Early Bird tickets for SeaWilding 2025 Conference
now available: Secure your spot before August 18th!

PROGRAMME

October 23 - 25 Barcelona

PROGRAMME

Thu 23 - Oct

08:00AM- 13:30PM

Aula Magna - Faculty of Biology

logo UB

08:00AM

registration and accreditations

09:45AM

OPENING

(music)

SEction I: Humanism and Conservation - Rethinking Our Relationship with the Oceans

At the heart of our planetary crisis lies a fundamental question: how did humanity become so disconnected from the natural world that sustains us, and how can we forge a new relationship based on understanding, respect, and reciprocity? This opening section explores the experiential, philosophical, ethical, and scientific foundations necessary to transform our relationship with the oceans from one of exploitation to one of genuine collaboration.

Through diverse perspectives—from transformative direct encounters with marine life to philosophical frameworks that challenge dominant anthropocentrism, from scientific ethics that redefine our responsibility as researchers to global assessments that reveal the mechanisms of systemic change—we examine what it means to be human in relation to the sea.

The session challenges us to move beyond anthropocentric worldviews toward more inclusive ways of seeing and being with marine life, addressing the deep-rooted causes of the ocean crisis: disconnection and domination over nature, unequal concentration of power and wealth, and the prioritization of short-term gains over ecosystem health. We explore how direct experience with wild nature can restore our sense of appropriate distance and respect, while contemporary philosophical perspectives illuminate the deeper paradigmatic shifts required to overcome the Cartesian dualism that conceives nature as an exploitable machine.

Scientific ethics provides the moral framework for responsible research in an era where humanity must assume its role as planetary steward, and social transformation frameworks reveal how these individual and ethical changes can scale toward movements capable of generating the systemic change that characterizes successful ocean conservation initiatives.

This is not merely an academic exercise but an urgent practical necessity: the future of ocean conservation depends fundamentally on how we reimagine ourselves in relation to the more-than-human world of the sea, developing a biospheric humanism that recognizes that our survival and flourishing depends on the health of the web of life of which we are part.

10:00AM

welcome

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10:15am

KEYNOTE: Rencontrer le savage pour retrouver la distance “just” avec la nature
At a time marked by the growing disconnect between humanity and the natural world, Dr. François Sarano, an internationally renowned oceanographer and former expedition leader of the legendary Calypso under Jacques Cousteau, invites us to reflect on the fundamental need to re-establish a balanced relationship with wild nature. His extraordinary career includes decades of underwater research, direct and prolonged encounters with white sharks and cetaceans, and a prolific career as author and co-director of the acclaimed documentary "Océans" by J. Perrin and J. Cluzaud (2010). This keynote examines how direct encounters with non-domesticated wildlife can transform our perception of the natural world, allowing us to redefine the appropriate boundaries between human civilization and the ecosystems that sustain us. The concept of "juste distance" (just distance) that Sarano develops, forged through thousands of hours of immersion and direct observation of the behavior of large marine predators, does not imply a detachment from nature, but rather the establishment of a respectful relationship that recognizes both our ecological interdependence and the intrinsic autonomy of natural systems.

Directed at researchers in oceanography, marine biology, scientific communication and environmental philosophy, as well as educators, documentarians, marine conservationists and sustainable tourism professionals, this conference offers both theoretical foundations on interspecies communication and practical tools derived from Sarano's unique experience. Participants will explore the underwater observation methodologies developed during his career alongside Cousteau, understand the insights extracted from his encounters with white sharks and cetaceans documented in his multiple publications and audiovisual productions, and access an innovative conceptual framework that integrates behavioral oceanography and environmental philosophy. Sarano's proposal provides a solid foundation for reimagining our relationship with the oceanic world and developing marine conservation strategies that honor ecosystem autonomy while recognizing our responsibility as a conscious species to participate in ocean regeneration, establishing a transformative paradigm for contemporary environmental ethics.
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11:15AM

Coffee Break

Aula Magna Reception

11:45AM

KEYNOTE: Science & Ethics synergies for responsible research & innovative activities
"The Anthropocene is changing our relationship with the planet and we must determine how to assume this responsibility" (Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom, 1933-2012). Humanity must be the steward of the planet's natural resources, and all stakeholders must participate to reduce anthropogenic damage to the environment.

Ethical behavior is necessary to ensure the sustainable use of our planet and our oceans. As a consequence, it is our responsibility to apply fundamental ethical core values, identify and promote Sustainable Ocean Principles, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Responsibility is one of the core values that humans accept as universally representative of individual and social good in terms of honesty, justice, and respect for life and the environment. The responsibility of scientists and industry is to take necessary actions to secure a healthy and productive ocean. Industries and researchers must ensure that the effects of their actions do not destroy the autonomy, dignity, and integrity of future humanity, especially under climate change challenges.

