Sustainable Development Report 2025: SDG 14 Life Below Water

The Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2025, marking the 10th anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provides a comprehensive annual assessment of global progress towards the 2030 Agenda revealing that 17% of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets at global level are on track, exacerbated by worsening climate impacts. Despite the overall global stagnation, the report acknowledges a strong global commitment to the SDGs, with 190 out of 193 UN member states having participated in the Voluntary National Review (VNR) process. These reviews serve as national action plans outlining sustainable development priorities and implementation strategies. A growing number of regional and local entities are also preparing Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs), demonstrating subnational engagement. Notably, only three UN member states: Haiti, Myanmar, and the United States, have not taken part in the VNR process. 

Key areas of concern include that SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) are particularly off track. 

This report will focus on the SDG 14: Life Below Water which which focuses on conserving and sustainably using oceanic and marine resources. Major barriers include overfishing, marine pollution, underfinancing, governance gaps, and limited scientific capacity. This paper examines the most significant positive and negative trends affecting SDG 14, identifies key barriers hindering progress, and outlines innovative policy solutions to accelerate implementation. Enhanced legal frameworks, increased investment in ocean science, and scaling up marine protection are essential for reversing deterioration and achieving this globally critical goal.

Introduction

The health of the oceans is fundamental to life on Earth, supporting biodiversity, regulating climate, and providing livelihoods to billions. Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda—“Life Below Water”—seeks to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas, and marine resources. However, as highlighted by the 2025 Sustainable Development Report (SDR), SDG 14 remains among the most underfunded and off-track goals, facing profound challenges including overexploitation of fish stocks, worsening marine pollution, ocean acidification, and systemic underinvestment. While some progress is visible—such as the expansion of marine protected areas and broader adoption of marine spatial planning—significant gaps persist. These include weak enforcement mechanisms, stagnation in policy implementation, and insufficient financial and scientific support. This paper explores the dual trends shaping SDG 14, unpacks the interlinked barriers impeding its realization, and presents a range of innovative policy recommendations. 

Background/Context

The Sustainable Development Report (SDR) series, initiated in 2016, provides an annual, data-driven assessment of UN member states’ progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The 2025 edition, produced by independent experts at the SDG Transformation Center, reinforces the urgent message that Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement are not merely policy tools but are “vital to the survival and dignity of current and future generations.” A detailed breakdown reveals that only 17 percent of the targets are on track worldwide, while progress on 47 percent of the targets is deemed insufficient. Alarmingly, 18 percent of the targets show regression from the 2015 baseline, indicating a backward movement in critical areas of sustainable development.

To illustrate the global progress status, the following table summarizes the distribution of SDG targets based on their current trajectory:

Table 1: Global SDG Progress Status (Targets On/Off Track by 2030)

Category	Percentage of Targets
On Track	17%
Insufficient Progress	47%
Regression	18%

Overall Positive Trends

• Regionally, East and South Asia have demonstrated the fastest progress on the SDGs since 2015, driven particularly by rapid advancements in socioeconomic targets. Countries such as Nepal, Cambodia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Mongolia are highlighted for their notable strides.
• European countries continue to dominate the top ranks of the SDG Index. Finland holds the first position, and 19 of the top 20 countries are located in Europe. Norway, specifically, ranks 7th in this year’s SDG Index, indicating strong domestic performance in sustainable development.
• Furthermore, China has entered the top 50, ranking 49th, while India has entered the top 100, ranking 99th, with China showing significant gains in infrastructure, renewable energy access, and poverty alleviation.

• Significant successes have been observed in areas related to basic services and infrastructure. Most UN member states have made strong advancements in mobile broadband use (SDG 9), access to electricity (SDG 7), and internet use (SDG 9).
• Similarly, notable improvements have been recorded in health-related targets, specifically the under-5 mortality rate (SDG 3) and neonatal mortality (SDG 3).

 Overall Negative Trends

• Five targets show significant reversal or stagnation since 2015, highlighting critical vulnerabilities. These include the obesity rate (SDG 2), press freedom (SDG 16), sustainable nitrogen management (SDG 2), the red list index (SDG 15), and the corruption perception index (SDG 16)
• Countries at the lower end of the Index, such as Yemen, Somalia, Chad, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan, are frequently affected by ongoing conflicts, severe security issues, political or socioeconomic instability, and critical limitations in fiscal space

SDG 14 Life Below Water- Analysis

SDG 14, “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development,” is a critical but particularly challenging goal. The SDR 2025 highlights that SDG 14 is “particularly off track” globally, facing major challenges and showing very limited progress. It also remains the least financed of all the Goals. The 2025 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) will conduct in-depth reviews of progress towards SDG 14, among others.

