Katherine Abayomi
Ocean ecosystems supply a substantial amount of oxygen to the atmosphere and offer various services that ensure the survival of all species on Earth.
As the world observes World Ocean Day with the theme “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” it is time for humanity to reflect on its exploitative, violent, and destructive relationship with the ocean—and to embrace a new beginning.
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), an ecological think tank advocating for social-ecological justice and food sovereignty across Nigeria and Africa, has emphasized that approximately 71% of the Earth is covered by the vast body of water called the ocean. This vast expanse plays a significant role in environmental and climate systems, and more broadly, in sustaining life on Earth. Beyond its five major divisions—the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern Oceans—the ocean connects and interacts with other water bodies such as seas, gulfs, bays, lagoons, estuaries, and even groundwater systems.
Highlighting the importance of World Ocean Day, the Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, underscored the immeasurable value of the world’s oceans and called for increased support for their protection. He stated that oceans and other water bodies are continuously subjected to a barrage of assaults at local, national, and international levels.
“The concept that the ocean cycles itself and acts as a greenhouse gas sink has been misconstrued to mean that the ocean can filter and clean itself no matter what is dumped in it. Oceans and other water bodies have become dumping grounds for all sorts of pollutants and are facing extreme exploitation. There are a lot of unusual activities going on in our waters that must not be allowed to continue if we want a healthy ocean and planet,” he said.
“Corporate interests have been substituted for national and people-centred interests, while communities living along the coasts bear the brunt of such abnormalities. Now is the time for all to rise to the occasion and protect the ocean. The continued burning of the Ororo oil well over a period of five years is a sad commentary on the ecocide taking place in our waters.”
Stephen Oduware, Programme Manager at HOMEF and Coordinator of FishNet Alliance—a network of fishers across Africa—also emphasized that the world’s fisheries depend heavily on the ocean.
“The two major sides of the ocean bordering Africa—the Atlantic and Indian Oceans—along with their associated gulfs, are experiencing shortfalls in fishing due to vested and powerful interests. Industrial fishing, including the use of bottom trawlers, is partly responsible for unsustainable, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the region.”
“These practices not only harm fisheries but also disrupt the ocean and create imbalances in the ecosystems it supports. These unchecked activities in Africa’s territorial waters must stop. Fishers of the world, unite!”
Climate change—primarily caused by human activities—is having a profound impact on the ocean. Dead zones are proliferating. Pollution from mineral and fossil fuel extraction is increasing. Unsustainable industrial fishing continues. Intentional waste dumping and disturbances of the ocean floor and seabeds are escalating—these are among a long list of destructive activities.
Oduware further noted that as ocean surface temperatures increase, global warming intensifies. He stressed that protecting the ocean from all forms of degradation would ultimately safeguard the Earth.
“We are part of the ocean family. In protecting it, we protect ourselves. We urge everyone to do the same.”
