World Oceans Day


World Oceans Day is an international day that takes place annually on 8 June. The concept was originally proposed in 1992 by Canada's International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada at the Earth Summit – UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. World Oceans Day was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2008. The international day supports the implementation of worldwide Sustainable Development Goals, and fosters public interest in the management of the ocean and its resources.

History

1987–1992

The Brundtland Commission noted in the 1987 Brundtland Report that the ocean sector lacked a strong voice compared to other sectors.
At the first World Oceans Day in 1992, the objectives were to move the oceans from the sidelines to the center of the intergovernmental and NGO discussions and policy and to strengthen the voice of ocean and coastal constituencies worldwide.

2002–2008

In the early years of coordinated efforts by The Ocean Project, with World Ocean Network, events numbered in the dozens. During this time, www.WorldOceansDay.org launched, to help promote the event and generate more involvement through dissemination of resources, ideas, and tools free for everyone to use to celebrate World Oceans Day. In 2004, The Ocean Project and World Ocean Network launched a four-year petition to the United Nations to officially recognize 8 June as World Oceans Day. In December 2008, the UN General Assembly passed a Declaration to officially recognise the Day.

2010

and World Ocean Network recorded over 300 events for WOD 2010, a 26% increase over 2009. Participation in the United States increased by 32%. Forty-five countries participated in World Oceans Day 2010, including Bangladesh, Belgium, French Polynesia, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Malta, Malaysia, Venezuela, and Portugal.

2014

The United Nations launched the annual amateur World Oceans Day Oceanic Photo Competition.

2020

The theme for 'World Ocean Day' was 'Innovation for a sustainable ocean'.

Themes

The United Nations selected the following annual themes for the Day: