Why do you care about the ocean? Why is there so much plastic in the ocean? How does your organization help? These were some of the questions posed to IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez by school children at the L’Ecole de Battersea, London, during the launch of this year’s World Maritime Day theme.
“Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity” is IMO’s World Maritime Day theme for 2025, which will culminate in the celebration of World Maritime Day on September 25, 2025.
The launch reflects IMO’s commitment to engaging young people and safeguarding the ocean for future generations.
He said: “I am thrilled to share this moment with the next generation of potential leaders, innovators and ocean stewards. I am counting on the entire maritime community, and beyond, to actively engage in initiatives under this theme, and to bring awareness to shipping’s historic role as the largest user and champion of the ocean.”
The World Maritime Day theme for 2025 reflects the ocean’s vital role in the world economy, with more than 80% of global trade transported by sea. The ocean is a source of jobs and food for millions of people, a home for countless marine species, and a regulator of the planet’s climate, mitigating the impacts of climate change.
As the largest sector operating in the ocean space, shipping has a central role to play in the protection of the marine environment and management of ocean resources.
IMO’s long-standing commitment on this issue is evident in the robust global regulatory framework supporting cleaner, safer seas, and a growing portfolio of technical assistance initiatives to support ocean protection in 176 Member States.
The theme emphasizes the link to wider global efforts to protect the ocean including the conclusion of UN Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), the negotiation of a new instrument to address plastic pollution and the third UN Ocean Conference in June 2025.
The theme will allow all stakeholders to showcase the deep interconnection of shipping and IMO in the ocean space, highlighting the importance of collaboration and coordination to ensure the sustainable and safe use of ocean resources.
Photo credit: IMO. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez went back to school to speak with children about the importance of protecting the ocean, and launch the World Maritime Day theme for 2025: Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity.
