal Consultations in 2020 would focus on the topic “Implementation of an

ecosystem approach to fisheries management”.130

71. Efforts to increase cooperation among RFMO/As also continued, including in the context of

the FAO Regional Fishery Body Secretariats Network;131 between NASCO, ICCAT, NAFO and

NEAFC in relation to combatting IUU fishing for salmon and addressing salmon bycatch in the

North Atlantic;132 through the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Fisheries Consultative Group Mechanism; 133

between CCAMLR and SPRFMO on toothfish tagging research, catch documentation schemes,

IUU vessel list exchange and scientific observer programmes;134 and between NASCO and

NPAFC on activities to promote 2019 as the International Year of the Salmon.135

72. In other developments, CBD, FAO and the IUCN Fisheries Expert Group cooperated to

improve assessment and reporting on progress towards Aichi Biodiversity Target 6136 and CMS

and the IWC launched a joint online whale watching handbook.137 NEAFC and OSPAR made a

joint request to ICES for scientific advice on deep sea sharks, rays and chimaeras and worked to

develop a proposal for a new marine protected area primarily for bird protection in the OSPAR

maritime area.138 SPRFMO adopted new memorandums of understanding with the Permanent

Commission of the South Pacific and the Network for the Exchange of Information and Shared

Experiences between Latin American and Caribbean Countries to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate

IUU Fishing to establish cooperation on exchanging data and scientific information and

strengthen regional capacities to fight IUU fishing.139 The Signatories to the Memorandum of

Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks added eight species of sharks and rays to

Annex 1.140

73. The second Meeting of States Parties to the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent,

Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA) took steps to facilitate

the effective implementation of that instrument, including by adopting the rules of procedure for

the meetings of the parties, developing the global information exchange system, adopting terms

of reference for the funding mechanisms under Part 6 of the instrument and adopting a

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129 NAFO, NASCO and SPRFMO contributions. See also contributions received on the topic of the

fourteenth round of informal consultations of States Parties to the United Nations Fish Stocks

Agreement available at: www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/ICSP14/ICSP14.html. 130 The report of the fourteenth round of the Informal Consultations of States Parties to the

Agreement, held in May 2019, is available at:

www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/fish_stocks_agreement_states_parties.htm. 131 FAO contribution. 132 NASCO contribution. 133 SEAFDEC contribution. 134 SPRFMO contribution. 135 NASCO contribution. 136 CBD contribution. 137 CMS contribution. 138 NEAFC contribution. 139 SPRFMO contribution. 140 CMS contribution.

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questionnaire to review and assess the effectiveness of the instrument. A meeting to review and

assess the instrument in accordance with its article 24 will be held in late 2020 . 141

74. FAO continued to support States in building capacity to effectively implement the PSMA,

the Convention and other international fisheries treaties and guidelines. It also supported States,

regional fisheries bodies and other stakeholders in establishing sustainable fisheries policies,

including for sustainable small-scale fisheries, promoting decent work and safety at sea (see para

26), combatting IUU fishing and increasing traceability in fish value chains (see also para. 82).142

75. Negotiations on fisheries subsidies that can contribute to overcapacity, overfishing and IUU

fishing continued at the WTO and aimed at achieving the outcomes mandated by its 2017

Ministerial Conference by 2019. Discussions organized around subsidies that contribute to IUU

fishing; subsidies to fishing where stocks are overfished; subsidies contributing to fishing

overcapacity and to overfishing; and cross-cutting issues, including special and differential

treatment for developing countries and LDCs, dispute settlement, institutional issues and

notification and transparency.143

76. A number of organizations also reported on measures to address unsustainable fishing

practices, including regarding deep-sea fishing activities, such as through the FAO Common

Oceans ABNJ Programme funded by the Global Environment Facility.144

77. In 2020, the General Assembly will undertake a further review of the implementation of

measures to address the impacts of bottom fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems and the long -

term sustainability of deep-sea fish stocks.145

C. Protection and preservation of the marine environment and

conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity

78. To halt the deterioration of the health, resilience and productivity of the oceans and

generate transformative change, there is a critical need to strengthen environmental laws and

policies and implement existing obligations and commitments, as well as the rule of law more

generally.146 Particularly important in this regard is implementation of Part XII of the Convention

on the protection and preservation of the marine environment.

