In 1992, the Government of Canada proposed setting a World Ocean day during the so-called Earth Summit (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. The UN officially recognized 8 June as  "World Oceans Day" in December 2008.  Since 2009, this day is celebrated annually to raise public awareness on the exceptional significance of the oceans for virtually every aspect of life on earth.

Over the years, the ICBM realised events at or around that date to call the general public's attention and particularly to support the adolescent's decision for a future career by emphasizing the importance of marine research as well as the conservation of marine ecosystems.

Planning on the 2020 ICBM „Day of the Seas“ was aleady running at full swing at the end of 2019, when it had to come to a provisional halt due to the repercussions of the Corona pandemic, which affected almost every event with great public appeal worldwide. Anyway, the ICBM plans a new edition of the „Day of the Seas“ next year. Details will be announced as soon as possible in the given situation.

Moreover, we would like to seize the situation to draw your attentention to the World Oceans Day website and to a current petition in particular. According to leading scientists on a global scale, we need to protect at least 30 per cent of our blue planet by 2030 to keep the blue planet suitable for life as we know it on a long-term basis.