World Oceans Day is June 8th, celebrate!

June 8th is World Oceans Day

Together we have the power to protect the ocean

World Ocean Day is a time to celebrate our common treasure, which makes the Earth habitable for people by providing and regulating the climate, weather, oxygen, food and many other environmental, social and economic benefits. The lungs of our planet, providing most of the oxygen we breathe, the ocean is also a major source of food and medicines and a critical part of the biosphere. The ‘blue economy’ of the ocean is central to our daily lives: at least one in four persons relies on sea food as their primary source of protein.

Marine and coastal resources and industries represent more than 5% of global GDP and 90% of the world’s trade is carried by shipping. With technological progress, economic activities in coastal zones and deeper waters continue to intensify and to diversify.

Yet our ocean and its resources are deteriorating and depleting as it faces increasing pressure from various types of pollution and over-exploitation. Maintaining the quality of life that the ocean has provided to humankind while sustaining the integrity of ocean ecosystems, requires changes in how we view, manage, govern and use ocean resources and coastal areas.

Rising to the challenge

The importance of the ocean is not matched by our knowledge, the fact remains that it is still relatively unexplored. The formulation of sustainable, ecosystem-based policies and measures for oceans and coasts needs to be supported by science including research and observations. For over 50 years, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission has been promoting international cooperation and coordinating research, services and capacity-building to find out more about the oceans and coastal areas and to generate knowledge to improve the sustainable management and protection of the marine environment. It has also been providing an evidence base for the decision making process of its Member States.

The coordination of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) has led impressive progress in world scientific cooperation. The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) is a global platform for sharing information and data on marine biodiversity. As a result of the establishment and coordination of tsunami warning systems, ties of solidarity have been woven among States, and people are less vulnerable to ocean hazards.

The protection of this global common calls for collective action. We can each make a difference, by understanding the issues and focusing on sustainable solutions that we can apply to our lives.

“Oceans are a resource unlike any other, for they make everything else possible. Their immense biological diversity contributes to the beauty of the world, and we must join forces to preserve it.” Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General, on the occasion of World Oceans Day 2013

Welcome to the international community’s online resource for World Oceans Day, our planet’s biggest celebration of the ocean. Explore this site for ideas, resources, and information about how you can get involved.

World Oceans Day is June 8th, and we’ve never seen the community so active and excited! It’s amazing to see such a massive response – this year is sure to be the best yet. We appreciate all the hard work from event organizers worldwide, and hope that everyone attending will have a great time. Check out our bustling social stream!

Even if you can’t make it to a World Oceans Day event near you, you can spread the word online. I wanted to share with you some of the cool activities going on this year and invite everyone to participate.

Check them out. First of all, a big thank you to the community for buying World Oceans Day t-shirts. We’ve reached our goal and the shirts will be printed! You can still buy a t-shirt, and the more t-shirts we sell, the more money will be raised for our coordination efforts.

Can’t buy a shirt? No problemo, sharing online doesn’t cost a thing! Here are some ways you can support us from the comfort of your computer.

Find an event near you

Every year, more people take action to celebrate and protect our planet’s ocean, which connects us all. Thanks to people like you approximately 600 events were held to celebrate World Oceans Day! Let’s make this year even better by holding great events, sharing, and spreading the word and create awareness.