▁profile ▁of ▁the ▁ocean ▁and ▁r ally ▁the ▁world ▁every ▁ 8 ▁June , ▁with ▁expanded ▁invol vement ▁and ▁action ▁year - round . ▁Under ▁The ▁Ocean ▁Project ▁leadership , ▁World ▁O ce ans ▁Day ▁has ▁grown ▁from ▁a ▁hand ful ▁of ▁events ▁in ▁a ▁few ▁countries ▁before ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁into ▁a ▁global ▁celebr ation ▁of ▁our ▁ocean . ▁The ▁Ocean ▁Project ▁uses ▁this ▁day ▁with ▁the ▁help ▁of ▁its ▁network ▁to ▁promote ▁rest oring ▁and ▁protect ing ▁the ▁ocean . ▁Their ▁Ann ual ▁Report ▁from ▁ 2 0 1 9 ▁shows ▁more ▁than ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁events ▁in ▁over ▁ 1 4 0 ▁countries ▁throughout ▁the ▁year . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁the ▁campaign ' s ▁theme ▁was ▁G ender ▁and ▁the ▁Ocean , ▁pushing ▁for ▁both ▁ocean ▁prote ctions ▁and ▁promote ▁gender ▁equality . ▁ ▁The ▁goal ▁for ▁their ▁ 2 0 2 0 ▁campaign ▁is ▁" to ▁call ▁on ▁world ▁leaders ▁to ▁protect ▁ 3 0 % ▁of ▁our ▁blue ▁planet ▁by ▁ 2 0 3 0 ." ▁The ▁project ▁is ▁now ▁recognized ▁by ▁the ▁United ▁Nations . ▁▁ 3 ) ▁Youth ▁In iti ative ▁Based ▁on ▁The ▁Ocean ▁Project ▁market ▁research ▁that ▁unders c ores ▁the ▁importance ▁of ▁eng aging ▁younger ▁gener ations ▁in ▁conservation , ▁The ▁Ocean ▁Project ▁collabor ative ▁youth ▁initi ative ▁helps ▁to ▁develop ▁a ▁broad , ▁diverse , ▁active , ▁and ▁un ited ▁youth ▁constitu ency . ▁Connect ing ▁with ▁Z AM ▁partners ▁and ▁other ▁youth -