Ocean Ethics emphasizes reflection and reasoned actions based on scientific advances to develop the exploration and exploitation of the oceans. It involves social, scientific, environmental, legal, political, industrial, and associative actors to adopt commendable and responsible behavior that will support the sustainability and stability of our oceans and support the resilience of the Earth system.
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12:15AM

ROUND TABLE: The Disconnect Between Humanity and Nature - Contemporary Philosophical Perspectives
This round table will reflect on the transformative potential of rethinking our relationship with nature to address the contemporary ecological crisis, examining the philosophical perspectives that identify this crisis as a fundamental problem of coexistence rather than as a mere technical error. Current philosophical thinking converges on diagnosing that "the cause of the ecological crisis is a problem of coexistence" that requires "a radical paradigm shift" to overcome dominant anthropocentrism.

We will explore how innovative conceptual frameworks such as ecoanimal complementarity, symbioethics, ecological humanities, and the ethics of rewilding offer alternatives to Cartesian dualism that has conceived nature as an exploitable machine and animals as mere automata.

The necessary transformation involves developing moral positions of compassionate love consistent with what we are in fact: holobionts on a symbiotic planet, and regaining the humility of placing ourselves in the biosphere as another species. This round table will examine concrete proposals such as degrowth, rewilding, and a culture of ecofeminist sufficiency as pillars of a new civilizational paradigm.

The debate will focus on how to leave behind that logic of domination of human reason and move towards ecosystem biomimicry, where human systems imitate the functioning of natural ecosystems, thus building a biospheric humanism that recognizes that our survival and flourishing depends on the health of the fabric of life of which we are part.
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13:00PM

conf: IPBES 2024: From Diagnosis to Transformation - Scientific Frameworks for Social Change
The Science of Transformation: From Individual Understanding to Systemic Action

The IPBES 2024 reports represent an unprecedented scientific milestone in our understanding of how to generate effective social transformation toward sustainability. Five years after the IPBES Global Assessment of 2019 documented the magnitude of the planetary biodiversity crisis, the new 2024 Transformative Change and Nexus Assessments provide the first scientifically robust answers to the central question of our time: what must we do to achieve nature-positive social transformation?

Empirical evidence from nearly 400 successful transformation cases documents for the first time the mechanisms of effective social change, revealing that transformation requires simultaneous modifications across three dimensions: our visions (ways of thinking, knowing, and seeing nature), our structures (ways of organizing, regulating, and governing), and our practices (ways of doing, behaving, and relating to ecosystems).

The Assessment identifies with scientific precision the three underlying causes that perpetuate ocean biodiversity destruction: disconnection from nature and domination over nature and other people; unequal concentration of power and wealth; and prioritization of individual and material short-term gains.

The revolutionary Nexus approach transforms our ocean understanding by empirically demonstrating that marine biodiversity, water, seafood, human health, and climate are inextricably interconnected, requiring integrated responses that generate systemic co-benefits. This systemic perspective is crucial as ocean ecosystems face irreversible biophysical tipping points such as the disappearance of shallow-water coral reefs and the collapse of global fisheries.

This keynote provides operational frameworks grounded in rigorous scientific evidence to translate understanding of these transformative mechanisms into concrete ocean rewilding strategies. With data demonstrating that positive outcomes can be achieved within a decade or less when diverse actors work collaboratively, this presentation shows that ocean transformation is not only urgent and necessary, but scientifically demonstrable, practically achievable, and economically viable.

At a critical moment where each decade of delay doubles the costs of action, this keynote translates the most advanced science available into immediately applicable tools for those seeking to catalyze transformative change in ocean conservation.
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13:30PM

LUNCH

Free choice
PROGRAMME

Thu 23 - Oct

15:00PM- 19:30PM

Auditorium - Vertex Building.
North Campus

logo UPC

SEction II: Oceans in Transition

This section addresses today's complex ocean reality: a scenario where crisis and opportunity converge. As seas face multiple and synchronized threats, they also emerge as key players in solutions for the planet's sustainable future. Science reveals to us that the oceans are not only victims of global anthropogenic impact, but resilient ecosystems capable of extraordinary recovery when appropriate conservation strategies are implemented.

This series of conferences offers a comprehensive perspective on contemporary ocean challenges, but fundamentally, it presents a scientifically grounded narrative of hope. Each conference shows that, although the oceans face unprecedented pressures, modern marine science is developing innovative solutions that can reverse negative trends and restore ocean health.

The central message is clear: we are at a time of ocean transition where the decisions we make in the next decade will determine the future of the seas for the following generations. Science provides us with the tools; now we need the collective will to implement the solutions.

15:00PM

KEYNOTE: Oceans in Transition: Towards a Restoration of Marine Ecosystems in the Climate Change Era
Dr. Carlos Duarte, globally recognized as one of the most influential marine ecologists of our time, presents a transformative vision of the oceanic future. His pioneering research has redefined our understanding of marine ecosystem recovery capacity, demonstrating that species and habitats considered lost can experience extraordinary recoveries.

In this keynote, he will share new evidence on oceanic resilience, from gray whale recovery to successful restoration of seagrass meadows and coral reefs. His work has documented how scientifically grounded interventions can reverse decades of degradation in surprisingly short timeframes.

