World Oceans Day: The Ocean’s Life and Livelihood – Daily Notable
The ‘World Oceans Day’ is being organized by the United Nations every year on 8th June to promote global awareness of the benefits that the world can derive from the oceans.
The Government of Canada had proposed setting a World Ocean Day during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and the United Nations officially recognized “World Oceans Day” in 2008. Every year on this day, science centers and research institutions, NGOs, communities and governments all around the world used to mobilize millions of people to raise awareness on how to use oceans resources sustainably.
The theme for this year’s Day is “The Ocean: Life and livelihoods”— a call for action to synergize global efforts to protect 30% of our blue planet by 2030 as declared in the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14, “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.”
It is a need of an hour to make people understand that why oceans are important to us. The oceans are fundamentally essential to every human being on this planet and all the other living plants and animals that we find on land. It drives our weather and stabilizes our climate.
It produces more than 50% of the planet’s oxygen and is the main source of protein for more than a billion people living around the world. According to UN estimations, around 40 million people will be employed by ocean-based industries by 2030.
This reminds us that the oceans can provide big economic incentives for man but only if they are well-sustained and properly managed.
Yet for too long, we have taken the oceans for granted. Human actions have pushed the species to the brink and impacted on every ocean habitat.
For Notable Series Click Here
The effects of climate change have been softening by the ocean but now we are facing the consequences: the seas are warming, rising and becoming more acidic. One of the biggest threats to our oceans is man-made pollution. Discarded plastics and other residential waste, discharge from pesticides and industrial chemicals eventually find their way into the sea with devastating consequences for marine life and the habitats they depend upon.
As per the UN reports, around 90% of big fish populations are depleted, and more than 50% of coral reefs have been destroyed so far. So in order to protect and preserve the ocean and all it sustains, we must create a new balance in true understanding of the ocean and how humanity relates to it.
We must build a connection to the ocean that is inclusive, innovative, and informed by lessons from the past.
Being an important maritime state in the Indian Ocean region, Pakistan is progressively apprehending the marvels of the healthy ocean and its linkages with sustainable economic growth.
Pakistan is endowed with diversified natural capital spanning from a long coast to the second-highest mountain peak (K2) of the world.
Over 1000 kilometers long coastline, shared by the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, leads onto the maritime zones of Pakistan.
Pakistan carries out more than 95% of its trade through the sea via its ports at Karachi, Qasim, and Gwadar. Pakistan’s sea trade route contributes billions of dollars to economic growth. The Fish and seafood industry in Pakistan alone has the potential of generating revenue of more than $1 billion.
Moreover, Pakistan’s mangrove area, a sixth largest in the world, holds an annual value of about $20 million which can be extracted from mangrove-dependent fish species and shrimp industry.
But these economic benefits cannot be extracted if the ocean does not remain free from pollution and other detrimental environmental effects.
On the event of World Oceans Day, Pakistan Navy re-affirms its commitment for the sustainable usage of oceans while endeavoring to protect the oceans from hazards of marine pollution.
Pakistan Navy acknowledges the threats that are eroding the integrity of our waters – pollution, marine invasive species, extreme climatic changes and threats to the survival of marine species including unsustainable fishing practices.
To spread awareness on the issue in hand, Pakistan Navy has arranged a number of activities including lectures and speech competitions on the theme of Oceans Day.
The awareness regarding the adverse effects of marine pollution was raised through video clips and the display of banners in residential areas and prominent places.
Moreover, Karachi Harbor’s and Beach Cleaning Campaigns are being organized by Pakistan Navy on this Day.
In close collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) and other national and international organizations such as Mangroves for the Future (MFF), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and World Wide Fund (WWF), the Pakistan Navy has undertaken numerous environment-friendly initiatives and awareness projects.
Of particular importance is the Navy’s involvement in Mangroves and Tree Plantation Campaigns. Since 2016, Pakistan Navy has been vigorously engaged in planting mangroves across the coastal regions of Sindh and Balochistan; nearly 7 million mangroves saplings were planted so far.
To sum up, this World Oceans Day requires the nation-states to embark upon sustainable innovation techniques in order to save the oceans life and livelihood for the benefit of world at large.
Therefore, it is essential for all of us to gear up all the required financial and technological support for sustaining the oceans life. -PUNA
FOR LOAN OR MORTGAGE RELATED ISSUES CLICK HERE
For Urdu News Click Here
Because Only Together We Can
For Notable Series Click Here
For Eagle Eye Click Here