WWF Annual Review 2023 - 25

OUR G L O B A L WOR K
WE ARE WORKING FOR PRODUCTIVE OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS, INCLUDING A
NETWORK OF MARINE PROTECTED AND CONSERVED AREAS COVERING AT LEAST
30% OF THE OCEAN, THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND RESILIENCE
OF SPECIES, COMMUNITIES AND THE CLIMATE.
HIGH SEAS SUCCESS
A groundbreaking UN High Seas Treaty,
aimed at conserving marine life and controlling
harmful activities in international waters, was
agreed in 2023. WWF was a leading advocate
for the treaty and supported government
negotiations over nearly two decades.
The high seas, which are outside the
jurisdiction of any country, cover two-thirds
of the ocean, but only about 1% of this vast
area is currently protected. This leaves
vulnerable ecosystems and wildlife exposed to
the impacts of unsustainable industrial fishing,
shipping and other human activities. The new
treaty, formally adopted in June 2023, will
make it possible to establish networks of
marine protected areas in international waters
- crucial for achieving the goal of protecting
30% of the ocean by 2030, which UN
members committed to in December 2022.
States must carry out impact assessments
of activities planned on the high seas, which
will help ensure sustainable use of the ocean.
The obligation to share knowledge and
technologies, and to build capacity across
countries, should also enable a more equitable
participation in ocean conservation.
PROGRESS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
WWF's long-standing engagement with
over 1,000 small-scale fishers in the
Mediterranean has led to the creation of
seven new no-fishing zones and three new
areas with fisheries restrictions in just
five years. But our work here is far from
done, with plans that include helping
fisherfolk reduce their ecological and
carbon footprint and increase their
resilience to climate change.
DEEP SEABED MINING
WWF's advocacy efforts against deep
seabed mining in international waters
have seen strong progress, with 24 states
and many more businesses endorsing our
position. Arguments presented in a
WWF-commissioned study, The Future
is Circular, have been used in global
negotiations to counter claims that deep
seabed mining is necessary to supply
critical minerals for the green transition.
RESTORING CORAL AND MANGROVES
Coral reefs and mangrove forests are vital
for coastal communities but face serious
threats, not least from climate change.
Our focus for 2023 included the SuluSulawesi
seas - an area shared by Indonesia,
Malaysia and the Philippines - where
over 550 community members and
protected area managers led monitoring
and restoration efforts.
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https://www.wwfmmi.org/who_we_are/mediterranean_marine_initiative/ https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/oceans_practice/news2/?9082466/Governments-formally-adopt-High-Seas-Treaty-paving-the-way-for-greater-ocean-protection https://www.wwfmmi.org/who_we_are/mediterranean_marine_initiative/ https://sintef.brage.unit.no/sintef-xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/3032049/CircularEconomyAndCriticalMineralsReport.pdf?sequence=7&isAllowed=y https://sintef.brage.unit.no/sintef-xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/3032049/CircularEconomyAndCriticalMineralsReport.pdf?sequence=7&isAllowed=y

WWF Annual Review 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of WWF Annual Review 2023