BEAUTIFUL OCEAN, TRULY FEMALE

I woke up this morning, feeling a dull pain in my neck. I could not describe it further. I could not reason what could have caused the pain. Anyway, I thought I had a sound sleep and so today would be good. I managed to say a few words of prayer which resembled those that I ritually spoke softly. “May God bless my soul. May heaven bless mother. Protect me, oh Lord. Amen”.

As always, I lingered out of bed. Uncomfortably, I wiped my eyes and dragged towards the window. There, I pulled at the fastener while pushing, almost at the same time. Then with a clunk, the window opened. This had become my daily routine. At once, I could not believe my experience as I stood gazing through the window, and as if it was waiting to greet me, a suiting breeze fanned across, cooling my face. I closed my eyes and wondered. What a comforting feeling?

For a moment, I could not open my eyes as I tried to enjoy the coolness I had found, in indulgence. Just then my nose caught the jasmine-scented freshness of the mist from the blue ocean coming from the distance. The ocean must be fresh, so I wished this could last forever. I briefly imagined riding effortlessly, above the slow waves at the distance. Then I thought I had a sonorous shrill. What? A swallow? I thought.

Eventually, when I opened my eyes, what a sight? I beheld the new horizon, so peaceful and friendly yet full of life. Though the swallow was not there, to my surprise, my neck pains were instantly gone. I then agreed it was a beautiful day at last. I could not resist thinking about the ocean for a moment, the feeling was so suiting, and it must be comforting too. I thought of the  inhabitants, the creatures, the plants and the beautiful flowers. I believed that they were the children of the sea. What a wonderful world theirs must be? What a hospitable sea? She must be a loving mother.

Mother would say “children arise, you are blessed today”. What, my daughter? What, the daughter of my womb? And what, the daughter of my oaths and vows? Where I stood, I thought I heard mother’s voice. Be prompt, never be late to school. It is virtuous my daughter. Small woman behave well all the days of their lives. I then remembered the ocean, what a great mother of the world? With many children to guide, many to suckle, many to feed and much more to provide for, she must be ever busy like mama. An industrious woman indeed. No doubt, oceans have qualities or natures, some that can be well-thought-out to be
typical of women or resembling the feminine world. For instance, in school, geography taught me that the five oceans and seven seas altogether constitute more than 70% of the earth’s surface. It is a case of water for life and life for water. Without this factor, the earth will dry up. The woman in the same vein, bears the ‘water of life’ in the womb for the baby to survive. Therefore, it will be wise to say that the oceans are to the earth what the womb is to the baby. Even, science affirms that life originated from the ocean. Can it not be that it will amount to gross chauvinism to deny the ocean of its enviable feminine glory? Although, many people have a somewhat simple idea of the ocean. However, a deeper look into the ocean will reveal a magnitude of richness and fertility which only have smallerscale versions in the female folks. Consequently, if fertility reflects feminine nature as
generally believed, it will be fair and appropriate to accord the oceans a non-masculine status – a real lady.

Furthermore, the ocean is not only like a lady but also beautiful and awesome like women. Structurally, the ocean waves, which curly and curvy provides a natural complexity and a spectacular sight to behold! This feature of an ocean can be likened to the woman’s hair which obviously beautifies and covers her otherwise baldness. The hair further adds peculiarity and attractiveness to complement the woman’s outlook, like the ocean waves. Not all, an ocean is a place of comfort, an attraction to the seeking multitudes. Thus many people hangout at the beach to savour the seaside comforts. This brings a sort of healing and satisfaction to the minds of beachgoers and seafarers. In consonance, the female is gentle, soft and curing. These bring people to her.

Some folks think that the ocean is wild and dangerous. Yes, but the ocean is also calm and beautiful at the same time. In spite of this, the oceans have become indispensable factors in maintaining a global equilibrium of resources and in preserving the atmosphere. It portrays a typical high level of maturity often seen in women to be able to maintain such a balance of
seemingly opposing attributes or attitudes. Only a woman can compare to the great oceans. Come to think of it. I am an African. I learnt from our mythology that there exists a goddess, Yemoja, who was said to have been born by an influential woman who was born of the ocean. She is said to be a major water deity from the Yoruba religion. She is an orisha (deity) and the mother of all orishas. The Yoruba folklore says she gave birth to the 14 Yoruba gods and goddesses.

