As the world commemorates World Maritime Day 2025, the Director General of the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC), Mohamed Salum, has called on the public to safeguard the ocean, emphasizing its vital role in connecting nations, powering trade, and sustaining life on Earth.

In a press statement, Salum highlighted the mounting threats facing oceans due to human activity ranging from plastic and chemical pollution, oil spills, and seabed mining, to carbon emissions driving acidification and rising sea levels. These challenges, he warned, jeopardize ecosystems, economies, and the very survival of coastal communities worldwide.

“The ocean is more than a resource it is our lifeline. Protecting it is not a choice but an obligation. We must act decisively against pollution, overfishing, and unsustainable practices while embracing opportunities in the Blue Economy. This is the time for collective responsibility so that future generations inherit a healthy ocean and a sustainable planet,” said Salum.

He reiterated Tanzania’s commitment to working with international partners, local stakeholders, and communities to promote sustainable shipping, reduce marine pollution, and advance policies that conserve biodiversity. Through these actions, Tanzania seeks not only to protect its maritime heritage but also to harness the vast potential of the Blue Economy.

Salum further noted that Tanzania’s extensive coastline has long been a source of food, trade, cultural exchange, and discovery. With such an endowment, he stressed, comes a solemn duty to ensure preservation for future generations.

This year’s theme, “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity,” underscores the shared responsibility to protect oceans while unlocking the immense opportunities they provide. Oceans generate up to 60% of the oxygen we breathe, absorb excess carbon dioxide, regulate climate, and sustain rich biodiversity. They also anchor millions of jobs globally across sectors such as shipping, fishing, tourism, aquaculture, oil and gas, and emerging blue economy industries.