World Aquatic Animal Day 2024 is celebrated every year on 3 April. The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of aquatic animals and protecting their ecosystems. The first World Aquatic Animal Day was focused on ‘fish’, but it also includes other creatures such as mollusks, crustaceans, aquatic birds, starfish, corals, and many more. Aquatic animals are classified into two categories: vertebrates and invertebrates. Vertebrates have gills, which are used for breathing, and other respiratory organs. In contrast, invertebrates lack gills, but they have other respiratory mechanisms such as flippers, which are used for movement.
Let's have a look at the history, significance and ways to observe the day.
World Aquatic Animal Day: History
The idea for World Aquatic Animal Day came from the Animal Law Clinic at the Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, USA. The clinic was founded in 2007 to provide legal assistance to animals and their owners. The clinic's mission is to promote the humane treatment of animals and to protect their legal rights. The Animal Law Clinic was inspired to create World Aquatic Animal Day after seeing the devastating impact that human activities were having on aquatic ecosystems.
The clinic's founders believed that a global day of awareness would help to raise awareness of the threats facing aquatic animals and inspire people to take action to protect them. The first World Aquatic Animal Day was observed in 2020. The day was a success, and it was celebrated by people all over the world. Since then, World Aquatic Animal Day has been celebrated every year.
World Aquatic Animal Day: Significance
World Aquatic Animal Day is significant because it raises awareness about the various issues faced by aquatic animals and the importance of taking steps to protect them. Threats to aquatic animals include habitat destruction, overfishing, and pollution. It is high time that we take measures to address these threats and ensure a sustainable future for our ocean ecosystems.
How To Celebrate World Aquatic Animal Day?
One can celebrate World Aquatic Animal Day by learning more about the aquatic animals, taking part in activities that help to protect their environment, and supporting organizations that are working for the preservation of marine ecosystems. By taking small steps, we can make a big difference in the lives of aquatic animals.
For fun, you can also watch movies about aquatic animals, host a party with 'aquatic animal' theme, and you can post on social media to raise awareness. You can also go on a vacation to a place which is famous for the ocean life.
(Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated by AI and published after the content was editorially modified and verified by a human based on their own judgement and expertise. The Quint does not publish AI-generated content without direct human involvement and oversight).
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)