Concern For The Oceans

In accordance with declaration of the United
Nations, the World celebrated the World
Ocean Day on June 8, 2016. Incidentally, the celebration that started after the International Ocean Project in the year 2002 still means very little to many people across the globe.
The theme for the celebration this year is “Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet.” The day that witnessed 100 events across the world was aimed at involving individuals and organisations to take action in the prevention of plastic pollution of the oceans.
Although, some countries may not have direct access to the five oceans in the world, the effect of the negative activities of man on the ocean affects the whole of humanity and the planet as a whole directly. In fact, it is feared that the process may have begun for the death of the oceans.
For the nations interfacing with the oceans, the burden of keeping the oceans alive has become rather mandatory and urgent. The pollution of the oceans over the years had been less obvious because the harm is done in the deep. Already, the harm being caused to man, fish and other aquatic indigenes, including the coral reefs is massive.
Clearly, a timely action at checking human activities that pollute the oceans may go down as one of the greatest things science and technology in the marine sector would do for the world. This is more so because changes in the oceans are often mistaken for new varieties in the beauty that oceans contribute to nature.
Already, scientists have come up with at least 12 reasons why the oceans should be saved. In fact, one of them is likely to raise questions on the World Heritage listing of the famous seven wonders of the world. The coral reef which is listed as one of the seven wonders, has been grossly bleached and could be lost over time.
It is sad that a lot of people still empty their garbage into the ocean. In such domestic and industrial wastes are items that are not bio-degradable like plastic items. It is estimated that if urgent steps are not taken, the oceans will become the world rubbish bin by the year 2050. In fact, the fear of plastic pollution is real because with emerging economies and weaker recycling regime, more plastics will land in the oceans.
Of course, the situation will provide more micro-plastic for fish and other marine lives whose system would become poisoned. Research has already shown that a lot of fish species have come down with stunted growth. Studies have also suggested that between 1970 and 2016, the global marine population has been slashed by half.
Those who will not do anything to save the fish cannot ignore the fact that the oceans are the world’s seventh largest economy worth several trillions of dollars. The oceans have provided the basis for international trade and security activities as well as leisure, tourism and biological benefit that the nations cannot do without.
While we join the civilised world to commend the United Nations for sustaining the effort to save the oceans of the world, we think that the awareness on the subject matter needs to be improved upon. We expect that school children will be encouraged to form clubs for the friends of nature and of the oceans.
Although, some marine workers have been caught emptying their refuse bins into the oceans,  most of the plastic materials, polythene bags, corks and other synthetic materials that get to the oceans come from adjourning rivers and seas close to human communities. In fact, in some countries, everything that needed to be discarded is thrown into the sea.
This must be condemned, discouraged and penalised, if up-coming generations of humans must have any support from nature’s provisions around them. As part of measures to clean the oceans, nature itself had provided some creatures, even fish, prawns and crabs to remove contaminants from the ocean floor. But the introduction of plastic pollution makes it difficult for even those scavengers to work.
The Tide hopes therefore that Nigeria and indeed governments of the Niger Delta will be responsible enough to raise the alarm and save the oceans. As persons that interact with the Atlantic Ocean, the responsibility of keeping the waters clean, safe and enjoyable should be a common understanding and commitment.
While we wish that renewed militancy in the Niger Delta will not compromise the safety of the environment, the people must embrace every plan to clean the area of pollutants. In fact, communities not captured in any clean-up should commence a process that can make it happen.