World Oceans Day on Wednesday :

An ocean of opportunities to save the high seas

By Pramod DE SILVA

There are those who say that our Planet Earth should have been named Planet Ocean instead. They do have a valid point. Water covers more than 75 percent of the Earth. If an alien were to look at Earth from a distance, the oceans will figure prominently. That is why some prefer to call it the Blue Planet.

Living in an island, we are no strangers to the sea. It is never more than 100 Km away from most places in the country. We have a life-affirming relationship with the sea, which is called the Indian Ocean in these parts. Although we have given various names to oceans and seas geographically, it is one continuous body of water.

We think we know the sea, but we do not. It is one vast mystery we are yet to unravel fully. In fact, scientists know more about the surface of the moon than they know about the depths of the seas. Space is often called the final frontier, but we are yet to explore the oceanic frontier right at home. New discoveries - new species, new structures and new natural phenomena - are made every day from the depths of the oceans.

It will take thousands more years to fully understand and explore the oceans, but a start has to be made somewhere. And the World Oceans Day, which falls on June 8, is the best day to focus on the importance of our oceans and to take action on critical issues affecting the oceans.

Although unofficially celebrated for years, the United Nations officially declared in 2009 that World Oceans Day would be held on June 8 each year.

The day helps raise awareness on the problems faced by our oceans and compel governments and individuals to take steps to protect them.

In 2003, the Pew Oceans Commission warned that the world's oceans are in a state of "silent collapse," threatening our food supply, marine economies, recreation and the natural legacy we leave our children.

Every year, the World Oceans Day is celebrated under a different theme. This year's theme (which will be carried over to the next year as well) is Youth: The Next Wave for Change. The youth, especially those in coastal communities, are the best agents to spread the message on the importance of protecting the oceans because they have a close affinity to the sea.

Primordial life

Why should we strive to protect the oceans? A short answer is that they give us life. Oceans are where life forms first appeared on Earth billions of years ago. In fact, we carry a bit of the sea in our very bodies in a sort of homage to primordial life - our cellular make-up is very similar to the chemical composition of sea water. Thus, we are never far from the sea in a figurative sense.

Did you know that oceans generate most of the oxygen we breathe? The oceans are home to phytoplankton, which release oxygen during the process of photosynthesis, the conversion of sunlight to energy. It is this oxygen which literally gives life to organisms in and off the seas. This role played by oceans is vital to the circle of life on Earth. Oceans thus help to regulate our climate as well.

Oceans are also a source of food to billions of people. As islanders, we are familiar with all types of seafood. Thanks to modern freezing and canning techniques, people even in landlocked countries can have access to fresh seafood. Through this industry, around 500 million people worldwide depend on the sea for a living directly and indirectly.

The worldwide per capita consumption of fish is nearly 20 Kg annually. Around 90 million tonnes of fish are harvested annually from the world's seas, excluding the catch from fish farms in coastal areas. The harvesting of aquatic plants (seaweed etc) is a lesser known, but growing industry.

How long can this go on? Some fish species may face extinction if fishing goes on at the current rates. Scientists estimate that we have removed as much as 90 percent of the large predatory fish such as shark, swordfish and cod from the world's oceans. The global catch of wild fish levelled off over 20 years ago and 70 percent of the world's fisheries are being harvested at capacity or are in decline.

Sustainable fishing

This is where sustainable fishing comes in. The 'catch' here is that fisheries resources are managed in a way that does not endanger any species. Individuals can also make a difference by avoiding fish placed on endangered lists. An ideal resource for making such choices is the excellent SeaFood Watch site maintained by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The UK's Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is another body which actively campaigns to promote sustainable fishing and eating practices.

The other important reason for protecting the oceans is their sheer biodiversity. More new species are being discovered from the depths of the seas virtually every day, most of them quite bizarre. There could possibly be tens of thousands of ocean species waiting to be discovered by scientists even though scientists have classified 201,206 marine species by 2007. Scientists believe that some of these species could have genetic properties that could be used for medicinal purposes as well. There is indeed a long way to go before we discover all the species that inhabit the seas.

When the UN first floated the idea of observing a World Oceans Day, it made several observations that are even more pertinent today. The UN noted that human activities are taking a terrible toll on the world's oceans and seas. Vulnerable marine ecosystems, such as corals, and important fisheries are being damaged by over-exploitation, destructive fishing practices, invasive alien species and marine pollution. 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.

Food for thought

In case you thought that the oceans are an oasis of tranquillity, here is some food for thought - piracy and armed robbery against ships threaten the lives of seafarers and the safety of international shipping, which transports 90 percent of the world's goods. There is also a vibrant cruise line industry. Smuggling of illegal drugs and the trafficking of persons by sea are further examples of how criminal activities threaten the peace and security of the oceans.

At government level, the World Oceans Day is thus an opportunity to reaffirm commitment to international instruments drawn up under the auspices of the United Nations to address these numerous challenges. At their centre lies the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in which our very own Ambassador Shirley Amarasinghe played a pivotal part. It provides the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.

But governments alone cannot protect the oceans. It is also up to us, being islanders, to do our bit for the health of the oceans. The youth can take the lead in these initiatives as the theme suggests. We should not pollute the oceans and overtax its resources. Even a simple act like switching off an unnecessary incandescent bulb can reduce the effect on climate change that could affect the seas.

Clean up the beach after your visit. Do not leave plastics and polythene on the beach. Do not buy products made out of marine species or structures. Enjoy the oceans responsibly when you relax or play in the water. Learn more about the oceans and how they can be protected. This way, all can be a part of the Next Wave for Change, not just the youth.