2030 goals / Goal 14
Life Below Water
Healthy fisheries and clean oceans
Progress in numbers
Latest figures available, mostly from the UN SDG Report 2026.
- Target
- 100%by 2020
- Start
- 66.7%2015
- Latest
- 62.4%2023
- Target
- 10%by 2020
- Start
- about 4%2016
- Latest
- 10%2026
- Target
- Reduceno figure set
- Start
- pH 8.111985
- Latest
- pH 8.052021
Goals and targets
10 targets, each with the UN's own rating from the SDG Report 2026. Open one for a plain explanation and how it is measured.
3 moderate progress 3 marginal progress 3 going backwards 1 not enough data
14.1Cut ocean pollution Marginal progress
Significantly reduce plastic, chemical and nutrient pollution, especially from land. Due 2025.
Measured by
- Plastic debris and coastal nutrient pollution
14.2Look after coasts and reefs Marginal progress
Manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems so they stay healthy and productive. Due 2020.
Measured by
- Countries managing their waters on an ecosystem basis
14.3Tackle ocean acidity Going backwards
Reduce and deal with the effects of the ocean becoming more acidic.
Measured by
- Average ocean acidity at agreed monitoring sites
14.4End overfishing Going backwards
End overfishing and illegal fishing and rebuild fish stocks. Due 2020.
Measured by
- Share of fish stocks within sustainable levels
14.5Protect key ocean areas Marginal progress
Conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas. Due 2020.
Measured by
- Share of marine areas protected
14.6Stop paying for overfishing Moderate progress
End fishing subsidies that drive overfishing and illegal fishing. Due 2020. A global trade deal on this took effect in 2025.
Measured by
- Progress in putting the rules into practice
14.7Better returns for island nations Not enough data
Increase the economic benefit small island and poorer nations get from fishing, tourism and aquaculture by 2030.
Measured by
- Sustainable fisheries as a share of their economy
14.aMore ocean research Going backwards
Build scientific knowledge and research capacity on ocean health.
Measured by
- Research budget spent on marine science
14.bA fair go for small fishers Moderate progress
Give small-scale fishers access to fishing grounds and markets.
Measured by
- Countries with protections for small-scale fishers
14.cHonour the law of the sea Moderate progress
Put the international law of the sea into practice.
Measured by
- Countries applying ocean treaties
An Our Common Grounds scorecard. Data from the UN and its partner agencies. See this goal on the full scorecard.