What is World Aquatic Animal Day?
This year on April 3rd, the world celebrates World Aquatic Animal Day, a day dedicated to showing appreciation and highlighting the significance of aquatic animals.
History of World Aquatic Animal Day
Launched by the Aquatic Animal Law Initiative as part of the Animal Law Clinic and Centre for Animal Law Studies, this day is all about raising awareness through law, policy, education and advocacy to meet the immense challenges that aquatic animals face.
The term “aquatic animals” encompasses all animals that live in the water for most of their lives: fish, amphibians, marine mammals, crustaceans, reptiles, molluscs, aquatic birds, aquatic insects and even animals such as starfish and corals. These animals play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy planet and life on planet. Despite their importance, many people lack knowledge about marine life, which leads to the overconsumption, neglect and abuse of aquatic animals.
Theme for this Year!
The theme this year is “The Impact of Our Human Activities on Aquatic Animals.” Shedding light on our impact on aquatic animals is critical as trillions of animals are being caught in the oceans while billions are farmed, both under conditions of extremely high suffering and low welfare. Of course, there are also challenges of overfishing, bycatch, ghostgear and animal abuse. Groups such as the Aquatic Animal Law Initiative are combining their passion for the marine environment and their knowledge of the law to help protect these vulnerable aquatic animals.
Why World Aquatic Animal Day is important?
Aquatic animals play a critical role in our societies and ecosystems. They are important not only as a group, but also as valuable and exciting individuals with intrinsic worth. By “aquatic animals”, we mean not only fish, but also a myriad of other animals that live in water for most of their life: amphibians, marine mammals, crustaceans, reptiles, molluscs, aquatic birds, aquatic insects and even animals such as starfish and corals. Despite this, aquatic animals are widely used and abused around the world and they face a multitude of different threats.
There is an urgent need to give aquatic animals the proper consideration they deserve. Through law, policy, education, advocacy and good stewardship of the earth, our efforts to raise awareness of the plight of aquatic animals must rise to meet the immense challenges they now face. We must also consider our interactions with aquatic animals, our treatment of them, and the often-devastating impacts we are having on them and their habitats.
How to observe World Bonobo Day?
1. Educate
Learn about the threats that aquatic animals face. Offer to speak remotely about aquatic animals.
2. Get Awareness
Sign a petition (or start your own!) supporting a ban on single use plastics or other practices that threaten aquatic animals. Speak up for aquatic animals. Protecting aquatic animals also helps humans and the environment.
3. Support
Connect with and support organisations already working to protect aquatic animals, oceans, lakes, and rivers, and our whole environment.
4. Appreciate
Take time to research and better understand aquatic animals in their natural habitat. Create aquatic animal art!
By:
Neha (2022/716)
B.Sc. Physics Hons
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