essay on ocean day

Why World Oceans Day Is More Important Than Ever

Jun 07 2024

World Oceans Day 2024 catalyzes new action for ocean conservation, setting the stage for saltwater to be an integral resource for solutions to water scarcity.

World Oceans Day 2024 is tomorrow, June 8. 

This international celebration promotes sustainable development goals and reaffirms the importance of ocean health to overall climate health. Since 2020, it has focused on promoting the protection of at least 30% of global lands, waters, and oceans by 2030 to sustain marine biodiversity and build resilience. 

Now, World Oceans Day has a new theme: Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate. This multi-year theme aims to create actionable change by persuading national legislators and corporate leaders to follow through on long-standing commitments to ocean and climate health. Key action areas include transitioning to clean, renewable energy; stopping fossil fuel extraction and production of single-use plastics; amplifying the voices of community leaders; protecting and restoring coastal and ocean ecosystems; and creating solutions based on the most accurate scientific research. 

Ocean conservation is key to overcoming the current climate crisis. Not only are the oceans able to sequester huge amounts of carbon dioxide, but they also store solar radiation, distribute heat to slow global warming, and drive global weather systems. With the world’s population set to increase by an unprecedented 2 billion individuals over the next 30 years, our oceans could also be the solution to a different problem: water scarcity. 

More than 70% of our planet is covered in water, yet virtually everyone on Earth experiences some form of water stress at some point each year. Over 96.5% of our planet’s water is seawater, but the limitations of current desalination technology limit humanity’s access to it as a clean water source. Currently, only 0.5% of global water is available to support 8 billion people, 80% of which already suffer from serious threats to their water supply. Developing new seawater desalination solutions could be the answer. 

XPRIZE Water Scarcity is a $119 million, 5-year prize designed to drive widespread access to clean water by creating reliable, sustainable, and affordable seawater desalination solutions. Importantly, solutions must avoid negatively impacting our oceans’ health. Success in this prize will contribute towards the safeguarding and rejuvenation of healthy oceans. 

WHAT IS WORLD OCEANS DAY

Canada’s International Center for Ocean Development (ICOD) and the Ocean Institute of Canada (OIC) first proposed World Oceans Day in 1992, and the United Nations (UN) officially recognized it in 2008. Its mission is to promote collaborative conservation, sustainable legislation, and wider interest in the protection and restoration of the ocean and its resources. 

Thousands of organizations have partnered with or sponsored World Oceans Day since it began, including Georgia Aquarium and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, providing opportunities to protect and restore our ocean. Through transformative collaboration, World Oceans Day aims to create a healthy blue planet and a more equitable, just, and sustainable society. 

ESSENTIAL OCEANS

Healthy oceans are essential for the continuation of life on Earth. Oceans generate over half the oxygen we breathe, regulate climate change, provide at least 20% of the animal protein we eat, and allow millions of people to earn a livelihood. Without significant advances in ocean preservation, these benefits are at risk of disappearing. 

Catalyzing action will require broad improvements to public and private policy across industries–including accountability for prior negative impacts on our oceans and climate. In addition to climate change, humans have directly impacted our oceans through overfishing, coastal destruction, pollution, both acidification and deoxygenation, and causing vast losses of marine biodiversity. However, oceans also hold a vast resource, water, that could help support the global population, if managed wisely.

By 2030 it is projected that we will lack 40% of the water needed to meet global needs. No single water technology will be able to handle the water crisis. Solving this problem will require a mix of various water conservation and enhancement technologies, including desalination. 

Despite being an established industry, current desalination methods are inefficient and approaching their limit. While many of the world’s largest cities lie on the coast, traditional desalination methods are environmentally unsustainable and unaffordable to low-to medium-income countries. To preserve our oceans while meeting the water demand of the future, we need to completely rethink our approach to desalination.

ENVIRONMENT-CONSCIOUS DESALINATION

This World Oceans Day, we want to reiterate XPRIZE’s commitment to sustainable and environmentally conscious novel technologies. Teams competing in XPRIZE Water Scarcity will develop solutions that are mindful of the environmental dangers created throughout the desalination process, as well as the risks that mechanical processes may pose. This includes regulation of desalination plants’ powerful intakes, which transfer seawater from the oceans directly to storage tanks, and the release of brine back into the ocean, which can pose a deadly threat to marine life.

