8th June was officially designated as World Oceans Day by the United Nations and since then, this celebration has been held annually, The theme of this year’s celebrations was “WONDER: Sustaining what Sustains Us”
The IOI joined the rest of the ocean community in celebrating World Oceans Day and, as usual, the global IOI network responded enthusiastically to the invitation to commemorate this day by organising a diverse range of scientific, social and cultural activities. Thanks go to all the contributors for the organisation of events and for supplying photos.
IOI Headquarters, for the third consecutive year, prepared a series of daily posts shared on its Social Media platforms to commemorate this day, highlighting ways in which everyone can become an Ocean Hero by advocating for policies that protect marine environments, supporting sustainable practices, and by spreading awareness about the importance of Ocean conservation.
IOI Canada: This year Ocean Day coincided with the 16th biennial conference of the Coastal Zone Canada Association (CZCA), held at the University of Prince Edward Island, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest Province. The CZCA, responsible for the ongoing conference series, was established in 1992 by a group of academic, government and private sector personnel, including the two IOI Canada authors of the paper, the subject of this Ocean Day report. The conference attracted nearly 500 participants from Canada and around the world, an ideal opportunity to publicise the International Ocean Institute, collaborative partners, and Ocean Day.
The paper entitled “Encouraging ocean and climate literacy within the Nova Scotia school system”, by Butler, Director IOI Canada, M.J.A., McPherson, K, and Wells, P.G., was presented on the third day of the conference. As described, the “Ocean-climate nexus”, explains the connection between the ocean and the atmosphere, and together the implications for climate change and associated weather phenomena. Climate change, an existential threat, is exemplified in the Atlantic Provinces by sea-level rise, increased coastal erosion, changing ocean ecosystems and extreme weather patterns. Only an ocean/climate literate society will understand and mitigate these stressors. Hence the need exists for teachers and their students to be appropriately informed. To respond to this need, IOI Canada, in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Department of Education and the Ocean Literacy Working Group of the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership, adopted the well-established ”Professional Development Day” format as the best option to introduce such a programme to teachers in training at the Universities in the Province, and those teachers already qualified and employed in Nova Scotia schools. The PD Days are now being successfully delivered with positive results.
To commemorate the theme of WOD, IOI Egypt organised a workshop on 29 June at the Suez Exploratory Centre for Science and Technology, Ministry of Education. The opening ceremony included welcome speeches from Abeer El Zoghby, Manager Exploratory Centre; Ahmed Abdel Halim, NIOF Suez Branch Director; and other other dignitaries from various Ministerial entities as well as Lamiaa Mohamedein, IOI Egypt Director and GB member. Participants included executive leaderships from the Suez governorate, NIOF employees, university students and laypersons. Five lectures were delivered by experts from NIOF, the Ministry of Environment, and the Lakes and Fish Resources Development Authority. The IOI Egypt Director spoke about the World Oceans day Celebration and the IOI mission and targets. Channel 4 from the Egyptian TV held interviews on the event. Certificates of attendance were awarded to the 144 participants, organisers and speakers.
IOI South Africa partnered with the Black Mermaid Foundation and Phillippi Village for a special day of connection, courage, and discovery at Millers Point, within the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area (TMNP MPA). High school learners from the Philippi community located on the Cape Flats, braved the cold winter morning to participate in a transformative ocean experience. With the guidance of experienced facilitators, the learners took part in a guided snorkelling and rock pool exploration, and this was the first time that the participants tried using a mask and snorkel. It was also their first glimpse beneath the ocean surface, an experience filled with wonder, curiosity, and joy. From vibrant groups of fish, colourful sea urchins and sea stars to swaying seaweed, the underwater world offered a living underwater classroom unlike anything they had seen before.
Before entering the water, some learners gathered to say a quiet prayer, acknowledging the sea as both powerful and unknown. For many, the ocean has long been viewed as a scary and unsafe world, shaped by fear, myth, or simply lack of access. This moment of reflection was a powerful act of courage, stepping into a space perceived as threatening, now hopefully reimagined as a place of beauty, life, and belonging.
The day’s activities reflected the World Ocean Day 2025 theme, by making the ocean accessible and personal for youth who rarely get the opportunity to engage with it. These kinds of experiences are essential, not just for building ocean literacy, but for creating a deep, personal connection with the ocean, encouraging them to care for it, advocate for it, and protect it. Our connection to the ocean is not just physical, it is emotional, cultural, and spiritual. The learners left feeling inspired, empowered, and connected to the sea.
This day served as a powerful reminder that access matters, and when young people are given the chance to experience the ocean up close, it not only broadens their understanding but also strengthens their connection to the planet and their role in protecting it.