The keynote will address three fundamental pillars: first, the paradigm shift from the "narrative of decline" towards an "ocean hope science"; second, the ecological mechanisms that enable rapid recoveries in marine ecosystems; and third, integrated strategies that combine conservation, active restoration, and nature-based solutions.

Dr. Duarte will present his vision on how oceans can become key allies in achieving global climate objectives, highlighting the potential of blue carbon and marine ecosystems as natural CO₂ sinks. His central message: we are at the decisive moment where today's scientific and political decisions will determine whether we navigate towards restored oceans or towards irreversible collapse.
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16:00 pM

Conf: Current State of Global Marine Biodiversity: Scientific Assessment and Urgency for Action
Based on rigorous scientific evidence, this keynote lecture presents a comprehensive assessment of the current state of biodiversity in the planet's major marine ecosystems. We will present the latest data on decline rates in coral reefs, pelagic ecosystems, deep-sea floors, and coastal zones, quantifying species losses and critical habitat degradation.

The conference will include a comparative analysis between oceanic regions, identifying ecosystems at greatest risk and the most determining stress factors. Through scientific projections based on current models, it will demonstrate why the next decade represents a critical window for action, presenting the scientific imperative that justifies the urgency of implementing conservation measures on a global scale immediately.
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16:45PM

Coffee Break

Edif Vertex Gardens

17:15PM

CONF: Ocean Acidification: Marine Chemistry in Transformation and Ecosystem Adaptation
This conference analyzes the critical relationship between ocean and climate, focusing on marine acidification as one of the most direct consequences of climate change. We will present scientific evidence on how increasing atmospheric CO2 is altering global ocean chemistry, with special emphasis on the Mediterranean Sea as a regional case study.

The presentation will include current data on oceanic carbon dioxide absorption, acidification rates recorded in different Mediterranean basins, and documented impacts on endemic species and unique regional ecosystems. Specific climate projections for the Mediterranean will be examined, analyzing how this semi-enclosed sea responds differentially to changes in ocean chemistry, and the implications for marine biodiversity in one of the planet's most important biodiversity hotspots.
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CONF: Deep Sea Mining: The Next Challenge for Abyssal Ecosystems
The deep seafloor, among the planet's last pristine ecosystems, faces the threat of extractive mining despite the significant scientific knowledge gaps we still have about these environments.

This conference reveals the extraordinary biodiversity of abyssal ecosystems, the severe potential impacts of submarine mining, and the urgent need to establish an international moratorium to protect these unique and irreplaceable ecosystems until science can fully understand their functioning and ecological value.
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18:00PM

CONF: Offshore Wind Farms: Between Renewables and Conservation - Bioacoustics and Sensory Ecology
Offshore wind farms represent a key solution for the energy transition, but they also pose new ecological challenges. This conference examines how these infrastructures affect the migration patterns of marine mammals and seabirds, as well as benthic ecosystems, presenting multiple perspectives on ecological impacts and the need to minimize them through evidence-based mitigation strategies.
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conf: Overfishing and Collapse: Rebuilding Global Marine Abundance
Global fisheries have undergone dramatic changes in recent decades. This conference analyzes the phenomenon of "shifting baseline syndrome" and how we have normalized impoverished oceans. Revolutionary fisheries management strategies that have achieved spectacular recoveries of fish stocks will be presented, demonstrating that historic marine abundance can be restored.
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18:45PM

conf: Plastic Oceans: Global Crisis and the Urgency of the Global Treaty against Plastic Pollution
Microplastics have colonized every corner of the ocean, from abyssal trenches to Arctic ice, turning our seas into global landfills. This conference examines the magnitude of the marine plastic pollution crisis and its devastating ecosystem impacts, from bioaccumulation in food chains to the alteration of ocean biogeochemical processes. The scientific evidence supporting the urgent need for the Global Plastics Treaty will be analyzed, whose negotiations in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee will resume in 2025 following the Busan impasse. This legally binding international instrument represents the only effective tool to halt ocean deterioration, establish corporate responsibilities throughout the plastic lifecycle, and commit companies to repairing the damage caused to marine ecosystems.
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CONF: Ocean Highways: Evolution of the Ecological Impact of Maritime Transport
Ninety percent of global trade travels by sea, and the exponential increase in maritime traffic, alongside technological changes, has intensified its ecological impact across multiple dimensions. This conference examines the evolution of shipping effects on oceanic ecosystems, analyzing how increased tonnage, vessel speed, and commercial route density have exacerbated problems such as underwater acoustic pollution that interferes with marine mammal communication, chemical and hydrocarbon contamination, and increased collisions with marine megafauna. Scientific evidence will be presented on how these cumulative impacts are transforming the oceans into industrial highways, highlighting the urgent need to implement new regulations that govern shipping routes and promote speed reduction in sensitive areas and the incorporation of technologies that reduce collisions with megafauna.
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19:30PM

End of day 1

PROGRAMME

FRI 24 - Oct

09:00AM- 13:30PM

Aula Magna - Faculty of Biology

logo UB

08:30AM

registration and accreditations

SECTION III: How No-Take Marine Reserves Are Regenerating Ocean Ecosystem Services and Transforming Coastal Communities Worldwide