Although, I learnt in French language that the word océan is masculine in nature. However, in some other languages like Nago, Igbo and India all natural things are considered to be feminine. Thus, it is more than convincing that the ocean can only be fittingly described as a woman.

While still being euphoric about the ocean, mother called again. “Shalom, will you not go to school? Remember, daughter, clean up. Meal will soon be ready”. Again, it flashed through my mind. The preacher said a virtuous woman is like the merchants' ships; she brings her food from afar. The preacher was right. What a distant reach? The ocean alone is perfectly fit for such a distant reach. Bringing stuffs for the people of the world from far and wide, it is difficult to deny that the ocean truly borne the earth in her bosom. I looked at mother, while still battling with the residual effects of my excitement. She smiled at me and said “How was your night?" However, I did not answer her for I was picturing within my mind, the radiance of the inward beauty she displayed. I thought, this was well complemented by the outward magnificence of her beauty, as I wondered if she could be like this forever, like the ocean-woman. Then her beauty will compare with the ocean. I was so scared because I had to contend with the idea that mother was less female than the ocean but I let it go. Notwithstanding, she is my mother and the ocean my female friend. Their attractiveness wears not and to me, I see a seamless match and an indispensable duo.

Like a beautiful and wonderful chameleon, the ocean is ever adapting to environmental situations by adjusting its colours, waves, tides and components. Just like my hardworking mother, now and then, the ocean changes its life forms, it cleans itself of
pollutions to satisfy the daily need of its “children”.

Though the world subsist on the ocean, I wished I could make my abode in the ocean. Since I could not, I would rather wake up each morning to behold the wonderful ocean. Its unimaginable beauty, and magnitude would always compel me. Therefore, treat her like a lady, the ocean is a woman. This is no fantasy, it has become a reality in me. Thus, every morning as I gratefully open my window, with the breeze comes, the ocean fresh fragrance, she was always there to greet me “How was your night?” I remembered, only mother would do. Thank God for the seas and oceans. Help save the ocean now. It is our life!

Akinwonmi AyoOluwa Shalom

Category Children

14 years

FUTA Staff Secondary School, Akure, Ondo State

Nigeria

Women and Ocean

Awino Lavender

Category: Children

11 years

Kangowea Primary School

Kenya

A FULFILED HEROINE

When I woke up in the morning I thought about solving a problem
The problem that could come to mind is this;
α + β = 133 and 2α + β = 199

Then I turned them into a simultaneous equation to have a better view of it

α + β = 133 ----------------eqn(1)
2α + β = 199----------------eqn(2)
Subtract eqn(1) from eqn(2)
α + 0 = 199 – 133
α = 66
from eqn (1), substitute α to get β
66 + β =133
β = 133 – 66
β = 67

But what does this mean has been my question all day long until I finally got the answer.
Pay attention, this is what it means;

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

WOMAN= 23+15+13+1+14= 66 = α

WATER= 23+1+20+5+18 = 67 = β

PRODUCTIVE = 16+ 18+15+4+21+3+20+9+22+5 = 133

HAPPINESS IN A WORK = 8+1+16+16+9+15+5+19+19+9+14+1+23+15+18+11= 199

Equation (1) tells that water added to a woman makes living generally Productive

Equation (2) tells about how two or more women added to water creates room for happiness in
the work

Water means life to women, water makes up the ocean

Ocean gives water and gets it back in return

Water means productivity in a woman’s life, water means living a happy life

I remembered my mum frowning at an aquarium but she could not look away until smile took
over her face

Water erases pains and cures emotional illnesses
As blood is life, water is also life

Oxygen that women breathe for sustenance needs blood to circulate round the body

Likewise, food eaten gets digested and used by the body after being absorbed into the blood

Blood cannot carry this out in the absence of water

Blood contain about 50% - 75% of water

Water women drink before and after meals go a long way to help them stay healthy.

Females also use water for cooking delicacies, bathing self and child

Then I should say water gives life and joy

Water helps in transportation and home for natural resources like fish, salt, crude oil etc.

