About 1,000 people turned out to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo on Saturday to celebrate World Oceans Day and World Environment Day.

The facility, along with the Bermuda Zoological Society, hosted a free Family Open Day, where they demonstrated their “commitment to ocean conservation”.

There were free educational talks, an ocean clean up, boat tours, family activities and entertainment including live mermaids swimming in the North Rock Tank.

A BZS spokeswoman said: “For BZS and BAMZ, every day is World Ocean and World Environment Day.

“BZS provides over 8,000 free educational environmental experiences annually to all of Bermuda’s schoolchildren through our Stempel Foundation BZS Schools Programme, in addition to environmental and oceanic conservation and research programmes.

“The theme for World Oceans Day this year is Revitalisation: Collective Action for the Ocean.

“Living on an island, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, means we need to conserve our wonderful marine resources for future generations and work together to solve some of the world’s biggest problems – climate change and protecting our ocean.”

During the event, representatives from the Bermuda Turtle Project talked about the 50 years of research into the protection of sea turtles, while the Marine Debris Taskforce discussed the challenge of trash in the ocean.

BAMZ aquarists took to Flatts Inlet to conduct a marine clean up and collected 192 glass bottles, fishing line and other ocean debris. BZS educators offered an introduction to free diving while its Science Club members conducted science experiments on coral bleaching.

The boat tours were run by Captain Trevor Rawson who taught passengers about Harrington Sound’s ecosystem and highlighted the BZS Living Classroom on Trunk Island, including the new living mangrove exhibits.

The spokeswoman added: “Programmes which are financially administered and supported by the BZS were also present, including the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme, presentations on migratory animals from Andrew Stevenson of the Bermuda Whale Project, and Choy Aming of the Bermuda Shark Project.

“With nature in emergency mode, the #OnlyOneEarth campaign for World Environment Day, wants you to celebrate the planet through collective environmental action – today and every day; to celebrate this, BZS and BAMZ displayed their various programmes in support of the environment.“

Guests of the open day saw the newest BZS micro forest, there were drone flights and a presentation by Spencer Fields of Passion Fields about the importance of pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Even the food vendors – Jazzy Treats, Ashley’s Lemonade and Casa Dos Acores – joined in the spirit of environmentalism by working to minimise single use plastics on the day and going forward.

World Oceans Day is today and World Environment Day was on June 5.