On this second day, we will delve into the different methods and pathways that can lead to the necessary change toward a more protected ocean, exploring how fully or highly protected marine areas constitute the most effective instrument for restoring ocean ecosystem services. Scientific evidence documents significant increases when extractive pressures are eliminated: Cabo Pulmo (Mexico) records a 463% increase in fish biomass, while Gokova Bay (Turkey) demonstrates spillover effects in adjacent Mediterranean fisheries, significant biodiversity increases, and a particularly robust recovery of carnivorous species biomass. However, although 8.3% of the global ocean is under some form of protection, only 2.7% is effectively protected according to the Marine Protection Atlas. In Europe, although 12.3% of marine areas are designated as protected, only 0.2% are fully or highly protected, evidencing a critical gap between scientific potential and implementation.

This limited coverage reflects misalignment with international commitments: the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the EU Biodiversity Strategy require protecting 30% of marine areas, with 10% under strict protection. With 86% of European "protected" areas allowing harmful industrial activities, expansion toward truly fully or highly protected zones represents an imperative for compliance with legally binding commitments that transcends purely scientific considerations.

09:00am

KEYNOTE: The rewards of nature restoration: From Collapse to Abundance.
Lessons from (Cabo Pulmo (Mexico)/Gokova Bay (Turkey) on How Fully Protected Areas Transform Ocean Ecosystems and Coastal Communities.



Both sanctuaries share a common narrative of community-driven transformation, where local fishers made the bold decision to sacrifice short-term catches for long-term abundance, becoming guardians of their own marine heritage. Cabo Pulmo's 463% increase in fish biomass over two decades and Gokova Bay's remarkable recovery of carnivorous species and biodiversity spillover effects into adjacent fisheries demonstrate that marine protection is not about restricting human opportunity—it's about multiplying it exponentially. These cases illuminate how fully protected marine areas serve as natural banks that generate compound returns in ecosystem services, economic opportunities, and community resilience, offering a replicable blueprint for ocean recovery at a time when only 2.7% of our global ocean enjoys such protection.
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10:00AM

KEYNOTE: The MPA Guide: A Conceptual Framework for Achieving Global Ocean Goals
In a global context where human well-being is intrinsically dependent on ocean health, seriously compromised by anthropogenic activities—with fisheries overexploitation being the main driver of marine biodiversity loss—Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) emerge as fundamental spatial and ecosystem management tools that offer the broadest range of socio-ecological benefits available.

However, despite international agreements that promote their establishment, declared MPA coverage does not constitute a sufficient indicator of conservation success. Evidence reveals that numerous MPAs lack effective implementation and substantive regulations that establish operational differences between their internal and external areas.

To address this challenge, the MPA Guide is presented as an innovative conceptual framework that classifies MPAs using two critical dimensions: their level of effective protection (from 'incompatible with marine conservation' to 'fully protected') and their establishment stage (from 'committed' to 'actively managed').

Meta-analysis results reveal a direct and significant correlation between protection level and MPA effectiveness, including measurable socioeconomic benefits. Particularly alarming is the considerably low proportion of areas under full and high protection, contrasting markedly with the high figures officially declared in various regions.

This keynote emphasizes the imperative need for a paradigmatic shift toward effective quality of protection to achieve global ocean objectives, underscoring that quantitative coverage is insufficient to guarantee the long-term health of marine ecosystems.
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11:00AM

Coffee Break

Aula Magna Reception

11:30AM

CONF: Ecological Considerations for Managing Fisheries within Protected Areas: A New Task Force.
This talk explores the critical challenge of managing fishing activities within marine protected areas, introducing a new IUCN WCPA task force designed to accelerate progress toward 30x30 targets through evidence-based best practices. As demonstrated by the remarkable recoveries at Cabo Pulmo and Gokova Bay, and guided by frameworks like the MPA Guide, effective ocean rewilding requires navigating complex decisions about compatible human activities within protected marine spaces.

Protected areas experience a spectrum of extraction impacts, from fully protected no-take zones that enable complete ecosystem recovery to multiple-use areas allowing selective fishing. Critical uncertainties persist regarding which fisheries, at what scale and intensity, align with conservation objectives—including the challenging definition of 'industrial' versus 'artisanal' fishing in marine contexts.

This presentation examines how successful marine protected areas have addressed fisheries management challenges, discusses existing guidance, and explores knowledge gaps the new task force aims to resolve by 2027. By bridging conservation science and fisheries management, this initiative supports the transformative change needed to achieve both biodiversity recovery and sustainable livelihoods in our transition toward healthier oceans.
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12:15PM

conf: Do MPA contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation?
Marine Protected Areas (MPA) are increasingly being promoted as an ocean-based climate solution. However, these claims are controversial because the literature on the climate benefits of MPAs is scattered and poorly synthesized. To address this knowledge gap, a systematic literature review has recently been conducted of 22,403 publications covering 241 MPAs and analyzing 16 ecological and social pathways through which MPAs could contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. This meta-analysis determines that marine conservation can significantly improve carbon sequestration, coastal protection, biodiversity, and the reproductive capacity of marine organisms, as well as fishers' catches and incomes. Most of these benefits are only achieved in fully or highly protected areas and increase with MPA age.

This conference will present these results and analyze the extent to which MPAs can constitute a useful tool for climate change mitigation and socio-ecological system adaptation.
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13:00PM

conf: MPA Financing: What We Know... and What We Urgently Need to Know to Achieve 30x30
Sustainable financing of Marine Protected Areas has become the critical bottleneck preventing countries from materializing their ambitious 30x30 commitments. While governments announce new ocean protection targets, financial reality reveals an alarming gap: most MPAs operate with insufficient budgets, fragmented management structures, and excessive dependence on volatile government funding. The problem extends beyond available money to how resources are efficiently managed, allocated, and executed—a financing-management crisis that directly threatens achieving global objectives by 2030.

This presentation offers a comprehensive analysis of the global MPA financing landscape, exposing both available tools and critical operational gaps that prevent effective implementation. Through global data and comparative cases, successful financial management models will be revealed that integrate budget planning, self-revenue generation systems, and efficient governance structures. Analysis will range from innovative blue financing mechanisms to adaptive management systems that optimize limited resources.

The objective is to transform conservation rhetoric into viable financial and operational plans, providing integrated frameworks that connect financial sustainability, management efficiency, and conservation effectiveness. By identifying how best practices can multiply the impact of every investment, this session delivers immediately applicable tools for ensuring MPA success in the decisive decade ahead.
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13:30PM

LUNCH

Free choice
PROGRAMME

FRI 24 - Oct

15:00PM- 19:00PM

Aula Magna - Faculty of Biology

logo UB

15:00PM

KEYNOTE: Seascape marine restoration: How our understanding of connectivity across the seascape can inform nature restoration policy and practice
Marine ecosystems function as interconnected networks where the success of restoration efforts depends fundamentally on understanding ecological connectivity across entire seascapes. While traditional conservation approaches have focused on isolated protected areas, emerging science reveals that nutrients, larvae, carbon, and species move fluidly across coastal landscapes, creating dynamic webs of interdependence that transcend administrative boundaries. This connectivity is not merely an ecological curiosity—it is the foundation upon which all successful marine restoration must be built.

In the era of ambitious global targets for ocean recovery, seascape-scale thinking offers a transformative approach to restoration that multiplies conservation impact. Evidence from temperate coastal systems demonstrates that when restoration projects consider connectivity pathways—from watershed to deep ocean—they achieve exponentially greater success in rebuilding ecosystem resilience, enhancing biodiversity, and restoring ecosystem services. This integrated approach recognizes that restoring a seagrass meadow requires understanding sediment flows from terrestrial sources, that coral reef recovery depends on larval connectivity networks, and that fish population recovery relies on habitat corridors spanning multiple ecosystem types.

This keynote presents a paradigm shift from fragmented restoration efforts toward seascape-scale strategies that harness natural connectivity to accelerate ocean recovery. By adopting this holistic framework, restoration practitioners can design interventions that work with natural systems rather than against them, creating cascading positive effects that extend far beyond individual project sites and dramatically increase the likelihood of achieving global ocean restoration targets within the critical decade ahead.
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SECTION IV: Activism, Communication and Engagement
La ciencia sin acción es meramente observación; la acción sin ciencia corre el riesgo de convertirse en defensa ineficaz. Esta sección conecta la brecha crítica entre la investigación marina y la transformación social, explorando cómo el conocimiento científico se transforma en catalizadores poderosos para la protección oceánica a través de la comunicación estratégica, el activismo dirigido y la participación pública significativa. Mientras los ecosistemas marinos enfrentan amenazas sin precedentes que requieren acción urgente, las fronteras tradicionales entre investigadores, comunicadores y activistas se están disolviendo, creando nuevas formas de defensa impulsada por la ciencia que combinan evidencia rigurosa con narrativas convincentes y campañas estratégicas.
Desde laboratorios hasta pasillos legislativos, desde artículos revisados por pares hasta campañas virales en redes sociales, esta sección examina el paisaje evolutivo de la defensa oceánica en la era digital. Exploramos cómo la comunicación estratégica transforma datos científicos complejos en narrativas accesibles que inspiran la acción pública e influyen en las decisiones políticas, analizando campañas innovadoras que demuestran el poder de la narrativa basada en evidencia. La discusión aborda el delicado equilibrio entre la integridad científica y la efectividad de la defensa: cómo los investigadores pueden participar en el activismo sin comprometer la credibilidad, y cómo los comunicadores pueden mantener la precisión mientras crean contenido emocionalmente resonante que mueve a las audiencias de la conciencia a la acción.

