Galápagos sea lion off the shore of Fernandina Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
© Tui De Roy/Minden Picture
A day for the oceans
The Galápagos sea lion is found in two places in the world—its namesake locale and the Isla de la Plata just off the coast of Ecuador. The expert swimmers are often spotted playing and surfing in the waves. They're gregarious on land, too, sometimes even grabbing a snooze on a town bench. Although a common and beloved sight in the islands, Galápagos sea lions are endangered, and their numbers are susceptible to changes in ocean temperatures, which can limit their food supply.
Enter World Oceans Day. Celebrated annually on June 8 and recognized by the UN, the holiday aims to focus global attention on the health of our oceans. This year's theme calls for world leaders to commit to protecting 30% of the seas and 30% of the land by 2030 to help ensure species diversity and safeguard life as we know it. #BigGoals
Surfer riding a wave in Nazaré, Portugal
Storseisundet Bridge, Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway
Blacktip reef sharks, Maldives
Meoto Iwa (Wedded Rocks) off the coast of Futami, Mie Prefecture, Honshu, Japan
People surfing at Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, Australia
Polar bear in waters off Svalbard, Norway
Oyster farm offshore from Notojima Island, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan
Dr. Sylvia Earle explores Australia's Great Barrier Reef in a scene from 'Mission Blue'
