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 in our global ecosystem by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. They are also crucial for the climate, food production and transport. Climate change, overfishing and pollution are posing serious threats to these ecosystems, which we rely on every day.

• The quality of seawater is low compared to other EU member states, and is not improving.
• The quality of bathing water along the coast has fallen in the last year.

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 a great deal of data is 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 as yet few suitable summary indicators that are measured frequently and promptly enough to be included in the dashboard. Addressing these gaps in the data in order to present a more accurate picture of the Netherlands’ progress on SDG 14 remains a major priority in monitoring well-being and the SDGs.

Resources and opportunities concern the size of the marine area and the resources used to maintain and protect it. Although a large proportion of Dutch marine waters enjoy protected status, many activities still take place there. Since there are overlaps between various forms of protection and use, it is not yet possible to give a clear picture of relevant developments. Moreover, protective measures have not yet been fully implemented everywhere.

Use refers to how we use the sea for economic activities and recreational purposes, and to how we protect marine wildlife. Dutch marine waters are used intensively for shipping, fishing and recreation. Additionally, more and more wind farms are being constructed in the North Sea, and experiments with other forms of sustainable energy are being carried out. 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 refer to the quality of seawater and natural life in and around Dutch marine waters. The dashboard shows the status of six important commercial fish species, in terms of whether current populations 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 2025 the populations of herring, plaice, sole and haddock were large enough to be considered sustainable fish stocks; this was not the case for pollock and cod. This is unchanged since 2021. Fish stocks constitute a natural resource that is exploited by various countries. European fisheries policy is aimed at ensuring sustainable and balanced use and preventing overfishing by imposing catch limits.

The quality of coastal bathing water has been declining since 2022, and is at its lowest level since 2018. The quality of coastal bathing water is measured annually by the European Environmental Agency (EEA). In the Netherlands, it is measured at 92 locations along the coast. In 2025, 75 percent of those locations were rated ‘excellent’, the highest quality label. This is average compared to other EU countries. It represents a fall of 4.3 percentage points compared to 2024. The quality of the bathing water was rated poor or unclassified at only one location. The quality of inland bathing water is also included as an indicator in the dashboard for SDG 6.

The Ocean Health Index is a more general framework for measuring the health and vitality of seas and oceans. It was established to help preserve the usefulness of seas and oceans for humanity. The Clean Water Index component measures water quality, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 (completely clean). In 2025, the Netherlands had a score of 52.4, which was relatively low compared to other EU countries (20th out of 22 countries).

After a decline of slightly less than 25 percent between 1990 and 2010, North Sea wildlife is currently increasing. 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 species. 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 an aggregation of species-specific changes, but those changes may diverge significantly. While seabirds, jellyfish and porpoises have increased in number, species that live on or near the seabed have declined. No new data is available after 2021.

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