Today is World Oceans Day, a "global celebration of ocean conservation". However, the world's oceans are more at risk than ever before. Most of these threats originate with human industry: deep sea-mining, oil spills, acidification from climate change, coastal runoff and marine debris, or nuclear waste. However, the most immediate threat to life in the ocean comes from excessive and destructive industrial fishing.

With the theme “Youth: the Next Wave for Change,” this year’s celebration of World Ocean Day urges us to reach out to young people in our communities and help inspire them to get involved because the future of ocean conservation is in their hands.

We are all urged to help ensure that our oceans are protected and conserved for future generations.

On this day, every individual is urged to ponder what the oceans offer to humanity, discover the wealth of ocean creatures and habitats, and see how our daily actions affect them. We are all linked to, and through, our oceans.

The world’s oceans generate most of the oxygen we breathe, provide us with food, regulate our climate, clean the water we drink, offer a pharmacopoeia of potential medicines, and provide limitless inspiration to writers and artists.