Aquarium celebrates World Oceans Day and spotlights importance of protecting seas and marine wildlife June 6, 2010

Every day is oceans day at the New England Aquarium, but Sunday June 6 the Aquarium will host a “World Oceans Day” celebration on its front plaza and harbor-side terrace that is free and open to the public. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill has provided us with a stark reminder of the importance and fragility of Earth’s largest habitat. World Oceans Day is a great opportunity to learn how to “live blue” and to keep our oceans, our planet and ourselves healthy.

Families can learn what the New England Aquarium and many other nonprofit organizations and private companies are doing to protect and care for our life-giving seas. Among the many activities, visitors can participate in dock-side studies of water and marine animals in Boston Harbor, watch a sustainable seafood cooking demonstration, meet the Aquarium’s seven harbor seals, learn about the Aquarium’s successful effort to create the world’s largest marine protected area in the Pacific and even recycle plastic bags. There are many other family friendly activities including scavenger hunts, costumed characters, and give-aways. WXRV 92.5, the River, will provide music. The World Oceans Day celebration is free, but admission into the Aquarium is additional.

Part of the World Oceans Day celebration across the globe includes celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dr. Seuss’s book, “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.” This iconic reader is among the top ten children’s book of all time. The author of Dr. Seuss was Springfield, Massachusetts native Theodore Geisel. Visitors can listen to a reading of “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” and see how many of the book’s characters that they can find in the Aquarium.

Among the participants expected: Stop & Shop Supermarkets, WXRV 92.5 The River radio station, the Rose Kennedy Greenway, Polar Beverages, Boston Harbor Islands, Conservation Law Foundation, NOAA Fisheries Service, and the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies