World Ocean Day

On June 8th, the international community observes, for only the second time, World Ocean Day. 

It was first proposed on June 8th 1992 by Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and formally adopted by the United Nations in December 2008.  This year's theme is "Our oceans: opportunities and challenges."

One of the chief reasons for the establishment of World Ocean Day was to bring attention to the "terrible toll that human activities are taking on the world’s oceans and seas," said U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during the Day's first observance in 2009:

"Vulnerable marine ecosystems, such as corals, and important fisheries are being damaged by over-exploitation, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, destructive fishing practices, invasive alien species and marine pollution, especially from land-based sources. Increased sea temperatures, sea-level rise and ocean acidification caused by climate change pose a further threat to marine life, coastal and island communities and national economies," said Secretary General Ban.

But the oceans are also affected by criminal activity such as piracy, smuggling of illegal drugs and trafficking in persons by sea.  Such activities threaten lives and the safety of international shipping, which transports 90 per cent of the world’s goods, said U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

As the world’s attention is focused on the situation currently unfolding in our own Gulf of Mexico, World Ocean Day reminds us that the health and security of our oceans is our collective responsibility, one that we cannot afford to neglect.