#WorldOceansDay - Celebrate World Oceans Day at Galway Atlantaquaria in Salthill this Sunday 12 June from 11am until 5pm with a full program of interactive exhibits focused on fun, information, education and science.
Ireland's national aquarium joins hundreds of organisations all over the world in promoting the health of the sea, how we impact the oceans and how the oceans influence us.
The day's exhibits include ideas on how we can use the ocean's resources in a more responsible way, with the Smartbay team showcasing how marine technology is used to harness ocean energy.
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme will also be promoting its 'Exploring Our Ocean' arts activities with opportunities to learn about what we love about the ocean.
David O'Sullivan, a marine biologist and hydrographer with INFOMAR, will give a talk on the programme's seabed mapping activities that underpin marine research, and will show some exciting seabed imagery of underwater mountains and shipwrecks beneath the waves.
Other activities on the day include interactive science and cartoon drawing workshops, arts and crafts, and face painting. There will also be special screenings of Octonauts and the Pelicans every hour for our younger marine enthusiasts.
World Oceans Day is a United Nations recognised day of celebration and action for the ocean, held every 8 June. The concept for a World Ocean Day was first proposed in 1992 by the Government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and was officially recognised by the UN in December 2008.
The Ocean Project has been the lead organisation promoting and co-ordinating this event since 2002, in partnership with many other organisations and networks, including the World Ocean Network and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Find out more on Ireland's World Oceans Day events at the Galway Atlantaquaria website and Facebook page.