79. UNEP developed a new marine and coastal strategy to support national, regional and global

activities to ensure healthy and sustainable oceans and coasts by 2030. 147 Efforts to enhance the

conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity also continued, including with respect to

mainstreaming and integrating biodiversity within and across sectors, such as energy, mining,

infrastructure, fisheries and tourism.148 In the context of developing the post-2020 Global

Biodiversity Framework of the CBD, a thematic consultation focusing on marine and coastal

biodiversity will be convened in November 2019.149

80. In other fora, measures were adopted to address the impacts of specific activities, including

land-based activities, air pollution (see para. 49) or impacts on specific species and ecosystems,

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141 FAO contribution. 142 Ibid. 143 WTO contribution. 144 FAO, NAFO, NEAFC, SPRFMO contributions. 145 General Assembly resolution 73/125, para. 203. 146 See IPBES, Summary for policymakers, footnote 102, pp. 7-8. Also see Report of the Ad hoc open-

ended working group established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 72/277, entitled “Towards

a Global Pact for the Environment”, with recommendations to the General Assembly

(A/AC.289/6/Rev.1). 147 UNEP/EA.4/INF/7 and UNEP contribution. 148 Decisions 14/3, 14/9 and 14/10 of the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the

Convention on Biological Diversity. Also see SCBD contribution. 149 SCBD contribution.

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such as alien invasive species,150 marine debris, plastics and microplastics,151 nutrient pollution,152

waste,153 underwater noise,154 ship strikes,155 and by-catch.156

81. Of particular note in relation to plastic pollution was the adoption of amendments to the

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their

Disposal to enhance the control of transboundary movements of such waste, including by

clarifying the scope of plastic wastes presumed to be hazardous and subject to prior informed

consent procedures.157 A multi-stakeholder framework on plastic waste was also established with

one of its aims to reduce and eventually eliminate the discharge of plastic waste an d

microplastics, in particular into the marine environment. 158

82. The Group of Twenty adopted an implementation framework for actions on marine plastic

litter.159 Steps were also taken by FAO to address marine debris from abandoned, lost or

otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), including through the development of voluntary

guidelines on the marking of fishing gear and capacity building workshops on good practices to

prevent and reduce ALDFG in close collaboration with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative. 160

83. In relation to ballast water, the code for the approval of the ballast water management

systems under the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast

Water and Sediments will become mandatory in October 2019. Measures on ballast wa ter

management systems that use active substances were also adopted. 161

84. With respect to activities in the Area, in addition to its work on developing the mining code

(see para. 14), ISA furthered its work on regional environmental management plans (REMPs),

including exploration of the feasibility of applying various management approaches to REMPs,

building on experiences and lessons learned from other ocean industries. 162

85. Marine migratory species163 and coral reefs164 continued to be a focus of attention, given

their particular vulnerability. Issues pertaining to genetic resources were considered in the context

of CBD and WIPO, including digital sequence information on genetic resources, 165 the need for a

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150 IMO contribution. 151 Resolution UNEP/EA.4/RES.6 of the United Nations Environment Assembly at its fourth session

(UNEA-4). See also ASCOBANS, BRS, FAO, HELCOM, IMO, OSPAR and UNEP contributions. 152 HELCOM, IAEA, OSPAR, UNEP contributions. 153 SBRS, OSPAR, UNEP contributions. 154 SCBD, ASCOBANS contributions. 155 ASCOBANS contribution. 156 FAO, ASCOBANS contributions. 157 SBRS contribution. 158 SBRS contribution. 159 G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter, Annex 14 to the G20 Osaka

Leaders Declaration, 29 June 2019, available at: https://g20.org/pdf/documents/en/annex_14.pdf. 160 FAO contribution. 161 IMO contribution. 162 ISA contribution. 163 CMS, ASCOBANS contributions..

