Celebrate World Oceans Day with Gulf World Marine Park
When is World Ocean Day Celebrated?
Every year on June 8th, people around the world come together to celebrate World Oceans Day. This important global event is a perfect reminder to take a moment to appreciate our world’s oceans and all they provide for us, including a source of food, travel, trade, medicines, recreational activities, and more. Covering more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, our oceans also serve as the home for more than 1.4 million marine species that depend on the good health of these aquatic ecosystems to survive. With such an invaluable and beautiful resource, this is also a time to reflect on how we can help protect our oceans so they can be enjoyed for generations to come and continue to support the populations of creatures that dwell beneath the waves.
World Ocean Day Activities
At Gulf World Marine Park, we love celebrating World Oceans Day as underwater life is close to our hearts! Every year we have a variety of fun activities planned to help others learn more about our oceans in order to foster a deeper appreciation of these natural wonders. Every year we focus on getting the young people in our community inspired to conserve our world’s oceans. We are proud to work closely with The Ocean Project, an international network of over 1,200 aquariums, zoos, museums, and conservation organizations, to coordinate activities under a variety of themes related to ocean conservation. Stay tuned for information on our unique educational programming to celebrate the next World Oceans Day!
How Can You Celebrate the World’s Oceans Today and Year-round?
No matter what day it is, it’s a great time to start thinking about ways we can show our oceans the respect they deserve. You might be surprised that some of these impactful actions can end up being a lot of fun, too.
- Take part in a beach clean-up event with your community, with friends, or with family
- Spend time with others in your community, enjoy a day in the sun, and take care of our beautiful waters all in one! Beach cleanups are a great way to have fun and make a difference when it comes to protecting the health of our vital aquatic ecosystems.
- Discover new ways to reduce your plastic use
- Plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to the health of our oceans. Millions of pieces of plastic trash end up in the water, mostly coming from onland littering. Tiny pieces of this trash can also resemble food to sea creatures who may try to consume it, putting these animals at risk. Reducing your use of plastics, especially single-use plastic, can help keep these waste products from ending up in the world’s oceans.
- Enjoy a day at the beach that is good for you and the ocean
- Reconnect with the water and waves by enjoying a day at the beach. Make a splash, but make sure you don’t leave a mess. Picking up after yourself, taking only the memories with you, and leaving nothing behind will help keep the ocean and its inhabitants healthy.
- Support organizations that are dedicated to ocean conservation efforts
- There are numerous organizations whose mission is to protect our beautiful blue waters, and there is a lot we can do to help them further their efforts. Whether donating money or researching ways to participate in their work, we can make a bigger impact together.
- Spread the word about marine preservation with others
- Sometimes seemingly small steps can pave the way for huge positive changes. Sharing what you’ve learned about the importance of taking action to protect our oceans can help inspire others to join in the cause. Your voice can be a powerful tool!
Interesting Ocean Facts
- Over three billion people rely on the ocean for their livelihood in industries like fishing and tourism.
- One of the oldest living animals on Earth is coral which can live for up to 5,000 years.
- We have discovered and named 239,779 marine species, but some scientists estimate there could be as many as 25 million species.
- The ocean is home to 50-80 percent of all life on Earth.
- The oceans produce at least 50% percent of the oxygen we breathe.
- How much have we explored the ocean? There is so much we have yet to learn about our planet’s waters, as more than 80% have been unexplored and unmapped.
Want to Learn More About World Oceans Day?
If you’re interested in learning more about World Oceans Day or want to get involved, be sure to visit . There you’ll find everything you need including event listings, ideas for how you can celebrate, and ways to get involved in ocean conservation. We hope you’ll also join us in celebrating the next World Oceans Day! Together we can make a difference!