The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set forth by the United Nations provide a comprehensive framework for addressing global challenge and achieving a sustainable future. There are a total of 17 Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) that have been established. The purpose is to provide a global framework for addressing various socio-economic and environmental challenges to work toward sustainable and inclusive future. Among all the SDGs, SDG 14 focuses on ‘Life Below Water', addressing the conservation and sustainable use of the marine and coastal resources. It emphasizes the importance of the marine and coastal resources to ensure their preservation for current and future generations.

Here are some key actions to support SDG 14 and promote effective coastal management:

• • Marine pollution from land-based sources including plastic waste, agricultural runoff, and industrial discharge, will degrade water quality, harms marine life, and disturbs ecosystem. Some activities can be implemented to prevent and reduce marine pollution such as waste management strategies, promoting recycling and waste reduction, raising awareness about the impact of single-use plastics, and the essential to step towards achieving cleaner and healthier ocean.
  • Coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows, provide critical ecosystem services including coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and nurseries for fish and other marine species. Effective coastal management involve the conservation and restoration of this ecosystems. Integrating nature-based solutions such as mangrove restoration project and coral reef conservation can enhance coastal resilience, mitigate the effect of climate change and promote sustainable coastal community.
  • Coastal areas often attract tourism. Encouraging responsible visitor behavior, supporting local communities, and ensuring tourism activities minimise negative impacts on marine ecosystems and also essential for sustainable coastal tourism.

By taking these actions and integrating them into policies, strategies, and everyday practices, we can contribute to achieving SDG 14 and ensure the sustainable management of our marine and coastal resources for our future generation. It requires collective effort from government, organization, private sectors, communities, and also individuals to protect and preserve the invaluable treasure that our oceans and coasts provide.