Tuesday 8th June is World Oceans Day. It’ll be no surprise that at ishga, we’re incredibly passionate about the ocean, how important it is, and about its unique ability to heal and rejuvenate. Like many other people around the world, our livelihoods depend on it, and so today we hope you’ll join us to celebrate.
The ocean covers 70% of our planet, and supports life on Earth. It produces 50% of our oxygen, is home to the majority of Earth’s biodiversity, and is the main source of protein for more than a billion people all over the world. It’s also vital to the world’s economy, with around 40 million people to be employed in ocean-based industries by 2030.
But in your own little corner of the world, how much do you know about the larger ocean and its geography? Did you know that there are five oceans on Earth? They connect us and form one large body of water, called the Global Ocean, but in order, from smallest to largest, the big five are: the Arctic, the Southern, the Indian, the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Then there are seas that exist on the boundaries of these oceans, typically where they meet and are surrounded by land. You’ll recognise them, depending on where you live, and from the stories that have been passed down in legend and literature. They are places where we, as humans, connect and interact with the ocean in our own very different ways.
What do you really know about the Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean Sea, the South China Sea, the Bering Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the Okhotsk Sea, the East China Sea, Hudson Bay, the Japan Sea, the Andaman Sea, the North Sea, the Red Sea or the Baltic Sea? They’re all completely unique, as are their ecosystems and the people who live near them. It’s fascinating to find out more.
But with 90% of big fish populations depleted, and 50% of coral reefs destroyed, we’re taking more from the ocean than it can possibly replenish, and that’s before we consider how shamefully we pollute it with plastic and other toxic substances. We must all come together to build a connection that’s healthier and more sustainable. Our very existence depends on it.
At www.un.org/en/observances/oceans-day, you can link to thought-leaders, celebrities, institutional partners, community voices, entrepreneurs, and cross-industry experts. There are also virtual dives, exhibitions and quizzes, and a link to an international photo competition where you can get a glimpse of the sheer beauty and wonder of the world’s oceans and seas, and discover this year’s winner.
Due to the global pandemic, it’s just the second time that World Oceans Day has been a fully virtual event, and we think that’s a fantastic opportunity. What better day could there be to become more involved and celebrate the lungs of our blue planet - our amazing, life-giving ocean! We’ll be watching, will you?
Our Commitment to the Ocean
At ishga, we are committed to reducing our impact on our oceans and our planet as whole. We’re firm believers in the power of natural skincare to heal, and we’re passionate about seaweed, and the unique ability it has to restore us. We’re phasing out all plastic packaging, and replacing it with eco-friendly materials – frosted glass bottles and smart aluminium caps. Our new packaging (soon to be revealed) is 100% recyclable and looks beautiful.
We’ve phased out the use of laminated product boxes, and latex gloves, wet wipes, and bubble wrap have been replaced with biodegradable gloves, biodegradable wet wipes and shredded paper. When we supply to our spa partners, we’ve switched from plastic buckets to biodegradable paper bags, for products like bath salts and seaweed powder.
When we harvest our nutrient-rich Hebridean seaweed, we rotate the locations we visit carefully to give nature a chance to replenish her stocks properly. Our entire harvesting process is sustainable, and protecting the nature that our beautiful home of the Isle of Lewis provides, is of utmost importance to us.