IOI China, in collaboration with the Tianjin Library, organised a variety of ocean science and ocean literacy outreach activities for the public. The young ocean professionals shared the latest discoveries of polar scientific research and the uniqueness of polar ecology; presented innovative breakthroughs in the field of offshore wind power, and called on the public to pay attention to and support the development of clean energy; introduced the indispensable ecological functions of seagrass in carbon sequestration and oxygen release, as well as in nurturing marine life. The activities enabled the audience to have a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the ocean, and stimulated their interests in the ocean and sense of responsibility to care for the ocean and protect the earth.
At the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, the National Marine Data and Information Service (NMDIS), host center of the IOI China, organised a side event on “Approaching an Intelligent and Inspiring Ocean: New Science-Based Actions for Sustainable Futures”.
IOI Nigeria, in collaboration with the United Nations Information Center, organised a hybrid public lecture as well as various activities on 11 June. A welcome addresses were delivered by the Director of IOI Nigeria, Akanbi Bamikole Williams, the Executive Director/CEO NIOMR, represented by the Director of Research/Fisheries Resources, P O Obatola and Director, UN Information Centre, highlighting the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France. A presentation on the IOI Nigeria Center’s activities and achievements was also delivered.
The public lecture titled "Wonders Without Borders: Sustaining the Ocean Through Global Ocean Agreements” brought to the fore the significance of the High Seas Treaty and the importance of the Area and Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ/BBNJ); a very pertinent topic since Nigeria was about to ratify the High Seas Treaty. Speakers included the lead negotiator for Nigeria, ECOWAS and Africa group, Emeritus Prof Babajide Alo, whose presentation delved into the Ocean space and the description of the ABNJ/BBNJ, Ocean and human activities, legal frameworks for the ABNJ-BBNJ, timeline and journey for the treaty, importance of the treaty for Nigeria, timelines of actions for implementation, amongst others. He stressed the importance of the Nigerian Government effecting implementation of the treaty after the ratification.
Two other lectures highlighted the importance of circular economics through the achievements of the recycling systems in Nigeria: “Plastic Pollution: Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) and Circular Economy” delivered by Dr. Taiwo Adewole, who is the National Country coordinator of Eco-Cyclo Plastics Nigeria; and the ‘The power of collaboration in achieving sustainability solutions to plastic pollution” delivered by Dr Alexander Akhigbe of the Cleanup Initiative of Nigeria.
Other events include cultural dance by a school from a coastal community (Makoko) in Lagos and exhibition of upcycled materials and wares by some partner organisations.
IOI Costa Rica organised the screening of a series of short pre-recorded videos in Spanish. In these videos, posters and scientific presentations by various authors from the National University (UNA), who later participated in the One Ocean Science Congress in Nice, France. The videos highlighted the topics, findings, and relevance of different research projects carried out by UNA researchers in the field of ocean sciences, showcasing them in an informative way for the general public.
A virtual roundtable followed including discussions and Q&As with the participation of the authors of the posters and presentations. During this session, the public’s questions were answered, discussions were carried out on the topics addressed, and reflections were shared on the role of ocean science in understanding marine processes and supporting decision-making.
Another WOD-linked event was held on 12 June, titled “How Do the Seas Move? A Simple Look at Oceanographic Models” organised as one of the scientific outreach activities promoted by IOI Costa Rica and UNA, in the Spanish language. The lecture was delivered by Mauro W. Santiago García, professor and researcher at the Autonomous University of Baja California, with extensive experience in physical oceanography and numerical modeling in regions such as the Gulf of California and the Eastern Pacific. The purpose of this activity was to bring the public closer to the field of oceanographic modeling, showing how tools, such as the CROCO model, make it possible to analyse marine dynamics and contribute to the understanding of different oceanic processes.
Both events were carried out in Spanish language and reached people from Central America, Caribbean and South America countries.
IOI Thailand Alumni celebrated WOD and the 25th Anniversary of IOI Thailand with an event at Saphan Hin, Phuket Municipality. The event included: statements by key organisers on objectives to engage the public for Thai Seas, their resources, conservation and management, and local cooperation. Messages from IOI Honorary President, Awni Behnam; the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Thailand, Faiyaz Murshid Kazi, were also provided. The day featured stocking of marine shrimp; walking through mangrove forest areas; paying respect to the Kromluang Chumphon Khetudomsak Shrine; and walking along the Saphan Hin Loop with a total distance of 2.5 km.
The event was possible thanks to the Alumni Society of KU Phuket-Phang-Nga, Or-Bor-Jor Phuket, 3rd Naval Area Command, Royal Thai Navy, Phuket Municipality, and all sponsors (PTTEP, Embassy of Bangladesh to Thailand, Alumni Association of Faculty of Fisheries of KU, SEAFDEC, the International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS) Asia, & Khun Choke Na Ranong).
Read the message by the Honorary President, IOI, here.