World Ocean Day 2025: What’s Happening & How You Can Get Involved

June 8 marks World Ocean Day, a global moment to celebrate the incredible beauty and power of our blue planet, and to recognize our collective responsibility to protect it. Whether you live on the coast or far inland, the ocean sustains all life on Earth. It produces over 50% of the oxygen we breathe, regulates our climate, and provides food and livelihoods for millions of people. But it’s under threat.

This year, The Sustainable Act joins voices across Canada and around the world in calling for deeper commitment to ocean conservation and climate justice, because the health of our oceans is inseparable from the health of our communities.

This year’s theme is all about uniting for collective action. Across Canada and around the globe, communities are coming together to celebrate, learn, and advocate for a healthy ocean future. At The Sustainable Act, we believe in using media and storytelling to help inspire that action.

Why the Ocean Matters

• The ocean produces more than 50% of the oxygen we breathe.

• It absorbs about 30% of global CO₂ emissions, helping to mitigate climate change.

• Over 3 billion people depend on the ocean for their livelihoods.

• Yet, overfishing, plastic pollution, and habitat destruction are pushing marine ecosystems toward collapse.

  
  

This World Ocean Day, we’re reminded: You don’t need to live by the ocean to protect it.

Image by Wexor Tmg

Events Across Canada & the U.S.

🇨🇦 In Canada:

Canada is home to the longest coastline in the world, spanning three oceans and countless ecosystems. During Ocean Week Canada, hundreds of communities are gathering to learn, celebrate, and take action. From shoreline cleanups to Indigenous-led workshops and ocean-themed film screenings, there’s no shortage of ways to get involved.

👉 Find an event near you in British Columbia or across the country through the Ocean Week Canada events map.

Some highlights:

• World Ocean Day at Hinge Park (Vancouver, BC)

  📅 Saturday, June 8 | 🕐 10am–4pm

  Hosted by Ocean Wise, this family-friendly event includes interactive science booths, beach cleanups, live performances, art stations, and ocean-themed activities.

  🔗 Learn more

  
  

• Ocean Celebration at the Vancouver Aquarium (Vancouver, BC)

  📅 June 7–9

  Join immersive ocean experiences and educational programming, including talks from marine experts and youth advocates.

  
  

• Community Beach Cleanup (Victoria, BC)

  📅 Saturday, June 8 | 📍 Willows Beach

  Organized by Surfrider Vancouver Island, this cleanup includes citizen science opportunities and a chance to connect with local ocean groups.

  🔗 Find Surfrider events

  
  

• Ocean Week at the Canadian Museum of Nature (Ottawa, ON)

  📅 June 3–9

  Enjoy ocean-themed exhibits, film screenings, and youth-led discussions on ocean literacy and conservation.

  🔗 See more national events

  
  
  
  

  🇺🇸 In the United States:

• Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) – Washington, D.C.

  📅 June 4–6

  This influential policy-focused event brings together global ocean leaders, youth, and advocates to discuss ocean justice, conservation, and climate resilience.

  🔗 Learn more

  
  

• Monterey Bay Aquarium World Ocean Day Celebration (California)

  📅 Saturday, June 8

  Experience hands-on exhibits, live music, kids’ activities, and marine wildlife talks at one of North America’s most iconic aquariums.

  
  

• Clean Ocean Action’s Waves of Action Cleanup (New Jersey Shore)

  📅 Multiple dates in June

  Join beach cleanups and educational programming to help protect marine habitats along the Atlantic coast.

  🔗 View details

Even if you don’t live near the coast, you can explore interactive learning resources and meaningful actions through the Take Action Zone, a great resource for educators, families, and changemakers alike.

🎬 Featured Film: David Attenborough’s Ocean

One of the most powerful highlights of this year’s celebrations is the release of Sir David Attenborough’s new documentary, simply titled Ocean. Premiering in Canadian theatres last weekend, the film will be available to stream on Disney+ starting June 8.

Beyond its jaw-dropping cinematography, Ocean delivers a sobering look at some of the most pressing threats facing marine ecosystems, including bottom trawling, a destructive fishing practice that is still allowed in some marine protected areas (MPAs), even here in British Columbia.

📖 Read more about the film and the ongoing challenges of marine protection in this CBC article.

Global Calls to Action

Across the globe, organizations are calling for bold ocean protection goals:

• WorldOceanDay.org is coordinating actions toward protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030.

• The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is hosting events, recipe contests, and tools to support sustainable seafood.

• Want to raise awareness online? Download the World Ocean Day 2025 Social Media Toolkit to share facts, graphics, and hashtags.

🐠 Did You Know?

• The ocean absorbs 30% of the world’s CO2 emissions, playing a critical role in mitigating climate change.

• Canada’s oceans support over 400 species of fish and countless marine mammals, seabirds, and invertebrates.

• Plastic pollution kills over 100,000 marine animals every year, and over 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean annually.

• Indigenous Peoples in Canada have stewarded marine ecosystems for millennia and continue to lead efforts in marine protection and sustainable harvesting.

  
  

  

  Image by Marek Okon

  
  

💙 How You Can Help

Whether you’re inland or on the coast, here are 5 simple ways to take action today:

1. Reduce plastic waste by carrying a reusable water bottle, shopping bag, and containers.

2. Choose sustainable seafood by looking for certifications like Ocean Wise or MSC.

3. Join a shoreline cleanup—or organize one in your community.

4. Support ocean justice efforts by amplifying Indigenous-led marine protection and ocean literacy.

5. Watch, learn, and share stories that highlight ocean resilience and advocacy.

At The Sustainable Act, we believe in protecting what connects us. If you're a filmmaker, artist, or organization working in ocean conservation, we’d love to collaborate on future stories and campaigns.

💙 Let’s act for our oceans—together.

Happy World Ocean Day from The Sustainable Act. 💙🌎