June 8 is World Ocean Day

Celebrate the ocean this weekend! Sunday, June 8 is World Ocean Day. The concept of a World Ocean Day was first proposed in 1992 by the Government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Although not yet officially designated by the United Nations, an increasing number of countries mark June 8 every year as an opportunity to celebrate our world ocean and personal connections to the sea. This year’s theme is “helping our climate/helping our ocean” with a special focus on coral reefs.

The ocean and climate are inextricably linked. As we produce too much carbon dioxide, much of it is absorbed by the ocean and, as a result, ocean waters are becoming warmer and more acidic. Coral reefs - important food, medicinal, economic, aesthetic and cultural resources - are particularly vulnerable. Corals, the building blocks of the intricate reef community, are a collection of tiny animals (coral polyps) living in limestone skeletons. Coral polyps die in a process called “bleaching” in warmer waters and are dissolved by excess acidity.

World Ocean Day is a powerful opportunity to bring local and global attention to the impact that climate change is having on our oceans and how we can all make simple and important changes to reduce our CO2 emissions. Want to get involved? Sign the World Ocean Day petition and check out the Seas the Day website for easy ways to cut your emissions and celebrate the ocean.