ISLAMABAD – Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mehmood Abbasi Fridayexpressed firm resolve to ensure sustainable use of oceans and preservemarine resources with coordinated national efforts.
“Let us re-affirm our commitment and resolve for preserving sustainable useof oceans and marine resources, while making conscious efforts to empowerwomen in various economic activities related to the oceans. Only together,we can protect Earth’s ultimate source of life,” he said in his message onthe World Oceans Day to be observed on June 8 under the theme “Gender andthe Oceans,” a Pakistan Navy press release said.
The day is celebrated to enlighten the world community regarding the impactof human actions on the oceans and to explore ways and means for theirsustainable use and the marine resources derived from them.
Oceans, the Naval chief said, was the primary source of sustenance of lifeon earth, which acted as lungs to the planet as “they provide most of theoxygen we breathe. They are also major absorbers of greenhouse gases andcarbon dioxide. Thus, human activity on land is directly affecting theoceans and the life that flourishes within.”
The theme selected for this year’s World Ocean Day, he said, offered anopportunity to explore the gender dimension of human relationship with theoceans. “While women constitute half of the work force, they only comprise2% of the seafarers’ workforce and 38% of the overall marine scientists.They earn only 64% of men’s wages and have less access to the decisionmaking positions.”
Zafar Mehmood Abbasi said the theme aimed to raise gender literacy andpromote gender equality in ocean related activities such as marinescientific research, fisheries. labour at sea, as well as policy making.
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“We acknowledge the challenges that are eroding the integrity of our waters– pollution, marine invasive species, extreme climatic changes and threatsto survival of marine species. We also acknowledge the need for greaterparticipation of women to address these challenges in a more sustainablemanner.”
To commemorate significance of the World Oceans Day, he said, Pakistan Navywas playing a lead role in promoting safe and sustainable use of oceanresources. Some of the major PN initiatives include beach cleaning,construction of harbour debris collection barges, intensified Mangrovesplantation, banning use of destructive fishing nets, tackling oil pollutionat sea and coordination with industrial community to reduce waste dumpinginto the sea, he added.
The Naval chief said another focal area being pursued by PN was thepromotion of formal Maritime Education, especially for the women. BahriaUniversity, under the PN auspices has commenced Graduate and Mastersprogrammes for both male as well as female students.
