BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhua) -- June 8 is World Oceans Day, a day for awareness of the need to protect the oceans. This year's theme is "Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet."

The oceans are not only home to an array of widelife but also regulate global climate, produce oxygen and feed millions of people.

However, human activities, including overexploitation, as well as marine pollution are taking a heavy toll on the world's oceans and seas.

The United Nations is scheduled to commemorate this year's World Oceans Day with a reception and music performance, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric announced Friday.

At the reception scheduled at the UN Headquarters in New York, the winners of the Annual World Oceans Day Oceanic Photo Competition will be announced and the winning photos will be projected in large format. A quartet of the UN Orchestra will also perform.

At sunset on Monday, the Empire State Building will be lit in the World Oceans Day colors of white, blue and purple, representing the different depths of the ocean.

This year's celebration of World Oceans Day coincides with the first day of the 25th meeting of the States Parties to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

World Oceans Day was first introduced in 1992 to raise awareness of the crucial role the sea plays as sources of food, oxygen and medicine. It was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008 and is observed on June 8 each year.