After having been proposed on 8 June 1992 by Canada at the Rio Earth Summit, World Ocean Day was officially declared as 8 June by the United Nations in 2009.
World Ocean Day aims to raise awareness and promote responsible stewardship of the oceans. In so doing, the United Nations recognises the many ways in which the oceans contribute to society, and the global need to address the challenges faced by the world's oceans.
Safe, healthy and productive seas are essential to human well being, economic security and sustainable development. The oceans are vital to life on earth and to our existence. They regulate the climate and weather, supply essential ecosystems services, enable sustainable livelihoods and food, and provide vital trade links.
However, our activities also pose many challenges to the future of the oceans and the goods and services that they provide. Over fishing, destructive fishing, pollution, global warming and invasive alien species, amongst others, threaten marine life, fisheries, coastal communities and national economies.
As a country we have committed ourselves to protecting ecosystem and biodiversity in its one million square kilometres of exclusive economic zone through the implementation of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management.
Working with the Department of Environmental Affairs on the establishment and management of marine protected areas, South Africa is one of the leading countries in the world in terms of the application of ecosystem approach to fisheries and management of marine protected areas. Marine science and new technologies development in South Africa have played an important role in these approaches.
South Africa has recently established the Benguela Current Commission (BCC) along with Namibia and Angola in order to implement ecosystem approaches on a regional scale. A similar initiative is being developed on the east coast of Africa with nine other countries (Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, Reunion (France), Mauritius and Somalia.
South Africa supports World Ocean Day and the opportunities it presents for celebrating the value of the oceans to our society, and promoting the responsible stewardship of our oceans and their resources.
For inquiries or interviews with the chairperson, please contact:
Mava Lukani
Tel: 021 403 8738
Fax: 021 403 3931
Cell: 072 589 9355
E-mail: mlukani@parliament.gov.za
Issued by: Parliament of South Africa
2 June 2010
Source: Parliament of South Africa (http://www.parliament.gov.za/)
