World Oceans Day being observed today

World Ocean Day is a United Nations designated day, celebrated every year on June 8.

(Web Desk) – World Oceans Day is being observed around the globe including Pakistan on Saturday, 08 June to create awareness among people for the sustainable management and conservation of the world’s oceans.

World Ocean Day is a United Nations designated day, celebrated every year globally among maritime community to highlight the importance of safe and healthy oceans.

Healthy oceans contributes to a healthy earth. But our oceans and marine life are under threat: from pollution and overfishing, to name just two of the challenges they face.

The United Nation’s World Oceans Day designated theme this year is "Gender and Oceans". This is to highlight the important role gender equality has to play in ensuring effective conservation of our oceans, seas and marine life.

The day is used to publicise the advancement of gender equality in such ocean-related areas as marine scientific research, migration by sea and human trafficking, and policy-making.

World Oceans Day is being observed today under the theme “Gender and the Oceans.”

Its aim is to enlighten the world community regarding the impact of human actions on oceans and to explore ways and means for their sustainable use and marine resources derived from them.

In his message on the occasion, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mehmood Abbasi has expressed the firm resolve to ensure sustainable use of oceans and preserve marine resources with coordinated national efforts.

The Naval Chief said we acknowledge the challenges that are eroding the integrity of our waters and the need for greater participation of women to address these challenges in a more sustainable manner.

He said Pakistan Navy is playing a leading role in promoting safe and sustainable use of ocean resources.

Message of Chief of the Naval Staff on the occasion of the World Oceans Day - 2019

Today, on 8th of June 2019, we celebrate ‘World Oceans Day’, to reflect on the value of oceans to our planet. Oceans; the primary source of sustenance of life on earth, act as lungs to our planet as they provide most of the oxygen we breathe.

They are also major absorbers of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide. Thus, human activity on land is directly affecting the oceans and the life that flourishes within.

The purpose of World Oceans Day, celebrated globally under the ambit of UN, is to enlighten the world community regarding the impact of human actions on the oceans and to explore ways and means for their sustainable use and the marine resources we derive from them.

The theme selected for ‘World Ocean Day-2019’ by UN is,`Gender and the Oceans’. This offers an opportunity to explore the gender dimension of human relationship with the oceans. While women constitute half of the work force, they only comprise 2% of the seafarers’ work force and 38% of the overall marine scientists. They earn only 64% of men’s wages and have less access to the decision making positions.

The theme aims to raise gender literacy and promote gender equality, in ocean related activities such as marine scientific research, fisheries. labour at sea, as well as policy making.

On the eve of World Oceans Day, we acknowledge the challenges that are eroding the integrity of our waters - pollution, marine invasive species, extreme climatic changes and threats to survival of marine species. We also acknowledge the need for greater participation of women to address these challenges in a more sustainable manner.

To commemorate significance of the World Oceans Day, Pakistan Navy is playing a lead role in promoting safe and sustainable use of ocean resources.

Some of the major PN initiatives include; beach cleaning, construction of harbour debris collection barges, intensified Mangroves plantation, banning use of destructive fishing nets, tackling oil pollution at sea and coordination with industrial community to reduce waste dumping into the sea.

Another focal area being pursued by PN is the promotion of formal Maritime Education, especially for the women. Bahria University, under PN auspices has commenced Graduate and Masters programmes for both male as well as female students.

On this Day, let us re-affirm our commitment and resolve for preserving sustainable use of oceans and marine resources, while making conscious efforts to empower women in various economic activities related to the oceans. Only together, we can protect Earth’s ultimate source of life.