A UN day celebrating the oceans and spotlighting the challenges of pollution, overfishing, and climate change they face.
Date8 June
TopicEnvironment & Sustainability
Established2008
Ways to observe this day
Join a nearby beach clean-up
Cut down on single-use plastic items
Watch a documentary or read about marine life with your family
The idea of a World Oceans Day was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, before the UN General Assembly officially adopted it in 2008, designating June 8 as an annual global observance beginning in 2009. The day reminds the world that oceans cover more than seventy percent of the planet's surface and produce most of the oxygen we breathe, while also serving as a vital source of food and income for billions of people.
It highlights major challenges facing the oceans, including plastic pollution, overfishing, rising water temperatures and acidification driven by climate change, and the degradation of coral reefs and marine ecosystems. The day calls for stronger international efforts to protect marine areas and manage ocean resources sustainably for future generations.
Around the world, the occasion features beach clean-ups, awareness exhibits on marine life, educational activities for children about the importance of oceans, and scientific and policy initiatives urging decision-makers to take stronger action to protect the marine environment.