The Outliers: Stories of Success in Implementing Sustainable Development Goal 14

SDG 14 “life below water” aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. As SDG 14 is considered one of the most difficult goals to achieve, for the most part, academic discourse on SDG 14 tends to focus on the negatives. More specifically, the lack of progress, limitations and barriers in achieving its seven targets and three sub‐targets. While the study of the challenges in reaching key targets is critical in understanding the myriad of issues facing the world’s oceans and seas, this thematic issue provides an important opportunity to explore a key question, namely whether we failing to give due recognition to the important work and innovative approaches being undertaken at a local, regional, and global level to implement SDG 14 and improve the health of our coastal and marine environments? This thematic issue provides a platform for showcasing success stories in implementing SDG 14, thereby departing from the usual focus on the negatives.