World Ocean Day is an international day that takes place annually on 8th June. The purpose of the Day is to inform the public about the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and mobilize and unite the world's population on a project for the sustainable management of the world's oceans. Dr. M.Anand, Coordinator of Beach cleanup activity, Department of Marine and Coastal Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University, organized the programme.
The Programme was inaugurated by Professor Dr. J. Kumar, Vice- Chancellor, Madurai Kamaraj University, Dr. G. Tamilmani, Senior Scientist, Mandapam RC of CMFRI, delivered awareness lecture on cleanliness and hygiene in the coastal beaches, Mr. S. Kamil Hussain, President, Pudumadam Panchayat, Dr. C. Anand, Assistant Professor, Mandapam Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture (Mandapam CeSA), TNFU, Seeniappa Dargha, Ramnad Professor and Dr. S. Kannan, Head - Department of Environment, School of Energy Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University has delivered the felicitation address. About 80 volunteers are involved in cleaning Pudumadam beach.
Dr. J. Kumar, Vice- Chancellor, Madurai Kamaraj University in his inaugural speech insisted the need of collecting trash data in the coastal beaches so that we can identify sources and implement strategies to prevent more trash that reach ocean. Further, he stressed upon the importance of marine and coastal resources and the need to focus our search for energy in harnessing tidal energy, wave energy and ocean thermal energy to meet the growing energy demand of the world.
The Cleanup data has revealed the composition of various marine debris along the coasts which includes, plastic bottles, plastic wrappers, water packets, glass bottles, paper cups cigarette buds, plastic bottle caps, etc. Most of the debris in our beaches and shorelines are due to anthropogenic activities. The debris travel throughstorm drains or creeks into the beaches and ocean. Most of the debris are fishing nets (45%) which is followed by plastic bags, plastic and glass bottles ( 30%), cigarette buds, bottle caps, straws (5%) and other including slippers and thermocol (20%). The recyclable things like paper are very few when compared to the nonbiodegradable things.
Volunteers students from the School of Energy Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Syed Ammal Arts and Science College, Ramnad and Vel Manoharan Arts and Science College for Women, Ramnad attended the program for clean up activity.
The Programme was generously supported by MoES-NCCR, GoI and coordinated by Ocean Society of India, Kochi.