The UN Oceans Conference 2017 aims to support implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 through partnerships. It will include plenary meetings, partnership dialogues, and side events from June 5-9 at UN Headquarters. Expected outcomes are an intergovernmental document calling for action on SDG 14, a compendium of partnership commitments, and a list of voluntary commitments. FAO and UNCTAD co-convened a working group on sustainable fisheries management which provided recommendations to accelerate progress on related SDG 14 targets.

1. The UN Oceans Conference 2017:
Trade related aspects of SDG 14
FAO Information Briefing
Rome, 3 May 2017
Lucas Assunção
Head, Trade, Environment and SD Branch - UNCTAD

3.  Main theme of the conference: "our oceans, our future:
partnering for Sustainable Development".
 Objective of the conference are: "to identify ways and
means to support the implementation of Sustainable
Development Goal 14 by building on existing successful
partnerships and stimulating the emergence of new,
innovative and concrete partnerships ".

4.  Conference structure:
 8 plenary meetings (5 to 9 June, UN HQs)
 7 partnership dialogues
 Side events (two with FAO)
 Off-site events
 Ocean village
 5 June World Environment Day
 8June Commemoration for the World Oceans day

5. Expected outcomes:
1. Intergovernmental outcome document: "A call for action"
(global plan for implementation for SDG 14);
2. The presentation and a compendium of action-oriented
Partnership (potentially subject to UN monitoring);
3. A list of voluntary commitments (VCs) for the implementation
of SDG 14 (subject "smart" measurement and voluntary listing).
The UNDESA's platform for listing VCs is already open online:
https://oceanconference.un.org/commitments/

6. Informal Preparatory
Working Group - 4
IPWG 4: Sustainable management of fisheries
(SDG 14 Targets 14.4,14.6 and 14.b)
UNCTAD & FAO were co-conveners of working
group, which involved more than 20 intl
leading experts from IGOs, CSOs, academia,
WTO, UNEP, FAO and UNCTAD.
Outcome report (compiled by UNCTAD and
FAO) provides:
 Main trends
 Challenges, gaps & opportunities
 Proposals on new partnerships
 Recommendations
 Future actions to accelerate the
implementation of SDG 14 targets

7. Call for Action Document:
1. Draft Document prepared under the responsibility of
the Co-facilitators (Singapore and Portugal)
2. Very concise, action-oriented and easy to understand,
capturing common vision for the future and actions
needed to preserve world oceans and sustain oceans´
economy.
3. Consultations taking place in NY on 20-22 May