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  • What is World Ocean Day?
    • World Ocean Day is an annual global celebration of our ocean that takes place every 8 June. World Ocean Day raises the profile of the ocean, connects people worldwide, and inspires continuing action year-round to protect and restore our ocean.  
  • Who can celebrate World Ocean Day? 
    • Anyone! Thousands of event organizers from 150 countries, including youth groups, aquariums, zoos, museums, groups representing sailors, divers, swimmers and other recreational interests, the maritime industry, religious organizations, governments, the tourism sector, conservation organizations, universities, schools, businesses, celebrities, and many others.  Everyone is connected to the ocean in some way and can join in on the celebration!  
  • Why is the ocean important to protect and restore?
    • A healthy world ocean is critical to our survival. The ocean is important because it
      • Generates most of the oxygen we breathe  
      • Helps feed us   
      • Regulates our climate   
      • Cleans the water we drink   
      • Offers a pharmacopoeia of medicines   
      • Provides limitless inspiration!
    • World Ocean Day allows us to:  
      • Change perspective – encourage people to think about what the ocean means to them and what it has to offer all of us and how we can all help protect and restore our one world ocean for present and future generations.  
      • Learn – discover the wealth of diverse and beautiful ocean creatures and habitats, and how we are all interconnected. 
      • Change our ways – we are all linked to, and through, the ocean and our actions can help! By taking care of your community, you are acting as a caretaker of our ocean. Informing and involving your family, friends, and community will benefit our blue planet even more!  
      • Celebrate – whether you live inland or on the coast, we are all connected to the ocean. Take the time to think about how the ocean affects you, and how you affect the ocean, and then organize or participate in activities that celebrate and help with solutions to protect and restore our ocean.  
  • Can I celebrate World Ocean Day on a different day than 8 June? 
    • Yes! Everyone is encouraged to celebrate and take action for our one ocean throughout the year. Many people choose to plan their celebratory and action-oriented events sometime in June, and many others continue their conservation action activities at various other times in the year when the ocean may be more top of mind (e.g., in some parts of the Southern Hemisphere when December-March is the summer season). 
  • How can an individual/organization get involved?   
    • Plan an event and download free resources from the website (WorldOceanDay.org) 
    • Register your event by submitting it here 
    • Find an event on the global Events Calendar 
    • Show your support on social media and make sure to tag @WorldOceanDay 
  • Who can use the World Ocean Day logo and resources and how can they be used?  
    • Anyone and everyone can use the free resources! All of the resources, including the World Ocean Day logo, colors, and any materials on the resource page can be used for free by anyone.  
  • How can I request promotion or amplification on social media? 
    • The best way to get our attention is by following the World Ocean Day social media platforms and tagging World Ocean Day in your conservation-related posts:  
  • How will I know when new resources and materials are available? 
  • How can I publicize my own event or activity on the World Ocean Day events calendar and/or world map? 
    • You can submit any conservation-related activity, event, or announcement (any time of the year!) using the event submission form.  
  • When will my submitted event, activity, or news be posted?
    • Usually within a few days or at most within one week. You will receive an email confirmation when your event is published. 
  • What is the Conservation Action Focus? 
    • Every year, the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council, alongside The Ocean Project staff and partners like Campaign for Nature, determine a specific conservation action that can be incorporated into any World Ocean Day celebrations and events. This is the “Conservation Action Focus” and comes along with strategic advice and actionable resources to help event organizers incorporate the conservation action into their plans. This collective action around one priority conservation issue can make a big impact because many thousands of individuals are all working together for a cause. 
  • What is the history of World Ocean Day? 
    • See the history of World Ocean Day here. 
    • The concept of World Ocean Day was first proposed by the Government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.   
    • In 2002, The Ocean Project began to globally promote and coordinate World Ocean Day development and activities.  
    • To help grow recognition of World Ocean Day, together with the World Ocean Network and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, from 2004 to 2008 The Ocean Project developed and widely circulated a petition urging the United Nations to officially recognize World Ocean Day as 8 June each year.   
    • As a result of working with hundreds of partner organizations, and thanks to tens of thousands of people from all parts of the world who signed online and paper copies of the petition, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in December 2008, officially recognizing 8 June as World Ocean Day each year.  
    • Since 2002, World Ocean Day has grown to more than 10,000 events in 150 countries as of 2022. 
  • Why is it World Ocean Day instead of World Oceans Day?  
    • The global ocean literacy movement and scientists urge individuals and organizations to talk about our one (singular) ocean to strongly emphasize our connectedness on this blue planet. learn more in this blog post: Alignment with the global ocean literacy movement 
  • How did the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council come about?  
    • The World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council was created in 2016 to help develop World Ocean Day into a unique way to connect and unite youth around the world for a better future with a healthier ocean.   
    • The Council helps shape the development and increase the impact of World Ocean Day in June and throughout the year, by leading youth-focused initiatives and engaging all generations to help protect and restore our ocean and stabilize the climate.   
    • Applications to join the Council for a one-year term open once per year, at the end of June/early July.  
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  • I am a young person, are there other ways I can get involved other than the Youth Advisory Council? 
    • There are several different ways you can get involved as a youth leader in your community. Click here to read about The Ocean Project’s youth initiative. 
    • To stay up to date with our vast network of global youth organizations, learn about youth events and opportunities happening near you, be notified when the application to join the Council opens, and receive updates about Advocacy Training and any of The Ocean Project’s other youth initiatives, be sure to subscribe to the Rising Blue Network Newsletter. 
    • If you have any questions about the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council, or another youth initiative program, please contact youth@theoceanproject.org. 

 

Still have a question? Please contact info@worldoceanday.org 

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