Date and public holiday status
World Oceans Day is an international observance held on 8 June every year. It is not a public holiday or a day off in Bulgaria: it is a normal working day.
In 2026, it falls on Monday, 8 June; in 2027, on Tuesday, 8 June; and in 2028, on Thursday, 8 June.
Origins and purpose
The idea for World Oceans Day was proposed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The United Nations officially designated 8 June as World Oceans Day in 2008, and the observance began in 2009.
Oceans cover more than 70% of the planet’s surface, produce a large share of its oxygen and regulate the climate. The day highlights threats to marine ecosystems, including plastic pollution, overfishing and warming waters.
The Black Sea connection
In Bulgaria, the day is an occasion to focus on protecting the Black Sea. Beach clean-ups, educational programmes about marine wildlife and campaigns against plastic litter take place along the coast.
The Black Sea is almost enclosed, connected to the Mediterranean through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. Its salinity is around half that of the oceans. Its deep waters contain hydrogen sulphide and almost no oxygen, so marine life is concentrated in roughly the upper 150–200 metres.
The Black Sea is home to three protected cetacean species: the bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin and harbour porpoise. Plastic pollution and overfishing are among the main threats to its marine ecosystem.