Lady LUX

On June 8, people around the globe party in the name of the body of water we share, getting educated about our ocean and taking action to preserve it and its marine life for future generations. Through hundreds of events at aquariums, zoos, museums and more, individuals in dozens of countries come together on World Oceans Day to celebrate and protect this important body of water.

“We want to go beyond raising awareness and educating about the ocean and help people take real action for the ocean,” Alyssa Isakower, World Oceans Day coordinator, said. “Research by The Ocean Project shows that the American public in particular already care about the ocean and see themselves as ‘green.’ The desire to take action is there – we just need to activate it! World Oceans Day is a fun, positive way to get familiar with ocean-friendly lifestyles, and hopefully can be a next step to a public motivated to act for our healthy future.”

Connecting us all, the ocean is of extreme ecological importance. We depend on our ocean to generate most of the oxygen we breathe, provide food for our bodies, regulate our climate, supply a range of potential medicines, and more. It falls to us to make sure it is protected. Since 2008, the United Nations officially recognizes every June 8 as World Oceans Day as a time to recognize the enormous challenges we face in preserving our planet’s ocean and how by coming together we can create a healthier ocean.

“World Oceans Day is firstly about celebrating the ocean and reminding ourselves why it’s so important – but the next step is to take an active role in keeping the ocean healthy,” Isakower said.

A look at a few international celebrations:

London, UK: The International Music Community and Discovery 2 are partnering for a one-day music affair with 12 musical performances, a BBQ and speakers on building a sustainable future.

Monterey, US: Monterey Bay Aquarium is honoring the ocean with live music, a family craft room, eco-friendly seafood sampling and more. Participants are invited to examine their personal connections to the oceans, get educated about the international importance of clean water and learn about the connections between bodies of water.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef: Reef Live is sponsoring an innovative online celebration that guides visitors through an underwater tour of the Great Barrier Reef. Various local and international marine biologists will educate the public in a 12-hour YouTube Live broadcast.

Terengganu, Malaysia: Hosted by the Malaysian Nature Society, this event will allow snorkelers and divers to learn safe practices for our ocean and themselves. The organization will hold a beach clean-up and a workshop on tide pools.

Washington, DC/Baltimore, MD, US: The National Aquarium will sponsor an event filled with ocean-themed explorations, animal encounters and performances designed to promote conservation. Guests are encouraged to demonstrate their affection for the ocean by making a protection pledge on social media. Visitors will also aid in deploying floating wetlands into the Inner Harbor in Baltimore to better water quality and encourage habitat diversity.

The event is also celebrated online, with the chance to take action by sharing an Ocean Promise. Small changes together can reap big results. The Ocean Promise campaign invites consumers to change just one habit to help create a healthier ocean.

This year’s theme for World Oceans Day is “together we have the power to protect the ocean.”

“We chose this theme to express how vital it is that we support the ocean in our personal lives, in our communities, and on a global scale,” Isakower said. “The ocean is a great connector; people from every country and walk of life depend upon it for survival. The ocean sustains human life on a massive scale but the threats facing it are also super-sized. It will take a dedicated, global community to keep our blue ocean planet healthy for future generations.”

World Oceans Day offers a chance to change perspective: to think about the ocean’s significance to our lives and what it offers us. It is an opportunity to explore the amazing variety of beautiful ocean life and habitats and how our daily lives affect them. On World Oceans Day, we can make a commitment to change our habits in small ways to benefit the ocean, recognizing the importance of taking care of our backyard as a caretaker of the ocean. And last of all, World Oceans Day is a time to celebrate through organizing and participating in events that remind us of why the ocean is such a vital piece of our planet.

“Each year more and more people and organizations are getting involved and the collective positive impact is inspiring. We are more excited than ever to see the growing global response to the incredibly pressing issue of ocean conservation. We hope everyone will have tons of fun celebrating, sharing their knowledge, and taking action for a healthier, safer future,” Isakower said.

To participate in this growing community action for our ocean or to learn more, visit www.WorldOceansDay.org.

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