World Seagrass Day is observed on 1 March. The marine flowering plants, known as seagrass, found in shallow waters in many parts of the world are essential to the life of thousands of species of fish, seahorses, turtles, and others. They help improve water quality and play an active role in buffering ocean acidification. But they are disappearing. Protecting and restoring seagrass meadows will help countries achieve multiple economic, societal and nutritional objectives, like the Sustainable Development Goals, the and the .
is accelerating the mapping of marine species across some of the world鈥檚 most exceptional ocean places by combining science and education and working with local schools.
There is a recent wave of 鈥渙cean-friendly鈥 financial solutions working to support the blue economy. While the blue finance market is still in its infancy, it is starting to flourish. But can we move fast enough? .
Ant贸nio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly; and 40 other guests, among them Cody Simpson, explain why the oceans matter for the 2022 缅北禁地Ocean Conference. The ocean covers 70 percent of the Earth鈥檚 surface, is the planet's largest biosphere, and is home to up to 80 percent of all life in the world. It generates 50 percent of the oxygen we need, absorbs 25 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions and captures 90 percent of the additional heat generated from those emissions.
reports on Colombia鈥檚 vibrant undersea world, with over a thousand square kilometres of coral reef awaits those who take the plunge. Yet this improbable marine wonder is in danger. Scientists, local experts, passionate activists, and islanders are sounding the alarm about the deterioration of one of the richest ecosystems in the Caribbean Sea, even as they work together on innovative ways to restore it. The One Million Coral for Colombia project initiated by the Colombian Government in 2021 aims to plant one million coral fragments and restore 200 hectares of coral reef by 2023.
Ambassador Peter Thomson, the , reflects on the positive actions we can take this year at a series of international meetings related to the ocean, including the 2022 缅北禁地Ocean Conference in Lisbon. In an article for 缅北禁地Chronicle, he says we can all play a part in halting the decline in the ocean鈥檚 health: "Let us all commit to reforming our relationship with Nature to one of respect and balance. And let us do this for our children and grandchildren, so that they may live the secure lives we wish for them on a healthy planet."
The ocean is not just 鈥榯he lungs of the planet鈥 but also its largest carbon sink - a vital buffer against the impacts of climate change. It nurtures unimaginable biodiversity and produces food, jobs, mineral and energy resources. However, the science is clear 鈥 the ocean is facing unprecedented threats as a result of human activities, and we need to act now. The 缅北禁地Ocean Conference (Portugal, 27 June -1 July) will seek to propel much needed science-based innovative solutions aimed at starting a new chapter of global ocean action.
Ahead of the 缅北禁地Ocean Conference, checks in with the Special Envoy for the Ocean, who reminds us: 鈥淣o healthy planet without a healthy ocean, and the ocean鈥檚 health is measurably in decline.鈥
Through an project in Fiji, fishers learn how to access aquatic species further offshore and are given the skills and equipment they need to do it. It鈥檚 about building capacity and resilience.
The (25 June) focuses on the contributions made by seafarers to the entire global community. Every day, hundreds of thousands of seafarers are underway on ships, while others get ready for their next voyage. Without seafarers, there would be no shipping. Under this year鈥檚 theme 鈥淵our voyage - then and now, share your journey鈥, calls on seafarers to share what resonates with them most, include photos of their first and most recent voyages, and tell us what has changed. Search #SeafarerJourney in social media, to take a look at seafarer voyages.
The ocean produces at least 50% of the planet's oxygen, it is home to most of Earth鈥檚 biodiversity, and is the main source of protein and nutrition for more than 3 billion people. Despite all of this, the ocean is at risk, facing a multidimensional crisis driven by overfishing, pollution, habitat loss, invasive species and climate change. cautions this is time for action.
presents the lessons of the , supporting the development of a new vision for sustainable and socially just fisheries, resilient to the changes of the twenty-first century. From the symposium a set of recommendations emerged to improve the sustainability of capture fisheries and progress towards the different targets of the SDGs. The unequal progress in fisheries management highlights the urgent need to replicate and re-adapt successful policies to maintain healthy fish stocks.
The southwest coast of Viti Levu, Fiji鈥檚 largest and most populated island, is flanked by the country鈥檚 longest fringing reef system, affectionately known as the Coral Coast. Namada is one of four traditional villages in the Korolevu-i-Wai District that will benefit from the Investing in Coral Reefs and the Blue Economy programme. Partly funded by the Joint SDG Fund, the programme supports the customary fishing rights owners for the Korolevu-i-Wai/Koro-i-Nasau qoliqoli (community) to operate coral-reef-associated ecotourism attractions and activities to generate revenue to support the effective management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Locally Managed Marine Area (KiW/KiN LMMA), as well as help support the communal development needs of the community, while also offering them economic opportunities.
The ocean produces 50% of the planet鈥檚 oxygen and absorbs 30% of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming. Oceans are the lungs of our planet and a major source of food and medicine. Yet we are taking more from the ocean than can be replenished. is the theme of this year鈥檚 World Oceans Day, urging us to work on creating a new balance with the ocean that no longer depletes its bounty, but restores its vibrancy. , spread the message and join our online.
Two decades of action and a singular success: The Western and Central Pacific Ocean is now the only major ocean area where all tuna stocks are harvested sustainably. This is a story of cooperation and diligence, a wide array of expertise, a pool of talent and skills as wide-ranging and vast as the 40 million square kilometres of ocean area whose fisheries the Pacific Island nations have been tasked to protect.