Blog & News

June 7th, 2024

World Oceans Day 2024

Author: Taryn Tarquin

World Oceans Day, which occurs annually on June 8, was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008. World Oceans Day is an opportunity to promote ocean conservation, sustainable management, and marine protection by encouraging a deeper understanding of the significance of our oceans. World Oceans Day aims to encourage communities to act to protect oceans and advocate for policies that support marine conservation while inspiring others to admire the beauty of marine ecosystems.   

The current state of our oceans reflects a concerning reality. Marine biodiversity plays a critical role in maintaining the health and balance of ecosystems. From plankton to seaweed to whales, each organism contributes to maintaining life on our planet. Unfortunately, this diversity is threatened by human activities such as overfishing and pollution. Overfishing depletes fish stocks that other organisms rely on, disrupting the balance of intricate food webs. Pollution from various sources, including sewers, plastic waste, and oil spills poses significant threats the ocean health. Billions of pounds of trash enter our oceans each year. This debris can be seen washed up on our beaches; however, most of it will stay in the ocean, where it may sink, get eaten by animals, or accumulate in ocean gyres. Pollutants may be harder to see—but can still impact the health of ocean organisms and the people who live and work on or near the ocean. A worldwide effort is required to address these threats and ensure long-term health for our oceans.  

When dealing with large-scale conservation efforts it’s always good to “Think Globally, Act Locally”. This strategy encourages people to come together within their communities to implement conservation efforts.  

An easy way to reduce plastic use is by buying less stuff—which is often packaged in or shipped with plastic as well as opting for reusable bags, bottles, and containers. These actions minimize consumption of single-use plastics that often end up in the ocean.  

Supporting sustainable seafood practices, when available, helps to preserve marine ecosystems. To find sustainable seafood, you can use a seafood guide to navigate and find environmentally sustainable options.  

If you live along the coast, you can participate in citizen science efforts or attend volunteer beach cleanups. If you live in California, the whole month of June is Snapshot Cal Coast—which is designed to mobilize communities “to make and share observations of plants, animals, and seaweeds along the California Coast...” using a phone app. These photos will provide valuable data about the California coast. If beach clean-ups are more your speed, San Diego Coastkeeper hosts weekly beach cleanups throughout San Diego County.  Participating in beach cleanups is a great way to meet like-minded people in your area; however, you don’t have to wait for an organized beach cleanup to make an impact. Grab a bag, head to the beach, and make a difference! Every piece of litter you pick up helps make a difference. So next time you find yourself on the beach, why not take a moment to leave it cleaner than when you found it?