NAN-H-36
Symposium
By Chidinma Agu
Lagos, June 8, 2017 (NAN) The Executive Director of the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Dr Gbola Akande, on Thursday urged Nigerians to join hands with the government to protect the oceans.
Akande gave the advice at a Symposium organised by NIOMR to mark the 2017 World Oceans Day with the theme: “Our Oceans, Our Future’’.
According to him, life on earth depends on the oceans and a healthy ocean is central to human existence.
“Oceans serve as the world’s largest source of protein, feeding over three billion people who depend on the oceans as their primary source of protein.
“Ocean activities employ millions of workers and generates trillions of dollars in the world economy.
“Equally important is the role oceans play in absorbing about 30 per cent of carbon dioxide produced by humans, thereby buffeting the impact of global warming.
“And today, the ocean is under tremendous pressure from human activity, including unsustainable and illegal fishing, marine pollution and climate- related impact,’’ he said.
Akande said that unsustainable and illegal fishing was a global problem that threatened ocean ecosystems and sustainable fisheries.
He said that marine pollution, majority of which come from land- based sources had reached alarming levels with about 13,000 pieces of plastics litter to be found on every square kilometer of the ocean.
Akande said that the physical impact of climate change could be seen in the fish migration and oceanic acidification.
He said that with these negative impacts, there was need for people to come together and protect the oceans.
According to him, the reason is that the oceans are our common heritage and the oceans are absolutely essential for life.
Akande said that not only food, but the oxygen and weather cycles of the planets all depended on the oceans.
Dr Femi Oyediran, an environmental management expert, said that the ocean’s resources could be effectively managed to pull the country out of recession.
According to him, there are lots of opportunities in the oceans that can help our national development, but individuals are exploiting them to the detriment of the nation.
Oyediran said that the World Oceans Day celebration was still another clarion call on governments to put laws and enforcement mechanisms together to gain from ocean resources in a sustainable way. (NAN)
ACA/AAB/PIO
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(Edited by Adeboye Ajayi/Idonije Obakhedo)