Indicator 14.1.1 (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development

Target 14.1: By 2030, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

14.1.1 a) Index of coastal eutrophication.

b) plastic debris density

May 2024

11.6.1, 12.4.2, 12.5.1

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics

Senior Manager

Food Monitoring, Nutrition and Environment

Compilation of Environment and Natural Resources

+254-735-004-401, +254-202-911-000, +254-202-911-001

P.O. Box 30266–00100 GPO NAIROBI

dps@knbs.or.ke

Definition:

The indicator 14.1.1 includes two sub-indicators:

• 14.1.1a Index of coastal eutrophication (ICEP), and

• 14.1.1b Plastic debris density.

Index of coastal eutrophication (ICEP) is based on loads and ratios of nitrogen,

phosphorous and silica delivered by rivers to coastal waters (Garnier et al. 2010) which contribute to the ICEP. This indicator assumes that excess nitrogen or phosphorus relative to silica will result in increased growth of potentially harmful algae (ICEP>0).

Plastic debris density includes potential measurement of plastics washed onto beaches or shorelines, floating on the water or in the water column, deposited on the seafloor/seabed, as well as ingested by biota.

Concepts:

Eutrophication is an excess nutrient loading into coastal environments from anthropogenic sources, resulting in excessive growth of plants, algae and phytoplankton. The basis for these loads is collected from land-based assessments of land use including fertilizer use, population density, socioeconomic factors and other contributors to nutrient pollution runoff. Given the land-based nature of the indicator, it provides a modelled number indicating the risk of coastal eutrophication at a specific river mouth discharge.

Territorial sea is a belt of coastal waters extending at most 12 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal state, as outlined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea. The EEZ shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, as outlined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

• Chlorophyll-a deviations and Chlorophyll-a anomaly: Percent (%).

• Beach litter: Number per square kilometer, Percent (%), Tonnes.

• Floating plastic debris density: Count per square kilometer (count per km2 ).

• Indicator for Coastal Eutrophication Potential (ICEP): kilograms of carbon (from algae biomass) per square kilometre of river basin area per day (kg C km-2 day-1 )

This indicator is classified by the Standard Country or Area Codes for Statistical Use (UN M49 classification of countries and regions).

For Level 1 indicators:

• Satellite data.

• Global models, which are based on official data from national governments as collected from UN organizations.

For Level 2 indicators:

• Data provided by national governments.

National data are collected through the Regional Seas Programmes to reduce the reporting burden on countries. For countries that are not included in a Regional Seas Programme, UNEP contacts countries directly.

For globally derived data, UNEP has established a partnership with NOAA and GEO Blue Planet, the Global Nutrient Management System (GNMS) and the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Ad hoc and Open Ended Expert Group on Marine Litter. This facilitates the production of global data products.

2023

Every two years from year 2020

Kenya Maritime and Fisheries Research Institute

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics is mandated to collect,compile,analyze,publish and disseminate official statistics for public use

Coastal areas are areas of high productivity where inputs from land, sea, air and people converge. With over 40 percent of the human population residing in coastal areas, ecosystem degradation in these areas can have disproportionate effects on society (IGOS, 2006). One of the largest pressures on coastal environments is eutrophication, resulting primarily from land-based nutrient input from agricultural runoff and domestic wastewater discharge. Coastal eutrophication can lead to serious damage to marine ecosystems, vital sea habitats, and can cause the spread of harmful algal blooms

This methodology mobilizes the collection of widely available earth observation data and other data sources which will be validated by countries. The methodologies used to generate this data are technical in nature. The methodology employs internationally recognized methods, from expert communities such as the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) and international space agencies and technical experts. There is a need to provide training on these indicators over time. The Indicator is designed in a way to generate data to allow informed decision making towards identifying the state of pollution and pollution flows in oceans. It is assumed that countries would use the data to actively make decisions, but as oceans are transboundary, it makes this decision-making complex. Additionally, there is a need to consider data on pollution generation and waste in conjunction with these indicators.

A full methodology for this indicator is available in the document entitled, “Global Manual on Ocean Statistics for Measuring SDG 14.1.1, 14.2.1 and 14.5.1”

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics is ISO certified based on 9001:2015 Standard requirements. The processes of compilation, production, publication and dissemination of data, including quality control, are carried out following the methodological framework and standards established by the KNBS, in compliance with the Internationally acceptable standards

The KNBS adheres to Kenya Statistical Quality Assurance Framework (KesQAF) that underlines principles to be assured in managing the statistical production processes and output.

Data consistency and quality checks are conducted through Technical Working Groups (TWGs) before publication and dissemination.

The processes of compilation, production, publication and dissemination of data, including quality control are subjected to a set criteria and standards to ensure conformity.

Data is available for years 2019,2020,2021 and 2022

Regional Seas website: https://www.unenvironment.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-wedo/working-regional-seas.

UNEP Global Manual on Ocean Statistics for Measuring SDG 14.1.1, 14.2.1 and 14.5.1 (forthcoming)

Guidelines for the Monitoring and Assessment of Plastic Litter in the Ocean (see:

https://environmentlive.unep.org/media/docs/marine_plastics/une_science_dvision_gesamp_repor ts.pdf)