A string of meetings and workshops are under way in this northern Italian port city as part of global celebrations marking World Oceans Day on Monday.
World Oceans Day has taken place in several countries since 1992 but a United Nations resolution last year has made the 2009 celebrations the first internationally recognized initiative.
Genoa, which has been closely linked with most of Italy's key marine projects, and houses an internationally renowned aquarium and Museum of Sea, is hosting a National Conference of Oceanography in tribute to World Oceans Day.
Speaking ahead of the event, the director of the National Oceanography Group, part of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, highlighted the potential of technological developments over the last 20 years.
''The sea is now monitored through satellites and on-the-spot measurements that can be instantly transmitted to data centres on land, leading to models able to monitor and predict conditions,'' said Nadia Pinardi.
''These applications allow us to monitor marine pollution, the security of transport and sustainable fishing''.
Following the UN General Assembly resolution, World Oceans Day will now take place on June 8 each year, in a bid to raise public awareness about the crucial role of oceans in human society and planetary conservation.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned in a statement that human activities were taking ''a terrible toll'' on the world's oceans and seas.
''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,'' he said.
''Increased sea temperatures, sea-level rise and ocean acidification caused by climate change pose a further threat to marine life, coastal and island communities and national economies''.
The secretary-general said the theme of this first edition of World Oceans Day, 'Our oceans, our responsibility', highlighted people's individual and collective duty to protect the marine environment and carefully manage its resources.
''Safe, healthy and productive seas and oceans are integral to human well-being, economic security and sustainable development,'' he added.
Events are taking place in all five continents on Monday, organized by science centres, museums and associations that are part of the World Ocean Network.
Among the initiatives planned are games, conferences, debates, art programs, educational workshops, mass beach and port cleaning events, film screenings and competitions.