Water relevance to life has no end, water makes the life of a woman complete

When you are complete, you are fulfilled

And when you are fulfilled, you are happy

Water! Water!! Water!!! Ocean! Ocean!! Ocean!!!

Adeleye Tolulope

Category: Youth

 23 years

Nigeria

l

THE OCEANIC FAMILY (STORY TELLING)

Grandma, grandma you promised to tell me the story of your life and how you became an ocean scientist, said little Daniel. I smiled at this little boy’s enthusiasm. 80 year old Lydia calmed her grandson and started narrating her story.

It all began on a Friday morning, when my mother went to the ocean to start her daily activity as a fisher, she was heavily pregnant with me and then suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her back and my water broke; before everyone knew it, I was already out of her womb, and then her fellow fishers sent for the midwife, but I had already being born before her arrival. So when the midwife got to the ocean, she was taken to the canoe in which I was born and she cleaned my mother and I up. On reaching home, when my father saw my mother with a baby, tears of joy rolled down his cheeks. I looked so much like my mother, my eyes were as blue as the sky, my hair as shiny as gold.

As I grew up, I accompanied my mother to the ocean daily because I wasn’t matured enough to start schooling. I learnt some basic principles about fishing. As usual, I went to the ocean with my mom but that day was a special one because I met my first friend Fiona; we were of the same age group. She was a foreigner, but despite our differences we had a lot in common. Being the only child of my parents, I was so happy to have found my own friend.

On a sunny afternoon, I was just coming from Fiona’s place and I saw my parents packing our things, I didn’t understand what was going on. When they saw the look on my face, my father told me he received a transfer letter and that we were moving the next day. I ran upstairs to my room, tears rolled down my cheeks, I buried my head in my pillow and different thoughts ran through my mind; I wasn’t going to see Fiona again, I wasn’t going to enjoy the serenity of the ocean, I was never going to fish again and before I knew it I drifted off to sleep on my bed and by the time I woke up the next day, we had arrived at our new place.

Fortunately for me, because my father worked with a government agency responsible for conservation of natural resources, this time around my father was taken to work in the aspect of forestry, but the government provided accomodation. The house we were given wasn’t too far from the ocean. My parents gave the chance to choose my own room, so I picked the one I could enjoy the ocean view.

After settling down, my mother continued her fishing business and I accompanied her as usual. My daily presence at the ocean gave me so much joy that when it was time for me to start schooling, I didn’t want to because I felt my happiness was connected to the ocean, but I had no other option than to start school.

One fateful afternoon, our school organised a symposium to create awareness about the effects of a polluted ocean on the aquatic ecosystem. One of the experts who came to lecture us was an oceanographer. Immediately he said he was an oceanographer I puzzled in my brain to get a possible meaning to such a big word. And then I summoned up courage and asked the man what it means to be an oceanographer. He said to me that oceanography is the scientific study of the ocean. From that day, I made my decision that when I grow up I’ll become an oceanographer too.

I waited eagerly for the school to close that day, I rushed home happily, singing my favourite song, people were looking at me because of my obvious excitement but I didn’t mind them. Immediately I got home, I ran to my mother to inform her of what I learnt in school and the decision I made. My parents approved of my decision and supported me greatly because they knew I love anything pertaining to the ocean.

When it was time for me to get into the university, I burned midnight candles just to secure my admission to study my dream course (oceanography) and with the help of God and the support of my parents I eventually gained admission. It was during my second year in school I met my husband who happens to be your grandfather.

Grandma, now I understand why you are so passiomate about the ocean, because it centers around your life and happiness. Of course Daniel, that is why I love to stare at the ocean and also to prevent polluting the ocean because I know its effect on the ecosystem.

Alogba Oluwajomiloju Francisca 

Category: Children

14 years

FUTA Staff Secondary School, Akure, Ondo State

Nigeria

Women play active roles in fishing

Life by most people is believed to have arises from the ocean, the ocean is massive it covers a large percentage of the planet compared to land. The ocean houses a wide number of living organisms making it one of the major sources of food, a good example is fish which is a major source of protein. The ocean also contains raw materials that can serve for source of income
and even sustain the economy of a country.

