Island and Ocean Ecosystems
"Healthy oceans, healthy planet," the theme for the World Oceans Day is a core and integral part of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
This year to help mark the occasion, SPREP is working with the Pualele Outrigger Canoe Club and the Samoa Conservation Society collecting waste on the water and along the coast at Taumeasina Bay in Samoa. In all, just over 30 kilos of waste was collected and sorted to document for future reference.
"For Pacific islanders, our Ocean is our lifeblood. It's at the core of many traditional customs - it's the source of food and nutrition and has also helped form the way of life for many island communities," said Mr. David Sheppard, Director-General of SPREP.
"SPREP has many work programs underway to help strengthen our ocean and our marine life as we face numerous challenges, marine debris being a major one. This World Oceans Day we acknowledge, that more needs to be done and hope to work with partners and all to see positive actions on the ground."
Marine debris also known as marine litter is found in all the world's oceans and seas, it is a global environmental problem with lasting negative impacts upon oceans and coastal ecosystems, cultures and livelihoods. Plastic in the marine environment can take hundreds of years to break down into smaller pieces.
Microplastic which is the plastic of a certain minuscule size, pollution is identified as priority concerns globally due to their persistent nature, interference with and harm to ecosystems, and ingestion by marine life and eventually to humans.
It is widely recognised that the majority of marine litter originates from land-based sources, particularly from rivers and coastal areas, and priority is to minimise such sources. Additionally sea-based sources of marine litter are addressed, with a particular emphasis by SPREP to decrease amounts of abandoned, lost and, or otherwise discarded fishing gear.
"We're happy to be here playing our small part in keeping our Oceans healthy, we're also proud to be part of a team and a Pacific region that is also working in many different ways to bring about a healthy ocean and healthy planet," said Dr. Posa Skelton of SPREP.
"Working in partnership with the Pualele Outrigger Canoe Club who is often on the water and the Samoa Conservation Society to collect marine debris, has been an awesome way to celebrate World Oceans Day. We can only hope that such initiatives now become a regular part of our monthly activities, when it comes to keeping our oceans healthy, every positive action helps."
This year to help mark the occasion, SPREP is working with the Pualele Outrigger Canoe Club and the Samoa Conservation Society collecting waste on the water and along the coast at Taumeasina Bay in Samoa. In all, just over 30 kilos of waste was collected and sorted to document for future reference.
Healthy oceans, Healthy Planet #WOD2015 #SPREP
"For Pacific islanders, our Ocean is our lifeblood. It's at the core of many traditional customs - it's the source of food and nutrition and has also helped form the way of life for many island communities," said Mr. David Sheppard, Director-General of SPREP.
"SPREP has many work programs underway to help strengthen our ocean and our marine life as we face numerous challenges, marine debris being a major one. This World Oceans Day we acknowledge, that more needs to be done and hope to work with partners and all to see positive actions on the ground."
Marine debris also known as marine litter is found in all the world's oceans and seas, it is a global environmental problem with lasting negative impacts upon oceans and coastal ecosystems, cultures and livelihoods. Plastic in the marine environment can take hundreds of years to break down into smaller pieces.
Microplastic which is the plastic of a certain minuscule size, pollution is identified as priority concerns globally due to their persistent nature, interference with and harm to ecosystems, and ingestion by marine life and eventually to humans.
It is widely recognised that the majority of marine litter originates from land-based sources, particularly from rivers and coastal areas, and priority is to minimise such sources. Additionally sea-based sources of marine litter are addressed, with a particular emphasis by SPREP to decrease amounts of abandoned, lost and, or otherwise discarded fishing gear.
"We're happy to be here playing our small part in keeping our Oceans healthy, we're also proud to be part of a team and a Pacific region that is also working in many different ways to bring about a healthy ocean and healthy planet," said Dr. Posa Skelton of SPREP.
"Working in partnership with the Pualele Outrigger Canoe Club who is often on the water and the Samoa Conservation Society to collect marine debris, has been an awesome way to celebrate World Oceans Day. We can only hope that such initiatives now become a regular part of our monthly activities, when it comes to keeping our oceans healthy, every positive action helps."