"The winning teams from XPRIZE Water Scarcity will have created innovations that improve and maintain the environmental health of oceans. Innovations will include designs for where water enters and exits the desalination system, as well as innovations in how brine is managed and reductions in energy use and life cycle emissions."

-Dr. Lauren Greenlee, XPRIZE EVP, Food + Water + Waste

The amount of ocean water that can be desalinated without impacting marine ecosystems differs greatly between localities. Water (and seawater) is a very local resource, meaning that it has environmental characteristics that differ greatly between geographies. Each desalination plant’s operations must be dictated by environmental considerations and regulations to avoid potential detriment to the local ocean, coastal ecosystems, and wildlife. 

While water scarcity is one of the great challenges confronting humanity, desalination solutions must avoid creating negative impacts on our environment. Doing so will only create new challenges, perpetuating a vicious cycle. 

Successful stewardship of the oceans and alleviation of water stress must go hand in hand to create a lasting impact. XPRIZE Water Scarcity seeks to do this by revolutionizing desalination technology and creating solutions that are affordable, reliable, sustainable, and committed to upholding our oceans’ health. 

Get involved or find out more at xprize.org/water .

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World oceans day: a call to action to save our ocean.

Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, produce over half of the world’s oxygen, regulate the climate and absorb nearly one-third of the carbon dioxide generated by human activities. Home to an incredible diversity of life, oceans provide food and livelihoods for billions of people. The health of the oceans is intrinsically linked to the health of our planet and its inhabitants.

Moreover, sustainable ocean-based economies create jobs and drive innovation in sectors such as eco-tourism, sustainable fisheries, and renewable energy, while ensuring the preservation of marine environments. 

Despite their significance, oceans are under severe threat from human activities. Climate change, pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction are deteriorating the health of the ocean. Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water is alarmingly off track with 50% of its targets showing regression. Goal 14 still remains critically underfunded.

World Oceans Day, celebrated annually on 8 June, serves as a reminder of the crucial role the ocean plays in our lives and the urgent need to address the various challenges it faces.

World Oceans Day was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008, and since then, it has been a day to raise awareness about the importance of oceans and mobilize global action for their preservation. This year, World Oceans Day 2024 will be celebrated with an event hosted by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs (DOALOS) in partnership with Oceanic Global, held at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Friday 7 June under the theme “Awaken New Depths”. 

World Oceans Day is not just a celebration but a call to action for individuals, communities, and nations to take concrete steps to protect our oceans. Urgent and transformative efforts are required to reverse these trends and ensure the protection of our oceans for future generations.

For more information:  World Oceans Day   Photo credit: Joseph Barrientos on Unsplash

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World Oceans Day 2021 - The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods

World Oceans Day is celebrated annually on the 8th of June as the United Nations Day of commemorating the oceans with inclusion of activities that address milestones in having a sustainable global ocean. Oceans cover an extensive portion of the earth surface and are an epicenter of the very basis of life. On this specific day world over, events that aim at supporting ocean protection are organized and these range from local community activities, webinars, beach clean-ups to essay competitions to highlight just a few.  With each new year, several themes to mark the day are identified and of focus in 2021 was the Ocean: Life and Livelihoods . In Kenya, the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, and the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO, partnered in organizing an informative online event.

The webinar was opened by the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Blue Economy, Dr. Francis Owino, prior to which there were a number of opening remarks from high-level delegates and experts. An array of topics were covered during the event and these were discussions centred on sensitizing stakeholders on the threats to ocean health, opportunities, research, conservation, management and monitoring interventions and sustainable nature-based livelihood initiatives. Over 150 stakeholders attended the virtual sessions of the day, and these were drawn from government agencies, academia, civil society, community associations, early career ocean professionals and international organizations who made the session interactive through their invaluable input to the discussions centred on the day’s theme.

