World Oceans Day 2025 will be celebrated on June 8 under the official theme “Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate” a powerful call to accelerate collective efforts to restore and protect the ocean in the face of climate change. Initially established in 1992 by the International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, this day has evolved into a worldwide movement.

The oceans encompass more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and contain 97% of its water. They govern temperature, absorb significant quantities of solar heat, distribute it via global currents, and are integral to the water cycle. In addition to climate management, the oceans support millions of species and furnish vital resources such as food, oxygen, and livelihoods for billions of individuals.

The theme for this year underscores the pressing need for tangible, scientifically informed solutions to safeguard marine ecosystems and address the climate crisis. “Catalysing Action” emphasises the shift from awareness to execution, urging governments, corporations, and individuals to undertake quantifiable measures for ocean conservation and climate resilience.

The theme for this year underscores the pressing need for tangible, scientifically informed solutions to safeguard marine ecosystems and address the climate crisis.

Global events, such as public campaigns, art exhibitions, and policy conversations, seek to promote innovation, collaboration, and accountability. On World Oceans Day 2025, we are reminded that protecting the ocean is both an environmental imperative and a moral obligation. An ecologically sound ocean is vital for climate stability, and both are imperative for our future.

The oceans are our planet’s lungs; they provide oxygen for breathing, are a substantial source of food and medicine, and are an essential component of the biosphere. We recognise that water makes up a third of our planet; it is our responsibility to protect our oceans and marine life from the threat of global warming. They produce a greater proportion of the oxygen in the atmosphere and absorb the most carbon from it.

The ocean provides a diverse range of products and ventures that are important to our well-being, economics, and climate, such as fisheries, shipping routes, etc. Anglers, lifeguards, surf educators, harbours, jumping schools, marine-based visit administrators, water sports organisations, vacation resorts, and seafarers all have jobs related to the ocean.

The ocean is home to the greatest diversity of life on the planet. Ocean resources supply food and energy, both of which are necessary for human survival. It will be challenging to accomplish sustainable economic development by 2030 if the three-quarters of the earth’s surface are ignored.

Marine fisheries account for 19.40% of the country’s overall fish production. Furthermore, Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh is visited by 81.0 percent of international tourists on average.

As a result, Bangladesh has taken initiatives to ensure the sustainable use of ocean resources to achieve inclusive development and the SDG-14 target. Bangladesh has a 710-kilometer-long coastline and a 200-nautical-mile-long exclusive economic zone within the Bay of Bengal.

Marine fisheries account for 19.40% of the country’s overall fish production. Furthermore, Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh is visited by 81.0 percent of international tourists on average. Bangladesh’s ocean is playing a significant role in the country’s overall socioeconomic growth through promoting economic activity across the country, particularly in the southern coastal zone.

However, the impact of pollution in Bangladesh’s oceans is steadily increasing. Human health and biodiversity are both threatened by the effects of oceans and terrestrial pollution. While important to the world economy and well-being, the commercial marine shipping industry is a major contributor to global air pollution, and its emissions are expected to rise if no action is taken. Shipping has a number of negative environmental repercussions, including contamination of the air and water. According to a study, the majority of this pollution looks to be uncontrollable, and worldwide shipping emissions are expected to more than treble between 2020 and 2050.

Land and air transportation are less efficient than freight and marine transit. The most polluting fuel is marine fuel. The majority of ships run on residual oil fuel, sometimes known as heavy fuel oil (HFO). When burned, HFO is a low-quality fuel that produces a lot of pollution. It is also common for HFO to be mixed with other substances such as dangerous chemicals, waste oils, and motor oils. Despite the fact that some ships use HFO-free marine diesel (low in SOx, NOx, PM, CO, VOCs, and heavy metals), marine diesel fuel nevertheless emits considerable amounts of pollution.

