Sharing Experiences on Achieving Target 11 in Marine and Coastal Areas, including the Contribution of Other Area-Based Conservation Measures

Organizers and partners: CBD Secretariat, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ministry of the Environment of Brazil, CSIRO/Australia, Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative, IUCN-CEM-FEG, UNEP-WCMC

Joseph Appiott, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), discussed the work programme of the CBD in the achievement of Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 (MPAs), noting challenges in ensuring that EBSAs are both effectively and equitably managed. Brian MacSharry, UN Environment Programme-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), highlighted the status of achievement for Aichi Biodiversity Target 11, noting that while progress in the coverage of MPAs has been “quantitatively successful,” more data is required to assess how effective this coverage has been. Daniel Dunn, Duke University, discussed the role of EBSAs in advancing progress on Aichi Biodiversity Target 11, highlighting contributions of EBSAs to MPAs and MSP both within and beyond natural jurisdictions. Kevin Stringer, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, said that MPA coverage in Canada has remained at 1% for 20 years, but that the government has committed to 5% by the end of 2017, and to 10% by 2020. Skip Woolley, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia, stressed the role of spatial management to reduce unnecessary impacts on marine resources. José Pedro de Oliveira Costa, Ministry of Environment, Brazil, discussed MPAs as tools to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 (Life Under Water). He described the “Brazil Blue Fund” dedicated to furthering MPA coverage in Brazil. Michel Kaiser, IUCN, showed examples from the Welsh coast and along the Isle of Man in the UK illustrating how it is possible to measure the threshold of fishing disturbance at which change to “conservation features” begins to occur.