Advancing ocean governance for sustainability (en)

Sebastian Unger Human interventions in marine ecosystems over the
last decades have put oceans and coasts on unsustainable
trajectories. Numerous factors contribute to the poor state of the
marine environment, including overfishing, onshore and offshore
pollution, climate change, and the increasing demand for diverse
marine resources. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS), the management of human activities is pursued
through a fragmented institutional system, making it difficult to
ensure that marine resources are used sustainably. Most notable
among the various gaps in the legal system is the lack of a
comprehensive international agreement for the protection and
sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national
jurisdiction (ABNJ), which cover almost 60% of the world’s
oceans.  Achieving ocean sustainability requires far-reaching
changes in ocean governance and the use of marine resources. With
many of the drivers of ocean degradation beyond the purview of
marine management institutions, this will require not only greater
integration within governance but also in relation to other
sustainability policies and frameworks, touching on matters as
diverse as employment, food security, sustainable consumption and
production and climate action. While UNCLOS provides a
comprehensive legal framework for the oceans, it is becoming
increasingly clear that current governance frameworks must be
revamped if we are to achieve ocean sustainability.