164 Resolution UNEP/EA.4/RES.13 of UNEA-4. See also SCBD and UNEP contributions. 165 Decision 14/20 of the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on

Biological Diversity.

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global multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism under article 10 of the Nagoya Protocol,166 and

genetic resources and intellectual property.167

86. Activities to support cross-sectoral and integrated approaches to the management of human

activities continued in a number of fora, including integrated coastal zone management, marine

spatial planning and ecosystem approaches.168 Efforts are also being made to integrate climate

vulnerability considerations in planning and zoning processes. 169

87. Area-based management tools remained a particular focus, including through guidance on

the identification of areas and the application of such tools. 170 Currently, 18 per cent of marine

areas under national jurisdiction are protected, indicating the achievement of the quantitative

element of Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 in these areas, however, only 1 per cent of areas beyond

national jurisdiction are currently protected.171 Global coverage of marine protected areas has

increased to 8 percent, requiring an additional 2 percent by 2020 to meet SDG target 14.5.172

88. However, the expansion of protected areas and policies and instruments that encourage

responsible use of ocean resources remain insufficient to combat the adverse effects of

overfishing, ocean acidification and coastal eutrophication. 173

VIII. Strengthening implementation through integrated and cross-sectoral approaches

89. It is widely recognized that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to

be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach. 174 To

that end, the General Assembly has continued to reaffirm the need to improve cooperation and

coordination at the national, regional and global levels in accordance with the Convention ,

including through capacity-building and transfer of marine technology, to support and supplement

the efforts of each State in promoting the implementation and observance of the Convention and

the integrated management and sustainable development of the oceans and seas. 175

90. In light of the integrated and indivisible character of the SDGs, strengthening cooperation

and coordination is also critical in efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda.176

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166 Decision 3/13 of the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on

Biological Diversity serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to

Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization. 167 See fortieth session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic

Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore at:

https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=50424 . 168 CTMFM, FAO, HELCOM, ICES, IOC, NAFO, NEAFC, OSPAR, SEAFDEC, SPRFMO and UNEP

contributions. 169 UNEP contribution. UNEP’s project on coral reef resilience and vulnerability to climate change in

Malaysia concluded in 2019 and demonstrated an approach and model to improve marine spatial

planning for a more climate resilient network of marine protected areas by integrating climate

vulnerability considerations in planning and zoning processes. 170 FAO, HELCOM, ICES, ISA, NAFO, NEAFC, OSPAR, SCBD, SPRFMO and UNEP contributions. 171 SCBD contribution. 172 Ibid. Also see: https://www.protectedplanet.net/marine. 173 Report of the Secretary-General on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (Special

Edition) (E/2019/68), para. 35. 174 General Assembly resolution 73/124, preamble. See also “Our ocean, our future: call for action”,

General Assembly resolution 71/312, para. 8. 175 General Assembly resolution 73/124, preamble. 176 See “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, General Assembly

resolution 70/1, para. 55. Also see General Assembly resolution 73/124, preamble and para. 185;

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91. Contributions to the present report underscored the importance of integrated and cross-

sectoral approaches to ocean issues, including with regard to coastal zone management and

development,177 maritime safety and security,178 the protection and preservation of the marine

environment,179 and living resources management180 (see also para. 86).

A. Strengthening international cooperation and coordination

92. Despite some progress, the ability of the international community to strengthen

international cooperation and coordination and adopt comprehensive and integrated approaches

regarding oceans remains a significant challenge.

