International Maritime Organization urges 'implementation' of ocean policies

On World Oceans Day, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued a strong call to action, urging its 176 member states and the global maritime industry to actively implement policies aimed at protecting the marine environment. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Domínguez, speaking from the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, stressed the organization's serious commitment to safeguarding the ocean.

"From the shores of the Cook Islands, in the South Pacific, it is very easy to see firsthand how communities and the ocean become one. It is not just a way of life, but a lifeline," Domínguez stated in a video message. He emphasized that the IMO, as a major user of the ocean, takes its responsibility for protection seriously. This commitment is reflected in the organization's focus on strengthening regulatory frameworks to combat various forms of pollution.

“

From the shores of the Cook Islands, in the South Pacific, it is very easy to see firsthand how communities and the ocean become one. It is not just a way of life, but a lifeline.

The IMO is concentrating its efforts on reducing plastic pollution, other forms of contamination, and addressing emerging issues such as underwater noise and the spread of transboundary species. "At the IMO, we take our responsibility to protect the ocean seriously, as one of its main users," Domínguez affirmed.

“

At the IMO, we take our responsibility to protect the ocean seriously, as one of its main users.

"On World Oceans Day, let us reinvent our relationship with the ocean, how to find the balance between what we take and what we give back because, as a society, we have a responsibility to protect this ocean for future generations," he urged. The secretary-general highlighted the critical need to translate policies into practice, noting that the IMO has developed international instruments over decades to prevent pollution, protect marine life, and promote safer, more sustainable maritime transport.

Key international conventions mentioned include MARPOL for preventing pollution from ships, the Ballast Water Management Convention, the Anti-Fouling Systems Convention to limit invasive species, the Hong Kong Convention for safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships, and the London Convention regulating the dumping of wastes at sea. These instruments collectively work towards safeguarding the marine environment.

“

On World Oceans Day, let us reinvent our relationship with the ocean, how to find the balance between what we take and what we give back because, as a society, we have a responsibility to protect this ocean for future generations.