Mission and History

Canada proposes the concept of a “World Ocean Day” at the Earth Summit in Rio.

The Ocean Project launches global coordination of World Ocean Day in collaboration with global partners.

WorldOceanDay.org launched to support event organizers worldwide; 25 events held in 15 countries. Aquariums, zoos, museums, and youth-focused organizations constitute the main event organizers. Multi-year campaign launches to engage all sectors and promote opportunities for action around World Ocean Day.

After The Ocean Project and World Ocean Network lead a four-year onsite and online petition drive, in December 2008 the United Nations General Assembly officially recognizes 8 June as World Oceans Day (and adds the ‘s’).

Launched the theme of Youth: the Next Wave for Change, supported by The Ocean Project’s market research, which showed that young people are one of the most important, knowledgeable, and motivated audiences to engage with for ocean conservation. The Ocean Project and One World One Ocean held a joint video competition that showcased young talents and encouraged the next generation of ocean advocates.

World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council launched. Multi-year Action Theme launched on preventing plastic pollution and advancing solutions.

2000+ events in 140+ countries. #TogetherWeCan social media campaign engaged 87m. Together with Youth Council, major effort launched to connect, activate, and mobilize the World Ocean Day network all 365 days of the year.

New website and logo launched. New multi-year Action Theme launched: protecting 30% of our lands and ocean by 2030, in partnership with Campaign for Nature. 454 million reached on social media in June; first ever 24-hour Youth-a-thon for the ocean.

We dropped ‘s’ so it is World Ocean Day (singular “ocean’ once again), with one world ocean that connects us all! Over 1,000 online and onsite events in 140 countries. More than 1,100 organizations in 84 countries sign the global petition to world leaders to protect 30% of our lands and ocean by 2030. Youth-a-thon 2021 driven by Youth Advisory Council. 650m social media impressions. [photo by Cécile Gaspar]

10,000+ organizations and businesses coordinated 15,000+ events in 140+ countries. Over the course of three years, a total of 70,000+ individuals signed a petition in support of #30×30

After three years of mobilizing to protect at least 30% of our lands, waters, and ocean by 2030 (30×30), the collective efforts of the World Ocean Day network and youth leaders, and working with national and global partners, resulted in two major 30×30 victories: adoption of the High Seas Treaty and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Get ready for a great World Ocean Day 2024 with its Action Theme: Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate! With your involvement we can achieve much together, for our blue planet and society. Join the growing global wave of youth leaders and diverse organizations!