World Oceans Day

World Oceans Day is celebrated every year on June 8 to raise awareness about the importance of conserving the oceans of the earth. 70% of the surface of the earth is covered by oceans. They are home to the biggest biodiversity on the planet. Oceans produce at least 50% of the total oxygen content of the world. Fishes, which are one of the main sources of protein, are found abundantly in oceans and consumed by more than a billion people in the world. Over 3 billion people around the world rely on oceans for their livelihood.  

Although oceans are an important life source and support the sustenance of humanity, there are many problems that oceans and aquatic lives are facing in recent times. According to the United Nations, almost 90% of big fishes in oceans have depleted. Coral reefs, which are vital for both humans and aquatic animals, are at a risk of disappearing. Global warming, unsustainable fishing practices and land and water pollution has caused almost 50% of the coral reefs to become damaged. 

World Oceans Day reminds us of the urgency of taking steps towards protecting the oceans of the planet. It calls upon people to make sustainable choices and understand that their actions impact the oceans in a major way. To send across this message, the United Nations will organize a celebration on June 8 at their Headquarters in New York, which will be broadcasted live. The celebration will highlight the theme for this year’s World Oceans Day, which is “Planet Ocean: tides are changing”.