The ocean also serves for recreation, where we can relax and have plenty of fun, places like the beach is a good example also some sports like surfing, yacht racing and so on. Because of all this man must ensure that the ocean remains perfect and conserved so that it can be around, productive and useful now and in the future, but this essay will be highlighting the role of women in managing ocean resources and will focus on fishing.

Though fishing has been considered to be a masculine profession since inception, it is no news that women have become masters in this profession; also they have supported their men in areas they have overlooked and have improved the fishing system.

The fishing net is arguably the most important tool of any rural fisherman, it is the most effective method of fishing and a lot of fish are caught at once. Fishing nets are mostly made from fibers woven in grid like structure, women are employed by their husbands or work willingly with their husbands to help the family save cost from employing someone to do it. Most of the women that are born and brought up in rural areas can weave especially in areas with high population of fishermen, also thousands of fish spoil and are discarded as a result of spillage, but women now take the fish and further process them so that they can be available for a longer period. Women gather these fish from the fishermen then they clean them after which the will dry, fry or smoke them.

This helps to preserve the fish for a longer period of time. Women also serve as free labour to fishermen, most of the times their
husbands, as they help to save money for the family. Women in these areas follow their husbands on fishing trips to help with errands while on the trips, they help with mending of nets or even the both, they also help to remove water that enters the boat so the husband can concentrate on fishing.

After catching the fish, they stand in as marketers and traders to ensure that the fish is ready for sale, preserving the fish most
times does not only improve its shelf life, it also improves the value of the fish, so it can be sold at a higher price to make money for the family and not having to pay for extra labour. After the fishing trip the woman also takes care of the boat ensuring that any leaking part is repaired.

The above explains briefly the role of some of the women in fishing system, which is very important and delicate. Imagine the women were not involved it sure will affect the fishing system. So, encourage women today.

Favour Ayano

Category: Children

12 years

Nigeria

INSPIRING WOMEN OF THE OCEAN (WOMEN AND OCEAN)

Women play a crucial role in marine environments and fisheries economies, specifically in the small-scale and artisanal fisheries sector, though their contribution is still invisible and unacknowledged. A good example, where women are being undermined is for women as seafarers onboard a vessel.

 Photo: Modupi Lasisi a Student of MAN ORON

The maritime industry is dominated by men, with only a small portion (2%) of the marine workforce constituted by women. A majority of women who do work in the industry tend to do so in the cruise and ferries sector – primarily taking on service roles, such as hotel staff, catering, kitchen duties, cleaning etc. Within the maritime industry, there is a long history of gender stereotypes and setbacks for women to overcome before they can be seen as equal to their male counterparts. Aside from the general challenges faced by anyone working out at sea, including fatigue, harsh weather, difficult working conditions, and long hours, women are also faced with the challenge of sexual harassment and discrimination, ongoing doubt over their capabilities, poor pay, and limited opportunities for job growth and promotion.

While seafaring is diverse in terms of race, class and ethnicity, the diversity of seafarers across the world has still yet to take on a noticeable mixture of men and women. Many females hold back from entering the industry due to a lack of industry information regarding career options for women. There seems to be a general absence of training opportunities, workshops and seminars to provide women with a springboard to exchange ideas and views about the maritime sector. In addition, it is widely accepted that it is a male dominated industry, and so fewer women consider this as a career option.

Some women also have reservations about working in the industry due to perceptions that they are entering a man’s world and will be subjected to harassment or discrimination by co-workers. With this idea also comes the opinion that women cannot advance in their field due to performance pressures or constant comparison with male colleagues. This is compounded by the fact that many companies are unwilling to hire women seafarers (unless in a service role). Finding a work and life balance as a seafarer can be a challenging task for many. Spending long periods at sea, away from family, friends and children are commonly seen as obstacles preventing women from embarking on shipping careers.

Social pressure and traditional social responsibility prevent women from pursuing a career as a seafarer – instead forcing them to select land based jobs, so they can look after their children. There is also a lack of job security, as many private shipping companies only provide contractual employment, with poor or no leave conditions and retirement benefits.

