As we approach this year’s World Ocean Day on Sunday 8th June, our global community of maritime museums are preparing to come together in celebration of the vital role our oceans play on Earth. We are delighted to share some of the highlights of World Ocean Day events being undertaken by maritime museums around the world this weekend. These events really highlight the significant role our member institutions can play in advancing ocean literacy, inspiring ocean stewardship for future generations and shaping a sustainable future for our oceans. Through our engagement programmes, exhibitions and community outreach we can play our part in raising awareness of ocean conservation and climate resilience. Find out more about World Ocean Day Events taking place in maritime museums worldwide this week by reading our ICMM Special Newsletter: Celebrating World Ocean Day 2025
“My lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. This could be the moment of change. Nearly every country on Earth has just agreed, on paper, to achieve this bare minimum and protect a third of the ocean. Together, we now face the challenge of making it happen.”
David Attenborough
Ocean with David Attenborough
ICMM was recently given the opportunity to invite our full member museums to unite in hosting free screenings of renowned British naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough’s new documentary, Ocean with David Attenborough. We send our thanks to Emily Jateff from the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, Australia for negotiating this exclusive opportunity for our members on behalf of the ICMM Ocean Sustainability Committee alongside funding support for participating institutions to promote their activities.
After seven decades filming every aspect of the natural world, David Attenborough delivers his greatest message of hope in a spectacular new film. The powerful documentary takes viewers on a breath-taking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the ocean.
In the film, the celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker reveals how his lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, Attenborough shows how a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing.
ICMM Member Museums screening the film this week include:
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (USA), Maritime Museum of San Diego (USA), Mystic Seaport Museum (USA), New Bedford Whaling Museum (USA), National Maritime Museum, Royal Museums Greenwich (UK), The Tall Ship Glenlee (UK), Mary Rose Trust (UK), SS Great Britain Trust (UK), Museu Marítim de Barcelona (Spain), AIMS Museo Maritimo (Philippines), New Zealand Maritime Museum (New Zealand), Promotori Musei Mare (Italy), Hong Kong Maritime Museum (Hong Kong SAR), Åland Maritime Museum (Åland Islands), Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (Canada), Vancouver Maritime Museum (Canada), Seaworks Maritime Precinct / Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network (Australia), Bass Strait Maritime Museum (Australia), Australian National Maritime Museum (Australia), Maritime Museum Tasmania (Australia), Albany’s Historic Whaling Station (Australia) and the Western Australian Museum (Australia).
More information about the film:
OCEAN with David Attenborough is a Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios co-production, in association with All3Media International, National Geographic, and Minderoo Pictures. The film is directed by Toby Nowlan, Keith Scholey and Colin Butfield and produced by Nowlan. The film is co-produced by Arksen & 10% for the Ocean, Don Quixote Foundation, National Geographic Society and Pristine Seas, Revive Our Ocean, and The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
These film screening events were developed with support from Minderoo Pictures.
Find out more about World Ocean Day Events taking place in maritime museums worldwide this week by reading our ICMM Special Newsletter: Celebrating World Ocean Day 2025
Images: © Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios