Maintaining biodiversity of marine species

Conserving marine species

Description

Maintaining biodiversity of marine species involves implementing measures to protect and restore diverse marine habitats, regulate fishing practices, reduce pollution, and control invasive species. This strategy aims to ensure the survival of a wide range of marine organisms by establishing marine protected areas, enforcing sustainable resource management, and supporting ecosystem resilience. These actions directly address threats such as overexploitation, habitat destruction, and climate change, thereby safeguarding marine biodiversity and the ecological services it provides.

Context

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.

Claim

Coastal states, with the support of international organizations, upon request, should undertake measures to maintain biological diversity and productivity of marine species and habitats under national jurisdiction. Inter alia, these measures might include: surveys of marine biodiversity, inventories of endangered species and critical coastal and marine habitats; establishment and management of protected areas; and support of scientific research and dissemination of its results.