World Oceans Day is meant to raise global awareness on the benefits derived from the oceans and the current challenges facing oceans, such as illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, habitat destruction, over-exploitation, marine pollution and ocean acidification, among others. The Day also provides an opportunity for reflection on our collective and individual duty to interact with oceans in a sustainable manner. The UN will celebrate World Oceans Day 2014 at an event on 9 June 2014 at UN Headquarters, New York, US. The winners of the Annual World Oceans Day Oceanic Photo competition will be recognized at the event. The Day also coincides with the first day of the 24th Meeting of the Meeting of Parties (MOP) to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Other celebrations for World Ocean Day 2014 will be marked globally and online.  

date: 8 June 2014   venue: UN Headquarters   location: New York City, US (worldwide)   contact: Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea   phone: (212) 963-3962   fax: (917) 367-0560   e-mail: doalos@un.org   www: http://www.un.org/depts/los/wod/commemoration-2014.html