ARTSail, Blue Scholars Initiative and Faena Art partnered to organize the first ever leave-no-trace World Ocean Weekend celebration, with free activities ranging from art, recreation and impact to science, education and entertainment bringing together South Florida youth and community members to enjoy, engage with, and protect our ONE World Ocean.

Collaborating organizations include World Ocean Day, Miami Beach Rising Above, Surfrider Foundation, The International SeaKeepers Society, Clean Miami Beach, Volunteer Cleanup Org, EarthEco International, Waterproof Miami, Stream2Sea, Stream 2 Sea, AMLgMATD, Dolphins & Rainbows Swim Group, Padl, and Frost Science MUVE.

Supported by: Boucher Brothers, Tuuci, Miami Beach Rising Above

In July 2020, Miami’s Biscayne Bay was quite literally gasping for air. Local news and social media were flooded with images of dead fish floating across the bay and littering our shores and marine life struggling to breathe. Florida International University scientists reported oxygen levels down to 0 (zero) for up to five hours; fireboats were oxygenating water around Morningside Park, the 79th Street causeway, and other locations where the worst of the fish kill has been reported by the public. Biscayne Bay has reached its tipping point: pollution from sewage leaks, septic tanks, fertilizers, and stormwater runoff, along with the record high temperatures in the lower 90s is killing seagrass and marine life at an unprecedented rate.” - from the 2021 #savebiscaynebay campaign. Originally designed for ARTSail Residency and Research Initiative and Biscayne Bay Marine Health Coalition’s call to raise awareness to the #savebiscaynebay campaign, these call-to-action banners share a warning - the health of our Biscayne Bay affects the health of our city and our community. The banners were the centerpiece of the first ever World Ocean Weekend Celebration, installed on the beach across from the Faena Hotel.

The event culminated with a poignant talk and inspiring films at the Faena Theater that helped us better understand some of the issues that are impacting our oceans and motivated us to take action. Film screening organized in collaboration with the International Ocean Film Festival.

Speakers: Professor Nikki Traylor-Knowles, Assistant Professor of Marine Biology and Ecology at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Miami; Elizabeth Wheaton, Environment and Sustainability Director, City of Miami Beach, with special guest Estonian swim champion and real life mermaid, Merle Liivand.

For more information check out the event recap below: