Protecting the oceans: an essential task for the survival of life on Earth
Protecting the oceans is an essential task for the survival of life on Earth. On June 8, World Oceans Day is celebrated to highlight the value and importance of the oceans as a source of life and sustenance for living things and to raise awareness of the urgent need to protect and preserve them.
In 1992, during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, the celebration of World Oceans Day was first proposed. However, it was not until 2008 that the United Nations General Assembly designated June 8 as World Oceans Day.
The oceans are large bodies of salt water that cover more than 70% of our planet and represent the habitat of 50% to 80% of life on Earth. They are the source of life and sustenance for the living beings that inhabit the planet and are essential to the ecological balance of our planet.
In addition, the oceans contain most of the Earth’s biodiversity, and are home to a great variety of marine ecosystems with thousands of animal and plant species, of which new species are still being discovered. The oceans also produce about 50% of the oxygen we breathe and act as a thermal and climatic regulator.
However, human action is generating an enormous environmental impact on the oceans, so that we are degrading their richness and endangering all living beings for more than seventy years. Overfishing, illegal fishing, marine pollution, habitat destruction, acidification and other unsustainable practices are causing serious damage to the seas and oceans. According to data from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), nearly 90% of large marine fish species are declining and 50% of coral reefs are being destroyed as a result of pollution and the effects of climate change, which are critical to the oceans as they sustain marine biodiversity and provide economic, social and cultural benefits.
Every year, 8 million tons of plastics are dumped into the sea, posing a serious threat to water quality, biodiversity and the survival of marine species. Plastics take centuries to decompose and, when they do, they become microparticles that are ingested by fish and marine animals, which also poses a risk to human health.
For all these reasons, protecting marine ecosystems is an urgent task to ensure the survival of the entire planet. In this sense, it is essential that governments, industry and society in general mobilize, change their production and consumption models, and take responsibility for generating sustainable practices.
A good way to raise awareness of this issue is through education, particularly focused on the care and knowledge of the oceans. It is also essential to plan and manage the seas and oceans, adopting measures to ensure their long-term protection and conservation.
To promote the sustainable management of the oceans, the UN has launched a campaign that encourages governments to implement public policies for the reduction of plastic, while motivating consumers to abandon the use of single-use plastic objects. The campaign, which has been circulating since 2022, features the slogan “#CleanSeas, Turn the Tide on Plastic!” to protect the health of the oceans and humanity in general. In conjunction with this campaign, a hybrid event (in-person and online) is taking place on June 8, where several famous voices and experts in the field will extol the importance of the oceans and all that is part of them.
As we celebrate World Oceans Day, FIBGAR reminds us of our role in caring for the planet and the need to work together to develop a sustainable balance that restores the vitality of our oceans and ensures the health of the planet. Protecting the oceans is fundamental to ensure the survival of life on Earth, and it is vitally important that we unite to take joint action to ensure a healthy and safe future for all.
Irene Herrero, FIBGAR collaborator
Madrid, 08 / 06 / 2023
