World Oceans Day
 | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. (June 2013) |
| World Oceans Day | |
|---|---|
 A sunset in the White Sea | |
| Observed by | All UN member states |
| Date | June 8 |
| Next time | 8 June 2024 |
| Frequency | annual |
World Oceans Day has been unofficially celebrated every 8 June since its original proposal in 1992 by Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[1] It was officially recognized by the United Nations in late 2008.[2] It has been coordinated since 2003 by The Ocean Project, with greater participation each year.
Purpose
World Oceans Day is an annual observation to honour the world's oceans, celebrate the products the ocean provides such as seafood as well as marine life itself for aquariums and pets and a time to appreciate its own intrinsic value. The ocean also provides sea-lanes for international trade. Global pollution and over-consumption of fish have resulted in drastically dwindling population of the majority of species. World Oceans Day also provides a unique opportunity to take personal and community action to conserve the ocean and its resources.
The Ocean Project, working in partnership with the World Ocean Network, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and many other partners in its network of 2,000 organizations, has been promoting World Oceans Day since 2003. World Oceans Day events include a variety of activities and actions, such as special outdoor explorations, beach cleanups, educational and action programs, art contests, film festivals, and sustainable seafood events.
World Oceans Day 2015
The world celebrated "Healthy oceans, healthy planet" in the first year of a two-year theme for World Oceans Day. Nearly 1,000 events were held at aquariums, zoos, museums, recreational centers, youth clubs, schools, businesses, and countless individuals marked the day by doing something to keep our ocean healthy. Thousands took The Better Bag Challenge for World Oceans Day – promising to use reusable bags rather than disposable plastic bags for a year to help address the problem of marine debris.
Action online increased tremendously around World Oceans Day 2015. Millions learned about the Day and ways to help through social media, and tens of thousands were talking about it. The volume of discussion online doubled again in 2015.
More high profile events were held, including celebrities getting more involved:
United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea held a reception honoring the Day and the winners of the 2nd Annual World Oceans Day Photo Contest.
UNESCO in Paris: The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO organized a full day dedicated to the critical role of the ocean for a healthy climate. The program brought together scientists, political decision-makers, civil society, and youth to develop strategies to reduce climate pollution.
UNEP report on microplastics in cosmetics released. The study, entitled Plastic in Cosmetics: Are We Polluting the Environment Through our Personal Care: Plastic ingredients that contribute to marine microplastic litter is a compilation of currently available knowledge on the linkages between cosmetics and plastic pollution in the oceans.
The Economist in Lisbon, Portugal: The Economist’s third World Ocean Summit was held just prior to World Oceans Day with the aim to set a new global agenda for the ocean economy. The Summit convened more than 250 leaders from various sectors and ignited a constructive dialogue on developing a blue economy in which economic opportunity is balanced by responsible investment in sustainability.
The US Department of State, in 16 cities worldwide: The US Department of State’s annual Fishackathon event was organized to make fishing more sustainable through a weekend of connection and coding. Coders volunteered their talents at institutions including aquariums and universities to develop new tools that help fishers work smarter, more safely, and more sustainably.
Support from great ambassadors: Jack Johnson celebrated with 5 Gyres and youth in the Bahamas, SpongeBob Squarepants went on a tour to zoos and aquariums across the US, Jeff Corwin and Jack Hanna made a splash on TV through a World Oceans Day campaign with Litton Entertainment, and the Octonauts were in many locations and highlighted in numerous publications around the planet to celebrate World Oceans Day.
World Oceans Day 2014
The World Oceans Day 2014 theme was "Together we have the power to protect the ocean", and focused on raising awareness and promoting personal and community action in fun and positive ways, leading to a more aware, engaged, and sustainable society, and a healthier ocean.[3] Events numbered more than 700. Twitter reach doubled in 2014 from 2013.
World Oceans Day 2013
The World Oceans Day 2013 & 2014 theme was "Together we have the power to protect the ocean." Events totaled more than 600.
World Oceans Day 2012
The World Oceans Day 2012 theme was "Youth: the Next Wave for Change".
The Ocean Project launched a completely revamped site for World Oceans Day 2012. There were over 500 events in 55 countries.
World Oceans Day 2011
The World Oceans Day 2011 theme was the same as its 2012 celebration. Events increased worldwide.
World Oceans Day 2010
In partnership with Dr. Seuss and the Census of Marine Life, World Oceans Day 2010's theme of "Oceans of Life: Pick your favorite * Protect your favorite" saw an increase in participation.
The Ocean Project and World Ocean Network recorded over 300 events for WOD 2010, a 26% increase over 2009. Participation in the United States increased by 32% (with participation in 37 states, as compared to 25 states the previous year). 45 countries participated in World Oceans Day 2010, including Bangladesh, Belgium, French Polynesia, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Malta, Malaysia, Venezuela, and Portugal.
First UN-recognized World Oceans Day in 2009
On the first UN-recognized World Oceans Day events number over 200 worldwide, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations gave the following message:
The first observance of World Oceans Day allows us to highlight the many ways in which oceans contribute to society. It is also an opportunity to recognize the considerable challenges we face in maintaining their capacity to regulate the global climate, supply essential ecosystem services and provide sustainable livelihoods and safe recreation.
Indeed, human activities are taking a terrible toll on the world’s oceans and seas. Vulnerable marine ecosystems, such as corals, and important fisheries are being damaged by over-exploitation, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, destructive fishing practices, invasive alien species and marine pollution, especially from land-based sources. Increased sea temperatures, sea-level rise and ocean acidification caused by climate change pose a further threat to marine life, coastal and island communities and national economies.
Oceans are also affected by criminal activity. Piracy and armed robbery against ships threaten the lives of seafarers and the safety of international shipping, which transports 90 per cent of the world’s goods. Smuggling of illegal drugs and the trafficking of persons by sea are further examples of how criminal activities threaten lives and the peace and security of the oceans.
Several international instruments drawn up under the auspices of the United Nations address these numerous challenges. At their centre lies the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It provides the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, and is the basis for international cooperation at all levels. In addition to aiming at universal participation, the world must do more to implement this Convention and to uphold the rule of law on the seas and oceans.
The theme of World Oceans Day, “Our oceans, our responsibility”, emphasizes our individual and collective duty to protect the marine environment and carefully manage its resources. Safe, healthy and productive seas and oceans are integral to human well-being, economic security and sustainable development.[4]
World Oceans Day 2008
Annual participation increased to over 100 events
World Oceans Day 2003-2007
In the early years of coordinated efforts by The Ocean Project, with World Ocean Network, events numbered in the dozens. During this time, www.WorldOceansDay.org launched, to help promote the event and generate more involvement through dissemination of resources, ideas, and tools free for everyone to use to celebrate World Oceans Day. Also during this time, TOP and WON launched a petition to the United Nations to officially recognize June 8th as World Oceans Day (UN General Assembly passed resolution in December 2008 officially recognizing the Day).
Theme
- 2015/2016: Healthy oceans, healthy planet
See also
References
- ^ About World Oceans Day. The Ocean Project
- ^ Resolution adopted by the General Assembly, 63/111. Oceans and the law of the sea, paragraph 171: "Resolves that, as from 2009, the United Nations will designate 8 June as World Oceans Day". 5 December 2008
- ^ [1] IUCN finds empowering local communities key to ocean conservation
- ^ http://www.un.org/depts/los/reference_files/oceansday2009.pdf Message of the Secretary-General