8 June 2018 is World Oceans Day. This year’s theme is “preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean” and several activities are being organised worldwide to inform people about the importance of the oceans, as well as create awareness on the impacts of human activities and how to protect and sustain healthy oceans.
According to the United Nations, 80% of all pollution in the ocean comes from people on land, and 8 million tonnes of plastic per year ends up in the ocean, wreaking havoc on wildlife, fisheries and tourism. In addition, plastic pollution costs the lives of 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals and causes $8 billion in damage to marine ecosystems each year. There is therefore an urgent need to work together to combat plastics for healthy oceans and for the well-being of mankind.
