World Oceans Day requires all our attention

Selaine Saxby MP | 8th June 2021 | Uncategorised

Conservative backbencher and climate campaigner Selaine Saxby spoke at the Westminster Hall debate on World Oceans Day

The Earth is a blue marble – over 70% of its surface is covered by water – and the algae that live on the surface account for over 50% of the oxygen we breathe. The ocean has so far absorbed one third of all human-created emissions and regulates our climate. Our oceans are too big and too important to be just the domain of MPs like myself who are blessed with a constituency where they lap ashore – they are home to some 228,450 known species and another two million yet unknown. It is the main source of protein for more than a billion people. The United Nations’ World Oceans Day is a celebration of the potential of our sea – and this year’s theme is “Life and Livelihood”. Globally, fishing supported some 39 million jobs in 2018 and the UK’s fishing industry alone is worth almost £1 billion to our economy. In my North Devon constituency, many local businesses and families rely on the maritime economy and we need to revert to sustainable fishing practices to ensure we use these precious ...

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