Very insightful questions ensued with each presentation given to inform advancement of sustainable ocean management in Kenya. Key highlights from the event were ways to foster the ambitions for the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science in Kenya, reflections from the Global Ocean Science report with priority on marine spatial planning advancement in Kenya, the existing careers in the field of ocean sciences to pique the interest of early career ocean professionals (ECOPs), ecosystem management, sustainable ocean health through marine litter initiatives, in addition to policy and legal frameworks for capacity development in ocean sciences. At the culmination of the event, very much in line with the theme of the day, were features on a number of development initiatives within the country, related to oceans and livelihoods.

Related items

• Priority Africa
• Country page: Kenya
• UNESCO Office in Nairobi and Regional Bureau for Science
• SDG: SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

This article is related to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals .

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United Nations World Oceans Day 2020

Innovation for a sustainable ocean.

First-Ever Virtual Event

The first-ever fully virtual celebration of United Nations World Oceans Day, on 8 June 2020, highlighted the theme of Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean .

Produced in partnership with the non-profit organization Oceanic Global , more than 350,000 people tuned into the live event from all continents except Antarctica – making the 2020 celebration a truly global event.

2020 World Oceans Day

As the challenges to the ocean continue to grow, so does the need for novel solutions and the people driving them. The day-long 2020 event featured 43 international speakers over seven hours of content. Touching on wide-reaching topics relating to the theme Innovation For A Sustainable Ocean , keynote speeches, panels, and presentations were kicked off by the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly, with leading ocean voices featured throughout the day. The event closed with a virtual concert for the ocean featuring global voices such as Mali’s Fatoumata Diawara, Niger’s Bombino, and the UK’s Jess Glynne.

Featured Speakers

Cara Delevingne

Jean-Michel Cousteau

Sylvia Earle

Forbi Perise Eyong Nyosai

Bill McKibben

Ellie Goulding

Gayatri Reksodihardjo-Lilley

Lilly Platt

United nations opening remarks.

The UN WOD announcement video will kick the event off, featuring voices from around the globe working to protect and preserve our oceans.

H.E. António Guterres

Secretary-general of the united nations, h.e. tijjani muhammad-bande, president of the general assembly, ms. cara jocelyn delevingne, actress, model & co-founder, ecoresolution, the state of our ocean.

This segment will highlight the issue and the link between climate change and our oceans from an ocean solutions perspective. Topics covered will include the solutions to protect and restore the beauty of our oceans and the current state of ocean governance. Additionally, Miguel de Serpa Soares - United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel - will share the current challenges and opportunities in ocean affairs, and the role of the UN System.

Mr. Bill McKibben

Co-founder, 350, mr. paul hawken, environmental author, mr. miguel de serpa soares, under-secretary-general for legal affairs & united nations legal counsel, "spotlight solutions" for the ocean.

This segment spotlights current projects offering innovative solutions that address the themes of the eight interactive dialogues of the 2020 UN Ocean Conference.

Peter Thomson

United nations secretary-general's special envoy for the ocean, moderator: lucy biggers, climate and sustainability correspondent, nowthis, francis zoet, co-founder & director of operations, the great bubble barrier, ahmad "aki" allahgholi, founder & managing director, coralive, olivier ceberio, coo and co-founder, resolute marine, michael selden, co-founder & ceo, finless foods, bigs eggert & jossie jasmin, sales and marketing director of amun ini beach bigs eggert, founder & executive director, marine applied research and exploration, elisa morgera, professor of global environmental law, strathclyde university law school & director, “one ocean hub", jim ritterhoff, executive director, force blue, the cousteaus: a multigenerational conversation on ocean exploration.

The Cousteaus will provide a multigenerational perspective on our evolving understanding of the ocean across time, highlighting certain innovations in science and exploration that have shaped our relationship with the ocean.

Celine Cousteau

Fabien cousteau, oceanx: innovation, technology and deep sea exploration.

The segment will highlight exciting developments in the world of science, technology and exploration, with a particular focus on deep sea exploration, opportunities for future discoveries and the rapid progress in this field.

Founder & Creative Director, OceanX

Edith widder, ceo & senior scientist, ocean research & conservation association, inc., un world oceans day photo competition winners.

Announcement of the finalists and winners of the 2020 UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition.

Curator: Ellen Cuylaerts

Freelance underwater and wildlife photographer and curator, 2020 un world oceans day photo competition, the blue economy and private sector impact.

This panel discussion will shed light on how the private sector is engaging communities to develop solutions for a healthy ocean.

