A Joint Special Event on Marine World Heritage was held by UNESCO's World Heritage Marine Programme and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) during the International Marine Conservation Congress, http://www.conbio.org/imcc2011/, on 15 May 2011 in Victoria, Canada. 

The event intended to raise visibility for the causes of marine World Heritage and the role of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission in protecting exceptional ocean places. The event programme included speeches by: Fanny Douvere, Coordinator of the World Heritage Marine Programme; Julian Barbiere, Programme Specialist and Charles Ehler, consultant to UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; Dan Lafolley, Marine Vice Chair of the IUCN's World Commission on Protected Areas; and Aulani Wilhelm, Superintendent of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

The event was made possible thanks to the ongoing support to the World Heritage Marine Programme by the Tides of Time partners Jaeger-LeCoultre and the International Herald Tribune, and the Government of Flanders.