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Preserving oceans important to promote Sustainable Development Goals - UN

BEIRUT, Nov 20 (KUNA) -- The United Nations stressed on the importance of preserving oceans, revealing that in recent years, 40 percent of the planet's waters were in danger due to increasing human resource consumption and pollution.
Oceans contains more than 200,000 kinds of well-known marine lifeforms considered as important protein sources for consumption, said a special report issued by the UN Media Center in Beirut highlighting the 14th UN Sustainable Development Goal which focuses on developing marine life.
Oceans are subject to violations and unregulated management, more than 26 tons of fish, worth USD 23 billion, are caught causing overfishing, the report added.
United Nations statistics showed that market value of marine industry reached USD three trillion while people working in the marine industry are estimated to be at 67 million worldwide.
It said World exports of fish reached USD 148 billion in 2014, 89 billions of them were exports from developing countries exceeding all other exports from meat, tobacco, rice, and sugar.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) published the Convention on Port State Measures agreement last October to prevent and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing through the implementation of robust port State measures.
On their part, official authorities in Kuwait are keen to promote environmental awareness and undertake many initiatives aimed at protecting marine coasts and biodiversity.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cover a broad range of social issues like poverty, hunger, health, education, climate change, gender equality and social justice. (end) ayb.nhq