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Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Queens), today encouraged Southeast Queens residents to celebrate the Atlantic Ocean as part of World Ocean Day, June 8.
Recently, a 10-block section of Rockaway Beach was closed due to beach erosion. Senator Sanders calls on residents to use World Ocean Day to become more knowledgeable about the effects oceans have on our shores, and damage caused by pollution.
"Many of us enjoy a day at the beach with our friends and family, but the closed section of beach reminds us all not to take our oceans for granted," said Senator Sanders.
World Ocean Day is a special global day to celebrate Earth's oceans and to work towards maintaining and improving their health and cleanliness. Each day oceans are polluted with trash, oil leaked from ships and oil rigs, and plastic bottles that are improperly discarded. Pollutants take years to break down and devastate marine life. As the health of the oceans decline, so does the health of the planet.
The Atlantic Ocean baths the Rockaway shoreline, and is the second largest of the world's oceans with a total area of about 41,100,000 square miles. It covers approximately 20 percent of the Earth's surface and about 29 percent of its water surface area. Oceans comprise about 71% of the earth's surface.
"It is our responsibility as inhabitants of the earth, to be good stewards of our oceans so that we can continue to enjoy visits to the beach, and live long, healthy lives on this planet," Sanders said.
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