The concept for a "World Ocean Day" was first proposed in 1992 by Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and it has 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.

This year's World Oceans Day theme is Oceans of Life, which focuses on the ocean's great diversity of life and how we can all help conserve oceans.

Events and celebrations are planned worldwide and can be found the on World Oceans Event webpage. Canadian events include a Biologist Guided Boat Tour in Tofino (British Columbia), World Oceans Week Festival at the Vancouver Aquarium, Oceans Day Festival Society in Victoria (British Columbia) and Commons Group Gathering to mark World Oceans Day on Parliament Hill.