World Oceans Day

World Oceans Day is a celebration of our earth's oceans and the major role they play.  The day is celebrated around the world with a variety of Live and Virtual events that raise awareness about the importance of our oceans - the ways they effect our lives and environment - and how they are being destroyed.
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The Canadian International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada initially presented their idea for World Oceans Day in the early 1990s at the United Nations' Earth Summit.  In 2008, it was officially recognized by the U.N.

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A growing international movement is dedicated to the protection and restoration of the world's oceans.  Oceans are considered the lungs of our planet as they provide most of the Earth's oxygen.  They are also a major source of our food.  Our health is directly related to the health of the sea, which is increasingly becoming worse thorough pollution.  


A staggering 80% of Marine pollution comes from land in the form of chemicals and trash.  Two primary sources that greatly harm the ocean are fertilizer used on factory farms, which creates runoff that flows through the waterways to the ocean, and plastic waste such as bags, straws, food containers, bottles...   Other contributors to marine pollution are fishing gear, cigarette butts, debris, and garbage.   Various groups and organizations are working together to raise ocean pollution awareness and to find ways  for sustainable development of products and resources. 

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How You Can Celebrate and Help Our Oceans

Do your part to help the earth's oceans:

1. Learn more about oceans and World Oceans Day
2. Use less plastic, especially single-use plastics and straws.
3. Clean up your trash / Organize a beach clean-up day.
4. Raise awareness by talking to others about oceans.
5. Watch films about the ocean.
6. Visit the ocean - in person or virtually.

- Barbara