Over the last few decades, advances have been made in improving the participation of women in the maritime sector. While conditions have somewhat improved, equal opportunities still have a long way to go before the gender gap is alleviated completely. The long history of men predominantly being at sea has undoubtedly created significant barriers to women entering the seafaring industry. There are many ways, we as a society, can help enhance the recruitment and retention of women in the maritime industry, as well as break down any stigma’s associated with it.

An overhaul to the sector will come only from a unified effort that involves promotion by industry and government bodies, enhanced training opportunities, and efforts by the shipping industry to demonstrate the value that gender diversity brings to worker performance. In addition, more women need to speak up about their experiences in the marine workforce, and discuss the perceptions (and misconceptions) associated with sailing. Strong female role models can help shift the maritime industry and make it a more viable career option for many women.

According to a 2008 address by Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, Secretary-General of the IMO: “Female seafarers are an under-utilized, underdeveloped but valuable resource that could provide part of the solution to the increasing problem of finding sufficient, adequately trained personnel to manage and operate the world’s growing and sophisticated merchant fleet." Ultimately, women need to be enticed into working in the industry. This needs to be supported by educational institutions that should provide female students with a stronger network to access maritime training and activities, mentoring programs and career opportunities. Some good examples of institutions in Nigeria offering young women opportunities into being trained in the maritime sector include, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN ORON), the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology (Oceanography) and the School of Marine Technology Burutu (DESOMATECH), which trains cadets into Nautical and Marine Engineering courses. For generations, women were traditionally seen as homemakers who stayed home to look after the kids while their husbands were the breadwinners. This is no longer the case, as mothers seek careers of their own, firstly because they want to, and secondly, because, these days, families need two incomes due to the rising cost of living.

Below is a picture of female student from the Maritime Academy of Nigeria who against all odd has proven women are part of the ocean by taking up career as a seafarer onboard a vessel.

In order for the profession to be transformed, a greater work/life balance needs to be achieved and promoted. Women need to feel empowered, and to be encouraged and supported to work in the maritime sector. All this needs to happen alongside a changing human perception that seafaring is an industry that the women are part of; society needs to encourage and support more women working in the maritime industry.

Efetobor Jude

Category: Youth

24 Years

FEDERAL COLLEGE OF FISHERIES AND MARINE TECHNOLOGY

VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS STATE

NIGERIA

WOMEN AND OCEAN

The ocean feeds billions of people and provides livelihoods for billions more - including, of course, women and girls.
Its potential for a continent on which almost two thirds of its states have a coastline, whose trade is 90 percent sea-borne and whose lakes constitute the largest proportion of surface freshwater in the world, is enormous. Indeed, its potential runs into the many trillions of dollars and promises to combine enormous economic growth with environmental conservation, if stewarded properly.

But one thing we can say with certainty now is that the full potential of the ocean can only be reached if it is truly inclusive, allowing all people in society to reap the dividends on offer from the ocean, seas, lakes and rivers of the continent.

Fishing and aquaculture are neither gender-blind nor gender-neutral. There is clear evidence that women and men in the fishing industry are treated and paid unequally. There is substantial segregation of work by gender, with men doing much of the offshore and high-value fishing, fish harvesting and aquaculture, while women are far more involved in less well-paid, or even unpaid, fish processing, harvesting of less valuable fish, sales and maintenance.

Women must be at the heart of this inclusivity, gender equality and women’s empowerment must be in the heart of all government policies and actions. The ocean is fertile ground to further women’s role in this transformative field.

Women are rarely given a seat on the local, regional, national or international bodies that deliberate on the oceans, laws and standards that affect them. Access to funding, training, education, technology, market information and the ability to start ventures are much less available to women than to men. This lack of gender diversity stifles innovation, productivity and creativity. It stifles the solutions women could offer for creating sustainable oceans and livelihoods through fishing. They have not always been able to fully enjoy the rewards of the growth in world’s economies and the roles they have played in helping expand sectors across the continent are gaining greater recognition. The marine industry in Africa is male dominated, women should be involved in marine industries across Africa. by expanding their roles in shipping, fishing and other sectors of the marine industry.