93. As recently reported with respect to progress towards the SDGs, the global landscape for

the implementation of the SDGs has generally deteriorated and the commitment to multilateral

cooperation is currently under pressure.181 States noted in the context of their Voluntary National

Reviews the challenge of developing integrated policies for the implementation of the S DGs,

despite coordination structures already in place.182 The need for inclusive progress, effective,

transparent and accountable institutions and political commitment at the highest levels was

emphasized in the context of the 2019 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development,

leading up to the summits that will mark the start of the seventy-fourth session of the General

Assembly.183

94. The General Assembly continues to play a critical role as the global institution responsible

for overseeing, in a comprehensive and cross-sectoral manner, issues relating to oceans and the

law of the sea,184 assisted by the processes it established. The ICP185 offers a particular

opportunity to consider how to strengthen cross-sectoral coordination and cooperation among

States and other relevant stakeholders on a range of issues. The BBNJ Intergovernmental

Conference, the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole on the Regular Process, the UN Decade,

the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the 2020 Ocean Conference also

support cooperation and coordination on specific issues.

95. Inter-agency cooperation provides opportunities to strengthen and promote coordination

and coherence related to ocean and coastal issues. During 2019, UN-Oceans186 established a

contact group, coordinated by IOC-UNESCO, to facilitate the provision of input and guidance to

the preparatory phase of the UN Decade.187

96. In addition, UN-Oceans held events on development of a methodology for the agreed

indicator to monitor progress towards the achievement of SDG target 14.c . In light of discussions

at the ICP, an explanatory note outlining the proposed methodology was circulated to Member

States and parties to the Convention. Member States were also invited to volunteer for a pilot

testing phase of the methodology, with the results to be transmitted to the Inter -agency and Expert

Group on SDG Indicators for consideration as part of a request for tier reclassification of

__________________

Gerald G. Singha et al., “A rapid assessment of co-benefits and trade-offs among Sustainable

Development Goals”, Marine Policy 93 (2018), pp. 223–231. 177 See HELCOM, IHO and UNEP contributions. 178 See UNODC contribution. 179 See CBD, NEAFC, OSPAR and UNEP contributions. 180 See FAO, NEAFC, UNEP and WTO contributions. 181 Report of the Secretary-General, footnote 173, paras. 12, 95-97. 182 Ibid, para. 59. 183 United Nations, “Effective Institutions ‘Bedrock’ of Efforts to Attain 2030 Development Goals,

Deputy Secretary-General Tells High-Level Political Forum”, press release, 18 July 2019, available

at: https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/dsgsm1312.doc.htm. 184 See report of the Secretary-General on Oceans and the law of the sea, A/74/70, para 79. 185 General Assembly resolution 54/33, para. 2. 186 For terms of reference, see General Assembly resolution 68/70, Annex. 187 Summary report of the nineteenth meeting of UN-Oceans, held in Geneva, 7-8 February 2019,

available at: http://www.unoceans.org/documents/en/, paras. 14-17.

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indicator 14.c.1 in October 2019,188 which would trigger national reporting by States. The

Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, of the Office of Legal Affairs (Division), as

the custodian agency for the indicator, would assist in calculating and contributing global and

regional aggregates to the Global Indicator Database and the Secretary-General’s annual global

progress report.

97. By organizing side events in the margins of intergovernmental meetings, UN-Oceans also

implemented its voluntary commitment at the 2017 Ocean Conference on raising awareness of

relevant regulatory and policy frameworks and its members’ activities in support of their

implementation.189

98. Progress also continued within a number of organizations in the implementation of other

voluntary commitments.190 Several UN-Oceans members co-led one of the nine thematic multi-

stakeholder Communities of Ocean Action to support the implementation of voluntary

commitments registered at the 2017 Ocean Conference and to facilitate collaboration among

different actors in support of SDG 14.191

99. In other developments, UNEP indicated that its proposed new marine and coastal strategy is

expected to contribute to an enhanced coordination of actions in collaborative frameworks

addressing marine and coastal issues.192 It also highlighted extensive activities, including under

the auspices of its regional seas programme.193 CBD drew attention to its Sustainable Ocean

Initiative and the work of regional workshops to facilitate the description of areas meeting the

scientific criteria for ecologically or biologically significant marine areas and to collect

information on actions to facilitate the achievement of Aichi Biodiversity Target 11. 194 FAO195 and

