SDG 14: Life below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
“The World We Want is one with oceans of opportunity. We want our marine life to be safe and our seas to remain our best resource. How can we get to the depths of the problem? How can we preserve our coastal bio‐diversity?”
What does SDG 14 mean for us?
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Protecting and Restoring Ecosystems (Target 14.2)
As well as being home to 155 recorded bird species and 1,373 plant species, three rare and endangered fish species can be found within the Lake District: the Vendace, which is only found in the Lake District, the Schelly, and the Arctic Char.
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Reducing Marine Pollution (Target 14.1)
Water quality within the main bay of Morecambe Bay is currently classified as Poor as a result of pollution coming from a wide range of sources such as plastic, sewage outflows and agricultural runoff. The Morecambe Bay Partnership, alongside the Lune, South Cumbria, and Wyre Rivers Trusts, recognise the importance of working together to tackle plastics and pollution throughout the Morecambe Bay area.
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Supporting small scale fisheries (Target 14.9)
Intensive trawling methods have damaged the seabed off Cumbria’s coast, which is home to a rich diversity of marine life. With recent management measures now prohibiting bottom-towed trawling, the Cumbria Creel Project is supporting local fisheries to diversify towards more sustainable methods, reducing the socio-economic impact of conservation efforts on fishing communities and allowing the seabed to recover.
Watch
This short video by the Morecambe Bay Partnership demonstrates the effect that our actions have on local waterways, wildlife and our community.