Expanding programmes on marine environmental quality

Improving quality of marine environment

Description

Expanding programmes on marine environmental quality involves implementing coordinated actions to monitor, assess, and improve the health of marine ecosystems. This strategy focuses on strengthening pollution control, enhancing data collection, and promoting sustainable resource management. By increasing capacity for early detection of environmental threats and enforcing regulations, these programmes aim to reduce marine pollution, protect biodiversity, and ensure the long-term viability of ocean resources for communities and industries dependent on healthy marine environments.

Implementation

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.

Agenda 21 recommends establishing systematic observation systems to measure marine environmental quality, including causes and effects of marine degradation, as a basis for management.