Brazil has the longest coastline in the southern Atlantic, more than 7,600 kilometers, with thousands of species scattered throughout its marine territory. In fact, the Atlantic Ocean is home to tens of thousands of different species, many of which live just a few meters from Brazil’s shores.
Latin America’s largest nation is also important in the global effort to curb climate change and ocean degradation. It was at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro that nations planted the seed for World Oceans Day, celebrated annually on June 8. To this day, the date raises awareness of the need to put the environment at the center of public policy.
But despite these facts, Brazilian waters are increasingly threatened. And more than promises, actions to protect the oceans must be put into practice.
Unless the world wants the ecosystem itself to police it …
The clock is ticking: the effects of climate change are causing sea levels to rise every year, while many organizations are highlighting the need to protect aquatic biodiversity and implement ocean conservation plans that include combating overfishing and oil spills, reducing plastic waste, and even preventing infrastructure and commercial projects from encroaching on the rich marine habitat.
When we talk about protecting the oceans, we need to remember that if the ocean is an economic resource for humanity, or synonymous with tourism for some, it is still home for the marine biome.
In other words, to some degree, every day has to be World Ocean Day. Otherwise …
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