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June 8, 2011

It’s World Oceans Day – What are you going to do to save the Oceans?

 

Astroides calycularis

We estimate that since the beginning of the 21st century, 70 million tonnes of fish have been caught and afterwards discarded dead, 110,000 hectares of sea-grass meadows that were home to thousands of organisms have been destroyed and 99% of the species in danger of extinction still lack conservation plans.

The oceans are taking a beating, plain and simple. Here’s what Xavier Pastor, Executive Director of Oceana Europe has to say:

“The oceans are in trouble, the science is clear, and the solutions exist. What is missing is the political motivation for change. World Oceans Day shouldn’t be a day for celebration in Europe, but rather a cry for help and a call for action.”

The truth is that there is still time to reverse the tide and restore Europe’s oceans. Here at Oceana, we treat every day as though it’s World Oceans Day, (and to be honest so should everyone who cares about the fate of the oceans, and the planet). We are hard at work across Europe fighting for proper management plans for stocks, for more (and better managed) Marine Protected Areas, for an end to wasteful discards, and for politicians and decision makers to put our oceans ahead of short term political objectives.

So what are you going to do about the state of our Oceans? We’ve put together some easy tips that you can incorporate into your everyday lives to make a difference. Check them out here: 7 Tips to Save the Oceans

For more information, take a look at our press release here.