ISLAMABAD: People around the globe are celebrating World Ocean Day today (Thursday) with the aim of raising awareness about the importance of the oceans and the need to protect them.
World Ocean Day is observed annually on June 8 to raise awareness about the value of the oceans, which span more than 70% of the planet’s surface and are crucial to maintaining biodiversity and controlling climate.
The World Economic Forum reports that there are a number of significant hazards to our ocean. Ocean chemistry and temperature are changing due to climate change, which has a significant effect on marine ecosystems.
The report said that another major issue is overfishing, which has resulted in many fish stocks being dangerously reduced. Additionally, there is a rising problem with plastic pollution, with millions of tons of plastic garbage entering the ocean annually. Individuals, groups, and governments must work together to safeguard our ocean to address these concerns. We understand how crucial it is to form new coalitions to safeguard and conserve our glorious oceans this year.
Director of Pakistan Meteorological Department, Dr. Zaheer Ahmed Babar, also stressed educating people worldwide to join hands to address current threats to our oceans as plastic pollution threatens human health, food safety, coastal tourism, and damaging climate change.
He said in an interview regarding World Ocean Day that oceans are vital for mankind as these are a main source of sustenance of earth life and play the role of lungs to our planet by providing more than 50 percent of the oxygen produced on this planet. He added that the plastic in our oceans affects creatures small and large alike.