At this critical juncture for ocean health, effective communication and strategic activism are not optional luxuries—they are essential survival tools. This section provides the frameworks needed to build social movements capable of implementing the scientific solutions our oceans desperately need, transforming knowledge into the political and social power necessary for marine conservation success.
SECTION V: Ecological Corridors
The ocean is not a collection of isolated habitats but a dynamic network of interconnected ecosystems where life flows freely across vast distances, political borders, and jurisdictional lines. This section explores the critical importance of ecological corridors in marine conservation, examining how recognizing and protecting these natural highways is revolutionizing our approach to ocean stewardship. From microscopic larvae drifting across ocean basins to epic migrations of whales and sea turtles spanning entire hemispheres, marine life depends on uninterrupted connectivity that transcends human-imposed boundaries.
This section demonstrates how science-based corridor design can transform fragmented conservation efforts into cohesive protection strategies at ecosystem scale. We explore the practical challenges and innovative solutions emerging from transboundary conservation, examining how cutting-edge tools—satellite tracking, genetic analysis, and biophysical modeling—are revealing the hidden pathways that sustain marine biodiversity and enable the genetic flow essential for population resilience.

As climate change alters ocean conditions and forces species to shift their distribution ranges, maintaining ecological connectivity becomes even more critical for adaptation and survival. This section provides essential frameworks for designing and implementing conservation strategies that honor the inherently connected nature of marine life, demonstrating that effective ocean protection requires thinking beyond borders to embrace the corridors that unite our blue planet.

16:00PM

Conf: Science in Motion, From Laboratory to Activism
The scientific community stands at a historic crossroads: while we possess the most robust knowledge ever generated about the ocean crisis and the urgency of 30x30, our impact on real political decisions remains dramatically limited. Scientists have meticulously documented ecosystem collapse, the ineffectiveness of many current measures, and the growing gap between government commitments and effective protection, yet this evidence remains confined to academic journals while oceans continue to degrade. "Science in motion" represents a necessary paradigmatic shift: the transition from scientists as passive observers to scientist-activists who mobilize their expertise toward direct action. This is not about compromising scientific integrity, but recognizing that scientific neutrality in times of ocean crisis is, in itself, a position that favors the destructive status quo.

The moment for this movement is critical and strategic: the next five years will determine whether 30x30 becomes an achievable goal or another empty promise. Scientists must evolve from knowledge producers to active translators of evidence into public policy, using their credibility and expertise to directly confront governments, industries, and international bodies with the consequences of inaction. This means abandoning academic comfort zones to testify in parliaments, advise NGOs, publicly challenge anti-scientific decisions, and build coalitions that transform evidence into social and political power.

"Science in motion" is not an idealistic option but an ethical and professional obligation. At a moment when ocean survival depends on scientists assuming the role of active defenders of the knowledge they have generated, the future of global marine conservation requires scientists willing to move not just papers, but political mountains.
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Case STUDY: Marine Corridors in the EASTERN Tropical Pacific
The Eastern Tropical Pacific represents one of the world's most biodiverse marine regions, where extraordinary ecological connectivity sustains megafauna migrations across international borders and supports the livelihoods of millions of people. This case study examines the transformative potential of adaptive management strategies that recognize marine corridors as integrated socio-ecological systems, transcending the static boundaries of protected areas to embrace the dynamic nature of oceanic life.

Three fundamental areas exemplify this approach: the Thermal Dome as a critical offshore upwelling zone generating USD $1.58 billion in economic value, the Cocos Conservation Area functioning as a genetic reservoir and migratory hub, and the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR) connecting Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador through shared stewardship of marine megafauna. Scientific evidence reveals that these interconnected systems function as vital arteries for humpback whales, sea turtles, sharks, and commercially important species. The Thermal Dome alone sustains 28% of Mexico and Central America's fisheries GDP while serving as a marine highway for international shipping.

Growing pressures from climate change, industrial fishing, and maritime traffic demand innovative governance mechanisms that can adapt to changing environmental conditions and migratory patterns. This initiative demonstrates how collaborative monitoring using satellite technology, community-based management, and regional cooperation frameworks are creating new models of adaptive conservation that honor both ecological connectivity and the needs of coastal communities. The Eastern Tropical Pacific evidences that effective marine conservation requires thinking beyond national borders, building governance systems as dynamic and resilient as the oceanic life they aim to protect.
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16:45PM

Coffee Break

Aula Magna Reception

17:15PM

ROUND TABLE: The role of science journalism and the media
Despite covering 71% of our planet, ocean science remains dramatically underrepresented in media coverage, creating a dangerous disconnect between critical marine research and public understanding. While scientists document alarming rates of biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, these findings often remain trapped in academic journals, failing to generate the awareness necessary for meaningful conservation action. Simultaneously, misinformation and "greenwashing" narratives proliferate on digital platforms, undermining scientific credibility and delaying essential action.

This roundtable brings together leading science journalists, communicators, and media professionals to explore how to transform complex scientific data into compelling narratives that inspire action rather than despair. From investigative documentaries to digital platforms and ocean influencers, we examine innovative approaches that can bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and urgent societal need for ocean protection, addressing practical challenges such as scientific accuracy, audience engagement, and ethical environmental reporting.

