Every year on 3rd April, the World Aquatic Animal Day is celebrated globally. Its purpose is to increase public awareness on the importance of aquatic animals and their ecosystems, encourage their conservation, and foster a deeper understanding of aquatic life. This day celebrates the beauty and diversity of aquatic animals in seas, rivers and lakes. It also brings attention to the dangers they face. These dangers include: habitat loss, pollution, overfishing, climate change brought by human activity, and non-consideration for aquatic ecosystems to our environment.
The theme for this day is “Alternatives to the Use of Aquatic Animals”. To mark the occasion, One Health and Development Initiative (OHDI) and the Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture and Ecological Restoration (INSAER) are working together to promote the One Health goal of integrating a holistic approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and the environment. This year’s event is geared towards promoting the conservation of sea turtles and their habitats among students of the Ilaje High School, Ondo State. This will help in guiding them early in life to develop a love for nature and biodiversity conservation.
After the event, many students in the Ilaje community will be informed on the importance of conservation in the community. They will have a better understanding of the reasons why sea turtles should be protected by the community and also be able to communicate such to others. This will aid the gradual spread of conservation messages among people of the Ilaje community in Ondo State.
Happy World Aquatic Animal Day,
One Health and Development Initiative
