Every year on June 8, World Oceans Day is observed to create awareness among the populace of the benefits that it enjoys from the vast blue ocean. June 8 underscores the need to protect our oceans from deterioration and highlights the necessity to protect them from pollution.

World Oceans Day was declared as an official occasion in 2008 by the United Nations. Since then, the UN has hosted the event by giving it a new theme every year.

Theme for 2021

This year’s theme for World Oceans Day is “The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods”. The events of this year will be virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will be open to the public at https://oceanic.global.

WOD 2021 significance

As the ocean covers over 70% of the planet, it is our primary source of life and sustenance. The ocean is also responsible for at least 50% of the planet’s oxygen and is home to earth’s biodiversity. It is also key to the economy with an estimated 40 million people being employed by ocean-based industries by 2030.

Despite all this, the ocean is now in need of support.

WOD history

World Oceans Day was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Brazil. The motive behind the idea was to celebrate human’s connection to the sea.