The sheer volume of bad news about the environment and thought provoking headlines can be overwhelming: ”We only have 20 years to save the ocean”, “By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in our ocean”. Are we able to reverse the untenable declines in the health of the ocean, for us and our blue planet?

At Project AWARE, we strongly believe in the power of people and partnerships to affect positive change. Each of us, every day, has the ability to engage and make the world a better place. The time to reaffirm our commitments to #SaveOurOcean is now.   

The world prepares to celebrate World Environment Day, June 5 and World Oceans Day, June 8.  The United Nations is hosting a high-level Ocean Conference in New York, June 5-9 and calling on all actors for Voluntary Commitments to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 14 (#SDG14) “Life Below Water”: Conserve and Sustainably Use the Oceans, Seas and Marine Resources for Sustainable Development.

We have submitted UN Voluntary Commitments - on behalf of our community and together with our conservation partners - to contribute urgent and tangible actions to improve ocean health but every achievement in ocean protection starts with you. As the UN calls for concrete action to accelerate efforts to #SaveOurOcean, will you commit to helping us fulfil our promise to the ocean? If you do, you will show your support for our work towards a thriving and vibrant ocean as illustrated in our UN Voluntary Commitments:

#OceanAction17638: Addressing the global marine debris crisis from an underwater perspective - citizen science and community engagement for global solution.

We recognize the power of our community to fill a void in the types and quantities of marine debris found in the ocean. Project AWARE is committed to mobilizing scuba divers to remove, record and report marine debris found underwater and bridge a gap in knowledge to affect change.

#OceanAction17226: Safeguarding Sharks and Rays of the Atlantic and Mediterranean through RFMOs

Sharks and rays are being seriously overfished. The sharks and rays of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea are in real trouble. Working with our partners, Shark Advocates International, The Shark Trust, and Ecology Action Centre, we’re committed to ensuring their future.

#OceanAction14840: Tackling abandoned, lost and otherwise discarded fishing gear at global scale - a multi-stakeholder partnership

Ghost gear is by far, the deadliest form of marine debris. As a member of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative, we’re committed to protecting ocean health and productivity from the harmful effects of lost and abandoned fishing gear.

Restoring the ocean is critical; not only from an environmental perspective but also because ocean health is vital to employment, well-being, and livelihoods around the world. While SDG 14 is the only goal focused on life below water, other Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN Members States in 2015 also depend on or influence ocean health.

Be part of ocean history with Project AWARE as we build #TheNextWave of ocean protection. Follow us on Twitter @projectaware to join in the online conversation about #SDG14: “Life Below Water” during the UN Ocean Conference, June 5-9 and invest in a sustainable future for the ocean today.