Celebrate World Ocean Day

June 8 is World Ocean Day, a day meant to celebrate the bodies of water that link us all together, and to raise awareness about conservation and keeping our oceans clean. Did you know that our oceans account for 71% of the planet, but less than 2% of them are protected?

So how you can help World Ocean Day? Try one of these activities, courtesty of OneWorldOneOcean.org!

• Organize a beach clean up (or river clean up if you don't live by the coast).
• Cook a sustainable seafood dinner.
• Visit an aquarium or marine park.
• Watch a movie or show that celebrates the ocean: The Living Sea, Coral Reef Adventure, Dolphins, The End of the Line, The Cove, Blue Planet, Dolphin Tale, The Present, the list goes on...

Another way you can celebrate World Ocean Day? Make a donation! Below are a few conservation organizations that are raising money to help fight pollution, overfishing and other threats to our waters.

• The Nature Conservatory
• The Ocean Project
• The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

Good Fathers - Seahorses

The Seahorse is probably the most well-known "Good Dad." They come as close to being pregnant as it is possible for a male to be. Actually, technically, the male seahorse does become pregnant.

Male and Female seahorses form a monogamous pair during the breeding season. They strengthen their bond by daily greetings, promenades and pirouettes. During mating, the female deposits her eggs in the male's brood pouch. There they are fertilized and then embedded in the pouches walls. The brood pouch acts like a womb although it looks more like a honeycomb structure. The fertilized eggs will receive nutrients, oxygen and protection for the next 2 – 4 weeks, depending on species of seahorse. The fluid inside the male's brood pouch will slowly change from an amniotic-like substance to fluid more closely resembling seawater. This will lessen the shock to the offspring when they are born. The male seahorse does go into labor and does deliver his children in the classic sense. The birth generally happens at night so the male seahorse will be ready for a new batch of eggs from his mate when they meet in the morning.

Most fish species abandon their eggs once they are laid and fertilized. Thanks to the care given by the male seahorse, mortality rates among their newborns are lower. That is a committed dad.