The discussion explores strategies to amplify diverse voices—particularly coastal communities, indigenous knowledge holders, and young advocates—while examining how strategic science communication can transform public perception, influence policy decisions, and mobilize the global movement necessary to ensure ocean survival. At a critical moment where narrative can determine the future of our seas, this session provid
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CONF: Source-to-Sea frameworks for integrated restoration
Ocean health begins upstream, in the watersheds, rivers, and coastal zones that form an interconnected continuum of ecosystems supporting life. Traditional marine restoration approaches have focused on isolated habitats, failing to recognize that successful restoration of seagrass meadows, coral reefs, and coastal wetlands requires addressing the entire "Source-to-Sea" pathway connecting mountain watersheds to ocean depths. This conference examines how integrated restoration frameworks are revolutionizing marine conservation by recognizing that terrestrial and marine ecosystems function as a single interconnected system.

Source-to-Sea approaches recognize that nutrients, sediments, organic matter, and contaminants flow continuously from terrestrial sources to marine environments, creating ecological connections spanning entire continents. When restoration efforts address only marine components while ignoring upstream pollution sources or degraded riparian zones, they often fail to achieve lasting recovery. Integrated frameworks that restore connectivity across the entire land-sea continuum create synergistic effects that amplify success and enhance ecosystem resilience.

This presentation explores transformative examples of Source-to-Sea restoration, from oyster reefs requiring upstream nutrient management to recovery of migratory species depending on intact corridors. As we face accelerated climate change and biodiversity loss, Source-to-Sea frameworks offer a pathway to successful restoration that recognizes ocean and land as an integrated system requiring holistic stewardship, demonstrating that true ocean restoration begins in the mountains.
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18:00PM

case STUDY: Greenpeace campaign
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case STUDY: OCEANA campaign
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conf: Ecological connectivity and transpondary conservation in practice: tools & insights
Marine ecosystems know no political borders, yet conservation efforts remain largely confined within national jurisdictions, creating a fundamental mismatch between ecological reality and governance frameworks. From epic migrations of humpback whales spanning entire ocean basins to larval dispersal patterns connecting distant coral reefs, marine life depends on uninterrupted connectivity across spatial scales that transcend human-drawn boundaries. This conference explores how innovative tools and collaborative approaches are revolutionizing transboundary conservation by operationalizing ecological connectivity principles into practical conservation strategies.

The challenge is immense: a single sea turtle can traverse territories of dozens of nations during its lifetime, while fish larvae can drift through multiple exclusive economic zones within weeks. Recent advances in biophysical modeling, satellite tracking, genetic analysis, and seascape genomics provide unprecedented insights into functional connectivity patterns, revealing the critical importance of migratory corridors, stepping-stone habitats, and transboundary ecosystem linkages that sustain marine biodiversity.

This presentation examines cutting-edge tools for mapping and measuring ecological connectivity, from sophisticated dispersal models integrating ocean currents with larval behavior, to innovative governance mechanisms enabling coordinated transnational management. Through successful initiatives—migratory species corridors, regional fisheries management, and transboundary marine protected area networks—we explore how science is informing new conservation approaches that honor the inherently connected nature of marine ecosystems, providing essential tools for translating connectivity science into effective transboundary action.
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19:00PM

End of day 2

PROGRAMME

SAT 25 - Oct

09:00AM- 13:15PM

Aula Magna - Faculty of Biology

logo UB

08:30AM

accreditations

SECTION VI: Governance & environment rights

The ocean, despite being the planet's largest life support system, has long remained silent in legal frameworks designed by and for humans. This section examines the radical transformation occurring in global ocean governance, from traditional approaches centered on exploitation toward emerging paradigms that recognize the ocean as an entity with inherent rights deserving legal representation and juridical protection.

We explore how law is evolving to give voice to the ocean through multiple dimensions: from implementing international agreements for the high seas to pioneering cases of oceanic legal personhood, from ocean literacy as a foundation for legal action to emerging principles like "in dubio, in favorem Oceani"—when in doubt, rule in favor of the ocean. These legal developments could radically redefine decisions about marine protection, deep-sea mining, climate action, and ocean resource use.

At a critical moment where ocean health and human survival are inextricably connected, this section demonstrates that the future of marine conservation depends fundamentally on our capacity to reimagine the legal relationship between humanity and the ocean that sustains us. The revolution in ocean governance is not merely a juridical evolution—it is an essential ethical transformation that recognizes the ocean as a subject of rights rather than an object of exploitation.

09:00am

KEYNOTE: Ocean Biodiversity Governance: Past, Present & Future.
Reflections on COP16 & UNOC3: Lessons from Global Frameworks on Ocean Conservation Implementation

In the context of the global biodiversity crisis we face, this keynote examines the most recent developments from the sixteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Cali, Colombia in October 2024, and the emerging results from the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), held in Nice, France in June 2025. This temporal convergence is not coincidental, but represents a unique opportunity to examine how integrating SDG 14 objectives with the Global Biodiversity Framework, especially the 30x30 target, can create transformative synergies between terrestrial and marine conservation.

