June 8 is World Oceans Day, an annual celebration of our oceans and an opportunity to raise awareness of the need to take action to help protect and conserve the world’s ocean resources.
The theme for World Oceans Day 2020 – Together We Can Protect Our Home – is particularly relevant to Newfoundland and Labrador, where our lives and history have been so poignantly impacted by our relationship with the sea.
The Department of Fisheries and Land Resources has been an enthusiastic supporter of World Oceans Day since 2009, and recently supported a full week of fun and educational ocean-themed activities hosted online.
A key initiative included the launch of the new children’s e-book ‘Charley, A Day in the Bay’. This e-book is an exciting new outreach education initiative that follows the story of a young cod fish, who learns the importance of cod to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. A video reading of the book can be viewed at the Newfoundland and Labrador – World Oceans Day Facebook page.
Another popular event was the online 2020 World Oceans Day Art Contest which resulted in 197 submissions from Pre-K to Grade 12 students throughout the province. This year’s winners are listed in the backgrounder below. The winning submissions can be viewed along with all of the contest submissions at the Newfoundland and Labrador – World Oceans Day Facebook page.
Quote
“On World Oceans Day I encourage all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to consider the benefits provided by our ocean resources and reflect on what each of us can do to better safeguard our oceans from pollution and other harmful impacts. I also wish to acknowledge the dedicated efforts of the World Oceans Day committee for stepping up to provide a stellar lineup of online interactive activities this year particularly considering the challenges associated with COVID-19. A job well done indeed.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources
-30-
Learn more
World Oceans Day – NL Facebook Page
Media contact
Craig Renouf
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2923, 640-6922
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
2020 World Oceans Day Art Contest Winners
Brooke Peach
Kindergarten student from Hillview who attends Southwest Arm Academy
Alexis Normore
Grade 1 student from L’Anse au Loup who attends Labrador Straits Academy
Lexi Wight
Grade 2 student from Corner Brook who attends Immaculate Heart of Mary School
Logan Maloney
Grade 3 student from St. Johns who attends St. Theresa’s Elementary School
Abbigail Hookey
Grade 4 student from Port Union who attends Catalina Elementary School.
Janae Linfield
Grade 5 student from Grand Falls-Winsor who attends Sprucewood Academy.
Alex Whitaker
Grade 6 student from Portugal Cove- St. Phillips who attend Brookside Intermediate.
Lily Shand
Grade 7 student from St. Johns who attends Brother Rice Junior High School.
Maggie Howlett
Grade 8 student from St. Johns who attends St. Kevin’s Junior High School.
Annie Hu
Grade 9 student from St. Johns who attends St. Paul’s Junior High School.
Samantha Ryan
Grade 10 student from St. Johns who attends Gonzaga High School.
Abigail Hussey
Grade 11 student from Upper Island Cove who attends Ascension Collegiate.
Saydee (Adryan) Jones
Grade 12 student from Goose Bay who attends Mealy Mountain Collegiate