The Animal Law Clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School and the Aquatic Animal Law Initiative (AALI) in Portland, Oregon (USA) will be hosting the second annual (virtual) “World Aquatic Animal Day,” which takes place on April 3rd each year. The theme for 2021 is: “The impact of our human activities on aquatic animals”.

Below is a description of the event:

“World Aquatic Animal Day is an annual day dedicated to aquatic animals. The event was launched for the first time on April 3, 2020, and is a project of the Aquatic Animal Law Initiative (AALI) and the Animal Law Clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School, as part of the Center for Animal Law Studies. Each year, we intend to raise global awareness about these often-forgotten nonhuman animals.

Aquatic animals play a critical role in our societies and ecosystems. They are important not only as a group, but also as valuable and exciting individuals with intrinsic worth. By “aquatic animals”, we mean not only fish, but also a myriad of other animals who live in water for most of their life: amphibians, marine mammals, crustaceans, reptiles, molluscs, aquatic birds, aquatic insects and even animals such as starfish and corals. Aquatic animals are widely used and abused around the world and they face a multitude of different threats.

There is an urgent need to give aquatic animals the proper consideration they deserve. Through law, policy, education, advocacy, and good stewardship of the earth, our efforts to raise awareness of the plight of aquatic animals must rise to meet the immense challenges they now face. We must also consider our interactions with aquatic animals, our treatment of them, and the often-devastating impacts we are having on them and on their habitats.

On April 3rd, please join us in celebrating these creatures and calling for action to protect aquatic animals through education, law, policy, outreach and other avenues."

#worldaquaticanimalday

We have a full day planned on April 3rd, with six virtual Zoom Webinar sessions commencing at 8:45am PT, with aquatic experts and opportunities to ask these speakers questions. There will also be two Community Events: a Virtual Action Hour at 12pm PT, and a Watch Party for the newly released movie “Seaspiracy” at 5PM PT. A copy of the schedule with session topics and speakers can be found here.

The World Aquatic Animal Day website, as well as the Facebook event page, will be continuously updated with information, links, and resources - leading up to the day. If you are interested in attending the virtual Zoom Webinar sessions other than your own, you can register using this link. There are alternative links for the Community Sessions, to be found on our Website or hyperlinks above. If you are not able to participate in the sessions, these will be recorded and uploaded to our Social Media platforms, including the Center for Animal Law Studies YouTube Channel.

We are also hyperlinking / referencing some additional resources that you may find helpful:

1. The previously promised “10 Ways to Get Involved” document: which discusses some of the ways to participate in World Aquatic Animal Day from the comfort of your own home.
2. Our Social Media Kit with items you can share on your social media platforms.
3. A Resource Packet, prepared by the Aquatic Animal Law Initiative and Animal Law Clinic students, volunteers and staff will be posted on our Website later this week.
4. An Action Pack for Aquatic Animals: To be released closer to the day by our Community Partners.

Regardless of how you choose to participate,  if you are sharing information about the day or your individual efforts to advocate for aquatic animals on social media, please remember to use the hashtag #worldaquaticanimalday.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or concerns. We are looking forward to a great day of learning about and action for aquatic animals!