Beachgoers and residents can celebrate World Oceans Day “Seuss style” with activities June 5 to 8 in La Jolla and surrounding beach communities. This year, World Oceans Day not only marks a tribute to the ocean’s rich diversity but also the 50th anniversary of “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,” a classic children’s book by La Jolla’s own former resident Theodore Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss. La Jolla will join hundreds of communities around the globe to promote ocean and marine life conservation though events such as San Diego Coastkeeper’s World Oceans Day Celebration in Kellogg Park on June 6. The beach coast, kayak and dive cleanup begins at 9 a.m. with free interactive exhibits until noon. At 10 a.m., Below the Surface will kick off the first in its five-part series of Preservation Paddleouts to raise awareness about protected areas along the California coast. Jamie Ortiz, director of marketing for Coastkeeper, stressed the importance of preserving the city’s beaches. “So much of our recreation and business depends on ocean life, from tourism to fishing to kayaking, ” she said. “If we don’t take the time to preserve the marine life, it won’t be there in the future.” Birch Aquarium will also commemorate World Oceans Day on June 8 with special activities themed around Dr. Seuss’s colorful children’s story “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.” Kids can explore the wonders of ocean creatures and their habitats through scavenger hunts, story telling and a diving show in the aquarium’s kelp forest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For those who can’t get enough of World Oceans Day celebrations, the aquarium will be hosting events throughout the month to raise awareness about ocean conservation and biodiversity. Children 10 and older can explore the mysteries of the deep in a snorkel adventure in La Jolla Cove from 8 to 10 a.m. on June 19. Hands-on activities during SEA Days beginning on June 19 will allow children to explore more than 28,000 species of fish living beneath the ocean’s surface. The San Diego Zoo’s celebration of World Oceans Day will get a little help from fellow animals in the park. On June 5, local artists will exhibit snow sculptures based on ocean themes to be “judged” by the polar bears. Rick Schwartz, the zoo’s national spokesman, will be joined by sea lions to commemorate the day and honor a beloved local icon through a reading of Dr. Seuss’s fishy tale.