Moderator: Curtis Brainard

Managing editor, scientific american, founder & ceo, terracycle, founder, soul buffalo & co-founder, ocean plastics leadership network, melissa garren, ceo & founder, working ocean strategies, michael w. lodge, secretary-general, international seabed authority, deeper dive, one ocean foundation, communities innovating for a sustainable ocean.

This segment will feature community-oriented, -managed, and -driven solutions for a healthy ocean. True solutions have public buy-in and this is an opportunity to highlight the successful coalition building efforts of groups that include affected voices at the decision-making table.

Moderator: Andrea Thompson

Associate editor for sustainability, scientific american, gayatri reksodihardjo – lilley, yayasan alam indonesia lestari, indonesian nature foundation, julia kumari drapkin, founder & ceo, iseechange, asha de vos, founder & executive director, oceanswell, shanta shamsunnahar, program coordinator, mpa program, wildlife conservation society, bangladesh, deeper dive: christophe bailhache, photographer & filmmaker - co-founder of underwater earth, youth driving innovation.

Youth from around the world will share their solutions to drive innovation, engage their community and bridge generational gaps for a healthy and sustainable ocean.

Moderator: Jackson Harries

Filmmaker & environmentalist, greening forward, environmentalist and global youth ambassador for plastic pollution coalition, wodi &youth mundus. founder of lilly's plastic pickup, dylan vecchione, founder, reefquest foundation, callie veelenturf, marine conservation biologist; founder, the leatherback project and rights for nature, world ocean week remarks.

Remarks on World Oceans Week and the efforts of the Friends of World Oceans Day (FOWOD) community.

Francois Bailet

Senior legal officer, division for ocean affairs and the law of the sea, office of legal affairs, united nations, lea d'auriol, founder & executive director, oceanic global, a concert for our ocean.

The Day will conclude with a celebration of the ocean through live performances from musicians around the world!

A Concert for the Ocean

Fatoumata Diawara

Nick Mulvey

Vieux Farka Touré

Tenzin Choegyal

Jess Glynne

Alice Phoebe Lou

Science in School

Planet ocean: articles to put the ocean centre stage on world oceans day inspire article.

Author(s): Rosaria Cercola, Tamaryin Godinho

Turning the tide: celebrate World Oceans Day in your classroom with ocean articles spanning the breadth of STEM subjects, from biology to physics.

Every year, on 8 June, the United Nations celebrates World Oceans Day to raise awareness of how much we rely on the oceans and how we need to protect them. The theme this year is Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing , with a focus on putting the ocean first. To support you in bringing the ocean into your science classes, we’ve put together a collection of ocean-related Science in School articles, with resources, engaging activities, and interesting discussions.

1. Inspire – The European Atlas of the Seas: an interactive tool for ocean literacy

Target age : 11–19 Subjects : Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Technology

Understanding our relationship with oceans is vital to preserving them. The  European Atlas of the Seas is an interactive tool – available in 24 languages – that provides various map layers showing data from Europe’s marine and coastal regions. Students can learn to use maps and to extract, analyze and present data, as well as learning about how the ocean underpins a range of important services and how human activities affect the health of the oceans. There is also a Teachers C orner that includes ready-to-use map-based exercises and fun activities such as a treasure hunt and virtual boat races.

Pick your map(s) and start exploring!

2. Understand – Climate change: why the oceans matter

Target age : 16–19 Subjects : Chemistry, Earth science, Physics

The ocean’s profound impact on our climate also means that it plays a complicated role in climate change. Use this article to start a discussion on ocean-generated compounds and the ocean’s role as a carbon dioxide and heat sink. You can also use this article to introduce (or conclude) the teaching activities presented below about ocean acidification and rising sea levels.

3. Teach – Practical ocean literacy for all: Earth science

Target age: 11–16 Subject: Earth science, Physics

The close relationship between humans and the ocean is at the heart of the ocean literacy (OL) movement. The ocean shapes life on Earth in ways many people don’t even realise, and it affects all of us, even if we live far from the coast. Furthermore, human activities, even when they take place far inland, can have a huge impact on the ocean.  These classroom activities help students explore the first three principles of OL: 

• Earth has one big ocean with many features.
• The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of Earth.
• The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.

