Development Finance Forum 2017

The oceans supply many important natural resources for people: these include not just fish, shrimps and mussels, but also plants like algae and squill, salts, and metals such as iron, copper, nickel and cobalt. The mining of "manganese nodules", which contain a whole host of valuable metals, has only just begun; these "power nuggets" are the maritime treasures of the future. The oceans are also an important supplier of energy, be it in the form of oil and gas under the seabed, tidal energy, or as a location for offshore wind farms. Last but not least, tourism beside and on the oceans constitutes a key resource because of its contribution to the "recovery" factor. In view of this situation, one thing is clear: the world's oceans are essential for the continued – economic – development of humankind.

Yet simply polluting and exploiting them, harvesting, fishing, digging and collecting in the oceans at will, may well bring short-term benefits, but this does not help preserve marine ecosystems in the long run. Just what the consequences are of acting for short-term gain is illustrated most spectacularly by using fish as an example. Within just a few decades, people have unduly plundered the oceans: 32% of fish stocks are already considered overfished, while a further 60% have been exploited to the limits of sustainability.

Millions of people are also dependent on fish as a key source of protein. Since fish products contain important fatty acids and micronutrients, they help to prevent malnutrition. It will also be very difficult to feed a growing global population without seafood. This is why an intelligent balance must be struck between economic gain and nature conservation, bearing in mind the interests of poor people, for example small fishermen. The fishing sector is the main livelihood for ten percent of the world's population, the majority of whom live in developing countries.

This explains why KfW is committed to the protection and sustainable use of the oceans, and likewise promotes investments into nature conservation and biodiversity, a sustainable fishing industry as well as a regulated wastewater and waste industry to avoid marine pollution.

Project information - Fisheries monitoring Mauretania

In past years the oceans have increasingly become the world's rubbish tip. People have probably always happily thrown their rubbish into the seas, but this practice was not as visible as it is now. Firstly, there was less waste because fewer people lived on the Earth. And secondly, organic waste breaks down quickly. This situation changed radically with the advent of plastic roughly half a century ago, which according to scientific findings needs around 500 years to decompose. It is practical and has many uses – including plastic bottles and bags, car tyres and casings for electronic devices – and this means it has become an obvious part of people's everyday lives in most countries of the world.

Since proper waste and wastewater systems exist in very few countries around the globe, sooner or later this durable waste lands in the oceans. You can now find plastic everywhere, on the beaches, in estuaries, and even on the seabed. In some regions, waste collects in huge eddies, like in the North Pacific near Hawaii.

For marine species, this floating plastic is simply a catastrophe. They get tangled up in abandoned nets, string or plastic bags. As time passes by, this plastic breaks down into very small parts, which first of all make their way into the stomachs of fish and birds, and then eventually into the food chain. Estimates suggest that 90% of all sea birds now have bits of plastic in their guts. To avoid even more rubbish from entering the oceans, KfW is advocating efficient waste management on land, focusing on the triad of "Reduce – Reuse – Recycle". Otherwise, the marine ecosystem is severely at risk. If current practices do not change, it is estimated that there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans by the middle of the century.

Project information - Climate friendly waste management Tunisia
Perspectives on Development Financing No. 4, 2017 - Marine protection starts on land

Since having an intact marine environment is vital for people – for the climate, for world nutrition, the energy supply, but also for social welfare and quality of life – it has to be protected and aligned with economic interests. Marine protected areas are a crucial tool in this respect, because here, nature is left to its own devices, temporarily or permanently. Fishing is not permitted, and the prospecting of natural resources is forbidden too.

Just how well this can work is illustrated by the nature conservation areas in the tropical rainforests of Latin America for example, where much has been achieved in the last 20 years by establishing protected areas, and the decline of the tropical forests has been sharply reduced. Studies on the oceans have also shown that ecosystems become more resilient and fish stocks recover. They become bigger and older, and can therefore reproduce better. Biodiversity grows. This is why protected areas are important for fishing to have a future. Making purposeful sacrifices today creates potential for tomorrow.

But only around 3% of the oceans are currently protected. International targets have been set to increase this to 10% by 2020. Ideally there will be a network of protected areas, so that migrating fish can enjoy protection when making their way through the oceans. Thanks to modern methods like satellite monitoring and patrol boats, it is quite easy to check all this nowadays; however, first of all this does require political will from the countries involved, and secondly, there has to be some investment in relevant technology. KfW is promoting a range of projects to protect marine areas, some of which include technical surveillance.

Project information - Caribbean Challenge Initiative
Project information - Blue Action Fund

Link - Blue Action Fund