Land and air transportation are less efficient than freight and marine transit. The most polluting fuel is marine fuel. The majority of ships run on residual oil fuel, sometimes known as heavy fuel oil (HFO)

Bangladesh is ranked eighth in the world in terms of river contamination from sea-borne plastics. Such information has recently been discovered through investigation. 6 Every year, roughly 25,000 tonnes of plastic debris is dumped into the ocean by the country’s waterways. The Bay of Bengal receives the majority of the plastic garbage from the Ganges-Padma-Meghna Basin, Karnafuli, and Rupsha rivers in India and Bangladesh. Approximately 7,000 tonnes of plastic trash are discharged into the sea each year via Padma, 3,000 tonnes by Karnafuli, and 1,400 tonnes via Rupsha.

Every year, at least 14 million tonnes of plastic eventually end up in the ocean. Plastic waste is the most common sort of litter in the ocean, responsible for about 80 percent of all marine debris observed from the surface to deep sea sediments. Every continent’s shorelines are littered with plastic, with more rubbish found near famous tourist attractions and densely populated places.

Urban and stormwater runoff, sewer overflows, littering, inadequate waste disposal and management, industrial activity, tyre abrasion, construction, and illegal dumping are the main causes of plastic debris detected in the ocean. Plastic pollution in the ocean is mainly caused by the fishing industry, vessels, and aquaculture. Plastic degrades into small particles known as microplastics (particles smaller than 5 mm) or nano plastics as a result of UV radiation from the sun, wind, currents, and other natural forces (particles smaller than 100 nm).

Bangladesh’s maritime boundary has grown significantly since the Bay of Bengal’s disputed border with Myanmar and India was resolved. Bangladesh has established its rights to all forms of animal and non-animal resources located at the bottom of the subcontinent

Because of their small size, they are easily ingested by aquatic creatures. Many countries lack the infrastructure needed to prevent plastic pollution, such as sanitary landfills, incinerator facilities, recycling capacity, and circular economy infrastructure, as well as proper waste management and disposal. As a result, ‘plastic waste’ flows into rivers and the sea. Where waste management systems are insufficient to limit plastic trash, the illegal global trade of plastic garbage may damage ecosystems.

Bangladesh’s maritime boundary has grown significantly since the Bay of Bengal’s disputed border with Myanmar and India was resolved. Bangladesh has established its rights to all forms of animal and non-animal resources located at the bottom of the subcontinent, up to 1 lakh 18 thousand 813 square kilometres of the territorial sea, 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone, and 354 nautical miles from the coast of Chittagong.

Today, the flora and animals of the sea and coastal areas all over the world are on the verge of extinction. One of the essentials to the human race’s survival on this planet is the sea. The oceans provide a huge amount of the oxygen we need to survive

Bangladesh now has a total territorial sea area of more than 1 lakh 18 thousand 813 square kilometres, according to the International Court of Justice’s resolution of maritime disputes with Myanmar in 2012 and India in 2014. From the coast of Chittagong to 354 nautical miles, it has a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and sovereign rights over all forms of animal and non-animal resources. Bangladesh received 12 out of 17 blocks in a maritime dispute with Myanmar. Bangladesh was awarded all ten of India’s claimed blocks. Bangladesh also received 19,000 square kilometres of the disputed 25,000 square kilometres.

Today, the flora and animals of the sea and coastal areas all over the world are on the verge of extinction. One of the essentials to the human race’s survival on this planet is the sea. The oceans provide a huge amount of the oxygen we need to survive, as well as a range of other elements such as food and medication. Furthermore, the oceans make up a significant portion of the atmosphere.

However, in addition to different human activities, the ocean ecosystem is continually changing as a result of the hostile climate. Its biodiversity is rapidly dwindling. Every year on June 8th, World Oceans Day is commemorated to raise awareness about this global disaster. As a result, everyone should be conscious of the need of protecting the ocean, given its contribution. Only if the ocean is free of pollution will World Ocean Day be a success.

Contact: Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Dean, Faculty of Science, Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Stamford University Bangladesh; Joint Secretary, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Chairman, Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS).