Why Celebrate World Oceans Day?

We celebrate World Oceans Day to remind everyone of the major role the oceans have in
everyday life. They are the lungs of our planet, providing most of the oxygen we breathe.
The purpose of the Day is to inform the public of the impact of human actions on the
ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and mobilize and unite
the world’s population on a project for the sustainable management of the world’s oceans.

They are a major source of food and medicines and a critical part of the biosphere. In the
end, it is a day to celebrate together the beauty, the wealth and the promise of the ocean.
Focus for 2019: Gender and the Ocean. We have an opportunity to explore the gender dimension of humankind’s relationship with the ocean.

This year, we strive to build greater ocean and gender literacy, and to discover possible
ways to promote gender equality in ocean-related activities such as marine scientific
research, fisheries, labour at sea, migration by sea and human trafficking, as well as
policy-making and management.

The importance of gender equality — in particular for the effective conservation and
sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources — is increasingly recognized.
However, there is very little data and research on these issues, and a concerted action
towards gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is still needed in all
ocean-related sectors to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5.

The UN is hosting a conference in celebration of World Oceans Day . Storytellers and
speakers from around the world will join to share perspectives to build greater ocean and
gender literacy and discover possible ways to promote gender equality in ocean-related
activities.

The Battle Against Plastic Pollution

This year, the President of the General Assembly launched 'Play It Out', a global campaign against plastic pollution. Decades of overuse and a surge in single-use plastics has led to a global environmental catastrophe. Today, 13,000,000 tonnes of plastic leak into the ocean every year, what among other damage, kill 100,000 marine animals
annually. While most plastics are expected to remain intact for decades or centuries after use, those that do erode end up as micro-plastics, consumed by fish and other marine
wildlife, quickly making their way into the global food chain. From plastic straws to plastic bags, we all are at the frontline of efforts to #BeatPlasticPollution.

Coordinated By the UN Office of Legal Affairs, the Division for Ocean Affairs and the
Law of the Sea, the 2019 finalists of the UN WOD Photo Competition will be announced
at the UN celebration on Friday, June 7 th . More information on the competition, previous
finalists and this year's panel of judges is available on the World Oceans Day Photo
Competition website .

#WorldOceansDay #SaveOurOcean