By Amalia Tuchmann
On the 8th of June 2024, millions of people all over the world participated in a variety of events to celebrate World Ocean Day – from canoe demonstrations to art exhibits to film festivals and more! This global mobilization shows that when we collectively catalyze action for our ocean and climate — the theme of World Ocean Day 2024 — we can make an impact. Here is a small selection of some of the amazing events that took place worldwide this past month (and stay tuned for the World Ocean Day 2024 Annual Report coming soon!)
Asia
Philippines
Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines, an alliance of Filipino youth organizations fighting for climate justice, held an art exhibit to showcase the beauty of Manila Bay and advocate for its protection from destructive projects such as a new highway and airport being built over it.
Brunei
Ocean Week Brunei, a nation-wide inaugural event organized by Poni Foundation’s marine conservation initiative, LAUT Brunei, celebrated World Ocean Day by hosting the Future Ocean Changemakers Youth Forum – Inspiring Future Ocean Leaders. The event, which 75 students attended in person and over 60 more attended virtually, built advocacy skills and strengthened collaborative conservation action.
Africa
Tanzania
Sana Mare Tanzania, a group of youth-led organizations working to conserve the ocean, hosted the Sinda Island Cleanup Event, which aimed to clean up Sinda Island while raising awareness about ocean conservation through an eco-tour to explore the island’s unique ecosystems. The cleanup engaged more than 45 people and collected over 60 bags of trash.
Egypt
Turtle Watch Egypt, a citizen science program aimed at collecting information on endangered sea turtles in the Egyptian Red Sea, hosted a workshop designed to educate local children about marine turtles, conservation, and marine turtle ecology. Participants had the opportunity to use replicas of turtles and various scientific tools to assess the health of these creatures, learning firsthand about the challenges faced in turtle conservation.
Europe
Austria
Haus des Meeres, the nation’s largest aquarium, celebrated World Ocean Day with a two-day installation, including a mural that depicts an underwater landscape, adorned strategically with plastic waste which visitors could remove. The items had a QR code, which, upon scanning, led to a landing page with further information about the topic.
England
Ocean Generation, a charity empowering youth in ocean conservation through science and storytelling, launched their ocean education e-learning platform for 16 – 24-year-olds, Wavemaker Digital, which provides free access to workshops about why the ocean is so important. They also took to the streets of London to share fun ocean facts with people and answer questions about the ocean.
South America
Peru
ORCA Peru, the Organization for the Research and Conservation of Aquatic Animals, lead a World Ocean Day Beach Cleanup at North Beach San Bartolo, which was part of their “Clean Beach: Ocean Alive” Education Program that involves 140 ORCA Junior Volunteers, students from Clemente Althaus High School in Lima. The focus of the cleanup was to detect, identify and remove micro-plastics and potential high-risk entanglement material for marine life as part of their Marine Debris Monitoring Program.
Ecuador
The food company, Nirsa, celebrated World Ocean Day by organizing the country’s first race to support the care of the ocean, called the “Nirsa Ocean Run.” The race, in Guayaquil sought to raise awareness about the importance of conserving the oceans and marine ecosystems, and Nirsa donated to The Leatherback Project Foundation, an organization dedicated to the conservation of leatherback sea turtles, in honor of the race.
Oceania
Australia
At the Sydney Youth Ocean Carnival, a collaboration between the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council and CollaborOceans, attendees had the opportunity to engage with Luna Park Sydney’s newest addition, a light-projection show titled “Life Below Water,” dynamic peer-to-peer workshops focusing on the United Nations 30×30 goal, and the “Night at the Zoo”, an immersive music and art conservation experience in partnership with the Taronga Zoo.
Papua New Guinea
Sea Women of Melanesia, an organization that works to provide Melanesian women with the skills they need to help coastal communities manage marine protected areas, celebrated World Ocean Day with a beach cleanup in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, working with local youth to collect harmful plastic waste from the waters around the port.
North America
United States
Blue Scholars Initiative, an organization that empowers South Florida students in ocean stewardship, hosted a World Ocean Day Celebration in Miami, Florida. Event attendees enjoyed an array of artwork showcasing the beauty and importance of marine life and the South Florida environment, interactive and educational activities that enlightened participants on ocean conservation, and a beach cleanup and dune restoration.
Canada
The Vancouver Maritime Museum hosted a free event in partnership with the Indigenous lead organization, Canoe Cultures, which invited visitors to engage in canoe demonstrations, showcasing the artistry and skill of seafarers who have navigated the waters of this region for centuries.
Costa Rica
Green Wolf Costa Rica, celebrated World Ocean Day with a beach cleanup at Guacalillo, where the Tárcoles River, one of the most polluted rivers in Central America, flows into the sea. During the event, 250 people participated and effectively removed 1.2 tons of plastic, and the collected plastic was then taken to a processing center to be converted into plastic wood. Participants also planted 250 native trees!
