CELEBRATE all things blue and wet—and maybe a beer—at World Ocean Day at Gage Roads Freo on Monday evening (June 8).
The free event features talks from leading scientists, conservationists and storytellers, and is designed to be accessible and appeal to everyone from beachgoers to recreational fishers.
Last year’s event was packed out with people turned away at the door, so make sure you get there early for the 5pm start.
There will be two panel discussions spanning science, conservation and community, with guest speakers including Dr Glenn Moore (WA Museum), Nush Freedman (Terra Australia / Shipwreck Hunters) and Dr Adrian Gleiss (Murdoch University).
They will talk about key ocean issues like tagging sharks and coral regeneration in an accessible and entertaining manner, along with local success stories, and the latest in marine research.
WA World Ocean Day is presented by The Jock Clough Marine Foundation, a Perth-based philanthropic foundation backing marine science and education across WA.
“The conversations happening in WA right now, including around fishing and sustainability, show just how much people care about our oceans,” says Sam Moyle, director of The Jock Clough Marine Foundation.
“This is about celebrating WA’s marine environment, while bringing science and the broader community together in a way that’s engaging, accessible, and inspiring.”
A highlight of the evening will be the arts organisation Blank Walls facilitating a community mural, with members of the public invited to play their part in restoring WA’s coral reef and colouring in the bleached coral.
There will also be stalls including Tangaroa Blue, the Hammerhead Hub, and Shark Eyes, and an exclusive 2026 WA World Ocean Day T-shirt.
“We’re incredibly lucky in WA, the ocean is part of our identity,” says Jock Clough, chairman of the advisory board to UWA Oceans Institute.
“But that also means we all have a role to play in understanding and protecting it.”
• Lots of fun was had at WA World Ocean Day 2024.
World Ocean Day unites and rallies the world to protect and restore our blue planet.
Since launching globally in 2002, World Ocean Day has grown from an idea to thousands of events and millions of people reached each year.
The World Ocean Day network has more than 2000 organisations in 180 countries.
Following a four-year petition drive, the United Nations officially recognised the Day in 2008.
World Ocean Day efforts have been co-led with a 25-member Youth Advisory Council since 2016, now with 149 alumni from 66 countries.
Now in its third year, WA World Ocean Day is on Monday June 8 at Gage Roads Freo. The event is free but registrations are encouraged via waworldoceanday.com.