WORLD OCEANS DAY 2025

World Oceans Day 2025

World Oceans Day: How Marinas Play a Leading Role in Ocean Health

On June 8, communities across the globe observe World Oceans Day to highlight the importance of our oceans and promote actions that protect them. For marinas, this global event offers more than just an environmental message—it’s a chance to reinforce their role as frontline stewards of coastal and freshwater ecosystems.

Boaters, dock staff, and marina operators interact with the water every day. This direct relationship puts marinas in a unique position to influence how water is treated, both physically and culturally. World Oceans Day creates an opportunity to amplify those efforts, educate visitors, and introduce sustainable practices that benefit both the marine environment and the boating community.

A Natural Connection

Marinas exist where land meets water, managing everything from boat waste disposal and stormwater runoff to fueling systems and shoreline access. These everyday operations have a direct impact on ocean health, whether on saltwater coasts or inland waterways that eventually drain into larger marine systems.

Boaters are increasingly aware of environmental issues like plastic pollution, oil spills, and declining water quality. When marinas lead by example—whether through pump-out programs, clean fuel handling, or shoreline restoration—they not only reduce harm but set a visible standard for others to follow.

Organizations such as the United Nations and WorldOceansDay.org provide tools, data, and inspiration to support education and events. Participation can be as simple as a clean-up day or as involved as hosting a community forum on sustainable boating.

Actions Marinas Can Take

World Oceans Day events don’t have to be large-scale to be effective. Even small steps can help a marina strengthen its environmental reputation and encourage positive change.

Host a Marina Clean-Up Event

Partner with local boating clubs, staff, or community members to collect trash and debris from the water, shoreline, and dock areas. This can be promoted as a hands-on way for slipholders and boaters to get involved.

The Ocean Conservancy’s Clean Swell app can be used to track litter collected during cleanups, adding real data to the effort and encouraging friendly competition.

Promote Eco-Friendly Boating Practices

Display signage or send out email tips focused on proper fueling, waste disposal, and bilge maintenance. The BoatU.S. Foundation provides free downloadable materials for marinas to distribute to their customers.

You can also demonstrate pump-out systems in action and explain their benefits, helping normalize their use among newer boaters.

Highlight Sustainable Infrastructure

If your marina has floating docks made from recycled materials, solar-powered lighting, or low-impact gangways, World Oceans Day is the perfect time to showcase them. Offering a “green tour” of the facility gives boaters a tangible example of what sustainable design looks like in practice.

For tips on marina best practices, the Clean Marina Program offers a helpful framework used by many U.S. states.

Educate Through Events or Guest Speakers

Bring in a local marine biologist, conservation group, or water quality specialist for a short dockside talk. Topics can include invasive species, water testing, or wildlife protection. These types of events build credibility and offer meaningful education in a casual, approachable setting.

Get the Kids Involved

Provide hands-on activities like a marine debris scavenger hunt, build-a-boat craft station, or dockside wildlife bingo. Families who associate boating with stewardship are more likely to raise the next generation of responsible water users.

Engaging Boaters and Staff

World Oceans Day isn’t just about outreach—it’s also a valuable opportunity for internal engagement. Staff training sessions can cover eco-focused topics like spill response procedures, recycling station maintenance, or how to handle hazardous materials safely.

Marinas can also survey slipholders on environmental priorities or practices they’d like to see implemented. Not only does this provide insight into your customer base, it also reinforces that boaters and marina teams share a common goal: protecting the waterways that everyone depends on.

Creating incentives helps boost participation. Offer branded marina gear, store discounts, or slipholder appreciation perks to those who participate in cleanup events or attend educational sessions.

Telling the Story

Visibility matters. Document your activities on social media and through email newsletters. A few photos of volunteers picking up litter or a short video of a clean fuel demo can go a long way toward showing your marina’s values in action.

Use hashtags like #WorldOceansDay and #CleanMarina to amplify reach and connect with other organizations doing similar work. This also helps build long-term recognition for your marina among eco-minded boaters and potential partners.

If your facility is working toward Clean Marina certification, or has recently earned it, World Oceans Day offers a natural moment to share that milestone. Letting customers know that your marina meets recognized environmental standards helps build trust and loyalty.

Lasting Impact

Participating in World Oceans Day can deepen a marina’s role in its community. It provides a platform to highlight real improvements, build awareness, and invite collaboration. Marinas that consistently demonstrate a commitment to clean boating and sustainable practices tend to stand out—not just to customers, but to regulators, partners, and local officials as well.

The impact of a single event may be hard to measure in the moment, but small actions add up. Over time, they shape the public’s perception of your marina as a responsible operator and an active part of a healthier marine environment.

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About MariCorp

Maricorp is one of the largest floating boat dock manufacturing and construction companies in the United States, specializing in galvanized steel floating docks and boat lift systems. With projects spanning coast-to-coast, Maricorp provides marina consultation and design, marine construction, marina repair and renovation, and boat dock disaster response and demolition.