The oceans occupy more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and 95% of the biosphere. They form an essential part of the system on the planet, regulating carbon sequestration and storage, as well as providing our food and livelihood. Fish is primary source of protein for more than a billion people worldwide, and the ocean and coastal biodiversity play a vital role in achieving sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, sustaining livelihood in the local community.

However, the oceans face unprecedented human-induced pressures, including from climate change, pollution and unsustainable sectoral practices. With respect to fisheries, overfishing, destructive fishing, and illegal, unreported and unreported (IUU) fishing have led certain species to the brink of extinction.

With only 5 years left until the 2030 deadline of the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), it is crucial to accelerate actions now to achieve 23 targets and 4 goals of the KMGBF and move toward to 2050 vision to live in harmony with nature. The conservation, restoration and sustainable management of the ocean and coastal biodiversity are integral to achieving the KMGBF. In this regard, businesses both depend on and impact the healthy and thriving marine ecosystems. We can no longer take the ocean for granted as we did in the past. Our collective action matters to the future of the ocean where life began.

Following the previous series, the Business and Biodiversity Newsletters focuses in this edition on the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, sharing concrete examples of on-the-ground action that can be inspiring. We continue to learn from others and adapt in a way that suits in respective region or local.

The 27th meeting of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SBSTTA-27) took place from 20th to 24th October in Panamá City, Panamá . One of the key outcomes is the agreement on the scope of the 2026 global review of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity. Parties also advanced their discussions on a range of other subjects, including the links between biodiversity and climate change; invasive alien species; biodiversity and health, and more. The results of these discussions will be taken up at COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia in 2026 October.

Held back to back with SBSTTA-27, the first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) and Other Provisions of the CBD related to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, also known as SB8J, took place from 27 to 30 October. SB8J is the first permanent body of its kind to be established under a Multilateral Environmental Agreement, dedicated to elevating the role and leveraging the contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities in the implementation of the objectives of the CBD. The meeting addressed foundational issues, such as the operation and governance of the SB8J, held an in-depth dialogue on strategies for means of implementation, and advanced the work on incorporating traditional knowledge into the global report considered at COP17.

Meeting documents of SBSTTA-27

Meeting documents of SB8J-1

The Secretariat is pleased to announce that the functionality to submit information on commitments from actors other than national Governments is now operational at https://ort.cbd.int/. This development follows decisions 15/6 and 16/32 and supports the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework through a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach.

Why submit a commitment?

• The commitments submitted in the online reporting tool will be made publicly available subject to the CBD national focal point review. Making a submission signals that your organization is committed to biodiversity and it includes concrete actions that your organization is taking or plans to take towards the implementation of the Framework.

• Information from these commitments may also be included in the global report to be considered at COP17. Please note that actors who wish the information to be available for the global report are encouraged to submit their commitments as soon as possible.

Who can submit the commitments?

• Any actors other than national governments, including indigenous peoples and local communities, subnational governments, cities and other local authorities, intergovernmental organizations, other multilateral environmental agreements, NGOs, women, youth, academia, business and finance institutions

•The submission should be on behalf of an organization, not on behalf of an individual.

What is the process?

1. Go to the online reporting tool at: https://ort.cbd.int/

2. Click “Credentials” under “Stakeholders” section in the left bar. (First time users of the online reporting tool must sign up for a CBD account.)

3. Fill in the required information and upload documents that clarify user (s) has the authority to submit a commitment on behalf of the organization.

a)The documents include but not limited to the letters signed by the head of organization or

an authorized representative, confirming that the user (s) of the online reporting tool is

authorized to submit a commitment on behalf of the organization.

b) If the organization is already an accredited organization, then this should be mentioned in

the letter. If the organization is not an accredited organization, then a document which

demonstrates the legal status of the entity should be uploaded along with the letter.

5. Once the credential has been validated, submit commitment(s)

6. The submitted commitments will be shared with CBD national focal points responsible for geographical coverage of the commitments.

7. The commitments will be published on the online reporting tool after the review period of four weeks unless all Parties within the geographic coverage object to the commitment.

Relevant Notification 2025-132

Text guide for “Commitments from actors other than national Governments”

North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) is the first regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) to identify and report Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in areas beyond national jurisdiction on the basis of, and in line with the criteria and guidance adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity. NEAFC’s OECM relates to practical and enforced measures—some of which have been in place since 2004 —that focus on the conservation objective to protect biodiversity (in particular deep-sea sponge and coral communities) from impacts by fishing activities. These demonstrate the important role of the fishing sector in delivering not only sustainable use of biodiversity but also conservation of vulnerable and important habitats and ecosystems in the ocean.

