Happy World Oceans Day! Covering over 70 percent of the planet, oceans are vital to our climate, food supply, economy and way of life. Wherever you live, everyone is connected to the ocean in some way. Managing thousands of miles of coastline and millions of acres in marine and coastal national parks, Interior is a principal steward of America’s ocean resources. Photo of a whale breaching at Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve in Alaska by National Park Service.

It’s World Oceans Day – a time for people to spotlight the importance of oceans, which connects us all on our blue planet. Located halfway between Hawai‘i and American Samoa, Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge is a circular string of about 26 islets nestled among several lagoons and encircled by 15,000 acres of shallow turquoise reefs and deep blue submerged reefs. Palmyra Atoll is one of six refuges in the area that provide a safe haven for millions of birds and marine life that feed, mate and give life to their offspring in the shallow waters nearby. 

Learn what we are doing to protect oceans and how you can help.

Photo by Kydd Pollock, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Happy World Oceans Day! Covering over 70 percent of the planet, oceans are vital to our climate, food supply and way of life. Wherever you live, everyone is connected to the ocean. Interior is a principal steward of America’s ocean resources and we’re constantly working for a cleaner and more sustainable future. Photo of a whale breaching at Kenai Fjords National Park by Steve Boice (www.sharetheexperience.org).

Here’s a great way to end World Oceans Day. This baby turtle hatchling journeys to the ocean at Dry Torturgas National Park in Florida. These little guys know how important oceans are to all living things. National Park Service video. 🐢🐢

Happy World Oceans Day – a day dedicated to celebrating the impact of oceans on our daily lives and raising awareness about how to better protect them. Pictured here is the colorful coral reef at Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. The usfws refuge is located halfway between Hawai‘i and American Samoa and is one of the most diverse and spectacular coral reef systems in the world. Photo by Jim Maragos, USFWS.

Happy World Oceans Day! Here’s a great photo from Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Where is your favorite place to enjoy the ocean on America’s public lands? 

Photo: Carol Williams (www.sharetheexperience.org)