UN Days, Weeks and Years > International Years

International Year of the Ocean

Recognizing the importance of the earth’s oceans and the marine environment to human life, the United Nations adopted a declaration (in 1994) declaring 1998 to be the International Year of the Ocean (IYO). The declaration had its origins in the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and was subsequently endorsed by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1993.

What is an "International Year"?

Since 1959, the UN has designated International years in order to draw attention to major issues and to encourage international action to address concerns which have global importance an ramifications. There is a concerted effort not to designate every year - for fiscal reasons and to avoid any process of trivialization. This is the first time a year has been devoted to the oceans, indeed it is the first time an international year has been designated to an environmental issue.

The UN also designates International decades and days. While there has never been a decade designated on marine issues, the World Maritime Day (last week in September, date left to individual states to choose) has been in existence since the late 1970’s.

How Did International Year of the Ocean Come About?

Recognizing the importance of the earth’s oceans and the marine environment to human life, the United Nations adopted a declaration (in 1994) declaring 1998 to be the International Year of the Ocean (IYO). The declaration had its origins in the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and was subsequently endorsed by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1993.

IYO’s Objective

The International Year of the Ocean aims to increase scientific and public awareness about the marine environment. This awareness is considered by many to be necessary in order to encourage decision-makers to take action to protect and manage the world’s oceans.

The IYO intends to focus attention on threats to, and secure resources to insure, the sustainable development of the oceans, while combatting the problems raised by pollution, population pressures, overfishing and climate variability.

Which UN Agencies are Involved?

UNESCO is the UN agency spearheading the implementation of IYO, or more specifically, the lead is being taken by one of UNESCO’s associated bodies -- the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). However, other UN agencies involved with marine issues are also organizing IOC-coordinated programmes in 1998, including FAO, IAEA, IMO, UNEP and WHO.

IYO Activities

A number of activities will occur during the international year, including the signing of an Ocean Charter -- a statement of principle that will combine political and public commitment to create awareness of marine issues -- to be launched at the Summit of the Sea Conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland, in September 1997. Other activities include ocean related conferences, public awareness and educational initiatives.

More information can be obtained through the International Year of the Ocean’s homepage, which includes planned activities, objectives and background to the year.