"Without sound management of water resources, there is no sustainable development." This statement said by His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Aziz bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, the president of the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND), expresses one of the most important pillars on which the program has relied in its various projects, since its establishment in the early eighties of the last century, which have been witnessed in different regions of the world.
Oceans and seas cover more than 70% of Earth, and come on the top of the list of water resources that must be protected. Any disruption that occurs in the magical world that takes place under the waters of these vast bodies of water affects the stability of the Earth and the stability of the people who inhabit the land.
Protecting the marine environment.. The target of the new version
“Life under water”, the fourteenth goal of sustainable development goals approved by the UN, is the subject of the new edition of the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development, presented annually by the Arab Gulf Program for Development, with a total value of one million US dollars.
The first edition of the award was launched for the first time in 1999, under the name “AGFUND International Award for Pioneering Human Development Projects”, to cover, over a quarter of a century, various aspects of the sustainable development goals.
The award, whose application deadline is January 15, 2025, aims to support various projects that work to preserve and use oceans, seas, and marine resources in a sustainable manner.
The categories that can participate in the race are divided into projects affiliated with UN organizations, international and regional NGOs, then national NGOs. The third category includes projects by government agencies, social business institutions, and private sector institutions directed at supporting the social sector, while the fourth category is allocated to projects that were initiated, funded, and/or implemented by individuals.
Continuous support
The announcement of the award topic came as a culmination of AGFUND’s contribution to supporting sustainable fishing efforts and small-scale fishermen working in the field.
One of these fishermen was Abbas Al-Kufi, a young man who was able to maintain his boat, which he relied on to catch and sell fish, with the support of the Creativity Bank for Micro-finance in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The Creativity Bank for Micro-finance was launched in 2011, and is one of 9 financing banks, through which the program seeks to support the most vulnerable groups in different regions of the world, in addition to the banks that are still being established.
“Al Kufi” is one of more than 3 billion people around the world who depend on the marine environment for a source of income, as fisheries provide about 60 million jobs and provide a source of protein for more than 50% of the population of the least developed countries, according to UN statistics.
Oceans and climate
The oceans are one of the important soldiers in the human battle against climate change that threatens the planet. They are capable of absorbing 25% of total carbon dioxide emissions, and they are responsible for producing 50% of the oxygen on our planet, most of which comes from organisms that can carry out photosynthesis.
The selection of the award topic coincides with the escalation of threats to marine resources, as well as the escalation of opportunities through which a sustainable blue economy can be promoted.
Escalating dangers
His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Aziz bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, who had previously pointed out that the marine environment had reached “90% depletion of large fish populations and 50% of coral reefs are destructed,” saying: “To continue to benefit from it, we need to work on achieving a balance that helps it regain its vitality and renew the livelihoods of the creatures in it.”
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that in 2024, more than 37% of the more than 500 fish populations monitored by the organization will be over-fished, while the number of overfished populations has tripled compared to the early 1970s.
The Arab world, which has long coastlines of nearly 20,000 kilometers, also suffers from high rates of plastic pollution in its marine waters.
The World Bank says that the average person in the Middle East and North Africa region generates more than 6 kilograms of plastic waste into the ocean each year, and the region leads the world in plastic consumption per capita.
Plastic pollution threatens marine organisms that stumble upon these materials, or swallow them thinking that they are suitable food for them, which ends up killing them, or the plastic particles that are transferred to the fish that we feed on. The number of organisms harmed by plastic pollution is estimated at hundreds of thousands annually.
Coral reefs have not been spared the effects of this type of pollution either. Reefs in areas polluted by plastic are more susceptible to various diseases or tissue damage.
Promising opportunities
But the picture is not that bleak, as experts estimate that reducing sources of pollution and allowing natural marine resources to regenerate will not only ensure their continuity but also their prosperity.
According to the World Resources Institute, the oceans could sustainably produce 6 times more food than they do today, and a sustainable ocean economy could create more than 10 million new jobs by 2030.
The Prince Talal International Prize is a unique initiative that contributes to promoting the blue sustainable economy and supporting the conservation of marine resources by supporting projects that aim to protect the marine environment and biodiversity.
In light of the escalating environmental challenges, the prize plays a pivotal role in raising awareness and directing efforts towards sustainability and protecting the marine environment, as it is not the responsibility of one party, but rather a collective effort that requires the cooperation of institutions and societies alike to ensure a renewable marine environment and sustainable life for future generations.
