08/06/2026
World Oceans Day on 8 June encourages organisations across the globe to come together to protect one of the world’s most important resources - the blue planet.
This year’s theme, Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet, aims to guide global action in protecting the ocean. The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) takes protecting the ocean seriously considering its importance in supporting shipping and maritime trade.
South Africa is proudly one of the countries that recently ratified the High Seas Treaty that officially entered into force in January 2026. This important treaty, formally known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), is a landmark global accord to protect marine life in the high seas and the deep seabed (the areas of the ocean that lie beyond any country’s national jurisdiction).
It is important to note that ocean waters regulate the climate, support extraordinary biodiversity, sustain livelihoods, and hold untapped scientific and medical potential. Creating strongly regulated Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is essential to turning global commitments into real actionable outcomes.
As a member state of the International Maritime Organization - IMO , we heed the call to continuously implement the measures and regulations necessary to protect the marine environment from the effects of shipping, including pollution from oil and other waste from ships as well as underwater radiated noise.
Department of Transport # StrongMarineProtectedAreas