Securing The Waters!!

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For centuries now humankind has dealt with pirates, loots, drowning of treasures and goods in a shipwreck. Now, with modern technology comes modern problems of submarine warfare, oil spills and hostility between nations over oceans. So, inevitably the seas require their own police. A mechanism for safety. Keeping that in mind, the United Nations created a formal body called the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1948. It celebrates World Maritime Day every year in an effort to focus on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment.

 

Of course, just like any other resource on this planet, resources obtained from the sea are scarce, bound to be exhausted soon at the fast pace the growing population is consuming them in. It is of great importance, thus, that we try to conserve and preserve our limited supplies. The theme for this year’s World Maritime Day is ‘Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet’. It aims to address the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

 

Most important for IMO is SDG 14: ‘Life Below Water’. The ocean is home to millions of species, thousands of whom are in danger of extinction due to human activity either directly or otherwise. For instance, fisheries and breeding grounds are a threat to diversity of the creatures under water. Furthermore, the impact of climate change on rising sea levels indirectly harms their habitat.

 

Therefore, let us all do our part in securing the ocean for future generations to come. Simply put, we as consumers could make better choices. Conscious efforts should be made to buy products from producers that are firmly against dumping waste in water bodies without its prior treatment. Sea food should be bought from fisheries in line with sustainable fishing.

 

Moreover, more than 80% of the World’s trade is facilitated through shipping. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, shipping has been a means to deliver essential goods, including medical supplies, food and fuel. It remains at the core of economic recovery post this pandemic. This only highlights the importance of adopting and adapting to sustainable shipping. This entails health and equality for seafarers.

 

Thus, this World Maritime Day, let us be more aware and exercise the power we as humans have to make shipping and its related activities more sustainable.  


 

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