The World Oceans Day has been celebrated since the organisation of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. With this celebration, humanity recognises, at the highest level, the importance of this huge body of water in the ecological regulation of the planet and its vital role in the life of humanity. At the same time, this celebration also raises awareness for the fragility of the ocean and the need to preserve it.

For the third consecutive time, the World Oceans Day is celebrated in the Azores as the last day the of "Açores Entre Mares" (Azores Between Seas) Programme." This initiative takes place between the European Maritime Day on May 20 and June 8. During this period, the programme tries to raise the awareness of society for the potentialities and opportunities that lie in the blue giant that surrounds and connects all Azorean islands.

In its third edition, the "Azores Entre Mares" initiative gathered over one hundred activities scattered throughout the nine islands and thousands of participants. The actions organised by the Regional Government, Local Authorities, Non-Governmental Environmental Organisations , Maritime Authorities, Schools, Scouts and many other entities included the launching of books, exhibition of documentaries, hiking, boat trips and several regattas. As this year's celebrations were held under the theme "Lixo Zero no Mar" (Zero Waste at Sea), special emphasis was given to the collection of waste along the coast and the promotion of awareness raising actions for the prevention of waste.

The presence of the "Vaivém do Oceanário" (Oceanarium Shuttle) which travelled to the Azores by initiative of the Young Naturalists from Santa Maria Island has received special attention from the media and the public. Thousands of people in Vila do Porto and Santa Maria have discovered some of the secrets of the sea and the Lisbon Oceanarium with the "Vaivém do Oceanário". Given the success and interest demonstrated by the public, the "shuttle" will travel to other Azorean islands next year.

"Many important initiatives were conducted under this initiative that closes the World Oceans Day. However, the Sea has not ended. The opportunities, challenges and also some of the problems are still there. In this context, it is essential that the spirit and dynamics of the "Azores Entre Mares" initiative be spread every day of every year. The Government will work hard so that it may happen," mentioned the Regional Director for Sea Affairs on the sidelines of the one of the closing events of the celebrations.

The "Açores Entre Mares" (Azores Between Seas) is part of the Regional Environmental Awareness Raising Programme whose mission is to promote the actions developed by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea. Several actions organised under the "Azores Entre Mares" initiative were based on the "EcoFreguesias" (Eco Villages) contest and the national programmes "EcoEscolas" (Eco School) and "Blue Flag."