World Oceans Day 2009World Oceans Day on June 8 provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the world's oceans, and also consider the ways in which we can work to protect them.

Beach clean-ups, educational programmes, art competitions, film festivals, sustainable seafood events, and other planned activities across the world help to raise awareness.

You can support both World Oceans Day and Earthwatch by making a donation today to our Oceans Appeal. There has never been a more important time for Earthwatch's work researching the threats to our oceans, and by supporting our Oceans Appeal you will directly help Earthwatch scientists understand the causes of and solutions to unsustainable exploitation of our marine environment.

Earthwatch ocean success stories

• Earthwatch-supported research in the Alboran Sea on the habitat needs of dolphins has enabled scientists to secure agreement from the International Maritime Organisation to divert shipping lanes off the southern coast of Spain. This monumental agreement has safeguarded vital dolphin breeding and feeding grounds.
  
• Earthwatch scientists have discovered a previously unknown coral reef in the Seychelles. The area is home to more than 200 giant tortoises but no coral reefs were believed to exist. Evidence suggests the new reef supports a large number of mega-fauna, and it shows signs of destruction and partial recovery from the 2004 tsunami. The results have already prompted local authorities to establish a centre of marine field-based research on the Island.
  
• A combined study involving ECOCEAN scientists and Earthwatch volunteers has revealed that whale shark numbers are holding steady, and evidence suggests they may even be increasing in one of its vital habitats. Data collected at Ningaloo Reef provides a strong baseline for further, more in depth research into the health and habits of the world's largest fish.
  
• Recent surveys reveal that the southern outer Moray Firth in north-east Scotland provides a critically important habitat for the survival of bottlenose dolphin populations and is not simply a corridor area to the inner Firth Special Area of Conservation (SAC) as previously thought. With further research we hope to influence policymakers to design further management methods to protect the dolphin population outside the SAC.

Please support our Oceans Appeal today. Your donation will be used to support our existing ocean research projects, develop new ocean research projects, and increase the impact of our global oceans research and engagement programme.

Hairy Legs

Eighteen members of Team Earthwatch braved the blazing sunshine on Sunday 10 May to take part in the Hairy Legs Challenge - a duathlon in Goring, Oxfordshire. We're delighted to report that the entire team finished the race raising £1,300 for Earthwatch.

Want to take on a challenge?

If you think you can do better than Team Earthwatch, we have compiled a huge list of sporting events which you can get involved in to raise money for Earthwatch.

Earthwatch telethon

Were you recently called by a member of the Earthwatch team? If so, we'd like to thank you for taking part in our annual phone appeal! It's the first time we've tried such an event, and we'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support.

And if you didn't manage to speak to a member of the team on the night, but would like to make a donation in support of our work, you can donate online or support our Oceans Appeal.