Today marks World Oceans Day, a time to celebrate our oceans and the major role they play in everyday life. This year's theme is "Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing." As we take time to celebrate the waters that surround us, let us be reminded that we have a shared responsibility to protect them for future generations.

On this World Oceans Day, the Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced investments aimed at protecting Canada’s oceans and the marine species and habitats within them. Minister Murray announced successful funding recipients for the Oceans Management Contribution Program, as well as a Call for Proposals for the Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk (CNFASAR).

Budget 2023 announced renewed funding up to $40 million over three years for CNFASAR that will allow additional projects to be funded. Fisheries and Oceans Canada will soon be accepting proposals for projects that support the conservation of biodiversity across Canada through collaboration and partnership to recover aquatic species at risk, including for projects that work to protect at-risk marine species from fishing interactions and physical and acoustic disturbances.

Our government is committed to working in collaboration with key partners, Indigenous Peoples, stakeholders and academia, as these initiatives will further Canada’s efforts to conserve our marine spaces and protect the species and habitats within them.

"World Oceans Day is a time to reflect upon and celebrate the beauty and importance of our oceans. It’s also a time for renewed inspiration, to protect the ecosystems that contribute to our way of life, now and for future generations."

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To read Justin Trudeau's statement on World Oceans Day, please click here.

For more information regarding the investments the Government of Canada has made in Canada's oceans and the species within them on this World Ocean Day, please read more here.

For more information regarding what our Government is doing to protect our oceans please read more about our Oceans Protection Plan.

We invite you to take visible action to contribute to maintaining a healthy ocean. For more resources, please visit the World Ocean Day Website.