UNESCO Spurs Collective Action for Strengthening Marine Cultural Heritage on World Oceans Day 2022

UNESCO Nairobi calls on collective action towards the protection, preservation, conservation, management, and promotion of marine cultural heritage on World Oceans Day, 2022.

In partnership with National Museum of Kenya and The Rising from the Depths Network, UNESCO celebrated World Oceans Day, 8 June, as a platform for mobilizing collective action towards protection, preservation, conservation, management, and promotion of marine cultural heritage as a driver for sustainable development.

Reflecting on SDG 14, "Life below water", which seeks "to conserve and use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development", the event gathered stakeholders of Underwater Cultural Heritage in Kenya, comprising of government officials, custodians, experts, and researchers for a rich exchange of information and sharing of experiences on the potential, threats, challenges of marine cultural heritage and how these are being addressed by the existing national policies. Of particular interest and importance were presentations and discussions on case studies on the role of marine cultural heritage in shaping and enhancing the livelihoods of Kenya's coastal communities.

UNESCO used the opportunity to share information on its programmes for the safeguarding of marine cultural heritage under the 2001 Convention on Underwater Cultural Heritage, governing bodies, international cooperation mechanisms and responsibilities of the state parties.

Let us remember that we depend on the ocean, the blue lung of the planet, as much as it depends on us. The ocean was the source of life on Earth more than four billion years ago, but it is above all, on this Day, our present as well as our future. It is up to us to protect this common good.

Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO Message on the Occasion of World Oceans Day.

This event was under the framework of the United Nation's Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030); with a presentation made to stakeholders about the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC) - a specialized body of the UN System responsible for ocean science, observations, data exchange, services, capacity development, and science-to-governance work. IOC-Africa works with partners in the region was outlined, including national institutions and regional organizations to support its programmes that focus on 3 broad areas: i) Ocean Observations and Data and Information Management; ii) Ocean Science and its Application to Management; iii) Capacity Development for Marine Science and Technology and Ocean Literacy. Their contribution to the African Union's themes for the Blue Economy Strategy was also singled out, and its specific areas of focus highlighted, namely Port and Shipping, Fisheries, Aquaculture, Sustainable Blue Energy, Coastal Tourism and Blue Carbon and other ecosystems.

The event served as an advocacy platform for re-engagement and reaffirmation of Kenya's commitment towards ratification of the 2001 Convention on the Underwater Cultural Heritage.