The theme for this year’s UN World Oceans Day was “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us.”
It asked us all to think more deeply about how important our oceans are — the life they support, how fragile they can be, and our role in looking after them. On Tristan da Cunha, the world’s most remote inhabited island, that message truly hits home.
One of the most important parts of life here is our lobster fishery. It’s carefully managed and certified, making it both a key part of our economy and a good example of how a small community can fish responsibly. We protect breeding seasons, track our stocks, and fish in a way that helps keep the ocean healthy for future generations.
A Day of Learning and Fun
We started the day at St Mary’s School, where students watched a video about why our ocean is important and how some oceans around the world are facing serious threats — a strong reminder of what we still have and why we need to protect it. After the video, students took part in a fun game of “Guess the Animal Sound.”
Later, we kicked off the seafood festival part of the day by heading down to the harbour for a parent-and-child fishing competition. Families learned which fish are safe to catch and which should be released to protect fish stocks. It was a fun, hands-on way to learn about sustainable fishing — and to pass on to the youngsters how important fishing is in general (not that they need much teaching — they’re already great at it!).
Some of the younger children got a bit fidgety. Standing still and learning was hard work, and trying to catch a fish was even harder! So instead, we let the parents fish for some luck while we headed to the beach to play in the sand. Unlike many beaches, our sand is black. We made sandcastles, shaped funny fish, and learned about beach safety — especially what to do when there are lots of bluebottles (Portuguese Man o' War) around, and how to avoid stepping on sharp objects.
Tea and Treats
After a chilly morning outside (it's winter now here in the Southern Hemisphere!), we warmed up with some ocean-themed treats — like fish-shaped biscuits and wave cupcakes. The children also got some sweets, fizzy drinks, and an ice cream cone. While we waited, we played a few games: matching parents to their baby animals and animals to their names — including seals, kingbirds, crayfish, and albatrosses. We also learned a short poem about the ocean and looked through an educational booklet (made with help from the Blue Belt Programme) to meet some of the animals that live in our waters.
Celebrating with Local Food
We ended the day with the Best Seafood Meal competition, full of local favourites. Each dish was judged, and the fried catfish (octopus) won first prize! Prizes were also given for the biggest fish, the most enthusiastic young fishers, and those who showed special care for the environment.
It was also a chance for us to connect with people across the world, sharing our love of the ocean. We took part in the UN-led celebrations, with a reel on social media and a video on the day's activities here on Tristan, which you can watch below.
World Ocean Day 2025 reminded us that even a small island can make a big difference. With our Marine Protection Zone, sustainable lobster fishery, and strong focus on education, Tristan da Cunha continues to do its part to protect our oceans.
