June 1, 2023

National Ocean Month 2023 – NOAA, NASA, and a Presidential Proclamation

Posted by Laura Guertin

White House logo (white house in blue circle)June is a month for celebrations, including those focused on our world ocean. In the United States, our President proclaims the month of June as National Ocean Month and “call[s] upon Americans to take action to protect, conserve, and restore our ocean and coasts.” Each year, there is a different focus for the Presidential proclamation. I’ve compiled the prior proclamations going back to 2006, and here is a link to A Proclamation on National Ocean Month, 2023.

This year, President Biden calls attention to climate change, ocean acidification, new national marine sanctuaries, and the ocean economy. His proclamation highlights the United States Ocean Climate Action Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and America the Beautiful Initiative.

“It is hard to imagine just how much of the ocean we have yet to discover and what possibilities for the future of human and planetary health, as well as for our economy, lie beneath its surface.  This National Ocean Month, let us honor its beauty and bounty with action and commit to protecting and conserving it for generations to come.”  —  White House Briefing Room/Presidential Actions

There are other sources of information for National Ocean Month available online, from the U.S. Census Bureau to NOAA and NASA.

 

30 Days of the Ocean campaign with NOAA

The work of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) extends from the surface of the Sun to the depths of the ocean floor. Every year, NOAA has a very active 30 Days of the Ocean campaign. Their website shares the weekly themes, infographics, and ocean fact videos (and there are >340 ocean facts available from NOAA!). Be sure to search social media for the hashtag #OceanMonthNOAA.

 

Ocean Worlds Near and Far with NASA

NASA is engaged in research in our own water world, as well as the search for water on other planetary bodies. NASA explains Why NASA Studies the Ocean and has a post on tumblr Ways NASA Studies the Ocean. Although National Ocean Month is focused on Planet Earth, one can explore how learning about our own ocean assists NASA on understanding water in our solar system and beyond, as well as astrobiology and Earth’s ocean.

 


 

The following are prior blog posts that discuss National Ocean Month and World Ocean Day (June 8):

Other ocean-related celebrations taking place in June include:

  • World Reef Awareness Day (June 1)
  • World Environment Day (June 5)
  • World Oceans Day (June 8)
  • World Sea Turtle Day (June 16)
  • World Hydrography Day (June 21)
  • Day of the Seafarer (June 25)