OCE-B.13.B - Marine Wildlife Disruption Reduction Target
Does the company have time-bound targets to reduce its disruptions to marine wildlife?
About the data
The WBA Ocean Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to halt and reverse nature loss in marine ecosystems, tracking how companies manage their impacts on ocean biodiversity, marine habitats, and the communities and workers dependent on healthy seas. The 2026 edition is WBA's first Ocean Benchmark, assessing 125 companies across key sectors dependent on oceans, including seafood, maritime transport, offshore wind energy, shipbuilding, port operations, apparel, and chemicals. Companies are assessed on 47 indicators across four measurement areas: governance, ecosystems and biodiversity, social responsibility, and core social indicators. The benchmark builds on WBA's Nature Benchmark and the former Seafood Stewardship Index, and its methodology was developed with input from more than 50 stakeholders including ocean communities, companies, scientists and civil society, with human rights and social impacts kept at its core alongside nature-specific concerns. More information can be found here.
Methodology
This indicator describes direct and tangible effects on marine wildlife through companies’
operations or the most material parts of their value chain. More than 75 distinct marine species,
including marine mammals, fish, birds and sea turtles (Shoeman et al., 2020) have been documented
in collision incidents with offshore wind infrastructure (IUCN, 2021) or other marine and coastal
infrastructures (e.g. aquaculture cages, ports). These incidents can cause death, injury or other
behavioural or harassment impacts (IUCN, 2021).
Other company activities that cause disruptions to marine wildlife include bycatch of non-targeted
and/or vulnerable species, destructive and unselective fishing practices or predator deterrence
methods used in aquaculture. Companies should report any disruptions caused to marine wildlife
through their operations, including mortality and injuries, mainly if these affect vulnerable species
(endangered, threatened or protected) and avoid any significant adverse impacts on marine
ecosystems (SDG 14.2).
Research Guidance:
For this element to be met, the company must:
Have time-bound targets to reduce its disruptions to marine wildlife.
Time-bound Targets:
Targets are time-bound and include the baseline value and base year from which progress is measured.
Targets are clear, quantitative and measurable. Intensity targets are not accepted as they do not guarantee that total amounts (e.g. of emissions) will decrease
Targets should cover the short term (now until 2030). Longer-term targets (i.e. those with an end date past 2030) are only accepted if they are broken down into interim targets that are five years apart or less.
SBTN guidance:
Reduce Risks to ETP Species targets via the Cessation pathway will be stated in the following form:
By [target end date], [Company name] will cease to source seafood with material impacts on [ETP marine wildlife] in [location].
4.5.2 OPERATIONS TARGET PATHWAY
Reduce Risks to ETP Species targets via the Operations pathway will be stated in the following form:
By [target end date], [Company name] will reduce risk of negative impacts to [ETP marine wildlife] in [location] from [operations].
4.5.3 ENGAGEMENT TARGET PATHWAY
Reduce Risks to ETP Species targets via the Engagement pathway will be stated in the following form:
[Company name] is engaged in [initiative name] in [location] to reduce risks to [ETP marine wildlife] by [target end date] as compared to a [target set date] baseline.
operations or the most material parts of their value chain. More than 75 distinct marine species,
including marine mammals, fish, birds and sea turtles (Shoeman et al., 2020) have been documented
in collision incidents with offshore wind infrastructure (IUCN, 2021) or other marine and coastal
infrastructures (e.g. aquaculture cages, ports). These incidents can cause death, injury or other
behavioural or harassment impacts (IUCN, 2021).
Other company activities that cause disruptions to marine wildlife include bycatch of non-targeted
and/or vulnerable species, destructive and unselective fishing practices or predator deterrence
methods used in aquaculture. Companies should report any disruptions caused to marine wildlife
through their operations, including mortality and injuries, mainly if these affect vulnerable species
(endangered, threatened or protected) and avoid any significant adverse impacts on marine
ecosystems (SDG 14.2).
Research Guidance:
For this element to be met, the company must:
Have time-bound targets to reduce its disruptions to marine wildlife.
Time-bound Targets:
Targets are time-bound and include the baseline value and base year from which progress is measured.
Targets are clear, quantitative and measurable. Intensity targets are not accepted as they do not guarantee that total amounts (e.g. of emissions) will decrease
Targets should cover the short term (now until 2030). Longer-term targets (i.e. those with an end date past 2030) are only accepted if they are broken down into interim targets that are five years apart or less.
SBTN guidance:
Reduce Risks to ETP Species targets via the Cessation pathway will be stated in the following form:
By [target end date], [Company name] will cease to source seafood with material impacts on [ETP marine wildlife] in [location].
4.5.2 OPERATIONS TARGET PATHWAY
Reduce Risks to ETP Species targets via the Operations pathway will be stated in the following form:
By [target end date], [Company name] will reduce risk of negative impacts to [ETP marine wildlife] in [location] from [operations].
4.5.3 ENGAGEMENT TARGET PATHWAY
Reduce Risks to ETP Species targets via the Engagement pathway will be stated in the following form:
[Company name] is engaged in [initiative name] in [location] to reduce risks to [ETP marine wildlife] by [target end date] as compared to a [target set date] baseline.
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report