Goal 14: life below water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
By Frans de Man, Retour Foundation
ABSTRACT: Oceans cover 71% of our planet´s surface. They support the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people around the globe. 183 countries have coastlines and 37 per cent of the world’s population live in coastal communities. The coasts and marine ecosystems have an own touristic value. Tourism development and the resulting influx of tourists affect the coasts not only ecologically, but also have effects on the social, cultural and economic fabric of coastal communities. Special attention needs to be paid to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) which often depend on both their coasts and tourism.