Page 240 - ITU-T Focus Group Digital Financial Services – Executive Summary

1 Introduction

1.1 Background

More than 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans. These oceans are rich in biodiversity and also are
a treasure trove of minerals. It has been estimated that phytoplanktons in the oceans produce over half the
oxygen that land animals including humans breathe. Therefore, these oceans along with forests serve as
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oxygen producers and reservoirs for the world! Millions of people also heavily depend on oceans for their
livelihoods and engage in activities like fishing. Oceans also function as carbon sinks and can currently take
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up about 25 % of annual anthropogenic carbon emissions release into the atmosphere.
The significant increase in human activities impacting oceans over the past few decades has diminished their
potential to compensate for the increased emissions. Water bodies are now faced with a number of
challenges including endangering of marine biodiversity, habitat destruction, coral reef depletion, overfishing
and pollution.
In line with the above, the United Nations Member States adopted the new Sustainable Development Goals
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(SDG) 14 on “Life below water” . Introduction of this goal is known to be a major turning point for marine
conservation as it was distinctly brought to the global centre stage for the first time. Thus, incorporation of
this goal has generated visibility and re-affirmed political commitment for the protection of the oceans.

Following the adoption of the SDG14, humans are moving towards a more sustainable use of the oceans and
significant progress has already being made in this regard.

As with the conservation and monitoring of biodiversity on land, information and communication
technologies (ICTs) can also assist in oceanic conservation and promote sustainability in this area. In this
regard, satellite monitoring, sensors and wave instrumentation are known to have the ability to collect
accurate data for oceans, which can then be used to analyse aquatic biodiversity and pollution and help to
tackle problems like overfishing.

1.2 Challenge and response
It is important to recognize that as with most resources on Earth, biodiversity in the oceans is also finite. This
implies that it is essential to identify and acknowledge oceanic boundaries and factor them into human
activities.
Humans continue to threaten the oceans through overfishing, conducting illegal fishing which in turn can
affect foods chains and even cause habitat destruction. Maintaining marine sustainability heavily depends
on the monitoring of fisheries and further actions taken by relevant international and national stakeholders
along with the fishing industry.

It was in response to the need for a monitoring system for aquatic life that the Global Fishing Watch platform
was launched.

2 The Project

2.1 Vision

The Global Fishing Watch platform was launched by Google, Oceana and Skytruth. This online technological
platform allows anyone with an internet connection to track and monitor commercial fishing activities in near
real-time.

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50 Sustainable Use of Our Oceans –Making Ideas Work, 2015.
51 The ocean carbon sink – impacts, vulnerabilities and challenges. Earth System Dynamics. June 2015.

52 “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”.

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