Universities, R+D+I actors for the conservation, recovery and sustainable use of the oceans, together with the Government of the Canary Islands, expressed their ties of union and the existing synergies during the commemoration of World Oceans Day under the slogan ‘The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods’.
The event took place at the Poema del Mar aquarium (Las Palmas port) with the participation of the deputy counselor for the Fight against Climate Change of the Government of the Canary Islands, Miguel Ángel Pérez, of the chancellor of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Luis Serra, of the vice-chancellor for research of the University of La Laguna, Ernesto Pereda, of the director of PLOCAN, José Joaquín Hernández Brito, and of the director of Loro Parque Fundación, Javier Almunia.
Moreover, presentations around the slogan “The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods’ that have been followed online and a radio program have been organised to contribute to raise public awareness of the importance of promoting the conservation of the ocean and a sustainable use that respects the marine environment.
The director of PLOCAN, “PLOCAN: a gateway to the Ocean”; Fernando Rosa, ULL, “A Sea of sounds “; Antonio Fernández Rodríguez, IUSA-ULPGC, “Connected by environmental, human and animal health”; José Juan Castro, ULPGC, “For sustainable fishing”; May Gómez, Environmental Quality Group – ULPGC, “The great problem of microplastics”; Pilar García Jiménez, Faculty – School of Marine Sciences, “Marine Sciences: for the knowledge, conservation and sustainable management of our oceans”; Eric Delory, PLOCAN, “Cutting edge technologies: learning to” listen “to the ocean”; Javier Almunia, “Science applied to the conservation, protection and repopulation of threatened marine species”; students of the IES Guillermina Brito (Telde), winners of the ‘A Sea of Science’ award. “Vocation for the future”; and Carmen D. Macías López, PROMEMAR Association, “We can all help protect our oceans!” have participated in the presentations.
The event highlighted the beginning of the decade of challenges to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14: “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”. The ocean covers more than 70% of the planet, providing life and sustenance for humanity and all other organisms on Earth, as well as 50% of the planet’s oxygen and most of the Earth’s biodiversity.
The ocean, which will employ around 40 million workers in the entire ocean-related sector by 2030, requires support and commitment. It is necessary to create a new balance, and a new inclusive and innovative connection, based on knowledge, to protect and preserve the ocean and everything that sustains, learning the lessons of the past.
The objective of World Oceans Day is to promote a movement of institutions and citizens for the ocean, inform about the human impacts, and mobilize and unite the world population in a project for the sustainable management of the oceans.
Full broadcast of the event available on our YouTube channel.
