World Ocean Day

The eighth of June is World Ocean Day. It is a day that gives recognition to the blue planet and the wondrous life within. It is also a day in which we should stop and think about what the oceans give to us human beings. In the first place, the plankton in the ocean provides us with over 60 percent of the air we breathe. The ocean really is the lungs of the earth. In the second place, the ocean contributes significantly to the human economy. It provides more than three quarters of the world’s population with a valuable source of protein; it is a source of compounds made into medicines; and it enables us to transport 90 percent of our goods cheaply. On top of this, it is the most popular environment for recreation and tourism.

The ocean has the greatest biodiversity of the planet, and is home to both the smallest species and the largest. At one end of the scale microscopic plankton is the basis of all life in the ocean, while at the other end the Blue Whale is the largest animal ever to have lived on the planet.

It is a day to recognise what the ocean gives to us, and to think about how we can best return the gifts.