IOC-UNESCO196 reported on a range of regional activities. Other contributions to this report

highlighted regional activities relating to fisheries, 197 as well as questions of environmental

protection, including climate change,198 disaster management,199 maritime security,200 ocean

governance,201 hydrography,202 and the human dimension.203 Several organizations also

highlighted efforts to increase cooperation with the UN system and with other international

organizations in the course of their work.204

100. Efforts to strengthen collaboration with other stakeholders also continued, including in the

context of climate change (see para. 48).205 The Samoa Partnership Dialogue206 resulted in a SIDS

Partnership Toolbox that included policy tools for enhancing capacity on the design of __________________

188 Ibid, paras. 27-33. 189 Ibid, paras. 18-20. 190 FAO, HELCOM, ILO, ISA and UNEP contributions. 191 See: https://oceanconference.un.org/coa. 192 UNEP contribution. 193 UNEP contribution. 194 CBD contribution. See also FAO, HELECOM and NAFO contributions. 195 FAO contribution. 196 IOC-UNESCO contribution. 197 See ASCOBANS, CTMFM, FAO, NAFO, NASCO, NEAFC, SEAFDEC and SPRFMO

contributions. 198 See BRS, CMS, FAO, IAEA, ICES, IMO, IOC-UNESCO, NEAFC, SPREP, OSPAR and UNEP

contributions. 199 WMO contribution. 200 See DPPA, IMO and UNODC contributions. 201 See HELCOM, IOC-UNESCO and UNEP contributions. 202 IHO contribution. 203 See FAO, ILO, and UNHCR contributions. 204 See BRS, CBD, CMS, FAO, HELCOM, IAEA, ICES, IHO, ILO, IMO, IOC-UNESCO, ISA,

NEAFC, OSPAR and WMO contributions. 205 See, for example, CBD contribution. 206 This dialogue was organized as part of the interregional meeting for SIDS to undertake a review of

the progress of the SAMOA Pathway (see para. 52; General Assembly resolution 72/217, para. 28).

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partnerships for SIDS and for assisting stakeholders in the monitoring and review of

partnerships.207

B. Building the capacity of States to implement the legal and

policy framework for the oceans and seas

101. Many intergovernmental organizations undertook capacity-building initiatives with the

overall objective of assisting developing States in sustainably managing ocean -based activities

and resources, including through the implementation of the Convention and related

instruments.208

102. ISA continued to build the capacity of developing States in deep-sea research and

technology through its contractor training programmes, the endowment fund for marine scientific

research in the Area and the inaugural Secretary-General’s award for excellence in deep-sea

research.209 ITLOS also continued to provide capacity-building, training programmes and

workshops on dispute settlement under the Convention. 210

103. The Division provided information, advice and assistance to States and intergovernmental

organizations and other stakeholders on the uniform and consistent application of the provisions

of the Convention and related instruments, including through fellowship programmes, other

capacity-building activities, participation in various conferences, meetings, workshops and

training events211 and the management of trust funds.212

Fellowships

104. In February 2019, a national of Togo was awarded the thirty-fourth Hamilton Shirley

Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea. 213 The financial state of the Fellowship

remains critical and contributions are urgently needed to ensure that at least one fellowship can

be awarded annually.

105. Since 2004, 154 United Nations-Nippon Foundation Fellowship Programme awards have

been made to nationals of 77 countries, including 12 in 2019.214 An Alumni Meeting was held in

parallel to the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in November 2018 (see para. 53).

106. Under the “United Nations-Nippon Foundation Sustainable Ocean Programme”, eight

Critical Needs Fellowships have been awarded since 2018 and three Strategic Fellowships were

awarded between 2015-2017. Awardees from the Bahamas, Chile, Mauritius and Myanmar

participating in the Fellowship in 2019. Twenty-three Thematic Fellowships have been awarded

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207 Small Island Developing States Toolbox, United Nations (2019), available at:

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/24009SIDS_Partnership_Toolbox.pdf. 208 Details of relevant initiatives and capacity-building activities undertaken by these

intergovernmental organizations are provided in the contributions to the present report. See,

particularly, BRS, CBD, FAO, IAEA, IHO, ILO, IMO, IOC, UNODC contributions.

