World Oceans Day 2023: According to the UN, at least 50% of the oxygen is produced by the ocean. The ocean is a vital part of our economy, providing jobs for millions of people and food for billions.
Marine fisheries alone support 57 million jobs worldwide, and fish is the primary source of protein for over 50% of the population in least-developed countries. Also, the oceans are absorbing 90% of the excess heat.
World Oceans Day is observed on June 8, which is a day for humanity to celebrate the ocean. The ocean connects, sustains, and supports us all.
World Oceans Day 2023: Details
World Oceans Day highlights the need for Oceans in our lives and emphasizes the reason to protect them from being deteriorated. Recent plastic waste in the oceans has raised eyebrows and calls for the Governments of the world to be proactive.
Significance of World Oceans Day:
The day provides a unique opportunity not only to honor but also in conserving and in protecting our oceans.
It is observed on 8 June, to raise global awareness about the importance of the ocean in our lives and the ways through which we can protect it.
It's an individual's duty to participate and contribute to protecting and preserving our shared ocean. So, it is desirable to get together with our family, friends, and community to create a better future for our planet.
It is rightly said that "Without water, our planet would be one of the billions of lifeless rocks floating endlessly in the vastness of the inky-black void."— Fabien Cousteau
The oceans are the lungs of our planet; provide oxygen for breathing, are a major source of food & medicine, and are a critical part of the biosphere.
We know that the 3/4th part of our whole earth is full of water; it is our responsibility to save our ocean and marine life from the danger of global warming. It is no doubt that World Oceans Day is a big step toward saving the equilibrium of water and lives on earth.
World Oceans Day 2023: Theme
The theme for World Oceans Day 2023 is Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing.
The focus of this year’s theme is to raise awareness of the importance of the ocean and the need to protect it. The oceans are a life source for human beings, they are providing both food and livelihood. The people are taking more for the ocean than it can replenish.
So, this year's theme focuses to create a new balance. The UN is trying its best and joining forces with decision-makers, and youth activists to make the oceans a priority.
The theme for World Oceans Day 2022 was " Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean".
The theme for World Oceans Day 2021 was “The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods”.
The Theme of World Oceans Day 2020 was “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean”.
Pollution through plastic causes severe harm to marine life.
- 80% of all pollution in the ocean comes from the land.
- Per year around 8 million tonnes of plastics end up in the ocean.
- Around 1 million seabirds and about 100,000 marine animals life per year are affected by plastic pollution.
So, it is obvious that fish eat plastic and we eat fish.
This day is celebrated every year with a proper theme to give knowledge about the ocean and its effects on the daily life of the people.
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World Oceans Day: History and Significance
The concept of World Ocean Day was proposed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Officially World Ocean Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008 to be celebrated worldwide annually on 8 June to resolve the problems of oceans and also to save ocean water.
On 8 June 2009, the day was officially declared by the United Nations General Assembly by its resolution 63/111.
Even for engaging more youth in the campaign and for saving ocean water several messages are spread through social media.
Importance of Oceans on Earth:
Source: www.ec.europa.eu.com
- Oceans are the lifeblood of the planet Earth and humankind.
- Ocean holds 97% of our planet's water.
- According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there are over 332,519,000 cubic miles of water on the planet. A cubic mile is the volume of a cube measuring one mile on each side
- About 25% of carbon dioxide produced by humans is absorbed by the oceans, buffering the impacts of global warming.
- Ocean provides a good range of goods and services that are an integral part of our health, economies, and also for our weather like fisheries, shipping routes, etc.
- Oceans are an integral part of our water cycle.
- Ocean controls temperature and weather by absorbing over half the heat reaching the Earth from the sun.
- A vast amount of greenhouse gas that is carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed by ocean water and help human in tackling the problem of global warming and climate change.
- Marine plants also produce half of the oxygen that we and all other land animals breathe.
- The world's largest source of protein is served by the oceans. More than 3 billion people depend upon the oceans as their primary source of protein.
- The ocean is home to the greatest abundance of life on our planet.
- Ocean is a place where we swim, surf, sail, dive, etc.
- The ocean provides jobs to fishermen, lifeguards, surf instructors, harbors, (free) diving schools, marine-based tour operators, water sports businesses, holiday accommodations, and sailors.
- Do you know that over 3 billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods?
Therefore, we can’t ignore that
"Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans." — Jacques Yves Cousteau, Oceanographer
At last
"The real cure for our environmental problems is to understand that our job is to salvage Mother Nature. We are facing a formidable enemy in this field. It is the hunters... and to convince them to leave their guns on the wall is going to be very difficult." — Jacques Yves Cousteau, Oceanographer
Save Ocean! Save Water!
Important Days and Dates in June 2022
Source:worldoceansday.org, un.org
