World Oceans Day

Saturday, June 7, join Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful to celebrate World Ocean’s Day! This annual celebration will take place from 9-11 am at 4398 North Riverside, right in our backyard! We will be offering shoreline, kayak, and boat cleanups as well as educational and tabling opportunities- plus, the first 100 people to arrive will receive a free T-Shirt!

What is World Oceans Day?

Originally proposed in 1992 by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development, World Oceans Day is an annual event observed by all UN member states and celebrated by thousands of organizations worldwide. World Oceans Day began as an effort by the World Commission on Environment and Development to move discussion on the ocean from the sidelines and strengthen the voice of the ocean. Today, World Ocean’s day continues to function as a way to amplify the needs and the importance of the ocean, while calling the public to take action to support our oceans.

Making up 70% of the earth, oceans are essential to the wellbeing of our ecosystems, serving as a vital source of drinking water and oxygen, and housing countless habitats and organisms. World Oceans day not only serves as a celebration for the oceans and all it does for us, but is opportunity for governments, communities, and individuals to facilitate discussion resources, and tools to protect our oceans.

World Ocean Day Theme

Beginning in 2008, the United Nations assigned yearly themes for World Oceans Day, each theme highlighting a relevant ocean related issue or effort for that year.

The World Oceans Day theme for 2025 is “Wonder: sustaining what is sustaining us”. According to UNWorldOceansDay.org This years theme brings to light the innate wonder of the ocean, allowing us to admire the mystery ocean while also reminding us that we all apart of something bigger: individuals connected to and coexisting with the environment and the ocean rather than on our ocean. While the ocean continuously functions to keep us and our ecosystems alive, we must also strive to protect the health and safety of our oceans in return.

Written by Anna Gibons