Let’s Get Involved This World Ocean Day!

The ocean is humanity’s life source! Every time World Oceans Day rolls around, it gives us a chance to appreciate our oceans, their incredible marine life, and how our oceans help us to survive and thrive. Did you know that:

1. The Earth is mostly made up of… you guessed it — water! Our oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface.
2. Our oceans produce 50% of the planet’s oxygen, which means that every second breath of oxygen that we take is thanks to the ocean.
3. Our oceans host 80% of the world’s biodiversity, and yet, only 5% of the planet’s oceans have ever been explored…
4. By 2030, more than 40 million people will be employed in ocean-based industries!
5. Our oceans absorb 4x more CO2 than the Amazon Rainforest.

Protecting 30% Of Our Land & Ocean By 2030 (30x30)

The end goal of the 30x30 campaign is to ensure that 30% of the Earth’s land and ocean is protected from harm. Currently, 17% of the Earth’s land and 8% of our oceans are protected. 

According to World Ocean Day, “to create a healthy ocean with abundant wildlife and to stabilise the climate, it’s critical that 30% of our planet’s lands, waters, and ocean are protected by 2030 (30×30). By supporting 30×30, we can  protect our planet’s life support systems — specifically the interconnected issues of ocean, climate, and biodiversity”. 

Five Ways To Get Involved On World Ocean Day

There are plenty of ways that we can help our oceans all-year round. Here are our top five:

1. Reduce single-use plastics: A garbage truck load of plastic is dumped into the sea every minute.
2. Clean up your local beach: There is over 150 million tonnes of plastic already floating in the sea. 
3. Support Aussie ocean conservation organisations: Australian Marine Conservation Society, Sea Shepherd, and WWF-Australia, just to name a few!
4. Go natural. Opting for natural products in your home reduce the amount of chemicals and micro plastics entering our waterways. (For inspo – check out our top 6 eco swaps to save the planet). 
5. Learn as much as you can. Documentaries like Seaspiracy (2021) provide an incredible overview of the fishing industry and its negative impact on our oceans and marine life.