SAVE OUR OCEANS

THE President of Ireland has issued a rallying call urging Irish people across the globe to step up and act to protect and sustain the “It is vital we commit to action”, President Michael D

: President Michael D Higgins

Higgins said in a statement made on World Oceans Day, while highlighting “shocking” global statistics around the reduction in sea-life and increase in deaths of marine animals due to plastic waste alone.

He urged the global community to build on the historic UN High Seas Treaty, which was agreed in March, after 20 years of discussions, and now provides a legal framework to establish vast marine protected areas (MPAs) on the almost two-thirds of the world’s oceans that lie outside national boundaries.

“On this World Oceans Day, it is vital we commit to action, give authenticity to and build on the momentum created by the long-awaited international agreement reached in New York in March on the UN High Seas