By Kingsley Nana Buadu
Today 8th of June is World Ocean Day. A day set aside by the United Nations to celebrate the Oceans and remind mankind of the major role the oceans play on the planet.
In the Central Region, a stakeholders forum was held in Cape Coast to mark the day which is on the theme “Stakeholders Participation in Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean and Climate”.
A challenge was thrown to decision-makers, indigenous leaders, scientists, private sector executives, civil society, the media and youth activists to renew their commitment in portraying to the world the important role oceans role in the life of man and other living things, hence the need to protect it.
World Ocean Day is a significant event to raise awareness about the necessity of protecting the ocean and sustainable development goals.
The day is celebrated as part of the global movement dubbed 30 by 30 with the aim of safeguarding at least 30 per cent of the World’s land , water s, and oceans by 2030.
The day provides an opportunity to raise public awareness about the necessity of a sustainable ocean.
The stakeholders forum which is part of activities marking the day was organized by Environmental Justice Foundation, Hen Mpoano and CEWEFIA under the Sustainable Ocean Project.
According to UN the ocean covers more than 70 per cent of the planet and it plays a vital role in sustaining humanity and other organisms on Earth.
The ocean produces at least 50 per cent of the planet’s oxygen and it is home to most of the planets biodiversity, whiles providing a major source of protein for the more than a billion people worldwide.
Unfortunately, the ocean is under threat.
According to scientists, Oceans across the world have reached record-high temperature and the sea is now warmer.
It is believed that human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and emissions from factories are having a bad effect on the global temperature.
In our part of the world, issues of bad fishing practices and also the big issue of plastic waste in the ocean are major challenges the ocean is confronted with.
The Programmes manager of EJF Theophilus Boachie Yiadom, highlighted the state of the Ocean.
The Central Regional Director of Fisheries Commission, Nettesheim Kwame Damoah, explained the challenge the ocean is faced with and urged the fishermen who are the most beneficiaries in Ghana to ensure the protection of the Oceans.
He bemoaned some negative practices such as the use of chemicals including dynamites at sea and recent negative practice like mining of gold at some beaches in KEEA.
A Chief Fisherman of Egya, Nana Kwame Yah Ababio, on behalf of the fishers in the Central Region, pledged their commitment to protect the ocean.
He pleaded with the various paramount chiefs in the region to meet with the chiefs Fishermen to strategize towards protecting the sea.
