Hosted by the Center for MARine Biodiversity, Exploitation & Conservation (MARBEC), this international event is co-organized by the European COST Action Unifying approaches to Marine Connectivity for Improved Resource Management for the Seas (SEA-UNICORN), the French research consortium Océans et Mers (OMER) and the international NGO Ocean Knowledge Action Network OceanKAN affiliated to the Marine Life 2030 Ocean Decade Programme, in the frame of the UN Ocean Decade.
The event will bring together marine scientists and stakeholders from around the world in Montpellier, France, on 27–31 May 2024, to share the latest advances in the study of marine connectivity and its use in public and international policies for the sustainable management of the ocean and its resources. It also marks the conclusion of the 4 years of interdisciplinary work undertaken as part of the SEA-UNICORN international consortium, which has already allowed >350 experts (from 42 countries) to collaborate and share knowledge to advance and unify research in the emerging field of Marine Functional Connectivity (MFC).
The 3-day scientific conference will examine the latest findings and future of MFC research, and allow discussing its applications to ecosystem and resource management. Participants will share their expertise and latest findings on the topic, through oral presentations (including keynotes talks) and posters, organized into three theme sessions:
1. Multi-disciplinary approaches in MFC research
2. MFC research and the global functioning and health of the ocean
3. MFC knowledge use for improved environmental policies and sustainable development
Alongside the conference, round tables (with stakeholders) and applied workshops will be held to further advance MFC understanding and promote the integration of marine connectivity knowledge into decision-support tools for environmental management and policies. This will help define appropriate conservation measures for maritime spatial planning and governance, in Europe and beyond, in line with the current challenges of the UN Ocean Decade.
Deadline for applications is 30 November 2023. For more information and abstract submission, please access here.