This year, World Ocean Day is calling for global commitments to protect at least 30% of our blue planet by 2030. 

Conservation action is not only critical to sustain healthy and diverse marine life, but also for coastal communities who depend on it for survival. 

Fernando Bretos, Program Officer at The Ocean Foundation, has observed the importance of ocean conservation for local communities throughout his career. Here is his story.

"For one day, remind yourself of the power the ocean, what it does for you every day and what you can do for it."

I learned early on that ocean work is people work.

When I started my career in conservation at 16 years old, I decided to dedicate my energy to helping forests, animals, and corals. Very soon after, I realized that ocean work is people work. Because so many people rely on the ocean for sustenance or wellbeing, you can’t help people without helping the ocean (or vice versa). =

My favorite work is habitat work as it involves such a wide subset of actors. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a mangrove wetland or coral reef come back to life and in turn breathe life back into a coastal community. Even better is when you can engage local residents in the process. They know the area better than anyone and once they are engaged in the process, become eternal stewards. It is why my work focuses so much effort on small-scale fisheries efforts and habitat restoration.

Ocean conservation quite literally takes a village.

We need to engage everyday people into the ocean conservation process, from children to the elderly. By that, I mean giving them a chance to interact with water -- be it streams, rivers, or the ocean itself. It all flows to the same place and by helping out, you let the ocean’s magic touch you. 

I learned this by experience when in 2007 I created Museum Volunteers for the Environment, a volunteer-based mangrove and coral restoration project in Miami. While I left the project to join The Ocean Foundation, my proudest accomplishment in my career is the over 10,000 volunteers who gave their time, effort, and sweat to restoring coastal habitats that continue to provide for the Miami community. At The Ocean Foundation, we continue this work in Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Mexico by engaging community residents in enhancing habitats that they live, work, and depend on.

Big or small, you can help the ocean.  

For World Ocean Day, I encourage people to give back in a way that is meaningful for them. That can be large or small. 

I would start with finding local volunteer activities. While not everyone lives on the ocean, there are water bodies everywhere that need help. Remember, every drop of water eventually makes it back to the ocean! If you can’t give your time or there are no volunteer activities around, get to the water. Find a way on World Ocean Day to interact with water. Go swimming, kayaking, or take a walk on a beach or lake. Bring your friends and family. For one day, remind yourself of the power of the ocean, what it does for you every day and what you can do for it. Lastly, if neither of the above are viable, make a donation to one of the thousands of organizations working to save our ocean resources.