Management of plastic waste and oceans

Images of World Oceans Day 2021: June 8 is celebrated annually as World Oceans Day

At World Oceans Day, India will launch a two-month awareness campaign on plastic waste management to save our oceans. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar took to Twitter and wrote: “Plastic waste has adverse effects not only on terrestrial but also aquatic ecosystems. Today on World Oceans Day, will launch a two-month awareness campaign on the topic of plastic waste management and the disposal of identified single-use plastic items (SUP). About 70% of the oxygen we breathe is produced by the oceans.

Plastic waste has harmful effects not only on terrestrial but also aquatic ecosystems. Today the #WorldOceansDay , will launch a 2-month awareness campaign on the theme of plastic waste management and the disposal of identified single-use plastic items (SUP). pic.twitter.com/MDVkdOoY85

Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) June 8, 2021

The theme for World Oceans Day 2021 is – The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods. From eating locally sourced fish from sustainable sources to tackling plastic pollution, we all have a role to play in saving our oceans. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, plastic pollution has increased dramatically. “At least 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in our oceans each year and account for 80% of all marine debris from surface waters to deep-sea sediments,” according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Marine life is precious. We often come across tragic images of turtles, seals, sea lions, walruses, fish and other marine life entangled in plastic debris. This causes serious injuries and even fatalities. “There is an urgent need to explore the use of existing legally binding international agreements to tackle marine plastic pollution,” says IUCN.