A concept which began back in 1992 will be officially recognised by the United Nations for the first time. Next Monday, June 8, is the day on which the importance of the world’s oceans will be brought to the forefront in an effort to raise awareness and effect a change in attitudes.

After the suggestion for a World Ocean Day (WOD) was first made by the Canadian government at a United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro over 15 years ago, unofficial celebrations have been organised each year on June 8. In 1998 the day was endorsed by the Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and since 2003 a concerted effort has been made by the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands, the World Ocean Network and The Ocean Project which has led to the official UN recognition by way of General Assembly resolution.

One ocean, one climate, one future

This is the theme proposed together by the World Ocean Network and The Ocean Project for this year’s WOD and, although the UN adopts different wording – Our oceans, our responsibility – the message is the same.

The above theme was chosen by the non-governmental organisations in recognition of the fact that climate change and the oceans are inextricably linked together and that society’s future depends on a healthy climate and healthy oceans.

The ocean plays a crucial role in maintaining the earth’s climate and ocean life is vulnerable to climate change. As human activities produce too much carbon dioxide, it is absorbed by the ocean and, as a result, ocean waters are becoming warmer and more acidic, threatening the fundamental building blocks of life in the ocean, and in turn earth; the ocean is also rising as a result of climate change.

The theme coincides with that of World Environment Day – Your planet needs you – Combat climate change – which was celebrated last Friday, and is pertinent prior to the major UN summit in December this year where it hoped that those involved in UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will strike a deal with renewed objectives and increased commitment.

Facts and consequences

The oceans are in trouble and under continual threat with marine environments being destroyed and degraded by a number of influences: pollution, over-exploitation, decreasing biodiversity, destruction of marine ecosystems, global warming and the acidification of the water itself. All of the aforementioned results in an impact on the human population could affect health, employment and the economy, although many of the huge changes which the oceans are constantly experiencing are also due to the human population: over-fishing, industrial and residential waste, carbon footprint, etc.

The Ocean Info Pack sets out the various consequences and perspectives, pointing to some of the extreme effects which could develop if human behaviour and attitudes do not change.

And although most us may consider oil spills and sewerage wreaking havoc on the oceans, we may neglect acknowledging that chemicals we put on our crops or gardens also find their way to the sea, as well as many chemical compounds emitted by industry and transport. It is shocking to think that these emissions can actually lead to the death of fish and other organisms but, when excess nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorous) make their way to the sea, an excess of algae is created and the bacteria emanating from the dead algae use up much of the oxygen contained in the water, thereby depriving other life forms of oxygen and leading to their deaths. The impact extends to diet, health and also livelihood.

The increase in fishing fleets and overfishing over decades has led to a decline in fishing stocks, particularly in the northern hemisphere, as well as the destruction of habitat.

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The End of the Line is a powerful film about one of the world's most disturbing problems - over-fishing. Advances in fishing technology mean whole species of wild fish are under threat and the most important stocks we eat are predicted to be in a state of collapse by 2050. The film points the finger at those most to blame, including celebrity chefs, and shows what we can do about it. This is not just a film, it is also a campaign - for sustainable consumption of fish, for marine protected areas to allow the sea to recover, and for a new ethic of responsible fishing.

With 50 per cent of the world’s population residing in coastal areas, comprising about 20 per cent of the earth’s surface, it may come as no surprise that it is on the coastal eco-system that we humans have the most impact; increasing population leads to increased construction, more waste and effluents, etc., damaging not just the immediate coastline but having an effect on the world’s oceans. In Europe alone over 30 per cent of the entire population reside on the coast.

Coral reefs and mangrove areas, for example, are not only fundamental habitats to thousands of marine creatures but also aid in absorbing a large amount of energy from the sea’s waves and it should also be noted that coastal ecosystems provide around 90 per cent of the global fish catch. With scientists observing a constant rise in the average temperatures experienced on earth and the rapid decimation of the polar ice cap, we have been warned that the consequences could be catastrophic beyond our imagination and all over the world extreme metrological phenomena are reported on an ever more regular basis. Nature’s wake-up call?

Public opinion

The results of an American collaborative project involving The Ocean Project, Monterey Bay Aquarium and the National Aquarium in Baltimore presented last December showed that the younger generation in the US was much more aware of the impact human society is reaping over the environment, with particular focus on the oceans.

The survey was conducted over four months in 2008 with over 22.000 US adult respondents along with smaller samples of youth and other countries. Slowing global warming was seen as one of the lesser priorities for the US government (3,6 per cent) although global warming was first on the list when asked what current environmental issues come to mind.

Western Europe did not regard the US efforts to influence climate change as positive (36 per cent), although US opinion (77 per cent) contradicts that of Europe.

The research shows that the younger generations seem to be better informed than their grandparents; although the latter profess to being well-informed, other indicators counter this claim, particularly when it comes to an individual’s actions and the results these can have on the environment and the oceans.

Wear Blue and Tell Two Further to the research which indicated that the public is looking to zoos, aquariums and museums to learn more about ocean and environmental issues, The Ocean Project for WOD is promoting a separate initiative for their partners, which number more than 800 zoos, aquariums, museums and conservation education organisation, including the Lisbon Oceanarium. The partners have been asked to wear blue t-shirts in honour of the ocean and to tell visitors two things that they probably do not know about the ocean and how their individual actions can help, like choosing sustainable seafood for their diet. It is intended that from this year onwards blue will be the associated colour of WOD.

 © getreal