Celebrating the sea online

Terra Nova National Park is asking members of the public to help it celebrate World Oceans Day by contributing to a digital marine mural.

World Oceans Day was declared by the United Nations in 2008, in an effort to encourage preservation and protection of the world's ocean habitats. The concept was reportedly proposed by Canada at the Earth Summit that year.

Last year saw more than 2,000 World Oceans Day events take place in 140 countries.

This year, Terra Nova National Park — which remains closed with some exceptions for certain trails and day use areas due to the COVID-19 pandemic — is hoping to participate in the celebrations with a digital mural on its Facebook page.

The park is asking members of the public to use the shape or print of their hand to create a sea creature. Staff are asking people to create their marine masterpiece on blue paper if the creature lives primarily in the sea water, and on brown paper if it dwells on the ocean floor.

Artists should then lay their work on a flat, welllit surface and take a photo of it, and send the picture to pc.infopnterra-novaterranovanpinfo.pc@canada. ca. A first name and location can be printed on the artwork if desired.

“Oh and FYI, this is not a kids-only activity,” the park says. “Kids, teens, adults, seniors, everyone — we want your creations to be a part of this, too.”

Artwork must be submitted by Thursday in order to make it into the digital mural.

Other local World Oceans Day celebrations have also been moved online, to a “World Oceans Day – Newfoundland and Labrador” Facebook page.

Participating organizations include Parks Canada, the provincial chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, the World Wildlife Fund Canada, the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union, the Marine Insitute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the provincial Department of Fisheries and Land Resources.

“The ability of the committee to adjust and present this year's World Oceans Day celebrations online given ongoing challenges associated with COVID-19 is impressive indeed,” Fisheries Minister Gerry Byrne said in a statement.

Every day this week will see posts with interactive ocean-themed activities, including wildlife cameras, colouring pages, trivia, singalongs and seafood cooking demonstrations.

An e-book called “Charley, A Day in the Bay” will be launched as an outreach education initiative of the provincial fisheries department.

“(It) follows the story of a young codfish who learns the importance of cod to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” Byrne stated.