World Ocean Day: Celebrating the Blue Heart of Our Planet

Every year on June 8^th, the world comes together to celebrate World Ocean Day, a global tribute to the ocean’s life-giving power, awe-inspiring beauty, and economic importance. As we mark the occasion in 2025, the focus is sharper than ever: the need for urgent and unified action to restore and protect the fragile marine ecosystems that sustain us all.

Covering more than 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface, oceans are responsible for generating over 50 per cent of the planet’s oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, regulating climate, and supporting marine biodiversity that includes everything from microscopic plankton to majestic blue whales. They also play a crucial role in human livelihoods, especially through tourism, transport, and fishing industries.

According to recent data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), coastal and marine tourism contributed a staggering US$ $1.5 trillion to the global economy and supported around 52 million jobs in 2023. However, this vibrant sector is under serious threat. The WTTC estimates that a minimum of US$ $65 billion is needed annually to help the industry adapt to and mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, warming waters, and increasingly frequent storms.

These issues are not future possibilities, they are already here. Climate change is accelerating ocean acidification, making waters more hostile to corals, shellfish, and a wide array of marine species. Coral reefs, which support 25 per cent of all marine life and protect coastlines from extreme weather, are bleaching and dying at an alarming rate. This not only harms biodiversity but also endangers communities and economies that depend on healthy marine ecosystems.

But the financial story is only one part. The UN Ocean Conference, which also opened on World Ocean Day in Nice, France. Despite oceans being the largest carbon sink on Earth, they receive a fraction of the attention and funding given to terrestrial conservation. While only around 2.7 per cent of the world’s marine areas are currently protected, there is a growing international push to safeguard 30 per cent of oceans by 2030 under the “30x30” pledge. Reaching this target is not just symbolic—it is essential for reversing biodiversity loss and ensuring climate resilience.

Marine vegetation, particularly seaweeds, also plays a surprisingly large role in maintaining ecological balance. These underwater forests help purify water, support fish populations, and store vast amounts of carbon. Yet, they are often overlooked in conservation efforts, receiving little policy support or public attention.

Despite the challenges, World Ocean Day is a call to action, not despair. The GOAP Progress Report showcases how countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, Costa Rica and Mozambique are adopting ocean accounting to balance economic use with conservation. Such financial and ecological transparency is essential to guide policymakers and investors toward sustainable ocean governance. Pacific Island nations, on the frontlines of rising seas, are also leading by example: restoring coral reefs, planting mangroves, and enforcing marine protected zones to bolster both biodiversity and livelihoods.

World Ocean Day is also an invitation for individual action. While large-scale policy and investment are critical, small choices made by everyday citizens can ripple outwards. Reducing plastic consumption, supporting sustainable seafood, and choosing responsible tourism providers are some of the simple yet powerful steps anyone can take to be part of the solution.

Businesses, too, must step up. Hotels and travel companies operating in coastal zones can implement eco-certifications, invest in reef-safe infrastructure, and collaborate with local communities on conservation projects. Green tourism is not a trend, it is the only viable path forward.

Therefore, GOAP envisions a future where ocean accounting is embedded in how countries govern their marine resources, informing policy, enabling investment, and supporting a just transition to sustainable ocean economies. By 2030, the Partnership aims to move from innovation to institution, ensuring that ocean accounts don't just monitor ocean health but actively shape decisions about our ocean's future.

As we reflect on this year’s theme, “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us”, we are reminded that the health of our oceans is directly tied to the health of our planet and our own well-being.  It urges us to not only admire the vast blue expanses but also to take conscious steps to preserve them. From nurturing coral reefs and coastal habitats to embracing sustainable travel and consumption, every effort counts in securing the future of our seas. The ocean is not a resource to be exploited, but a life system to be respected, protected, and restored. The time to act is now. By investing in the ocean, we are investing in a bluer, better, and more balanced future for generations to come.