 As a small island surrounded by a vast ocean, St. Lucia joins the global community in observing World Oceans Day on June 8th, 2023. The Department of Sustainable Development encourages all to be mindful that the ocean is vital for food security, shipping, transportation, tourism and recreation, producing the air we breathe, biodiversity conservation, and so much more. Because of the ocean's importance, all of our actions must focus on its sustainable use and management. Under the theme selected by the United Nations for this year's observance, planet ocean, tides are changing, attention is given to the increased enthusiasm for the protection of the ocean from overfishing, plastic, solid waste and wastewater pollution, habitat destruction, ocean noise and dredging, and addressing the many impacts posed by climate change. This theme calls on all of us to put the ocean first and to work together to protect this bountiful resource. The Department of Sustainable Development heeds this call, and along with national, regional and international partners, will continue to put the ocean first by implementing actions from the national oceans policy, the coastal master plan and marine spatial plan, St. Lucia's marine litter management action plan, or the MLMAP, and the many sectoral adaptation strategies and action plans responding to climate change. For this year's commemoration, the Department of Sustainable Development, in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, will launch its second World Oceans Day at competition by inviting students between the ages of 8 and 19 from across the island to submit work depicting the 2023 theme for World Oceans Day. In addition to submission of their artwork, the competition entry requirements include joining or showing that they are members of an environmental club or organization and engaging in an environmental advocacy activity. The Department of Sustainable Development continues to work with the youth to improve knowledge on the ocean's significance and to encourage recommendations from all levels for its protection. On behalf of the Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, I wish you all an enjoyable World Oceans Day.