4. Teach – An ocean in the school lab: carbon dioxide at sea

Target age: 11–19 Subject: Chemistry

It is well known that anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the atmosphere acts as a greenhouse gas and contributes to global heating. However, it is perhaps less known that higher atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations also lead to ocean acidification.

These experiments illustrate the chemistry behind ocean acidification and link this important issue to the curriculum topics of acids and bases, pH, chemical equations, equilibria, and precipitation reactions.

5. Teach – An ocean in the school lab: rising sea levels

Target age : 11–16 Subjects : Earth science, Physics

When we think of rising sea levels, we associate it with melting ice caps. This is indeed one of the causes, but not the only one. It is often forgotten that water expands, that is, its volume increases, with rising temperature.

With these activities, you can teach your students about thermal expansion and link it to rising sea levels.

6. Teach – Squid dissection: a hands-on activity to learn about cephalopod anatomy

Target age : 8–16 Subject : Biology

Evoking a sense of wonder can be a powerful way to engage students on a topic, and learning about weird and wonderful sea creatures is a great way to spark interest in ocean life. Furthermore, dissections allow students to explore with multiple senses. Squid are particularly fascinating, with their alien looks and unusual physiology.  Did you know that they have donut-shaped brains and three hearts?

This hands-on (literally) activity can be linked to numerous physiology topics, including senses, eyes/vision, and adaptations to the environment.

7. Teach – Movers and shakers: physics in the oceans

Target age : 11–19 Subjects : Earth science, Physics

The movement and separation of water in the oceans in layers and currents has a huge impact on both marine ecosystems and the weather and even climate on land, so understanding how these work is vitally important. While some of the contributing factors are very complex, others are based on school-level physics.

With these experiments, you can use simple water tanks to explore density, stratification and internal waves, and learn about how these phenomena influence the behaviour of the oceans.

Put the oceans centre stage!

The complex interplay between humans and the ocean and the vital importance of oceans to humanity can be difficult to communicate, especially if you live far from the coast. We hope that these articles will help you to tackle this crucial topic with students of all ages and across multiple subjects.

In addition, you can register for free to attend the United Nations World Oceans Day 2023 virtual event Planet Ocean: Tides Are Changing , on Thursday, 8 June. The event, starting at 4 pm CEST, will have interesting discussions, multiple perspectives and even a message from the international space station! You can also find educational resources on the UN World Oceans Day website, as well as a calendar of international events relating to World Oceans Day.

• Visit the UN World Oceans Day website for more information, events, and resources.
• Check out the European Marine Science Educators Association ( EMSEA ), which exists to act as a hub for the European marine science education community working on promoting ocean literacy across society.
• World Ocean Day for Schools
• National Geographic Oceans Education
• NOAA Ocean Exploration

Dr Rosaria Cercola is the editorial assistant at  Science in School . She has a PhD in physical chemistry and is a strong advocate for equity and ‘field-levelling’ in and out of the scientific community.

Dr Tamaryin Godinho is the executive editor of Science in School . She is passionate about science and believes that good-quality science and evidence-informed decision-making are crucial for addressing today’s challenges and building a better future.

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World Oceans Day

Welcome to World Ocean Radio…

I’m Peter Neill, Director of the World Ocean Observatory.

On June 8, we celebrate World Ocean Day, a date designated by the United Nations to recognize our relationship with the ocean through so many different ways of global connection. Around the world, through the World Ocean Network, The Ocean Project, and many other organizations with ocean interests, events will take place to highlight the value of ocean resources. There will be maritime festivals and beach clean-ups, school projects and environmental presentations the world over – in Africa and Asia, Europe and the Americas. What was once a bright idea is now an international event that for one brief moment focuses some part of ephemeral world interest on the ocean and its benefit for all mankind.

Of course, every day is ocean day. And we can claim that with the authority of the headlines that every day point to some ocean issue of import: the catastrophic disaster of a failed drilling rig or shipping accident, piracy in Arabian waters, the trade impact of an expanded Panama Canal, the security implications of the opening of Northern Arctic passages, the decline of fisheries across the world economy, the vast plastic wasteland floating in mid-Pacific, the arrival of Japanese tsunami debris drifting onto American shores, and the continuing, growing evidence of the negative impact of climate change on the ocean and its capacity for supporting all aspects of human survival.

