World Oceans Day 2023: History, Significance And All That You Need To Know

The oceans are dying, and the fish population is declining, due to water pollution and human ignorance. So it's time that we get ready and work together to safeguard the oceans.

New Delhi: Every year World Oceans Day is celebrated on June 8 to raise awareness of the need to protect the oceans and stop the depletion of their resources. The oceans, commonly known as the 'lungs of the earth', are a major source of protein and food for people all around the world. The oceans are dying, and the fish population is declining, due to water pollution and human ignorance. So it's time that we get ready and work together to safeguard the oceans.

World Oceans Day 2023: History

World Ocean Day was first proposed by Canada in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With the assistance of international partner organisations, The Ocean Project started to promote World Ocean Day in 2002. A year later, the World Ocean Day website was launched and after a four-year battle to have the day declared, the United Nations General Assembly finally declared June 8 to be World Ocean Day in 2008.

The United Nations, through its various agencies such as UNESCO, UNEP, FAO, UNDP, and the International Maritime Organization, plays a significant role in coordinating efforts to safeguard the oceans and work towards establishing marine protected areas, reducing pollution, regulating fishing practices, and promoting sustainable development and utilization of ocean resources.

World Oceans Day 2023: Significance

This day aims to raise awareness about the importance of the oceans, encourage responsible management of marine resources, and inspire action to protect and conserve these vital ecosystems. World Ocean Day is an occasion to nurture public interest to protect the oceans and to engage various key international stakeholders to help implement the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to conserve and manage ocean resources in a balanced manner.

World Oceans Day 2023: Theme

The theme for 2023’s World Ocean Day is 'Planet Ocean: tides are Changing' which presents the paradox of hope and concern for oceans. Although more individuals are becoming aware of the harm that humans have done to the oceans, the degradation of the ocean ecosystems is still happening one by one as a result of the effects of our activities.