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Islanders can learn more about Jersey’s maritime environment and the importance of protecting the ocean in a series of events taking place across the island this week.
World Ocean Week is returning for 2024 with a series of events centred around conservation and celebrating the blue planet.
Organised by local charities Ocean Culture Life and Jersey Marine Conservation, the week of festivities is anchored around World Ocean Day on 8 June.
Pictured: World Ocean Week is returning to the island from 4 to 13 of June with a series of events to educate, inspire and motivate action to protect Jersey’s marine environments.
The 2024 celebrations build on events from previous years and aim to increase public engagement and encourage support for sustainable ocean initiatives through compelling storytelling and community collaboration.
A key highlight will be the visit of renowned US astronaut and aquanaut Nicole Stott who is coming to the island to share insights from her experiences in space – including what Jersey looks like from orbit – at several educational workshops for schools, a book signing, interactive livestream classes, and a beach clean event.
Pictured: Nicole Stott, pictured with fellow astronauts Mike Massimino and Garrett Reisman, is coming to Jersey for a series of events to mark World Ocean Week.
Tamsin Raine, OCL Founder and programme lead for World Oceans Week, said: “World Ocean Week is our annual call to action to celebrate and protect our beloved blue planet.
“This year, we’re excited to expand our reach and deepen our impact, thanks to the continued support from our community and long-standing partners Mourant, as well as our programme sponsors Jersey Community Foundation, One Foundation and Condor Ferries.”
The week features a schedule of educational sessions, beach clean-ups, exhibitions, expert panels, and family-friendly activities.
Primary school workshops (Tues 4 & Wed 5 June, St Ouen)
Educational workshops for primary school students will be held in a bid to inspire the next generation by nurturing responsibility and love for the ocean.
For World Ocean Week, @Ocean_Culture_ has planned a series of events to celebrate & raise awareness of our planet's vital marine environments. ????The line-up includes a book launch tonight with Nicole Stott, an astronaut turned aquanaut! For more info https://t.co/8rPF9rcgXI pic.twitter.com/rJIPpqG2ps
— Jersey College Prep (@JCollegePrep) June 4, 2024
Children will learn about marine conservation, explore the connection between the ocean and space, and create ocean-themed art and storytelling activities.
Ocean Speaks book signing and talk (Tues 4 June, Santander Work Cafe & Wed 5 June, Waterstones)
Ms Stott will share insights from her experiences exploring space and the sea, followed by an in-depth discussion of oceanic stories with the founders of Ocean Culture Life, who will be speaking about their newly launched book 'The Ocean Speaks'."
Ms Stott spent 104 days aboard the International Space Station and the space shuttle as a flight engineer and mission specialist, becoming the tenth woman to perform a spacewalk.
Pictured: Nasa Astronaut Nicole Stott and Astronaut Wrangler and Producer of Space for a better World ,Christina Korp World Oceans Week. (David Ferguson)
Now she has turned her attention to undersea exploration, promoting ocean conservation and highlighting the parallels between space and exploring oceanic depths.
WOD Livestream (Fri 7 June, St Ouen's Bay)
Islanders can tune in as Ms Stott reveals what Jersey looks like from space and how space technology aids ocean conservation.
Ocean Narrative Challenge Exhibition and Award Ceremony (Fri 7 June, St Ouen)
The exhibition will feature the creative work of secondary school students who participated in Ocean Culture Life's Ocean Narrative Challenge programme.
The challenge, which took place in March, tasked young people with using their storytelling abilities to create stories about ocean conservation.
Pictured: Seaweed and kelp beds around La Pulente with freediver Matt le Clercq. (David Ferguson)
Students were encouraged to use mediums such as art, writing, photography, and video to express their connection to the marine environment.
The submitted projects will be showcased in a special exhibition overlooking St Ouens Beach on On 7 June.
During the exhibition, the three winning entries from the Ocean Narrative Challenge will be announced.
Guardians of the Sea (Fri 7 June, La Saline)
This evening event features engaging panel discussions with a lineup of speakers from the local and global ocean community.
The panel discussions will dive deep into the challenges, successes and ongoing efforts around ocean conservation.
Ms Stott will be joined on stage by local ocean guardians, advocates, and storytellers from Jersey who have dedicated their lives to protecting and celebrating the island's marine environments.
World Ocean Day (Sat 8 June, Sands in St Ouen)
This culminating event serves as the main platform during Ocean Week for raising awareness and engaging the wider community in efforts to protect and preserve Jersey's ocean environments.
Pictured: US astronaut and aquanaut Nicole Stott will visit to share her space experiences and promote ocean conservation. (David Ferguson)
Organisers Ocean Culture Life have packed the day with an array of activities, workshops, and immersive experiences including a blue mind breathwork session, nature base early years ocean play session, a seaside treasure arts and crafts session, a community paddle out, a live book signing, a coral restoration workshop, and a beach clean.
The Big Ocean Clean Up (Sun 9 June, Bouley Bay)
This community clean-up event invites everyone to get hands-on in removing debris from Bouley Bay.
Pictured: Beach clean-ups will be part of the events during World Ocean Week 2024.
With activities happening both in the water and on land, there are multiple ways to get involved:
Discover Beaches (Sun 9 June, Les Laveurs Beach)
This family-friendly event, hosted by Jersey Heritage and Aspiring Jersey Island Geopark, will celebrate the connection between Jersey's coastal wildlife, seashore environments, and the community.
Education Day (Thurs 13 June, St Clement Parish Hall)
Jersey Marine Conservation is hosting an Education Day as part of Ocean Week for 50 students.
The event aims to engage school students in Jersey's marine environments through interactive activities and workshops.
Kevin McIlwee, Chair of Jersey Marine Conservation, said the day will feature activities from key marine organisations engaging pupils through quizzes, remotely operated vehicle demonstrations, maritime history lessons, species identification challenges, a climate education programme and a new rock pool survey.
For the full event schedule, booking links, and more information, visit the Ocean Culture Life website and the Jersey Marine Conservation website.
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