World Ocean Day and the changing tides

June 8 is World Ocean Day. On this one day each year we pause to celebrate our global ocean, which gives us oxygen, food, medicines, energy, and which holds in its depths such cultural and spiritual significance. The ocean is the cradle of all life on Earth; it shapes the land we live on; and it gives us a means to connect with one another across the globe – 90% of the world’s goods are shipped by sea. Ocean health is required for the long-term health of the planet and all of humanity. Our ocean is worth celebrating, and this year, there’s lots to celebrate.

In the last six months, two global agreements have been reached concerning how we govern and protect our ocean. In the fall of 2022, in Montreal, countries came together and agreed on a global biodiversity framework that includes the goal of protecting 30% of all of the world’s land, freshwater and ocean water area by 2030. And in March of 2023, global negotiations on how we will manage, protect, and derive benefits from the biodiversity of the high seas (the ocean space away from the coast, not owned or regulated by a country), were resolved, and a high seas treaty was agreed-upon. The negotiations that began nearly twenty years ago, in 2004, have resulted in a legal instrument that gives us a way to work together across the world to ensure we have a healthy and productive ocean.

This year’s World Ocean Day theme reflects these, and many more, positive changes for our future ocean: Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing. No matter where you are in the world, you can feel the immensity of the tides turning, reversing course. Close your eyes. Feel the strength of all of our collective actions pushing together, changing the tides on ocean health.

In Canada, we can feel the tides changing in many ways. Our country has become a powerhouse for ocean literacy. Last year, over 160 events were held across the country for Ocean Week Canada; even more are planned for 2023. Over the last five years, the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition has grown a community of people working to increase Canadians’ relationship with the ocean and their local waterways. Since launching in 2018, Ocean School, which aims to empower people with knowledge, tools, and inspiration so that they can take action for the ocean, has connected with over 3 million people on social media and has had 460,000 teaching sessions on it's platform across Canada, USA and France. Ocean Networks Canada is teaching students how to use ocean data to increase ocean stewardship and climate action. Ocean Wise recently launched education kits on species at risk, ocean plastics, and the UNESCO-designated biosphere site, Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound, a coastal fjord ecosystem in the Salish Sea.

The tides are changing in Canada’s ban of single use plastics and the increased use of reusable water bottles and shopping bags, helping to keep plastics out of the ocean and waterways. We can feel it in the small acts of courage by each individual, to choose to eat sustainably fished seafood or pick up garbage along a river, lake or ocean shore.

As part of Truth and Reconciliation, we’re looking to our Indigenous communities to lead and engage in ocean management and conservation. In fact, the Haíɫzaqv people of what is now called western British Columbia, don’t have a word in their language for ‘management’. The closest they have is one that means ‘to take care of’. For thousands of years, they have been caretakers of the ocean and natural environment, so that the ocean continues to provide salmon, herring and their eggs, and more for their people. The Haíɫzaqv take some and leave a lot.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are being established to meet our commitment to protect 30% of Canada’s ocean area. For instance, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is working with First Nations to designate a new MPA off the coast of British Columbia. Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxwiqak – Tsig̱is, the proposed MPA, will cover 133,019 square kilometres – nearly 1% of Canada’s ocean area and protect seamount and hydrothermal vent ecosystems.

This year’s World Ocean Day takes place during the third year of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development. The world’s ocean science community is coming together to transform how ocean science is done, including by whom it is done and what constitutes ocean knowledge. We’re seeking the perspectives, leadership and engagement of Indigenous and local peoples to manage fisheries and ocean resources. And we’re focused on bringing in and supporting young ocean professionals, women and girls and gender-diverse people, and on a global scale, people from Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries.

The momentum for ocean protection and knowledge is building, across the country and the globe. Maybe it’s time, if you haven’t already, to join us in the celebration, and in strengthening the changing tides. All are welcome – come take part!