World Ocean Day 2023: 5 Ways to Take Action

World Ocean Day takes place every year on June 8th. It is a day to appreciate all our ocean gives to us, to reflect on our impact on the deteriorating health of the ocean, and to strive to take more actions to protect it. The ocean is home to countless animal and plant species, and it is a home-from-home for us divers, too. Unfortunately the ocean is becoming more and more threatened by human impact and climate change. Now, more than ever, is the time to get involved in taking action to create a healthier ocean for future generations. It is not too late. We are going to look at how World Ocean Day started, how it is going, and what you can do to take part this year.

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The history of World Ocean Day

So what exactly is World Ocean Day and how did it come about? World Ocean Day was first proposed by Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. In 2002, global promotion and coordination of the day began, and by 2003 worldoceanday.org was launched and 25 events were held over 15 countries worldwide. In 2008, after a four year petition drive, World Ocean Day was officially recognized by the United Nations (who added an ‘s’ to make it ‘World Oceans Day’). Since then World Ocean Day has launched a Youth Advisory Council, over 2000 events have been held in more than 140 countries, and the ‘s’ was dropped in 2021 to make it ‘World Ocean Day’ yet again, with the message being: "one ocean that connects us all". Many organizations, water sport centers, and individuals celebrate World Ocean Day every year by reflecting on their personal impact on the ocean, and spreading awareness of threats to the ocean.

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Why is the ocean so important?

Of course, the ocean is home to a rich diversity of marine species that depend on each other for food, protection, shelter, etc. But the ocean is so important to humans, too. Here are a few examples:

• Oxygen:When you think about the oxygen we breathe your mind probably first goes to trees. But did you know that the ocean is responsible for producing more than half of the oxygen in the air we breathe? So ensuring the health of our ocean is not just for the marine life that lives there, it is for us, too.
• Food:It is estimated that fish supports the livelihood of between 10-12% of the world. Many communities eat fish as their main source of animal protein and fishing is how many people make their salary around the world. Having said that, overfishing is the biggest threat to our ocean, so to support local fishermen and to protect the sea from the catastrophic repercussions of commercial fishing practices, try to stick to eating local fish, and choose to eat fish species that are high in populations.
• Protection:Coral reefs work as a barrier to protect the coastline from destructive ocean forces.
• Climate: The ocean absorbs 98% of heat from the sun, and then transports that heat around the world via currents.
• Water cycle:Water evaporates from the ocean to create clouds, those clouds are blown over onto land, and then rain provides us with fresh water that is used by every living creature on Earth. That water then makes its way back to the ocean and the cycle continues.
• Human health:The health benefits of spending time in the ocean are often underestimated. It has been proven that being in or near the ocean can reduce stress, improve mental health, and revitalize us.

Has too much damage been done to coral reefs? Read more here: Coral Reef Conservation: Is it too late to save reefs?

Why does the ocean need our help?

The health of our ocean is threatened by many things. Here are a few of the main reasons why the ocean needs our help:

• Climate Change: Rising temperatures are melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and causing corals to bleach. Global warming is also creating ocean acidification which can affect the behavior of marine species.
• Ocean plastic pollution:Around 11 million tons of plastic enters the ocean every year. This plastic traps marine life, chokes sea birds, and damages habitats. 89% of the plastic pollution found on the ocean floor is single use.
• Run-off pollution:Waste from sewage, agricultural run-off, and pesticides pollute coastal waters.

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How to take action this World Ocean Day

Do not worry, it is not all doom and gloom. Although so much damage has been done, more and more efforts are being made worldwide to protect the ocean and support marine conservation through things like coral restoration and more Marine Protected Areas being made. But those of us who cannot get involved in the big stuff, there are still ways that you can take part in World Ocean Day. There are many ways to recognize the day and to take part, some big, some small, all extremely beneficial in protecting our ocean. Here are a few ideas:

• Make a post:Social media is so helpful for sharing information and spreading awareness. Let your followers know that World Ocean Day is coming up and encourage them to take action, too.
• Clean up the beach:If you live near the beach or are able to dive or snorkel on World Ocean Day, have a search for beach/ocean clean-up events in your area, or organize your own!
• Donate: Making a donation to World Ocean Day or another ocean conservation charity takes just a few minutes and supports vital research and conservation efforts. You can donate to World Ocean Day here.
• Think about your seafood: A vegan diet has the lowest environmental impact, but it is unrealistic to expect the whole world to quit meat and fish overnight. If you love eating seafood, try to avoid buying fish from big corporations that use commercial fishing practices. These practices destroy ocean habitats and pointlessly kill millions of large marine life each year from bycatch. Choosing local, small fishing practices and sticking to fish species that are high in population is the most sustainable way to eat fish and protect the ocean. Always avoid eating sharks as shark populations are declining rapidly and they are essential for healthy ocean ecosystems (they also contain high levels of mercury which is very unhealthy to consume).
• Adopt ocean-friendly habits:This is an action every one can take. It is impossible to act perfectly all the time when it comes to our impact on the ocean. But small changes can add up to a huge change. Things like making an effort to buy less single-use plastic, using refill stores to save on wasteful packaging, choosing ocean-friendly soaps and cleaning products, using less water and energy around the house, and always carrying reusable cups and bags go a long way in helping the ocean.

Check this out to learn more about 6 of the Largest Marine Protected Areas in the World

Inspiration from 3 ocean heroes

To finish off, here are a few of our favorite quotes from three inspiring individuals who have dedicated their lives to exploring and protecting the world’s oceans.

"No water, no life. No blue, no green" - Sylvia Earle

Sylvia Earle is a marine biologist, author, lecturer, and oceanographer who has spent most of her life exploring the ocean and raising awareness of threats to it such as overfishing and plastic pollution. Earle to this day continues to advance ocean research. Check out "Mission Blue"; A 2014 documentary film that follows Earle on a campaign to save the world’s oceans.

"We cannot live on this planet with dead oceans. If our oceans die, we die" - Paul Watson

Paul Watson is the founder of Sea Shepherd; A direct-action marine conservation organization that has famously deployed fleets of ships to track and try to actively impede on vessels that are capturing or harming whales. Check out the documentary series "Whale Wars" to learn more about the work of Paul Watson and his crew.

"The sea, the great unifier, is man’s only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: We are all in the same boat." - Jacques Cousteau

Jacques Cousteau is a legend in the world of scuba diving, having co-invented the Aqualung open-circuit scuba equipment. Cousteau explored the world discovering new dive sites and creating some of the world’s first underwater documentaries. He has been quoted saying many profound things about the ocean, but most famously: "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever". His love for the sea has inspired divers and ocean conservationists for decades.

How will you take action on World Ocean Day 2023?