The government must fully support any similar activities as they can only be good for women, for the promotion of inclusive
But it must not stop there. “Ocean management without women will not work. Ocean management with women will work better, for more people, for the longer term because it is based on larger community consensus.” In Asia-Pacific, women are often the dominant users of marine resources, with some becoming marine specialists – but much more can be done on ways to identify gaps or barriers, and solutions, focusing on women and girls in the developing world.

Ocean health is affected by actions on land and in many sectors and industries. Integrated management seeks to acknowledge these multiple uses and impacts, for more effective results. Integration should also include the diverse user groups, including women and indigenous people. Countries to commit to include women in integrated ocean management planning, using best-practice strategies in acknowledgement of diverse and unique cultures and also need for action on several fronts:

• Building gender inclusivity and equality into project planning and community development work;
• Investing in basic science, engineering, technology and mathematics education for girls and women in the region; and
• Supporting the inclusion of women and minorities in social, professional and political roles at all levels.

CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN

Women’s experiences, voices, perspectives and household lives must be included as factors in the solutions to the prodigious challenges facing the oceans. These challenges include overfishing, plastic pollution, protecting marine and coastal areas and climate change. Women are both involved and can be part of the solutions to these challenges.

They play an essential role in food production; when women are given land rights, seeds, technical training and access to markets, food productivity can rise by more than 20%. It stands to reason that a parallel improvement in productivity and sustainable livelihoods could be found in fishing and aquaculture.

There are numerous reasons why women and men are treated differently, and why women are often excluded from decision-making. These include historic and culture-based biases, power imbalances, inadequate or unenforced laws prohibiting discrimination, role restrictions, lack of financial resources and control, and an acceptance of violence and harassment as norms.

REMEDIES TO CHALLENGES

Further, much more data and research are needed to uncover the ways that women are impacted in this sector. Data helps to magnify both the problems and their solutions. At present there is little gender-disaggregated data from catch to consumer to help inform policymakers, scientists and activists seeking to improve the state of fishing and the oceans.

As funding is sought through governments, civil society, foundations and the private sector, a ‘Women in Fishing’ venture fund or micro-financing operation should be created to encourage women entrepreneurs and to provide education and awareness. Informal group of leaders from business, science, technology, civil society and international organizations have as their goal to help governments and the international community to fast-track solutions to pollution, overfishing and other challenges facing the oceans.

Encourage the society to embrace gender in their proceedings. It can continue to be at the forefront of gender parity and can ask its people to raise gender issues, ensure women are at the table, urge governments and global institutions to include gender in their deliberations and policies, and encouarge ocean and sustainability groups to focus on gender. It can inspire the creation of guidelines for other groups to follow such as asking for gender balance on panel discussions, highlight the work of scientists and
environmental groups that focus on gender, work with those writing treaties or laws, and suggest that local, regional, national and international bodies have a critical mass of women in their deliberations.

In conclusion: Women may not have all the answers to solving the challenges facing the oceans, but women’s answers must be heard if we want to make the progress that is so essential to our lives and the life of the planet.

Together, heads of state, ministers, policymakers, civil society groups and other stakeholders must come together to honour commitments we have all made to inclusivity in the coastal activies and guarantee that women are not left behind.

It must also not be forgotten that this is not just about women’s roles in developing the potential of the ocean, seas, lakes and rivers around the world. It goes well beyond this.

By showing that women can succeed and thrive as entrepreneurs and independent active agents of change and growth in the marine, we can inspire women in all other sectors of society. If they can succeed in one economy, why not in another? If a woman can rise to the top in a sector of the marine industry.

Effiong Martha 

Category: Youth

20 Years

FEDERAL COLLEGE OF
FISHERIES AND MARINE TECHNOLOGY
Victoria Island, Lagos

Nigeria

Women and Ocean

As a kid I always thought about what could be lurking in the water just below our feet. It gladdens my heart when thinking about all that is swimming near us without it noticing that we have spotted it. The ocean is a vast, scary but beautiful world that we know very little about. It'’s amazing and fascinating how the ocean connects to every part of the planet, covering more than one third of the earth. The ocean has an undefined and unquantified beauty that can mostly be described to that of a woman.

The ocean covers several thousands of square kilometers of the entire earth surface and thousands species of animals live and depend on the ocean for survival. The ocean is very helpful to us in many ways, and every country benefits from it, one way or the other, ranging from transportation, tourism, recreational sights, fishing, research work among many others. The ocean is beautiful and even more gorgeous inside just like a woman.

