Today, June 8, World Oceans Day is celebrated. This day is part of a strategy proposed by the UN since 2009 to safeguard this important resource on the planet, which is home to more than 210.000 known forms of life, and is a source of income.
It seems that this issue does not have to do directly with cruise ships, however, companies are making a great effort to adapt their ships to the regulations and to safeguard this resource. One of these contributions has been that of the Carnival Foundation, of 2,5 million dollars in five years, the term began in 2014, to the NGO The Nature Conservancy.
The multinational Carnival, the world's largest recreational travel company, is implementing its 2020 sustainability goals across its 10 cruise lines.
With this donation the NGO The Nature Conservancy will carry out different conservation activities, To achieve expanded protection in marine areas, trust funds will be established in seven countries in the Caribbean, and an online atlas for ocean floor planning will be produced.
In 2016, the theme that has been chosen for this World Oceans Day is: Healthy oceans, a healthy planet. Right now the oceans are deteriorating at an accelerating rate due to pollution and overexploitation. Plastic pollution is one of the most serious threats, and realities, that affects the oceans, because it degrades them very slowly and its effects last a long time. According to some publications by environmental organizations and institutions, the coastal areas of France, Spain and Italy are among the most polluted on the planet. In 2007 Greenpeace mentioned the Mediterranean Sea as the one with the highest concentration of hydrocarbons and plastic.
Other factors of degradation and deterioration are illegal fishing, marine pollution and the destruction of habitats.