World Oceans Day
With oceans making up 66% of our Earth, it’s crucial we raise awareness about and tackle the threats facing these life-giving and life-containing bodies of water.
Mobilize eco-conscious consumers and families around ocean conservation through beach cleanups, sustainable product promotions, and educational content that drives both brand purpose and community engagement.
- Beach cleanup challenge: partner with local communities to remove plastic waste and showcase sustainability commitments
- Reusable product bundles: promote eco-friendly picnic gear and ocean-safe alternatives to single-use plastics
- Ocean education series: host webinars or film screenings about marine conservation and biodiversity threats
- Cause-marketing fundraiser: tie sales to ocean preservation nonprofits and highlight impact per purchase
In 2008, the UN gathered and uniformly created World Oceans Day. It was first proposed by the Canadian government and the Oceans Institute of Canada in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro during the Earth Summit.
The ocean has been an incredibly important part of human history, and this special was established with the intent of celebrating our connection to the sea and raising awareness about the various dangers it faces.
There are nearly 200,000 identified species that live in the ocean, but the number of actual species that reside there is likely in the millions. It’s essential to ensure that they don’t have to worry about freely getting around and enjoying a healthy and safe home to reside.
Even with that being the case, there are still problems with overfishing, and the subsidies that are given for fishing in countries all around the world are causing depletion of the game species.
These activities have led to efforts to restore the fishing industry being undermined, and the industry bringing in $50 billion a year less. It’s just one of the many factors that should have us all celebrating World Oceans Day and raising awareness about all the issues our big blue’s face.
There’s a global environmental catastrophe due to decades of overuse and a surge in single-use plastics. Plastic straws and bags are getting into the oceans and causing havoc. World Oceans Day is an opportunity to acknowledge and recognize the efforts that have been and are being made against plastic pollution.
It’s enlightening and disheartening to know that today, 13,000,000 tons of plastic leaks into the ocean every year, which among other damage, kill 100,000 marine animals annually.
Visit the Ocean
Start it off by a visit to the nearest ocean to restore a personal connection to the ocean waters. Breathe deep and appreciate the beauty and serenity the ocean offers each day of the week. Invite family along, and while there, bring information about the ocean and what people really need to know about it to make visiting it a joy for years to come.
Host a Beach Cleanup
Pick a day to go to the ocean to clean up and help restore it instead of simply sitting by it. Gather friends and family and pitch in and pick up trash that surrounds the local beaches and oceans in the area. It’ll not only look nicer, but the wildlife in the area will benefit from these actions as well. Avoid single-use plastics, and instead pack a picnic lunch with reusable containers to enjoy after the hard work is complete. One may also consider organizing a fundraiser to aid preservation and restoration efforts at the local beach. With all the plastic waste coming off our beaches thanks to careless beach-goers, our ocean is awash with litter.
Learn More About the Oceans
Use this as a time to increase one’s knowledge and explore the topic further. There are a variety of books and resources out there to help a person achieve this goal. Another idea is to gather a group of people and watch an ocean film on the topic to bring awareness to the concept of helping out the oceans. There are plenty of activities and events that occur on World Oceans Day. Celebrate by choosing one or two to participate in and enjoy. Engage in the day’s events by piggybacking off of other ideas that people in the area have come up with instead of having to think of activities alone!