Marine Institute celebrates World Oceans Day on Wednesday, June 15

The Fisheries and Marine Institute (MI) of Memorial University of Newfoundland will celebrate World Oceans Day on Wednesday, June 15 and invites the public to join the festivities. The event begins at 10 a.m. and wraps up at 1:30 p.m.

MI Ocean Net volunteers are celebrating the World Oceans Day by displaying their continued commitment to protecting the province’s ocean environment with a beach cleanup on Topsail Beach in Conception Bay South. The event was originally scheduled to take place on June 8, but had to be rescheduled due to rain. Participants in Wednesday’s cleanup will include Paradise Elementary School students; MI students and staff; divers from Ocean Quest; volunteers from the Friends of Topsail Beach community group;  the Department of Fisheries and Oceans; and staff from the Town of Conception Bay South.

“We are celebrating our marine environment and the individuals and groups who work so hard to make a difference. We want to educate people on the importance of conservation, while showing everyone just how much of a difference we can make in the protection of marine and ocean environments in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Justin Dearing, conference coordinator, MI Ocean Net.

The Topsail Beach cleanup begins at 10 a.m. with a welcoming address and short discussion, followed by a beach, shoreline and underwater cleanup of the area by volunteers and divers. Activities conclude at 1:30 p.m. Music, face painting, a mussel boil and snacks are also part of the celebrations. Participants are reminded to wear sturdy footwear, bring a lunch and to wear appropriate clothing to prepare for possible changing weather conditions.

“The Marine Institute is pleased to once again take part in World Oceans Day celebrations. It is an important date for all of us concerned with the long-term sustainability of our ocean and marine environments,” said Glenn Blackwood, executive director, Marine Institute. “We hope to educate and empower our volunteers through events such as the Topsail Beach cleanup, while encouraging them to become stewards of the environment.”

World Oceans Day is held June 8 every year to honour the world's oceans and celebrate the products the oceans provide. Groups from around the world use the occasion to build greater awareness of the crucial role of oceans in our lives and the important ways people can help guarantee the sustainability and well being of the plant’s oceans.