209 ISA contribution. 210 See Annual report of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for 2018 , SPLOS/29/2,

paras. 87-96. 211 A list of activities is available on the website of the Division at:

https://www.un.org/Depts/los/general_assembly/general_assembly_reports.htm. 212 More information is available on the website of the Division at:

https://www.un.org/Depts/los/general_assembly/general_assembly_reports.htm. 213 This Fellowship provides participants with training in ocean affairs and the law of the sea in order

to foster a wider appreciation and application of the Convention. 214 Nationals of Bangladesh, Brazil, Costa Rica, Georgia, Ghana, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mauritania,

Mexico, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The Division circulated a call for applications for

the 2020 session of the Fellowship in June 2019.

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since 2018. Twelve Awardees participated in the programme in 2019.215 A training related to the

BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference was delivered to 76 representatives of States in 2018, with

additional deliveries planned for the last quarter of 2019.

Technical assistance to States

107. Jointly with UNCTAD, the Division implemented a project funded through the United

Nations Development Account to assist Barbados, Belize and Costa Rica in developing evidence -

based and policy-coherent oceans economy and trade strategies to support beneficiary countries

in realizing economic benefits from the sustainable use of marine resources. 216

108. Following the successful completion of a project funded by the Trust Fund to Support

Initiatives of States Countering Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, the Division will continue to

provide a customized technical and capacity-building programme through a new project funded

by this Trust Fund, which will complement its previous activities and further reinforce the

capacity of Somalia to address legislative barriers to the development of its maritime sectors and

the sustainable development of its marine resources.

IX. Conclusions

109. Despite the progress made by the international community to address the challenges facing

the oceans, the health, resilience and productivity of the oceans continues to deteriorate.

Increased cumulative impacts of human activities have led to an unprecedented decline in marine

biodiversity and in the health of marine ecosystems and, consequently, in the provision of

ecosystem services upon which the world, especially coastal communities and SIDS, depends. In

particular, climate change is not only acting as a multiplier of these impacts, but also posing an

existential threat to coastal communities in many parts of the world.

110. It is not too late to reverse the decline if we act now to significantly increase efforts in

support of the conservation and sustainable use the oceans, seas and their resources. Critical in

this regard will be the full and effective implementation of the international legal framework for

the ocean, with the Convention at its core, as well as implementation of the Paris Agreement and

achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Policy coordination and

coherence in addressing ocean issues will require enhanced integrated and cross -sectoral

approaches, guided by the work of the General Assembly in matters relating to oceans and the

law of the sea, with multi-stakeholder engagement and capacity-building needed at all levels.

111. There are several intergovernmental processes taking place later this year and in 2020, such

as the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference, which can support action towards this objective. The

2020 Ocean Conference can advance the implementation of SDG 14. Moreover, the 2019 Climate

Action Summit and the twenty-fifth Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC will provide a

timely opportunity to address the interlinkages between oceans and climate frameworks , which

will also be further addressed in the Special Report of the IPCC on the Ocean and Cryosphere in

a Changing Climate.

112. The international community is also invited to seize the opportunity offered by the UN

Decade and the Regular Process to increase scientific understanding of the oceans and marine

scientific research in order to strengthen and enhance the scientific basis for policy -making,

including in terms of data dissemination and sharing as well as capacity-building and the

development and transfer of marine technology.

113. International cooperation is crucial for success in addressing the challenges facing the

oceans, including those of the people who depend on the oceans. It is essential not to forget the

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215 Nationals of Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Mauritius, Myanmar, Nigeria,

Niue, Thailand, United States of America, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe. 216 See https://unctad.org/en/Pages/DITC/Trade-and-Environment/Oceans-Economy-Trade-

Strategies.aspx

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human dimension and to ensure the protection of the human rights of people also at sea,

particularly noting the needs of the most vulnerable, including women and children.

Strengthening international cooperation in relation to search and rescue operations at sea and the

identification of places of safety for disembarkation is also imperative.