Yes, now you know it. Today is World Aquatic Animal Day, created in 2020 by the folks at Animal Law Clinic at the Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, USA, to draw attention to the importance of aquatic animals to our societies and ecosystems. Any animal, vertebrate or invertebrate, that lives in water for all or most of its life is called an aquatic animal. In addition to ‘fish’, the category includes a variety of other creatures, such as molluscs, crustaceans, aquatic birds, starfish, corals, aquatic insects, amphibians, marine mammals, reptiles, and more. While the term aquatic applies to animals that live in freshwater or saltwater, the adjective marine is used more often for animals living in the seas.
Aquatic animals, especially those living in freshwater, are of special concern to conservationists because of how fragile their environments are. They are often at risk due to the interactions humans have directly with the animals, or indirectly through corruption of their habitats. Aquatic animals are subject to pressures from overfishing and destructive fishing, pollution, hunting, and climate change. With global temperatures rising inexorably, many habitats are at risk, which also puts aquatic animals at risk.
The idea for World Aquatic Animal Day is to raise global awareness so that humans worldwide come together to create policies, laws, education, and outreach that will help to protect these creatures. The hope is to elevate their status so that people are more likely to take an active role in learning about and acting on their behalf. Different ideas for protecting these animals continue to be featured, from plastic pollution to climate change.
Many organizations throughout the world participated in the first World Aquatic Animal Day in 2020, including Canada, Chile, Australia, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Croatia, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, and the UK.
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Aquatic animals play important roles in the environment as well as in human life. Their importance stems from the fact that they provide humans with sources of food, medicine, energy, shelter, and raw materials for use in daily life. Each aquatic species plays a different role to help make every day easier, healthier, and more productive. They also help with regulating atmospheric pressure and combating climate change.
The easiest way to celebrate World Aquatic Animal Day may be to watch a movie. Here’s an indicative list of popular Hollywood films featuring aquatic animals as the protagonists and antagonists.
Finding Nemo (2003)
When clown fish Nemo is captured by a scuba diver off Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, it’s up to his dad, Marlin, to save him. Along the way, Marlin meets Dory, a blue tang with short-term memory loss and impressive reading skills. Together, the pair must tangle with sharks, seagulls, sea turtles, and a very hungry whale as they swim across an ocean in search of Nemo. Since its release in 2003, Finding Nemo has become one of the most beloved animated fish movies for kids. It is also fun for the entire family and shows kids that even the smallest person can make a big difference.
Finding Dory (2016)
The sequel to Finding Nemo follows everyone’s favourite forgetful blue tang, Dory, as she goes on a new adventure to California to find her long-lost parents. Friends new and old help her on her journey, including Nemo, Marlin, and a seven-armed octopus named Hank. This fish-filled movie teaches kids that with a little perseverance and a lot of hope, any obstacle can be overcome.
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Ariel is a mermaid princess who dreams of life on the shore. After rescuing the human Prince Eric from a furious storm, she makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula and trades her voice for the chance to become human. As the story progresses, Ariel learns that self-expression, self-reliance, and self-belief are the true keys to happiness. Chock-full of fun songs and funny moments, The Little Mermaid is a classic for the whole family.
Luca (2021)
The film follows two young sea monsters, Luca and Alberto, who learn that they can assume human form when they leave the water and step on to land. When they emerge in a seaside Italian town, they befriend Giulia, a girl whose father holds a grudge against sea monsters. As their summer outside the sea progresses, Luca and Alberto teach Giulia and her father that they should not be afraid of being different.
My Octopus Teacher (2020)
This 2020 documentary tells the story of Craig Foster, a filmmaker and amateur scuba diver who strikes up an unusual friendship with a common octopus. As the pair bond, the octopus welcomes Craig to her world. While he learns from the octopus about life underwater, Craig also discovers more about the importance of connecting with the natural world and fostering deeper relationships with the loved ones in our lives.
Free Willy (1993)
Orcas, or killer whales, are among the most beautiful and intelligent creatures in the sea. One killer whale, Willy, is captured and sent to live in a theme park enclosure, where he befriends a 12-year-old named Jesse. The park employees do not share Jesse’s sympathies for Willy and decide to kill the orca for insurance money. When Jesse learns of the plan, he takes it upon himself to set Willy free and send him back to enjoy life in the ocean. The film teaches kids about friendship, animal rights, and the importance of environmental conservation.
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Sandy Pawpaw
Sandy Pawpaw is a fierce advocate of unleashing the animal in, and with, you.
