In honour of World Ocean Day the Huntsman is hosting a day of events and speakers this Saturday.
While most weeks are “ocean week” in New Brunswick, this Sunday marked the beginning of Ocean Week Canada (OWC) from June 1-8.
The Huntsman Marine Science Centre will be host to festivities for all ages celebrating the ocean and educating the public about how they can help save the ocean. It is one of 19 events across the province.
“Even if it rains, the map will be indoors so it’s all good,” said Huntsman Guest Experience Specialist, Genny Simard, speaking to The Courier–ironically while enjoying the local waterways from her kayak. She said there will be activities for all ages.
This year will be the fourth nationwide OWC featuring 250 events across Canada. Last year 200,000 people participated at in-person events according to Meg Callon, the OWC Communications Manager,.
“The aim is to connect people with the ocean and it doesn’t matter where they live. We’ve got events happening in every province and territory across the country… and lots happening in the fundy region as well” said Callon.
Through their events the OWC hopes to educate people about their impact on the ocean and how much everyone on the planet relies on a healthy ocean and waterways.
“There is one global ocean and all waters are connected to it,” Callon said. “What happens in the waterways in Saskatoon… does genuinely have an impact on the ocean.”
“[The Bay of Fundy] is famous for being the place with the highest tides in the world. It is a place with a lot of rich biodiversity, for example the mud flats that we have here… due to the tides. That is what attracts a lot of shore bird species to migrate through here,” Naomi Meed said, Strategic Engagement Manager for the Fundy Biosphere Region.
The Bay of Fundy is recognized by UNESCO with two designations because of its unique ecosystems that are both important sites for their biology and their geology.
“Learn about the impacts of plastic in the ocean,” Simard said about the best way to get involved in cleaning the ocean.
“If you want to get involved anytime… it doesn’t have to be a group event,” said Simard. “You can just go down to your local beach with a garbage bag and pick up as much debris as you can, bring it home and put it in the garbage.” She encourages people to get involved in beach cleanups individually or through the Huntsman.
“[The Huntsman] have a marine debris coordinator on site who has all the information about how to do it,” Simard said.
She said the Huntsman can help facilitate group cleanup from various groups like Scouts, Girl Guides, or even book clubs. She said the coordinator can lend gloves, sheets where we can track where and what kind of marine debris was found and make sure the cleanup goes well.
Outside of the Saint Andrews area, Meed said New Brunswickers should reach out to local watershed or environmental groups if they want to get involved and clean the watersheds in their area. She said these groups often organize beach or watershed clean ups that rely on volunteers.
“One person can have an impact that might seem small but for the species that that impact leaves, it is big.
“You might have one person going and cleaning up a beach. But those items that are picked up, everyone of those items could individually impact some sort of species,” said Meed. “Each piece of debris could be picked up by a bird and so for that individual bird, the impact that that person had is significant.”
Doors will open on Saturday at 9:30 with a greeting from Buddy the Seal and guests can interact with the Ocean, Freshwater, and Us Giant Floor Map. Along with the interactive map, there will be someone from the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition to answer questions about just how connected our waterways are.
Throughout the day until 4:30 there will be times to interact with the divers, face painting, seal feeding, and ocean crafts for kids.
The centre will also be open on Sunday between 9:30 and 4:30 but the guests and interactive map will only be there on Saturday.
HMSC poster WOD english