SDG 14 by Regions Key Insights

Across almost all country groupings and income levels, progress on SDG 14 (Life Below Water) is largely characterized by either stagnating or decreasing with only Sub-Saharean Africa showing a moderately increasing trend. This picture reveals a concerning global picture. The vast majority of country groupings and income levels are struggling, with most facing significant or even major challenges. Furthermore, progress is largely stagnating, indicating a lack of substantial improvement in protecting marine ecosystems. This suggests that global efforts to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development are largely insufficient and require urgent, intensified action.

SDG 14 by Main Indicators Key Insights

Mean area that is protected in marine sites important to biodiversity

The Data Explorer chart above presents the percentage of marine sites important to biodiversity that are under protection across 22 countries as per 2023. It highlights progress toward SDG 14 – Life Below Water, specifically in safeguarding critical marine habitats. 

Key Observations:

• Top Performers (>80%): United Kingdom, France and Germany stand out with almost identical, very high percentages of protected marine areas, around 80%. The United Kingdom also shows an extremely high level of protection. These countries are clearly leading in safeguarding marine biodiversity.
• In contrast lower protection: (< 20%): Turkey, India and China despite their rich marine biodiversity where India has a particularly low percentage, around 5%. 

This analysis shows a wide disparity among countries in the extent of their protected marine areas that are important for biodiversity. Increasing the coverage of protected marine areas is a crucial strategy for safeguarding marine ecosystems, promoting healthy fish stocks, and enhancing the resilience of oceans against various threats, including climate change and pollution. The data highlights areas where greater international and national efforts are needed underscoring the need for increased funding, governance, and policy action in low-performing countries.

Ocean Health Index: Clean Waters score

When it comes to Ocean Health Index: Clean Waters score, the data chart displays the “Clean Waters” score for various countries in 2024. The scoring system is indicated as “worst 0-100 best,” meaning higher scores represent better performance in terms of clean waters.

Key Observations:

• Canada, Argentina, and Australia lead in Clean Waters Score: reaching approximately 83-84, indicating excellent performance in maintaining clean waters.
• Strong Performance by Several Nations also demonstrates strong performance with scores generally above 60, and some notably high.
• India’s Lower Score: India has a relatively lower score compared to most other countries, around 35, suggesting more significant challenges in maintaining clean waters. 

The “Clean Waters” score is a crucial indicator of marine ecosystem health and the effectiveness of policies aimed at reducing pollution and maintaining water quality. Countries with high scores, like the Canada, are likely implementing effective measures for waste management, pollution control, and marine protection. Conversely, countries with lower scores, such as India, may face significant challenges related to industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, sewage, or plastic pollution, necessitating greater efforts in environmental management and policy implementation to improve their ocean health. The varied scores across nations highlight the global disparity in efforts and success regarding marine environmental protection.

Fish caught from overexploited or collapsed stocks

This chart displays the percentage of total fish catch that comes from overexploited or collapsed fish stocks for various countries in 2018.

Key Observations:

• Alarming High Percentages: Several countries show a significant portion of their fish catch originating from overexploited or collapsed stocks, indicating severe sustainability issues in their fishing practices.
• Japan and Argentina lead with Over 60%: The two countries has the highest percentage, with more than 60% of its fish caught from overexploited or collapsed stocks. This is a particularly high figure, suggesting a critical situation for their marine resources.
• Other High Contributors: Turkey and Italy also show very high percentages, both approaching or exceeding 50%.
• Lower but Still Present: Even countries with relatively lower percentages, such as Brazil, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Kingdom, and United States, still show a measurable proportion of their catch from unsustainable sources, ranging from about 5% to 25%.

This data clearly indicates a widespread global challenge regarding the sustainability of fish stocks. Many countries are relying heavily on fish populations that are either overexploited (meaning they are being fished at a rate that cannot be sustained) or have already collapsed (meaning the population is too low to recover quickly). This trend has significant environmental and economic implications, potentially leading to long-term declines in fish availability, ecosystem disruptions, and impacts on fishing communities. The high percentages highlight an urgent need for more effective fisheries management, conservation efforts, and a shift towards sustainable fishing practices to prevent further depletion of marine resources.

Fish caught by trawling or dredging

The chart above highlights the varying degrees to which different countries rely on trawling and dredging for fishing. Report from the countries in 2019. 

Key Observations:

• China, Argentina and Italy lead in percentage of fish caught by trawling/dredging: China has the highest percentage, at approximately 48%.
• Significant contributors: Canada, France, Korea Republic, Mexico, and the United Kingdom also show substantial percentages, ranging from roughly 25% to 35%.
• Lower percentages: India and Indonesia have the lowest percentages among the listed countries, both appearing to be under 5%. The Russian Federation also shows a relatively low percentage, around 5-6%.

