World Oceans Day

World Oceans Day was first introduced in 1992 to raise awareness of the crucial role the sea plays as sources of food, oxygen and medicine. It was officially recognized by the United Nations (UN) in 2008 and is observed on June 8 each year.

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Bluefin Tuna in the ocean
©iStockphoto.com/DeepAqua
What Do People Do?
Numerous events are held around the world to mark World Oceans Day. One of the organizing bodies, the Ocean Project, counted more than 300 events in 45 countries in 2010. These included photo contests, fossil hunting walks, demonstrations, and concerts. Different themes are assigned to every World Oceans Day. In 2012, the theme is “Youth: The Next Wave for Change."

Public Life
World Oceans Day is a global observance and not a public holiday.

Background
The world's oceans play a key role for life on Earth. According to the UN, they are “the lungs of our planet, providing most of the oxygen we breathe, [as well as] a major source of food and medicines and a critical part of the biosphere.”

In the past few decades, the threats from pollution, overfishing and other forms of exploitation to marine habitats have increased dramatically.