What is Ocean Day meant to do? If all those concerned with ocean issues were to shout at once, there would be a compelling noise, enough to let us know that others around the world also care, enough to give us confidence that our whole is greater by the sum of our individual voices, and perhaps enough to penetrate the consciousness of a political structure that for the most part continues to ignore ocean issues, willfully waiting until it is too late. Sadly, if we hear anything at all, it is either the silence of indifference, or the shrill pitch of denial, or occasionally, the clear prescient voice of science and reality, there, but apparently not yet loud enough to make the necessary difference for the deciders.

A recent survey conducted by The Ocean Project has indicated that public awareness of ocean issues in the United States has not advanced at all over a ten-year period -- no progress despite consistent and continuing efforts by conservation, ocean, and other environmental organizations to inform and educate. What, then, does it take for the will of the people to coalesce around a single issue, to be informed and changed into a voice for change, and to counter the lassitude and cynicism? The analogy that occurs of course is the ocean itself, believed to be infinite in its capacity to dissolve the toxins, absorb the oil, sequester the CO2, cleanse the waste, circulate the protein and fresh water, heal itself along with the poisons of others. Cleaning the beaches on Ocean Day is a reminder of what the ocean cannot assimilate – poly nets and fishing lines, plastic bags and containers, and congealed residue of too much oil spilled or chemicals deposited, fish and birds struggling to recover from polluted, deoxygenated waters, and disrupted lives of so many worldwide who have for generations made their living from the sea. This detritus, both natural and social, is ample evidence that the ocean has reached its limit and that, if we continue to despoil it, we risk a vast, terrible, irretrievable loss.

When we stand by the sea, or when we imagine it in our minds, we perceive Nature in the reality of its movement, shifting light, and sense of life. When we study the ocean, we understand its contribution to our health and well-being through water, food, energy, and economic, cultural, and spiritual connection. Why would we put such a valuable thing at risk? Why would we subvert a national policy to protect it? Why would we ignore a system of governance and law for the sea to manage it? Why, deliberately, through acts of commission and omission, would we allow such a vital, fecund thing to be compromised, poisoned, and killed? Surely, if on this Ocean Day we can come to the realization that such acts are truly self-destructive, we can then use every other day to spread the word, to act in some overt way to change our behaviors, and to otherwise transform the will of one “citizen of the ocean” to become thousands, to become millions, who demand that the ocean be returned from scarcity to abundance, from conflict to accommodation, from exploitation to sustainability, from ignorance to intelligent action for our future.

The ocean will serve us well, forever, if only we demand, now, to serve it better.

We will discuss these issues, and more, in future editions of World Ocean Radio.

MARCH FOR THE OCEAN IS ORGANIZED BY BLUE FRONTIER, AN OCEAN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IN COLLABORATION WITH MORE THAN 70 ENVIRONMENTAL OCEAN GROUPS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VOLUNTEER SIGN-UPS, AND TO LOCATE A MARCH NEAR YOU, VISIT MARCH FOR THE OCEAN DOT ORG. WORLD OCEAN RADIO IS DISTRIBUTED BY THE PUBLIC RADIO EXCHANGE AND THE PACIFICA NETWORK FOR USE BY COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS WORLDWIDE. FIND US WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTS.

On June 8th we celebrate World Oceans Day, an annual day set aside to recognize our relationship with the ocean through global connection. In this episode of World Ocean Radio we ask what Oceans Day is meant to do and question what it will take for the will of the people to translate into a voice for change toward a healthy ocean and a sustainable future.

The weekly blog post of this episode is available at Medium.com/@TheW2O .

About World Ocean Radio Peter Neill, Director of the World Ocean Observatory and host of World Ocean Radio, provides coverage of a broad spectrum of ocean issues from science and education to advocacy and exemplary projects. World Ocean Radio is a weekly series of five-minute audio essays available for syndicated use at no cost by college and community radio stations worldwide.

Learn More < World Oceans Day Friday, June 8th < March for the Ocean Saturday, June 9th  

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, paragraph 171).  Many countries have celebrated World Oceans Day following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.