This Friday, June 8 is World Oceans Day, a day when people around the globe come together to celebrate our ocean and take action to protect it. Not only does the ocean make our world liveable, we need healthy oceans for food, water, commerce, recreation, and medicine.

Unfortunately, the ocean has suffered some serious blows lately: 90% of the big fish in the sea are gone, the gyres are filled with more plastic than previously estimated, the Deepwater Horizon disaster dumped 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, and coastal dead zones from agricultural runoff are worse than ever.

Yet, most of us don’t realize the ocean is truly in danger. Most Americans think that the ocean is healthy and “too vast” for individual action to have an impact. In fact, the American public believes that ocean waters bordering the US are significantly less imperiled than are “foreign” waters. Sadly, that isn’t true.

The good news is that a record number of aquariums, zoos, and museums are providing ways on World Oceans Day for their visitors to get inspired and take personal action to help our world’s ocean.

So, let’s all transform our concern and “green-friendliness” into action and join 11x ASP World Surfing Champ Kelly Slater and take action for our world ocean. There are hundreds of events being held all over the world, so find one near you and celebrate with a purpose this World Oceans Day… the perfect day for all of us across the country and around the world to celebrate our ocean connections, do more for ocean conservation, and learn more about our ocean!

Check out www.theoceanproject.org for ideas, free materials, and event listings.

Let’s save our oceans!