Countries should stop the degradation of marine environment, the United Nations chief said, as he noted that oceans affect virtually all aspects of life on Earth.
“Let us work together to create new waves of action for ocean sustainability—for people and the planet,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said on World Oceans Day, June 8.
“From trade to food to climate regulation, the oceans are integral to all of humanity. This is particularly so for coastal dwellers whose income and culture are irrevocably bound to the sea,” he added.
“If we are to fully benefit from the oceans, we must reverse the degradation of the marine environment due to pollution, overexploitation and acidification,” Ban said.
A new report in August 2012 pegged the health of the world’s oceans at 60 points in a 100-point index.
Among the 10 indicators in the Ocean Health Index, food provision got the lowest score of only 23 out of 100. The highest score (87 points) was in artisanal fishing opportunities.