World Oceans Day: History, Significance, Theme, Cards & Banners

World Oceans Day (WOD) takes place annually on the 8th of June. The concept was originally proposed in 1992 by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD) and the Ocean Institute of Canada (OIC) at the Earth Summit – UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. WOD was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008. The International day supports the implementation of worldwide Sustainability Development Goals, and fosters public interest in the management of the ocean and its resources.

The day is marked in a variety of ways, including launching new campaigns and initiatives, special events at aquariums and zoos, outdoor explorations, aquatic and beach cleanups, educational and conservation action programs, art contests, film festivals, and sustainable seafood events. Youth have been playing an increasingly important role since 2015. The Youth Advisory Council has been helping lead conservation awareness and action efforts globally since 2016.

Significance of World Oceans Day:

The day provides a unique opportunity not only to honor but also in conserving and in protecting our oceans.

It is observed on 8 June,  to raise global awareness about the importance of the ocean in our lives and the ways through which we can protect it.

It’s an individual’s duty to participate and contribute to protecting and preserving our shared ocean. So, it is desirable to get together with our family, friends, and community to create a better future for our planet.

It is rightly said that “Without water, our planet would be one of the billions of lifeless rocks floating endlessly in the vastness of the inky-black void.” ~ Fabien Cousteau

The oceans are the lungs of our planet; provide oxygen for breathing, are a major source of food & medicine, and are a critical part of the biosphere.

We know that the 3/4th part of our whole earth is full of water; it is our responsibility to save our ocean and marine life from the danger of global warming. It is no doubt that World Oceans Day is a big step toward saving the equilibrium of water and lives on earth.

World Oceans Day History:

2024:

Awaken New Depths

• Join us on 7 June as we awaken new depths of understanding, compassion, collaboration and commitment for the ocean.

2023:

Celebrating 10 Years: The Photo Competition for UN WOD

• The 2023 exhibition at the UN HQ in New York showcased winning images from the past decade since the competition’s inception.

2022:

First Hybrid United Nations World Oceans Day Event

• The United Nations World Oceans Day 2022 was the first-ever hybrid celebration of the annual event, featuring both in-person programming hosted at UN HQ in NYC and virtual components for global public accessibility.

2020: World Oceans Day

First Virtual United Nations World Oceans Day Event

• While traditionally an event held at the UN HQ in NYC, due to COVID-19 the United Nations World Oceans Day 2020 was the first ever digital rendition, accessible to the global public.

2017

United Nations 
Ocean Conference & World Oceans Day

• The Declaration of World Oceans Day in 2008 catalysed action worldwide. Twenty-five years after the first Oceans Day took place in Rio de Janeiro at UNCED, a special event on 8 June marked its celebration during the United Nations Ocean Conference held from 5-9 June 2017. The Ocean Conference was convened to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)14 in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

2014: World Oceans Day

United Nations launched the annual amateur Oceanic Photo Competition.

2010

The Ocean Project and World Ocean Network recorded over 300 events for WOD 2010, a 26% increase over 2009. Participation in the United States increased by 32% (with participation in 37 states, as compared to 25 states the previous year). 45 countries participated in World Oceans Day 2010, including Bangladesh, Belgium, French Polynesia, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Malta, Malaysia, Venezuela, and Portugal.

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 WOD. In December 2008, the UN General Assembly passed a Declaration to officially recognize the Day.

1987 – 1992

The Brundtland Commission (also known as the World Commission on Environment and Development) noted in the 1987 Brundtland Report that the ocean sector lacked a strong voice compared to other sectors.

At the first WOD 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.

Greeting Cards

World Oceans Day: Theme

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