At the Aquarium of Paris, preparations are underway for World Oceans Day, on 8 June. With over , this institution seeks to raise awareness of the issues facing the marine world – while showcasing its many marvels.
Visitors leave the aquarium enthralled, but also better informed. According to Zahraa Hachel, a young guest, ‘I think the most beautiful thing about the ocean is all its different colours. And the ocean has taught me that we need to protect it so that the fish can live.’
Inspiring wonder, advancing understanding
As Zahraa’s experience shows, the ocean is not only a vast and powerful ecosystem – it is one of humanity’s greatest teachers. Waves, tides and marine life hold vital lessons about connection, responsibility and sustainability; wonder is often the first step towards learning these lessons.
For this reason, ‘wonder’ is the theme of World Oceans Day in 2025. It is also a pillar of UNESCO’s ocean literacy programmes, which explore how humans influence the ocean, and how the ocean influences us. By encouraging curiosity, these programmes aim to advance education and understanding, and spur efforts for protection.
One example is SEA BEYOND, launched by UNESCO and the Prada Group in 2019. Focusing on practical hands-on learning activities, this programme has taught nearly 35,000 students in 56 countries about ocean issues – and will reach many more through the SEA BEYOND Ocean Literacy Centre that opened in Venice in April.
UNESCO is also supporting citizen science initiatives to better understand marine biodiversity. For instance, its pioneering Environmental DNA (eDNA) Expeditions have explored 21 marine World Heritage sites since 2022. Guided by experts, 250 citizen scientists took samples from soil, water and air, which were then sent to specialized laboratories for eDNA sequencing, identifying nearly 4,500 species.
Our ocean, the great unifier
For UNESCO, the first principle of ocean literacy is that the ocean is ‘the great unifier’. As the defining physical feature of our planet, covering around 70% of the Earth’s surface, it connects all the world’s populations.
We share one ocean. So, if we want the ocean to be healthy, we can't just look after our little piece of the ocean, but we need to understand the whole picture.
To better understand our shared ocean and the threats it faces, UNESCO and its foster international collaboration among Member States, multilateral organizations, scientific institutions, educators and civil society. These efforts have gained new impetus with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), for which UNESCO is the lead agency.
Over 700 innovative projects are being implemented as part of the Ocean Decade, including the SEA BEYOND and eDNA initiatives. By generating new data and knowledge, they are helping to develop science-based solutions that will be showcased at the United Nations Ocean Conference from 9 to 13 June in Nice, France.
The key message is this: a sustainable planet is impossible without a healthy ocean. In the words of Corentin Garde-Lansard, Director of Informal Education at Paris Aquarium, ‘The ocean concerns us all, whether we live by the coast or in the heart of the city.’
