Photograph of Pacific Ocean courtesy of Mary O’Connor rsm, South Central Branch

World Oceans Day is marked on 8th June to raise awareness of how the oceans benefit us and our duty, individually and communally, to use its resources sustainably for ourselves and for future generations.

Worryingly, marine pollution is reaching extreme levels, with over 17 million metric tons clogging the ocean in 2021, a figure set to double or triple by 2040. Plastic is the most harmful type of ocean pollution.

The World Oceans Day 2025 theme is “Wonder: Sustaining what sustains us”. It precedes the 2025 UN Ocean Conference to be held from 9th – 13th June 2025. The Conference aims to drive urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Sisters of Mercy, in our commitment to caring for the environment, recognise the urgent need to safeguard this vast, yet fragile, resource.