These observations are often associated with environmental concerns due to their potential impact on marine habitats and bycatch. Countries with high percentages, like China and Italy, might face greater scrutiny regarding the sustainability of their fishing practices and the ecological consequences of extensive trawling and dredging. Conversely, countries with very low percentages may employ other fishing methods or have stricter regulations regarding these specific practices.

Challenges in Achieving SDG 14 Targets

The primary barriers to achieving SDG 14 targets are multifaceted and interconnected:

Overexploitation and Destructive Practices: 

The continued prevalence of overfishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and destructive fishing practices directly depletes fish stocks and damages marine ecosystems.

Environmental Degradation: 

Marine pollution, including plastic debris and nutrient pollution leading to coastal eutrophication, severely impacts ocean health. Ocean acidification, driven by rising CO2 emissions, poses a fundamental threat to marine life, particularly calcifying organisms.

Insufficient Financial Investment: 

SDG 14 is notably under-financed compared to other SDGs,  often ranks lowest in sustainable development financing (needs ~US$175 billion/year) limiting the resources available for conservation, sustainable management, and research initiatives. This is part of the broader issue of fiscal constraints and imbalances in the Global Financial Architecture that disproportionately affect developing nations.

Implementation Gaps and Governance Challenges: 

Despite the development of international instruments and increased engagement in planning (e.g., marine spatial planning), significant gaps remain in the formal approval and effective implementation of these measures at national and subnational levels.

Limited Scientific Knowledge and Technology Transfer: 

The low allocation of national research budgets to ocean science impedes the development of necessary scientific understanding and innovative technologies required for effective ocean conservation and sustainable use.

Lack of Coordinated Global Action: 

The report emphasizes that achieving the SDGs, including SDG 14, requires coordinated global action and fairer financial flows, implying that fragmented national efforts are insufficient. The “spillover effects” from unsustainable consumption patterns in developed countries also externalize environmental burdens, making global progress difficult.

Capacity & Monitoring Gaps: 

Acidification data expanded, but other targets—like microplastics and small-scale fisheries rights—lack robust measurement systems.

Innovative Solutions & Policy Recommendations

The SDR 2025 and related discussions suggest several innovative solutions and policy recommendations to accelerate progress on SDG 14:

Strengthening International Legal Frameworks and Enforcement: 

Continue to expand the reach and effective implementation of the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA) to combat IUU fishing more comprehensively. Ensure the full and timely entry into force and implementation of the new WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to eliminate subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing. Leverage the 2025 UN Conference to Support the Implementation of SDG 14 to foster enhanced coordination of global efforts, recognizing the interlinkages between ocean health, climate, and biodiversity.

Scaling Up Marine Conservation and Management: 

Accelerate the formal approval and effective implementation of marine spatial plans in all engaged countries to ensure robust ecosystem-based management of marine areas.

Expand and strengthen marine and coastal protected areas, ensuring that “protected” truly means protected, potentially through explicit bans on destructive practices like bottom trawling in these zones.Implement science-based management plans to restore fish stocks to biologically sustainable levels, effectively regulating harvesting and ending overfishing.

Addressing Ocean Pollution and Acidification:

 Intensify efforts to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution from all sources, particularly land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.

Enhance scientific cooperation and expand monitoring networks for ocean acidification to better understand and address its impacts on marine ecosystems. This also implies a need for drastic reductions in global CO2 emissions, as ocean acidification is a direct consequence of atmospheric CO2 uptake.

Unlocking Sustainable Finance for Oceans: 

Prioritize SDG 14 in global financing discussions, recognizing its status as the least financed goal. This requires substantial increases in official development funding from multilateral development banks and the IMF, along with innovative financing mechanisms like direct SDR allocations to MDBs, as proposed for the broader SDG agenda.

Explore new revenue generation mechanisms, such as international taxes on sectors impacting marine environments (e.g., shipping, aviation, and greenhouse gas emissions), to properly fund global commons institutions dedicated to ocean protection.

Fostering Research, Technology, and Capacity Building: 

Significantly increase national research budgets allocated to ocean science to improve scientific knowledge, develop research capacity, and facilitate the transfer of marine technology, especially to developing countries.

Continue to support and strengthen frameworks that provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets, recognizing their vital role in sustainable fisheries.

Conclusion

• SDG 14 shows progress in MPAs and acidification data, but is hampered by overfishing, pollution, subsidy structures, and underinvestment.
• Urgent action is needed: invest in ocean science, transform subsidy policies, boost enforcement, and embrace innovative tech and finance.

References

Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). (2025). Sustainable Development Report 2025. SDG Transformation Center. https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/.