Gulf Shores, Ala. — (GSN) — Before we get the proverbial comments about Alabama's coast being on a gulf, we remind readers the the definition of gulf is: classified as a smaller body of saltwater that is partially enclosed by land and connected to an ocean or a larger sea. Therefore we recognize World Ocean Day, celebrating everything the deep waters provide for a coastal community.

World Oceans Day is a global call to protect the sea and the life it supports. Oceans cover more than 70 percent of our planet and produce over half the oxygen we breathe. It feeds billions of people, drives weather patterns, and supports entire economies. The day is meant to remind people that the ocean affects the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the climate we share. It also gives schools, towns, and groups a chance to participate in ocean-focused events. This year’s message centers on rethinking our relationship with the ocean and acting with greater care.

World Oceans Day is observed on June 8 each year, including in 2026. The idea was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and the day was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008, making it 18 years old in 2026. 

Along the Alabama coast, the state’s Artificial Reef Program helps the Gulf, an ocean basin, by adding hard structure where a sandy bottom offers little to no shelter. Alabama’s Marine Resources Division says the program uses bridge spans, limestone, reef modules, ships, barges, and other materials to build reefs in inshore, nearshore, and offshore waters. The agency says the reef system supports fish such as red snapper, gray triggerfish, sheepshead, and gray snapper by providing places to feed, hide, and spawn.

The program also helps connect habitats along the coast. Alabama says fish move between rivers, bays, nearshore waters, and deeper reef zones as they grow, and artificial reefs support that cycle. Over time, the reefs can collect oysters, mussels, barnacles, sponges, and corals, adding more structure for smaller sea life and more food for larger fish. That makes the reefs useful not only for fishing but also for the health of the Gulf itself.

For coastal communities, the message of World Oceans Day resonates deeply. The ocean influences our climate, economy, and coastline, while reef efforts help create habitat in waters that previously looked more like a desert. Both the day and the reef program emphasize the same idea: healthy seas require ongoing attention, community involvement, and long-term stewardship.

For more information, visit the World Ocean Day website.