Practice cases from Biodiversity Foundation, which established IEEB

The participation of the fishing sector is one of the pillars of the European project LIFE ECOREST, which focuses on restoring degraded seabeds and recovering the loss of their habitats and key species, such as gorgonians, corals and sponges, among others. These structuring organisms have been rescued from fishing nets and recovered in aquariums installed in fisher´s guilds in Catalonia (Spain). Once recovered, organisms are returned to the sea in the permanently closed areas where the project operates using the “Badminton method”, which consists in fixing organisms to a cobble and gently tossing them from vessel´s deck. This technique allows organisms to reach the seafloor and remain in an upright position, optimal for their survival.

Thanks to the joint efforts of fishermen and scientists, more than 3,000 organisms have already been returned to the sea. The LIFE ECOREST project is coordinated by the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) with the following partners: Federació Territorial de Confraries de Pescadors de Girona, Fundación Biodiversidad del Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico, Universitat de Barcelona, and WWF España, as well as the financial contribution from the European Union’s LIFE Programme.

The Pleamar Programme is an initiative of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge designed to manage the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) of the European Union, with the aim of strengthening the sustainability of the Spanish fisheries and aquaculture sector in the context of the blue economy. The programme, which has continuation with the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) has as its main objective to support the implementation of scientific, fisheries and aquaculture projects, as well as conservation and ecological restoration projects, through collaboration among diverse stakeholders.

As a result of the Pleamar Programme, a total of 178 projects have been supported through calls for grants, carried out by more than 120 entities and amounting to more than 38 million euros. These projects have contributed to the protection and restoration of marine biodiversity, more sustainable fishing and aquaculture activities, the reduction of unwanted catches and the strengthening of the management of marine protected areas.

Three practice cases from members of business association based in Korea, Korea Business Council for Sustainable Development (KBCSD)

South Korea’s coastal regions are experiencing severe depletion of the marine environment whereby marine algae such as seaweeds disappear from rock beds. Since marine algae serve as a vital food source and provide shelter for sea animals, damaged algae grounds lead to the destruction of the marine ecosystem.

In order to restore the affected regions, POSCO has developed an artificial reef called “Triton” made of steel slag, a co-product of steelmaking. Its mineral content, mainly calcium and iron, is higher than that of general aggregates and thus, is effective in promoting the growth and photosynthesis of marine algae. By forming a sea forest, the Triton reefs slow the process of depletion of the marine environment, helping activate the coastal fisheries and promote the economy of the local fishing community. They are also capable of fixating hundreds of tons of CO2 through the photosynthesis of marine algae.

POSCO continues to expand its effort in restoring the marine ecosystem, and so far, a total of 10,586 Triton reefs have been installed to transform damaged coastal areas into sea forests. Along with this, we have recently been developing sea fertilizers that combine steel slag and organic international blue carbon certification.

The research project titled The Automatic Identification Monitoring System for Fishing Gear was part of the Technology Development Program for Fisheries, supported by the Korea Institute of Marine Science & Technology Promotion (KIMST) and led by the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) over an eight-year period from 2017 to 2024. The project aimed to prevent marine ecosystem degradation caused by abandoned fishing gear. The Automatic Identification Monitoring System for Fishing Gear utilizes maritime IoT (Internet of Things) technology by attaching electronic buoys to each fishing gear to transmit location data. Through wireless communication with fishing vessels, management ships, and onshore stations, the system allows real-time monitoring of the gear’s owner, type, and location. The system’s technology was successfully transferred in October 2024 to Ocean Graphic Co., Ltd., a private company headquartered in Muan County, Jeollanam-do.

Commercialization officially began in November 2024 after receiving certification from a licensed telecommunications operator. Globally, more than 100,000 protected marine animals, including sea turtles and dolphins, are injured or killed each year after becoming entangled in abandoned fishing gear. Therefore, the commercialization of this technology is expected to contribute significantly to the protection of marine ecosystems.

O2NB applied an advanced water purification system to enhance the sustainable cultivation of high-value fish fry feed (Daphnia) in aquaculture. As the survival rate of fish fry is crucial for efficient production, securing a clean and stable water environment directly increases both survival and productivity. O2NB’s installation of a water treatment unit significantly improved on-site water quality, boosting the yield and vitality of Daphnia. As Daphnia plays critical roles not only as aquaculture feed but also in maintaining aquatic biodiversity, this initiative supports both aquaculture innovation and the restoration of local aquatic ecosystems.

