World Oceans Day: an international forum on the connections between marine health and human health will be held on June 8th

Human health and ocean health are closely interconnected and must be protected together.

In the vision of Planetary Health, in the  World Oceans Day, the ISS is organizing the "International High-Level Forum on Ocean and Human Health." This unique event, through discussion and synergy between experts from leading international health and environmental institutions and research centers—from UNEP to WHO, from the EEA to the FAO, and from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography—will converge on the definition and implementation of objectives for understanding and protecting marine environments and ecosystems to support human health. Recognizing the "Ocean and Human Health" connection as a global priority for public health protection, strategies, methods, and avenues for cooperation are being considered for the development and use of extensive and interoperable monitoring platforms for data sharing, as well as for the development of criteria for analyzing health risks associated with environmental and climate change in the open ocean. This will address new research challenges such as antimicrobial resistance, persistent chemical contaminants, and the impacts of environmental variables on pathogen distribution ranges. The forum will provide an opportunity to discuss initiatives to improve knowledge and capacity for prevention and response to risks associated with ocean ecosystem disruption, supporting science diplomacy as a tool for global cooperation and resilience.

Protecting the Oceans and Human Health: A Converging Goal

Pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change, linked to global human activities, are altering the health of the oceans, which in turn impacts human health. Warming seas, for example, alter the distribution of marine animals and primary productivity, favoring the proliferation of dangerous algae and the increase in pathogens and microbiological pollutants from land-based discharges. Similarly, the increase in zoonoses, diseases, and health risks associated with the use of contaminated waters, as well as the deterioration of the quality of fish stocks, are consequences of inadequately controlled human activities. Loss of biodiversity compromises the role of ecosystems as a resource and reduces the potential for developing new marine-based drugs. Persistent chemical pollutants, including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds, and pesticides, spread and bioaccumulate in food webs, contributing to risks associated with oncogenesis, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and multiple diseases with multifactorial etiologies.