World Oceans Day

By its resolution 63/111 of 5 December 2008, the UN General Assembly designated 8 June as World Oceans Day.

The concept of a World Oceans Day was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro as a way to celebrate our world’s shared ocean and our personal connection to the sea, as well as to raise awareness about the crucial role the ocean plays in our lives and the important ways people can help protect it.

To raise awareness about the role the United Nations and international law can play in the sustainable development and use of the oceans and their living and non-living resources, the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) is actively coordinating different activities of the World Oceans Day.

UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) coordinates in partnership with DOALOS the official United Nations World Oceans Day Portal, which is instrumental in building support for ocean awareness events on 8 June.

We celebrate World Oceans Day to remind everyone of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. They are the lungs of our planet, providing most of the oxygen we breathe. The purpose of the Day is to inform the public of the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and mobilize and unite the world’s population on a project for the sustainable management of the world's oceans. They are a major source of food and medicines and a critical part of the biosphere. In the end, it is a day to celebrate together the beauty, the wealth and the promise of the ocean.

World Oceans Day 2021

This year’s #UNWorldOceansDay theme, ‘The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods’, will shed light on the wonder of the ocean and how it is our lifesource, supporting humanity and every other organism on earth.

The UN Global Celebration on 8 June brought together thought-leaders, celebrities, institutional partners, community voices, entrepreneurs, and cross-industry experts to showcase the biodiversity and economic opportunity that the ocean sustains. A global call for citizens to explore and learn about our reliance on ocean resources, how the ocean is changing, and what we can do to create sustainable and inclusive livelihoods, for the ocean and all who depend on it to thrive.

Visit the United Nations global portal for World Oceans Day!