How to get involved in World Oceans Day 2019

World Oceans Day, the annual global event aimed at tackling some of the biggest threats facing our oceans, will take place on June 8, 2019. This year's theme is ''Gender and the Ocean' and will focus on promoting gender equality in ocean conservation, as well as raising awareness of plastic pollution and how smalls steps can make a big difference in saving our oceans.

Getting involved is easy. There are hundreds of events taking place all over the world - just pick your favourite and get stuck in! Here's our pick of some of the most exciting events taking place on World Oceans Day:

Americas

• United States: Coralpalooza - head to Key Largo, Florida, to take part in this year's coral restoration project. Those with an Open Water Scuba certification (and who have been diving within the past 12 months) can dive the Florida Reef Tract and help outplant corals from the largest Coral Tree Nursery in the world. Find out more here
• United States: World Oceans Day at the San Francisco Zoo - visit one of the only zoos located along the sea for a special celebration of our blue planet. San Francisco Zoo will present the best of the International Ocean Film Festival in the Great Hall all weekend long, as well as offering special animal care talks at the penguin and sea lion habitats. Find out more here
• United States: The Hudson River Loop – in a city that never sleeps it can be hard to find time to help the environment. This World Oceans Day, dress head to toe in blue and join the 30 mile walk to raise awareness for the cause. Take part in giant sea-themed human formations and and get stuck into clean-ups along the way in Liberty State Park and Riverside Park West. Finish the day with a sunset BBQ. Find out more here
• United States: International Ocean Film Tour - head to the Mote Marine Aquarium in Florida on June 6 for the sixth annual International Ocean Film Tour showcasing some of the most inspiring environmental documentaries, ocean adventures and water sports clips of the past year. Find out more here
• United States: Capitol Hill Ocean Week - presented by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, CHOW will bring together leaders and global stakeholders to discuss a wide range of ocean conservation issues. There will also be an Ocean Awards Gala honouring champions of marine stewardship with tickets available for the public to buy. Find out more here
• United States: World Oceans day in Hawaii – celebrate the occasion at the Maui Ocean Center. The day starts with a beach and reef clean-up, followed by local live music, a 3D show about the Humpback Whales of Hawaii, coconut weaving, hula lessons and more. There’s also the North Shore Ocean Fest at Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu, which will kick off with a 5k Race to Save The Ocean. Afterwards, be sure to say hello to BIG MAMA – a life-sized, walk-inside inflatable humpback whale. Find out more here
• Brazil: Clean The Ocean - join local Scouts groups at Beira Mar for a day of beach cleaning and education on how plastic pollution is affecting our oceans. Find out more here
• The Galapagos: The Charles Darwin Foundation Open Day - while the archipelago lies over 1000 kilometres off shore, it's certainly not immune to the effects of ocean pollution. On July 19, head to Santa Cruz Island in Puerto Ayora to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Galapagos National Park and find out how you can help save these rich and remote islands. Find out more here

Europe

• UK: Ocean Talks - held at the Royal Geographic Society in London, Ocean Talks will bring together some of the world's leading environmental activists and marine experts to discuss the issue of plastic pollution and uncover solutions to some of the biggest problems facing the world's oceans. Find out more here
• Ireland: Seafest - taking place from June 7-9 in Cork, Seafest celebrates all things marine. The 2019 event will feature talks from Blue Planet cameraman Doug Allan, displays from world champion flyboarders, sustainable seafood cookery lessons, sailing workshops and plenty of educational workshops and activities. Plus, step aboard the Marine Institute’s marine research vessel the RV Celtic Explorer. Find out more here
• Gibraltar: The Great Gibraltar Beach Cleans – do your bit for the environment and get stuck into the 45th Great Gibraltar Beach Clean. The waste collected is sent to a local recycling plant to be weighed, sorted and recycled so it doesn’t end up in landfill or the sea. Find out more here
• France: Fâte de L’Océan – from June 6-9 the Ocean Festival takes place across Paris with a number of events to celebrate the world’s oceans. From exhibitions at the National Museum of Natural History to cinema concerts, artistic performances, film screening on the ocean at the Tropical Aquarium – there’s plenty to do. Find out more here
• The Netherlands: Plasticity - join in the conversation in Amsterdam on June 19 for the 12th Global Plasticity forum, a one-day "Ted-Talks" style event on sustainability and the future of plastic and the planet. The forum is made up of international speakers, presentations, panels, networking opportunities, and lots of ideas. Find out more here

Asia

• Thailand: Bike for Coastal Conservation – join a 25 kilometre biking campaign on June 9, organised by the International Ocean Institute Thailand, to help raise awareness for marine conservation and to promote gender equality and empowerment in ocean conservation. Find out more here
• Thailand: World Oceans Day on Koh Tao – the island is famed for its beautiful waterways but that doesn’t mean it's immune from plastic pollution. The New Heaven Reef Conservation Program have organised a day of ocean-saving activities including clean ups, workshops and there’s even a special guest. Find out more here
• The Philippines: Cleaning waterways – join local scouts to help clean up the The Calapan River - one of the most polluted in the country – which stretches 11 kilometres through the city of Calapan in Oriental Mindoro. Find out more here

Africa

• Kenya: World Oceans Day in Mombassa – from June 7-9 100 young changemakers will embark on a 495 kilometre journey by caravan from Nairobi to Mombassa, the largest and longest ocean awareness road trip in East Africa. The initiative, organised by the Global Youth Biodiversity Network, will highlight the importance of ocean conservation in local communities, ignite discussions, and invites you to join their beach clean-ups along the way. Find out more here
• Mozambique: #VILANKULOLIVREDEPLASTICO - join the local community of Vilankulo in Mozambique for a beach clean-up in the area and help recover plastic in the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park area. Find out more here
• South Africa: The Plett Oceans Day Challenge – the Fat Fish Restaurant in Plettenberg Bay has spearheaded an initiative to eliminate three particular single-use plastics in the restaurant industry in the area: plastic straws, individually wrapped after-dinner sweets and take-away containers. Launched on April 10, The Plett Oceans Day Challenge will culminate in a beach clean-up to celebrate the establishments who pledged to make a plastic free Plett a reality. Find out more here

Oceania

• Australia: World Oceans Day Gold Coast clean- up – conservation organisation Humpbacks & High-rises invites you to a beach-clean up at Burleigh Beach in Queensland. While you’re there, sign up to one of their whale research expeditions where you can participate vital research that can help protect whales and other marine life on the east coast of Australia. Find out more here

To organise your own ocean clean-up or find one nearest to you click here.