SDG 14 Life below water

SDG 14 focuses on the protection and sustainable use of seas and oceans. Humanity is highly dependent on the bodies of water that cover our planet. Seas and oceans play a vital role globally in the absorption of carbon dioxide and the production of oxygen. They are crucial for the climate, food production and transport. Climate change, overfishing and pollution are posing serious threats to these ecosystems, and to our ability to benefit from them.

• The quality of seawater is low compared to that in other EU countries and shows no signs of improving.
• Animal populations in the North Sea are growing.

Dashboard and indicators

Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being

This dashboard focuses on water quality in the North Sea and the sustainability of the fishing industry. Although many data are available on the saltwater marine areas and transitional waters of the Netherlands (part of the North Sea, the Wadden Sea and the estuaries), there are not many suitable summary indicators that are measured frequently and recently enough to be included in the dashboard. Filling these gaps and improving the measurement of SDG 14 remains an important ambition in monitoring well-being and the SDGs.

Resources and opportunities refers to the size of the marine area and the resources used to maintain and protect it. Although large areas of Dutch marine waters enjoy protected status, many activities take place in these locations. Since there are overlaps between various forms of protection and use, protection has not been fully ensured in all these locations; nor is it possible to provide a clear picture of developments at present.

Use refers to how we use the sea for economic activities and recreational purposes, and to how we protect marine nature. Dutch marine waters are used intensively for shipping, fishing and recreation. More and more wind farms are being constructed in the North Sea, while experiments with other forms of sustainable energy remain ongoing. No indicators that fulfil the quality requirements of this report are currently available to describe these uses across the entire marine area of the Netherlands.

Outcomes refers to the quality of seawater and natural life in and around Dutch marine waters. Fish stocks constitute a natural resource that is exploited by various countries. European fisheries policy aims to ensure the sustainable and balanced use of fish stocks and to prevent overfishing through catch limits. The dashboard shows whether the current populations of six key commercial fish species are sustainable (i.e. there are enough fish to maintain a healthy population). According to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), in 2024 the populations of herring, plaice, sole, pollack and haddock were large enough to be considered sustainable fish stocks; the cod population was not.

The quality of coastal bathing waters is measured yearly by the European Environmental Agency (EEA). In the Netherlands, it is measured at 91 locations along the coast. In 2024, 79.3 percent of these locations were rated ‘excellent’, the highest quality label. This is average compared to other EU countries. Inland bathing water quality is also included as an indicator in the dashboard for SDG 6 Clean water and sanitation.

The Ocean Health Index is a generic indicator for measuring the health and vitality of seas and oceans. This measure is based on sustainable conservation of utility to humans. The Clean Water Index component measures water quality, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 (fully clean). In 2024, the Netherlands had a score of 44.3, which is relatively low compared with other EU countries.

North Sea fauna trends are a measure of the biodiversity of marine waters, including seabirds. This indicator looks at the average population development of 140 saltwater-bound species. After a decline of just over 20 percent between 1990 and 2010, North Sea wildlife is currently increasing. In 2021, the Netherlands had a score of 106.6 on the fauna index, indicating an increase in biodiversity compared to the reference year (1990). The average trend is a compilation of species-specific developments that can differ significantly from one another. Whereas seabirds, jellyfish and porpoises have increased in number, benthic species in particular have declined.

Subjective assessment refers to people’s concerns about pollution and life in the seas. No indicators are available for this category.