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• United Nations warns of untold damage to seas on first World Oceans Day 

Human activities are exacting a "terrible toll" on the world's oceans and seas, UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon warned here on Monday in a message marking the first United Nations World Oceans Day.

"Vulnerable marine ecosystems, such as corals, and important fisheries are being damaged by over-exploitation, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, destructive fishing practices, invasive alien species and marine pollution, especially from land-based sources," Ban said in his message. . . .

The report also noted that smoking-related activities, such as cigarette filters, tobacco packets and cigar tips, account for 40 percent of all marine litter in the Mediterranean, while in Ecuador smoking related rubbish accounted for over half of the total coastal litter in 2005.

"This report is a reminder that carelessness and indifference is proving deadly for our oceans and its inhabitants," said Philippe Cousteau, CEO of Earth Echo International and an Ocean Conservancy board member, in a message to mark the launch of the report. "There are solutions that everyone, everywhere in the world can adopt to make a positive difference for our water planet."

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