According to the World Oceans Day website, as a result of a United Nations General Assembly resolution passed in December 2008, World Oceans Day is now officially recognized by the UN as June 8 each year.

The concept for a 'World Ocean Day' was first proposed in 1992 by the Government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and it had been unofficially celebrated every year since then.

Since 2002, The Ocean Project and the World Ocean Network have helped to promote and coordinate World Oceans Day events worldwide and help coordinate events and activities with aquariums, zoos, museums, conservation organisations, universities, schools, and businesses.

Each year an increasing number of countries and organisations have been marking June 8 as an opportunity to celebrate the world's oceans and people's connection to the sea.

The website says: "Together, we also developed and widely circulated a petition to the United Nations urging them to officially recognise World Oceans Day. With help from our partner organisations, tens of thousands of people from all parts of the world signed online or paper copies of the petition. Congratulations to all for helping to make this happen!"

The website address is: http://www.theoceanproject.org

Why should people celebrate World Oceans Day? The world's oceans:

• Generate most of the oxygen we breathe

• Help feed us

• Regulate our climate

• Clean the water we drink

• Offer us a pharmacopoeia of potential medicines

• Provide limitless inspiration!