June 8
World Oceans Day
This holiday, proclaimed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro (1992), is intended to remind people of the importance and life-giving role of the oceans. Water resources are limited and we will never have more water on our planet than we have so far. So protecting the oceans starts with protecting water resources, and that's where each of us can help.
On June 19, 2023, the long-awaited Agreement on Biodiversity of the High Seas was formally adopted at the UN headquarters in New York. The agreement applies to international waters, which represent 42% of the Earth's surface, 64% of the ocean area, and 95% of its volume. Human impact on marine life is significant and increasing, with certain fish species disappearing rapidly due to industrial fishing. The protection of oceans has mainly focused on coastal ecosystems and tropical coral reefs, but scientists are now warning about the destruction of deep-sea ecosystems. Deep-sea areas cover 85% of the ocean floor and 90% of its volume. Overfishing has led to a decline in fish populations, prompting fishermen to move to deeper waters and using destructive fishing methods that destroy 15 million km2 of the seabed each year. World Oceans Day, organized by The Ocean Project and World Ocean Network since 2002, aims to raise awareness of the importance of oceans and the threats they face, such as climate change, plastic pollution, overfishing, and ecological disasters. The day encourages individuals to get involved in activities like beach clean-ups and learning about the oceans. Two recently published books about the oceans and the environment provide accessible information for both children and adults. The books aim to increase knowledge about the oceans and promote responsible plastic use and recycling.
