Without the world’s oceans, Earth would just be another rock hurtling through space. As surfers we’ve figured out how to have a hell of a lot of fun in the water, but of course, there’s much more to it. The oceans are the foundation of life on our planet.
“We’re all family. There’s one ocean system, we all depend on it for the quality of our lives,” ocean advocate Jean-Michel Cousteau once explained to me from his Ocean Futures Society headquarters in Santa Barbara. “You have a drink of water, you’re drinking the ocean. You go skiing, you’re skiing on the ocean. It covers 70 percent of our planet and everything we put into ends up coming back around to us.”
World Oceans Day lands on Sunday, June 8. Part celebration, part call to arms, the day is an opportunity to reinvigorate our commitment to protecting and preserving the vital resource that gives the Blue Planet its name. In 1992, Canada introduced the original World Oceans Day initiative at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 2009, the United Nations officially recognized June 8 at World Oceans Day, and here we are keeping the dream alive 17 years later.
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“People protect what they love. We need to help them fall in love with the ocean,” once said pioneering ocean explorer and father of Jean-Michel, Jacques Cousteau.
As surfers we’ve had no problem falling in love with the ocean. It’s why you’re reading these words right now. And when it comes to “sharing the stoke” or “spreading aloha,” that largely means helping people fall in love with the ocean. From the waves we ride, to the fish we eat and the rain that falls from the sky, even if you miss a surf session, every single day of your life is impacted by the ocean.
This year SURFER is proud to team up with Costa Sunglasses to help raise awareness around World Oceans Day and the ongoing fight to save the seas.
“Adventure isn’t just about the journey; it’s about responsibility. To explore freely is to protect fiercely. Every wave, every reef, and every untamed stretch of wilderness deserves our respect and care,” shares the Costa team.
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When it comes to fighting for and protecting our oceans and beaches, there are countless ways to help the cause. Because it’s not just the trash we see in the sand or the garbage patches in the middle of the ocean, the nuance and complicated nature of the problem means there’s opportunity for every to chip in.
Environmental justice is social justice. Women, Indigenous peoples and communities of color often find themselves on the frontlines of pollution and climate change. Protecting the ocean also means protecting their livelihoods and the ecosystems in which they live and support their communities.
Business practices also play a role. Case in point, Costa’s Untangled Collection. Made from discarded fishing nets in partnership with Bureo, the innovative line of shades are made from 97 percent to 100 percent recycled fishing nets. Ghost nets floating through the ocean are not only a massive problem for marine life, but there’s also the issue of what to do with the old nets when they’re no longer in service. Solutions like the Untangle Collection address both … and look great.
How will you honor World Oceans Day this year? Organize a beach cleanup with friends. Put a sign in your window. Donate to your favorite ocean-related charity. Shop for some ocean-friendly products. Or just go surf. Whatever it is, just remember, without healthy, happy oceans, life for everyone on this planet would be a whole lot different.