Beauty of the sea

Women are fascinating and more gorgeous when you get to know more about them. Women always try to work hard to see that they have a clean, safe and healthy home and always want it to remain that way. Dirt’ destroys beauty, it attracts various harmful micro-organisms which take away the peace that the woman desires for her home, the ocean just like the woman wants to be a harm-free home for all aquatic animals irrespective of their size. Let's help the ocean by not putting dirt into it, let's help keep the ocean clean by playing the role of the woman.

Death caused by pollution

Millions of aquatic animals die each year due to sea pollution as a result of oil spillage, wrongful deposition of waste products from companies and homes, depositing off plastic, debris, nylon bags about others in our little water ways at our community or backyards finds its way into our oceans, and they just don't go away easily causing lots of deaths when consumed.

Plastics and debris just don’t go away easily when they come in contact with waterways. It takes over four centuries for plastic bottles to decompose and over two decades for nylon bags to decompose and more than six centuries for fishing lines to decompose. To avoid plastic debris from entering into our oceans begins with you and me. Let's help keep a plastic free waterway.

Women are lovely and they show it to everyone around, the ocean just like the woman wants to be loved. When we love a woman we do all that is within our powers to care for her. Let's help the ocean by keeping it free of pollutants regardless of how small it might be because every mighty dirt starts with a single piece. It may not be easy put it is worth giving a try.

Women are passionate about so many things in life and they love to do things that will always keep them fit and healthy and hence they love and spend most of their time doing things to look beautiful and they can spend money on anything that will make them look beautiful. If the ocean is not properly taken care of will have an old look and will not be attractive because all harmful, toxic, and dirty substances will help give it an ugly look, plus it might begin to stink and smell. Let's help keep dirt away from our ocean.

Last month, Galveston County News reported the death of hundreds of birds, fish, dolphins and sea turtles, though Morris said the large amount of carcasses could be the a result of the chemical fire in Deer Park in March, which caused thick, black smoke to fill the air, and in that incident pollutants leaked into the air and waterways. Though biologists took water samples to verify the true cause of the disaster, KVUE reported. In another development, residents in a community north of Brisbane were troubled by the sudden deaths of thousands of fish in their local lake, though an independent biologist consulted carried out series of experiments, the biologist said the death is a result of algae bloom in the water. Also thousands of fish died in Byberry Creek in Philadelphia as a result of ammonia that leaked into the water pipe belonging to HP HOOD LLC, as reported by Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in the United States. Chemicals are harmful to aquatic life. Every year millions of aquatic animals die a result of harmful substances that flow into the ocean, thus making it toxic and reduce the oxygen inside the water. The desire of a woman is to live in a home where she can be comfortable. The ocean wants to continue to remain habitable. Let's help the ocean remain that way. Let us say no to oil spillage, testing of nuclear weapons in the ocean, regular disposing of harmful water or toxins from ships, among many others. Let's say No to sea pollution.

Role of woman.

Women have over decades improved research in the all aspects of life, particularly in the maritime sector and underwater research. Jayne Jenkins, a photographer/consultant, said though it was not easy for her to join diving, which she terms as a female trying to enter into a male world. It was very challenging until she moved to Australia at age 19. Jayne is now a profound safety diver of various underwater photography and photographic adventures. She is also an editor for a scuba diver magazine and has encouraged several ladies to take her scuba lessons. Sylvia Earle, oceanographer, marine biologist, author and lecturer  won the 2009 TED Prize - Mission Blue. She is a tireless advocate for our ocean

Researcher/Photographer

exploring it for more than six decades. Saving the ocean has always been her mission and she made it her life'’s purpose to educate the world on how we can all join hands together and save our oceans that are currently dying rapidly. Sylvia is one of the most inspirational women living today that have greatly encouraged the female folks to take up careers in the marine world.

Conclusion

As the world is advancing in technology and all the heavy ship building companies are producing giant ships and increasing the pollution at sea, plans and technology should also be built and facilitated to help tackle the pollution at sea even the underwater pollutants.

