Ocean degradation poses a significant threat to communities and human rights worldwide, particularly the right to a healthy environment, according to a United Nations independent expert. Astrid Puentes Riaño, Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, emphasized that protecting marine ecosystems is a fundamental obligation of states under international human rights law.
Presenting her report to the Human Rights Council, Puentes Riaño warned that the declining health of the ocean exacerbates global inequalities and disproportionately impacts marginalized populations. She stressed the essential connection between human well-being and marine ecosystems, highlighting that these linkages extend beyond coastal areas to affect food security, climate stability, and the livelihoods of millions worldwide.
With the ocean covering 70% of the Earth’s surface and approximately 2.4 billion people living within 100 kilometers of a coastline, the report underscores the urgency of addressing multiple threats, including climate change, overfishing, pollution, deep-sea mining, and extractivism.
Weak governance and policy gaps worsen ocean degradation
Despite the existence of over 600 international agreements aimed at marine conservation, governance weaknesses, lack of enforcement, and escalating violence against environmental defenders continue to hinder effective protection. Puentes Riaño called for a comprehensive, ecosystem-based approach to ocean governance that integrates human rights principles, gender-responsive policies, and ancestral knowledge.
She emphasized that safeguarding marine ecosystems requires a long-term vision that considers the rights of present and future generations while addressing the ongoing planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The report urged states, businesses, and international organizations to take immediate action by strengthening legal protections for marine biodiversity and coastal communities.
UN calls for inclusive, long-term strategies to protect oceans
Key recommendations include stricter regulations on overfishing, pollution control, and offshore extractive industries, alongside the enforcement of the precautionary principle in decision-making. Recognizing the contributions of Indigenous Peoples and ocean defenders is also crucial to ensuring inclusive and effective conservation efforts.
Additionally, Puentes Riaño highlighted the need for increased international cooperation and financial support for developing countries in their marine conservation efforts. She stressed that those most affected by ocean degradation must be at the forefront of policy decisions to drive meaningful and sustainable solutions.
Without urgent intervention, the degradation of marine ecosystems will continue to threaten biodiversity, food security, and the fundamental rights of millions who rely on the ocean for their survival. “We need a clear understanding that ocean issues are human rights issues, and we must integrate this perspective into all ocean-related policies and actions,” Puentes Riaño stated. – By EuroWire News Desk.