Lüderitz
Residents of Lüderitz recently celebrated World Oceans Day, a day commemorated annually to raise awareness on the state of the world’s oceans.
This year, World Oceans Day was celebrated at the Lüderitz Waterfront Harbour Square under the theme “Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet”.
World Oceans Day was first introduced in 1992 to raise awareness of the crucial role the sea plays, as a source of food, oxygen and medicine. It was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2008 and is observed on June 8 each year.
Seven schools in Lüderitz were invited to participate in artworks made from recycled materials to raise awareness about the ocean.
Titus Shaanika, a consultant at Albatross Task Force at Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), explained how people depend directly or indirectly on the world’s oceans.
He encouraged people to work together to ensure that the oceans remain healthy.
Shaanika stressed that oceans deserved to be protected and conserved as much as any inland national park. He indicated that this event is part of a project carried out by the NNF in collaboration with Namibian Dolphin Project (NDP) and the African Penguin Conservation Project (APCP), through the support of Shell Namibia, to monitor Namibian Islands’ Marine Protected Area (NIMPA) and marine issues among schools.
Chairperson of Shell Namibia Dennis Zekveld stated that Shell is proud to be part of all of these activities that encourage people to protect the ocean and safeguard the marine environment.
He said the ocean should be protected from threats such as industrial pollution, overfishing, and plastic pollution, as the ocean and its wildlife choke on plastic. Zekveld emphasized that by working together there will be a healthy ocean that provides for the billions of humans, plants and animals depending on it every day.
Chairperson of the Management Committee, Councillor Calvin Mwiya, said the oceans’ existence is amazing, and it is equally wonderful how much people benefit from the oceans.
He noted that most people depend on the oceans for employment and income, therefore, Lüderitz should appreciate the ocean, as the fishing industry happens to be the biggest employing industry in Lüderitz, with most residents employed in fish factories and fishermen working at sea.
Mwiya indicated that the Lüderitz Town Council has a committed team of cleaners, who are responsible for the cleaning of the Agate Beach as well as Aeroplane Bay where most public members gather for parties.
He commended organisers of the event in their effort to protect the oceans and educating the community.