Marine pollution.

1. The seas provide food, livelihoods and a sense of identity, especially for coastal communities in the Pacific island states.

2. Climate change and unsustainable resource management have degraded ecosystems and diminished biodiversity.

3. Levels of overfishing have exponentially increased, leaving fish stocks and food systems vulnerable.

4. Marine plastic pollution flowing through the region’s rivers has contributed to most of the debris flooding the ocean.

Lack of data

1. Data are available for only 2 out of 10 targets for the Sustainable Development Goal 14, ‘Life Below Water’.

2. Due to limitations in methodology and national statistical systems, information gaps have persisted at uneven levels across countries.

Plastic pollution

1. Asia and the Pacific produce nearly half of global plastic by volume, of which it consumes 38%.

2. Plastics represent a double burden for the ocean

a) Production of plastics generates CO2 absorbed by the ocean and

b) Enters the ocean as pollution as a final product.

3. Effective national policies and re-thinking production cycles is essential to tackle this challenge.

Fish stocks

1. The environmental decline is also affecting fish stocks.

2. Asia Pacific region’s position as the world’s largest producer of fish has come at the cost of over-exploitation.

3. The percentage of stocks fished at unsustainable levels has increased threefold.

Connectivity

1. The most connected shipping economies are in Asia and the small island developing States of the Pacific experience much lower levels of connectivity.

2. These small islands remain relatively isolated from the global economy.

Way forward

1. Closing the maritime connectivity gap must be placed at the center of regional transport cooperation efforts.

2. The shipping community should be guided to navigate toward green shipping by enforcing sustainable shipping policies.

3. Trans-boundary ocean management and linking of ocean data is needed for close cooperation among countries in the region.

4. Harnessing ocean statistics through strong national statistical systems will guide countries to monitor trends, devise timely responses and clear blind spots.

5. Translate international agreements and standards into national action.

6. Fully equip countries and all ocean custodians to localize global agreements into tangible results.

7. Prioritize the generation of complete data on fish stocks, fighting illicit fishing activity and conserving marine areas.

ESCAP

1. United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) is working with member states to implement the International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements.

2. Through the Ocean Accounts Partnership, ESCAP is working with countries to harmonize ocean data and provide a space for regular dialogue.

Circular Economy

1. A circular economy approach will keep the oceans plastic-free.

2. This minimizes resource use and will require economic incentives and disincentives.