Mundus maris

Inspirational text on the United Nations Motto for World Oceans Day 2017

Life probably began in the ocean, and it has always been a story of fits and starts. We know that rather small changes in climate and productivity in the past have led to far-reaching changes in the ocean environment, mass extinctions of flora and fauna.

This occurred e.g. after the rise of the Isthmus of Panama, which separated the Pacific and the Caribbean between four and three million years ago. It can happen again, this time as a result of what we do and in ways which will be different because our human impacts have no precedent in history. Especially as we humans have already inflicted serious damage since we sailed all seas, overfished and polluted with plastic, chemicals and noise and provoke warming and acidification through our emissions of climate gasses.

The United Nations General Assembly has solemnly adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 14 is to Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. Let us seize the opportunity of World Oceans Day to contribute our share towards implementing the objective.

This gives a special meaning to this year's World Oceans Day Theme: Our Oceans, Our Future.

Why do we celebrate World Oceans Day?

• To remind everyone of the major part the Ocean has in everyday life. The ocean is the lung of our planet, providing much of the oxygen we breathe.

• To inform the public on the impact of human actions on the Ocean, including overfishing, pollution and climate change.

• To develop a worldwide movement of citizen towards protecting the Ocean from such ills.

• To mobilise and unite the people in all parts of the world around activities for the sustainable management of the Ocean as a major source of food and medicines and a critical part of the biosphere.

• To celebrate together the beauty, the wealth and the promise of the Ocean.

The Mundus maris Awards 2017 are in collaboration with:

Click on the logo to connect to the partner's website.

Eco Ethics Kenya
	Centre de Recherche sur les Technologies Intermédiaires de Pêche (CREDETIP), Dakar, Senegal
	AQUARIUM PUBLIC DE BRUXELLES Belgique - België - Belgium OPENBAAR AQUARIUM BRUSSEL

Aquarium public de Bruxelles, Belgium

Associazione Ricerca, Educazione, Scienza, Rome, Italy

Bénévoles Océan (Volonteers for the Ocean), Cameroon

Centre de Recherche sur les Technologies Intermédiaires de Pêche (CREDETIP), Dakar, Senegal

Eco Ethics Kenya, Mombasa, Kenya

FishBase Information and Research Group (FIN), Los Baños, Philippines

Formica Blu, Rome, Italy

Latitud 0, Buenos Aires, Argentina

WorldFish Center, Malaysia / Egypt

World Oceans Day Project, USA

Special events with an award ceremony for World Oceans Day:

The winners will be announced on World Oceans Day in several celebratory events in different cities around the world. Watch the Mundus maris website and social media to learn more about the special events.