REALIZING SDG'S THROUGH SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES PRACTICES
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's), are to produce a set of universal goals that address the urgency of the environmental, political and economic challenges facing the world today. The 17 SDG's adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015 show the full evidence and commitment of world leaders in dealing with the world's current problems. The agenda of creating and maintaining a friendly planet and a safe environment for humans in the next 15 years, hopes to bear fruit into reality.
The ocean has been the source of human life for thousands of years. The oceans are vital to support human daily life, especially as a place to find food. Quoted from marinebio.org, studies show that about 200 billion pounds of fish and shellfish are caught every year. The current state of fisheries provides about 16% of the world's total protein with a higher percentage occurring in developing countries. Fisheries are still very important to the economy and well-being of people. In today's modern society, the practice of obtaining food from the ocean has led to irresponsible practices and exploitation of marine natural resources. The unsustainable activities of bycatch and overfishing are leading to the depletion and extinction of certain species in our oceans if they continue to degrade the oceans.
SDG 14, life underwater, focuses on human interactions with the ocean and marine resources. Deteriorating ocean conditions are driving SDG 14 to take immediate action and solutions to address the problem. Responsible fishing and aquaculture is one way to restore the current degraded marine natural resources. The implementation of responsible fishing and aquaculture can be seen through the actualization of WWF-Indonesia's Seafood Savers initiative. The aim is to reward businesses that practice responsible fishing and aquaculture. This process is strengthened by encouraging business parties to obtain ecolabel certification that has been well recognized at the international level, namely the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).
Today, the Seafood Savers initiative has successfully engaged the Indonesian domestic market. With a total of 21 companies (3 of which have been certified) joining the Seafood Savers initiative, people are now starting to realize how important it is to maintain a sustainable life. Efforts like this are not only beneficial for the environment itself, but also for all who participate in it. Becoming an internationally recognized ecolabel certified business enterprise will elevate their company name worldwide. Spreading their market from local to global.
Through WWF-Indonesia's Seafood Savers initiative, it is hoped that this can ensure sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Achieving food security and improved nutrition, generating income for small-scale food producers, selective fishing, and establishing sustainable food production systems in islands and coastal areas, especially in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Less Developed Countries (LDCs), where all the points mentioned above are in line with the interaction goal of SDG's 14 life underwater.