The ocean covers more than 70 percent of our planet, and holds about 97 percent of all the water on earth. The ocean is our life source, providing at least 50 percent of our planet’s oxygen. And it plays a vital role in climate and weather.
For thousands of years, people have depended on the ocean as a source of food. It’s also an important part of our economy, providing tens of millions of jobs to those in ocean-based industries.
The concept of World Ocean Day was originally proposed by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada at the Earth Summit in 1992 in Rio. The global coordination of World Ocean Day began in 2002.
The organization works in partnership with youth leaders, zoos, aquariums, museums, and other youth-focused organizations and businesses all throughout the world. Their goal is to engage the public, inform policymakers, and unite the world to protect and restore the ocean and create a stable climate. To find out more, visit www.WorldOceanDay.org.
