Can you imagine the Treasure Coast without the ocean? There would be no coast, of course, and no treasure from a fleet of sunken Spanish galleons. There would be no miles of beaches, no surf, no sailfish, no loggerhead turtles. It would be like Florida’s interior. No offense intended. That’s why World Oceans Day should mean something to us. In 2008, the United Nations proclaimed each June 8th as World Oceans Day. This year, the theme is “Youth: the Next Wave for Change.” Environmental centers along the Treasure Coast have special activities planned. On Friday, June 8th, you can visit the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach for a day of “ocean inspired” games. On Saturday, June 9th, you can stop by the St. Lucie Aquarium in Fort Pierce, where the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit will put on demonstrations of seining – which is catching fish with a net. On Sunday, June 10th, you can go to the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center in Stuart for a beach walk and beach cleanup and see stingray feedings. And there are always things to see and do at the Environmental Learning Center north of Vero Beach. Take one or more young people with you. After all, the future of the oceans is in their hands! For 88.9 FM this is Paul Janensch.
Treasure Coast essayist Paul Janensch was a newspaper editor and taught journalism at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut.
