2nd Ocean Innovation Challengeon Sustainable Fisheries to provide support to top innovations up to 250,000 USD
Fish represent one of the most important sources of food protein to humanity, supplying 17 percent of total animal protein consumed globally. Since 1967, global per capita fish consumption has more than doubled to 20 kg/yr/person. Nearly 40 million people obtain their jobs and livelihoods from industrial or small-scale fishing. Some 38 percent of fish caught or farmed worldwide are traded internationally. Each year, some 85 million tonnes of wild fish are harvested from the ocean and 30 million tonnes produced through marine aquaculture.
According to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), 35 percent of fish stocks are considered overfished. Globally, between 11 and 26 million tonnes of annual catch are believed to derive from Illegal, Unregulated or Unreported (IUU) fishing. Harmful fisheries subsidies as high as $20 billion per year promote overfishing and the overcapitalization of fishing fleets.
Over the years, the international community has taken important steps to promote sustainable fishing, such as the FAO’s Code of Conduct on Responsible Fishing, the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement, and through the work of various regional fisheries agreements and regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs). Nevertheless, progress on key SDG 14 targets pertaining to sustainable fisheries has lagged and the main target, 14.4, was clearly not met in 2020.
Recognizing the increasing urgency of addressing unsustainable fishing, the second Ocean Innovation Challenge, launched in March 2021, seeks innovative solutions that address one or more of the following SDG 14 targets:
- 14.4: By 2020, end overfishing, IUU fishing, and destructive fishing practices
- 14.7: By 2030, increase the economic benefits to SIDS and LDCs from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries (and) aquaculture
- 14.b: Provide access for small scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
Innovators can request up to 250,000 USD and project time frames can range from one to two year. Project proposals must be implemented in and benefit stakeholders in developing countries but may be submitted by applicants in either developing or developed countries. All proposals should include a special focus on ensuring gender equity, livelihoods of the poor, and poverty eradication.
Proponents can include governments, private companies (including start-ups), NGO/CSO, United Nations entities, academic institutions, and intergovernmental organizations.
While by no means exhaustive, some examples of the types of innovations that could be considered include:
- Satellite, vessel monitoring, and other technologies that can help authorities to reduce and prevent illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing
- Policy and regulatory reforms that strengthen the ownership and associated economic and social benefits to SIDS and LDCs from fisheries in their EEZs
- Introduction of innovative economic instruments for sustainable fisheries (e.g., tradeable fishing permits)
- Innovations (technology, regulatory, etc.) that enhance the access of small-scale fishers to fisheries resources and/or markets
- Innovations that promote more sustainable fisheries supply chains (e.g., fisheries certification)
- Innovations in sustainable aquaculture with high potential for replication and upscaling
- Technological solutions that reduce fisheries by-catch or other destructive impacts of fishing gear
- Innovations that strengthen the incorporation of ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries (e.g., ecosystem modeling)
- Innovations that incorporate the actual and projected impacts of climate change into sustainable fisheries management
For the full details of the 2nd call and how to apply,
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To see the 2020 UNDP Ocean Innovators and their solutions on marine pollution reduction,
PLEASE CLICK HERE!
This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media