O2NB is currently conducting a pilot project that replaces existing systems with Membrane Capacitive Deionization (MCDI) for reusing effluent from the Nakdong River estuary public wastewater treatment facility for agriculture and aquaculture. This system efficiently removes residual salts and dissolved ions from treated wastewater, delivering safe and clean recycled water. Through this initiative, O2NB contributes to conservation of biodiversity in marine, coastal, and inland aquatic environments, while ensuring stable water resources for local farming and aquaculture. The integration of eco-friendly processes and carbon reduction technologies presents a sustainable model for water resource circulation.

Three practice cases from members of the China Partnership for Business and Biodiversity (CPBB)

Since 2019, Veolia has partnered with Zhejiang Lanjing Technology Co., Ltd., with the support and guidance of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, to create a new “Blue Circle” model for managing marine plastic waste. Under this innovative model, fishing vessels and coastal communities are responsible for collecting plastic waste from the marine environment. At Veolia Huafei’s recycled plastics processing plant, the waste plastics are sorted, recycled, and regenerated into high-quality recycled marine plastic pellets. These are then further processed by downstream enterprises into a variety of products such as clothing, home appliances, digital electronics, and daily product packaging, bringing these recycled materials into everyday life.

This model establishes the "Blue Alliance Common Prosperity Fund" based on funding sources such as 20% of the marine plastic transaction volume, and conducts secondary value distribution to benefit frontline collection groups. Compared to virgin plastics, the recycling of marine plastic waste reduces carbon dioxide emissions and avoids the consumption of natural resources such as petroleum, thus generating economic benefits while making outstanding contributions to improving local community environments and marine cleanliness

The collapsed stock, large yellow croaker (Larimichthys grocea) is currently starting to show recovery signals in the East China Sea (ECS). This progress arise from a Seafood Fishery Resources Ecosystem Engineering (Seafood Free) project led by Zhejiang Ocean University under support of the UN Ocean Decade program. The project utilizes wild-caught broodstock of the native Daiqu stock to produce seeding juveniles. These juveniles are subsequently subjected to a size-based, stage-specific field conditioning protocol in the original Daiqu spawning grounds. The acoustic, optical, and biomimetic technologies are employed to conduct behavioral conditioning, including swimming performance and schooling behavior training.

Afterward, the project implemented an integrated optimization of stock enhancement and monitoring-evaluation, with the aim of improving post-release survival rates and resources rebuilding. Currently, more than 35 million juveniles have been released and acclimated, achieving a 65.82% improvement in survival rate, as well as contributing to about 45% of the wild-caught population, significantly enhancing the resilience of the stock. From 2019 to 2023, the average annual wild catch reached 920 tonnes, 1.9 times higher than that of five years earlier.

Ant Forest is a public welfare project initiated by Ant Group, with Ant Group as the primary donor. It encourages individuals to embrace sustainability through everyday actions, incentivizing them with virtual “green energy points” on the Alipay mobile application for activities such as biking to work, using public transit, or recycling online.

These virtual points are then translated into real-world actions such as tree planting, through programs funded by Ant Group and carried out by non-profit and environmental organizations. It has launched 12 special editions, including themes on oceans, and corals, featuring 120 endangered species.

Widely recognized as a successful model for mobilizing public awareness of nature and green action, Ant Forest has also expanded internationally. At the IUCN World Conservation Congress in October 2025, Ant International's Indonesian partner, DANA, launched a localized interactive in-app mini-program, "Ocean Buddy," inspired by Ant Forest. Indonesia is a critical habitat for whale sharks, currently threatened by strandings. "Ocean Buddy" combines mobile interaction with real-world whale shark conservation. Users can earn virtual coins through mobile interactions to support the conservation efforts of local whale shark rescue teams.

India Business & Biodiversity Initiative (IBBI) announced the launch of report: Integrating Nature-related Aspects in Business Responsibility & Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) Disclosures using the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Recommendations

This report highlights the convergence between India’s Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), underscoring a timely opportunity for Indian businesses to strengthen resilience, enhance transparency, and drive responsible growth. This document supports national and global calls, articulated in India’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, for businesses to assess and disclose their nature-related risks, dependencies, and impacts.

By mapping TNFD’s disclosure recommendations and additional guidance to the BRSR, the report demonstrates how Indian corporates, and financial institutions can advance nature-related risk management and disclosure practices. The high degree of alignment between the two frameworks allows businesses to not only meet compliance requirements but also seize strategic opportunities: enhancing competitiveness, fostering stakeholder trust, and contributing to India’s vision of resilient, inclusive, and nature-positive growth.

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

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