Suggestions on how to reduce ocean pollution

♥ Sailors and captains should be properly educated on the dangers of disposing harmful water and waste of any kind of damage it may cause.

♥ Research institutes for marine underwater research and other marine studies should be equipped and funded effectively to enhance comprehensive deep underwater research studies.

♥ Heavy and medium size companies or industries should regulate and reduce the level of dangerous gases they release into the atmosphere as it has over time resulted in the formation of acidic rain, causing the mysterious death of most aquatic animals over the years.

Reference

https://pixabay.com/images/search/ocean/

https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/01/26/our-oceans-a-plastic-soup/

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_57f661b3e4b0568704999f

Kelechi Samuel Rose

Category: Youth

22 Years

FEDERAL COLLEGE OF FISHERIES AND MARINE TECHNOLOGY

VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS

NIGERIA.

Women and Ocean

Nyambura Fiona

Category: Children

12 Years

Kongowea Primary School

Kenya

Ocean and Women

Ocean holds almost 97% of all the water resources on the earth planet. Every year statistic shows that the size of the ocean kept increasing as the land side reduces. As far as Women as Ocean is concerned, they have saved much life in my local area named Limbe, Cameroon. Women get up in the morning and prepare food for the family and ready themselves for fishing. What a man can do, a woman can do better. So the fish are being fished and exported to the high grace land for consumption. Some women are being employed only for preparing the fish and ready them for sales. Others purchase fish around the ocean selling point and walk around the neighboring town and distribute them for wholesales. This is save as a source of food and wealth to the people of area, including my family. People travel from other parts of the country and the neighboring country to purchase fish from my women. The ocean is a place where fresh air and positive thinking about life, lovers, family problems are being solved. The ocean banks serve as a touristic side and a market for many people in the area, specially women.

Fishing today has brought good memories to my family. Educational, healthiness today in my area is because of the women's fishing organization (Limbe Women Fishing Community - LWFC). This community has helped many of our generation, both male and female, to further their education and work in big offices. My sister is working today because of fishing. These communities have helped many people to educate the youths to a greater level like university. At times, the ocean overflows its banks and carries fish to the land and women and men fight over it for their life. It is a continue business from our generation to generation.

The tradition of my community is that women who fish put aside a certain quantity they give to the palace. This is to have traditional protection in the ocean when they are fishing. Smaller taxes are been placed onto the women than men for the development of the area, like for road construction to facility transportation of fish to the markets. Every year the fishing women have a fishing festival cerebration for the almighty god to provide good catching of fish on their net the next season. And to protect the women from any accident during fishing.

Air from the ocean purifies the climate for the good living of my people. The research on nature is that good air came from the ocean and provided a favourable climate for the people. The culture still remains constant as many people believe in the tradition before going fishing. The ocean women should organize a conference for the women to work with happiness for the development of the country. The scientific method of fishing should be provided to some part of the ocean area where fishing is being considered as a source of income. Some women lack good roads to transport fish to the market, so ocean women should organize a national union worldwide for the greater improvement of fishing technique. 

The size of the fishes caught on the nets should be controlled in order to protect the fishes' life cycle in the ocean. Sometimes, the ocean will overflow and destroy people's houses and animals. So people should not stay around the ocean. Fishing and animal raising is the only culture in my area. Every year some people lose their lives for fishing or by dangerous animal living in waters.

Since I was born, I have been living with fishing as our source of income and I hope the ocean women will ameliorate our fishing area, why not as a touristic attraction site. Our ocean bank has become one touristic site as women and men came from distant places for swimming and to see how women fish and provide food for the children.

My imagination for the future world is that women fishing in my area should create an organization to create interrelationship with other ocean fishing areas for the exchange of ideas. In some ocean areas, women fish with baskets because of poor way of living who need to have a greater technique for fishing. The ocean women should organize a union to protect the fishes in the water because plastic, rubber and paper are being dumped in some area in the river, which are then transported to the ocean. In the ocean the plastic can react with acidic nature of the ocean and kill many fishes and animals. Below are some pictures of plastic dump in waters.

Plastic in ocean

Kumbu Tracy Kwendun

Category: Children

12 Years

COSBI (Complex School Bilingual Emmaus), Yaounde

Cameroon