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8 June World Ocean Day Ocean Day is an annual celebration and call to action for the protection of the world's oceans. World Ocean Day is an opportunity to honour the oceans and products they provide. It is also a chance to build an awareness of the role of the ocean in our lives and the how we can help. World Oceans Day began on 8 June 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This year, 2009, the United Nations officially declared June 8th as World Oceans Day. The world's oceans cover more than 70% of our planet's surface, yet less than 1% of our ocean habitat is protected. The ocean plays a critical role in maintaining the planet's ecosystems and is essential to human health and well being. We rely on seafood as a means of food. The oceans are also the "roads" for international trade. More than $500 billion of the world's economy is tied to ocean-based industries such as coastal tourism and shipping. Our oceans help regulate the global climate and ensure that a constant flow of vital nutrients is cycled throughout the biosphere. Unfortunately the diversity of life in estuaries, coastal waters and oceans is threatened due to increased pressures from overfishing (over-consumption of fish has resulted in drastically dwindling population of a majority of species) habitat destruction unsustainable coastal development global pollution and litter the introduction of invasive alien species global warming Global Warming's Effect Examining growth rings from trees and ice cores drilled in Antarctica, scientists have determined that the past decade was the warmest in more than four centuries, and that the current rate of warming is probably unprecedented in at least 10,000 years. 1998 was the hottest year since accurate records began in the 1840s, and ten of the hottest years have occurred during the last 15 years. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded in 1992 that the warming is caused in part by emissions of greenhouse gases from fossil fuel use. Global warming is predicted to increase rapidly, with average annual temperatures expected to increase by about 3°C by the middle of the next century. For more on Global Warming click here Such changes could set off a chain reaction in marine ecosystems with shocking consequences for life in the sea and for human communities that depend on it. Some of the consequences of global warming on our oceans include: Rising sea-levels. Rising oceans could flood many millions of hectares of valuable coastal ecosystems world-wide. The effect on ocean circulation The water in the oceans circulates around the world, driven by a complex system of currents. Wind and the rotation of the Earth determine the flow of surface currents and local areas of up- welling and downwelling. But the driving force of deep water movement is thermohaline circulation, known as the ocean conveyer belt. This mechanism, which is triggered by the sinking of cold water in certain polar regions, takes oxygen to the deepest parts of the sea, and moves warmer waters from the tropics towards the poles. Increased precipitation, melting of polar glaciers and ice caps, as a result of global warming could block the system by reducing the amount of cold water that sinks downwards. The consequences of shutting down the conveyer belt would be devastating for marine life. The effect on the Polar regions The most obvious signs of global warming changes being observed are in the regions near the poles. The ice-edge in the Antarctic is retreating. A portion of the Larsen ice shelf collapsed in 1995 and large areas of two more ice sheets shattered into the sea in 1999. Arctic ice masses appear to be thinning and seasonal ice is forming later and melting earlier. Scientific data is backed up by the observations of indigenous communities in the Arctic. Global warming may threaten a whole way of life for these subsistence communities. In 1997 and 1998 massive blooms of marine algae in the Arctic were easily visible from space (these were not previously visible). In the Antarctic, declines in Adιlie penguin and crabeater seal populations have been linked to altered snow and ice conditions, and warming has also been linked to reduced numbers of krill. The effect on coral reefs Coral reefs are home to an extraordinarily rich array of marine life and provide vital resources to the tourism and fishing industries. Marine biologists note that 1997 and 1998 saw the worst episode of coral bleaching, due to high sea temperatures, with more than 30 nations reporting losses in their reefs. More than 90% of coral died in some areas in the Indian Ocean. Evidence suggests that the increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may be harmful for reefs as it weakens corals' calcium carbonate skeletons and makes them more susceptible to storm damage and other erosion. Mobile-gear fishing is a threat in the case of deep sea corals. The effect on seabirds and invertebrates Global warming is expected to decrease ocean productivity. Zooplankton in the California Current have decreased more than 70% since the 1950s, and may explain dramatic declines in seabirds like sooty shearwaters and Cassin's auklets in recent years. Source: WWF (1999) Global Warming: The Oceans in Peril.World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI) What Can We Do It is critical to educate the public, and promote a consciousness of our responsibility. Use this day to get directly involved in protecting our seas and to increase our consciousness of how much we depend on the world's oceans. Do a beach cleanup Be aware of your waste disposal and litter practices Get involved in educational programs Create a sustainable seafood event (ensure that you select seafood from the Green List) Support the SASSI programme |
