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^th as an opportunity each year to celebrate our world ocean and our personal connection to the sea. World Ocean Day is an opportunity every year to honour the world's ocean that connects us all, celebrate the products the ocean provides, such as seafood, as well as marine life itself for aquariums, pets, and also a time to appreciate its own intrinsic value.

World Ocean Day is a powerful opportunity to bring local and global attention to the impact climate change is having on the ocean, and coral reefs in particular, what that impact will mean for marine and human life, and how we can all make simple yet important changes to reduce our CO_² emissions, halt climate change, and preserve our children's ocean legacy.

Most people are simply unaware of how much they depend on the ocean and innocent to how their daily actions and climate change are impacting the ocean. By joining with people all over the world in celebrating World Ocean Day we can make a clear statement that no matter where we live we all share one world ocean, with our fate inextricably tied to the future health of our ocean.

Every year thousands around the world unofficially celebrate World Ocean Day with fun, inspirational and educational events.. The ocean plays a crucial role in maintaining the Earth’s climate, and coral reefs, fish, marine mammals, and other ocean life are vulnerable to warmer, more acidic, and rising waters caused by climate change. The ocean and climate are inextricably linked – the ocean plays a crucial role in maintaining the Earth’s climate, and life in the ocean is vulnerable to warmer, more acidic and rising waters caused by climate change. Scientists are recording record coral reef die-offs and are worried about the future survival of these treasured ecosystems, salmon populations are disappearing from their historical ranges, invasive species and diseases are spreading into new waters, and marine mammals continue to face decreased food supplies. As humans depend on a healthy ocean, these changes will affect our lives as well.