Study: Coastal Marine Ecosystems May Need Active Restoration – The Maritime Executive

Report on Marine Ecosystem Restoration and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Introduction

Marine ecosystems are facing significant degradation due to human activities, and natural recovery can take up to 200 years. Immediate and active restoration interventions are essential to accelerate recovery and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14: Life Below Water.

Current Threats to Marine Environments

1. Human activities such as seabed fishing (e.g., bottom trawling) damage nearly five million square kilometers of seabed annually.
2. Marine debris and chemical pollution disrupt ecosystems and threaten biodiversity.
3. Oil and gas drilling cause localized damage, with accidents like the Deepwater Horizon spill having long-lasting effects.
4. Seabed mining is expected to increase, potentially impacting large ocean areas.

Importance of Active Restoration for SDG 14

The UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to protect and restore 30% of marine environments by 2030. The EU project Climarest, coordinated by SINTEF, is developing solutions for marine restoration aligned with this goal.

An analysis of 764 restoration projects worldwide shows a 64% average success rate, highlighting the potential for effective restoration efforts.

Limitations of Conservation Alone

• Conservation efforts alone may not reverse degradation or restore ecosystem functionality.
• Ecological restoration focusing on habitat-forming species such as seagrass meadows, mangroves, kelp forests, and coral reefs is crucial.
• Passive restoration (removing impacts and allowing natural recovery) can take 100-200 years for full recovery.
• Active restoration methods, such as seabed stabilization and reintroduction of habitat-forming organisms, can significantly accelerate recovery.

Success Stories and Scaling Up Restoration Efforts

Restoration has been successful in various habitats, including deep-sea ecosystems, salt marshes, and coral reefs. These successes contribute to a global “blue restoration plan” and promote affordable technologies, supporting SDG 14 and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

Examples include efforts to restore European lobster populations through artificial reefs in Spain.

Key Factors for Successful Marine Restoration

1. Restoration Method: The choice of method is the most critical factor.
2. Ongoing Maintenance: Collaboration with local stakeholders such as fishermen and dive centers is essential for follow-up.
3. Site Selection: Sites connected to similar habitats, protected from disturbances, and providing climate refuges show higher success rates.
4. Buffer Zones: Establishing marine protected areas and fishing restrictions around restoration sites reduces human impact.

Failures occur when environmental conditions are unsuitable, extreme events cause mass mortality, or inappropriate methods or species are used.

Political, Financial, and Technological Support

• Political and Regulatory Support: Includes international initiatives like the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, EU Nature Restoration Law, and local regulations such as the Polluter-Pays Principle. These frameworks align with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
• Financial Support: Public funding remains primary, but private sector investment is increasing due to the social, economic, and cultural value of restoration, contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Technological Support: Development of scalable tools and methods for diverse marine habitats is vital for effective restoration.

Ongoing Projects and Future Directions

The Climarest project is testing large-scale restoration solutions at five demonstration sites in the Arctic-Atlantic region, including Svalbard, with plans to expand to the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean. Monitoring effectiveness is prioritized to encourage future investments and support SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Conclusion

Active marine ecosystem restoration is critical for achieving the SDGs, especially SDG 14. Success depends on appropriate methods, stakeholder collaboration, site selection, buffer zones, and comprehensive political, financial, and technological support. Immediate action can accelerate recovery and enhance the resilience of marine environments and coastal communities.

References

• Original Article – Norwegian SciTech News
• Assessing the success of marine ecosystem restoration using meta-analysis, Nature Communications, 2025

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article focuses on marine ecosystem restoration, addressing threats such as seabed fishing, marine debris, chemical pollution, oil drilling, and seabed mining.
   • It emphasizes protecting and restoring marine environments and habitats like seagrass meadows, mangroves, kelp forests, and coral reefs.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article discusses the impact of marine ecosystem degradation on coastal communities’ ability to adapt to climate change.
   • Restoration efforts contribute to climate resilience by restoring habitats that play critical roles in ecosystem processes.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Indirectly connected through the restoration of coastal habitats like mangroves and salt marshes that link terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article highlights the importance of political, financial, and technological support, including international initiatives and collaborations among scientists, governments, and private actors.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, and take action for their restoration to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
   • Target 14.5: By 2020, conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law.
   • Target 14.c: Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans through international law, including UNCLOS.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Success Rate of Restoration Projects
   • The article mentions an average success rate of 64% for 764 marine restoration projects, which can be used as an indicator of restoration effectiveness.
2. Area of Marine Environment Protected or Restored
   • The UN’s goal to protect and restore 30% of the marine environment by 2030 implies measuring the percentage of marine areas under protection or restoration.
3. Restoration Method Effectiveness
   • Indicators related to the type of restoration method, ongoing maintenance, site selection, and establishment of buffer zones affect success and can be monitored.
4. Environmental Conditions and Species Survival Rates
   • Monitoring survival rates of restored species and environmental suitability are implied indicators for restoration success or failure.
5. Investment and Funding Levels
   • Financial support from public and private sectors can be tracked as an indicator of commitment and resources allocated to restoration.
6. Technological Development and Application
   • Progress in developing and implementing restoration technologies at scale is an implied indicator of technological support.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: maritime-executive.com