The conference analyzes how strategic integration of three fundamental pillars emerging from these frameworks can transform global conservation efforts: science and evidence as the foundation for effective public policies, multilateral cooperation as an international governance mechanism, and grassroots initiatives including local communities, indigenous peoples, and citizen movements. Special examination focuses on the critical importance of ecosystem connectivity revealed in both conferences, exploring innovative strategies to create biological corridors and protected area networks functioning as integrated systems. The ocean dimension gains particular relevance considering that UNOC3 represents the first ocean conference since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Framework and the BBNJ Agreement.

This keynote provides tools for understanding the most recent international regulatory frameworks, identifying effective ecosystem recovery strategies validated by these global processes, and leveraging innovative financing mechanisms including sustainable blue economy approaches. Lessons extracted from COP16 and UNOC3 demonstrate that effective ocean conservation implementation requires mobilizing all of society through deep understanding of how these global frameworks can translate into transformative action, recognizing that ocean biodiversity constitutes the foundation of our planetary survival.
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10:00AM

KEYNOTE: Giving the ocean a voice: the role of law in ocean Literacy Advocacy & LITIGATION
The ocean remains largely voiceless in legal systems designed by and for humans, despite providing the foundation for all life on Earth and facing unprecedented threats from climate change, pollution, and overexploitation. This keynote explores the transformative potential of emerging legal frameworks that seek to fundamentally reimagine our relationship with the ocean—from an extractive resource to be exploited to a living entity with inherent rights deserving protection and representation. While traditional ocean governance structures struggle to address accelerated marine degradation, innovative legal approaches are emerging that center the intrinsic value and ecological integrity of the ocean.

The presentation examines three interconnected pathways through which law is becoming a powerful tool for ocean protection: ocean literacy as the foundation for informed legal action, advocacy that transforms scientific knowledge into policy change, and strategic litigation that enforces existing obligations while establishing new precedents for ocean rights. Central to this evolution is the initiative toward a Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights, which would recognize the ocean as a living entity with rights to existence, ecological health, and freedom from irreversible harm, embracing the principle of "in dubio, in favorem Oceani"—when in doubt, rule in favor of the ocean.

Through case studies of recent climate litigation, rights of nature movements, and developments in international ocean law, this keynote demonstrates how legal innovation is creating new spaces for the ocean's voice to be heard in courts, policy forums, and international negotiations. At a critical juncture for ocean health, law emerges not merely as a regulatory tool, but as a means to fundamentally transform governance to honor our interdependence with the ocean that sustains all life.
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11:00AM

Coffee Break

Aula Magna Reception

11:30AM

CONF: High-seas: the forgotten half of our planet (BBNJ).
Beyond the horizon of national waters lies the forgotten half of our planet—the high seas and international seabed covering nearly 60% of Earth's surface and 90% of its habitable volume, yet remaining largely invisible to public consciousness and inadequately protected by international law. These areas beyond national jurisdiction represent Earth's last marine wilderness, harboring unique biodiversity, sustaining critical ecosystem services, and serving as highways for the planet's most magnificent migratory species. However, this blue heart faces unprecedented pressures: industrial fishing now occurs across 48% of the high seas, maritime traffic has increased 1600% since UNCLOS, and over one million square kilometers of seabed have been designated for possible deep-sea mining.

The recently adopted BBNJ Agreement represents a historic opportunity to transform governance of these vast oceanic spaces, providing the first comprehensive international framework for conserving marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. After nearly two decades of negotiations, this "High Seas Treaty" introduces innovative tools for establishing marine protected areas in international waters, conducting environmental impact assessments, and sharing benefits from marine genetic resources, all guided by precautionary and ecosystem-based approaches. The agreement's success depends on rapid ratification, effective implementation, and political will to prioritize long-term ecological health.

This conference examines how the BBNJ Agreement could catalyze a paradigm shift from viewing the high seas as an unregulated common heritage ready for exploitation toward recognizing it as a global patrimony requiring stewardship for future generations. Through analysis of the treaty's innovative provisions and implementation challenges, we explore how humanity can finally give legal voice and protection to the forgotten half of our planet, ensuring the high seas become the first truly sustainable global commons of the 21st century.
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12:00AM

CONF: Neurological, Cognitive and Ethical Evidence of Sentience in Fish and Invertebrates.
Accumulated scientific evidence has demolished the Cartesian conception of marine animals as automatons, revealing neural architectures that, although evolutionarily divergent, sustain complex conscious experiences. Fish nociceptive systems process pain through trigemino-spinal pathways similar to mammals, while crustaceans show EEG-type signals when experiencing noxious stimulation, establishing solid neurobiological foundations for marine sentience. This convergence of neurological evidence, extraordinary sensory capabilities, and complex social behaviors not only expands the boundaries of animal consciousness but scientifically grounds the legal recognition of sentience as the basis for intrinsic rights.

This emerging scientific paradigm has catalyzed an unprecedented ethical and legal transformation that fundamentally redefines our moral and legal relationship with marine life. In 2022, the United Kingdom became the first country to legally recognize the sentience of octopuses, crabs, and lobsters in its animal welfare legislation, while in 2024 over 500 scientists signed the New York Declaration recognizing a "realistic possibility of conscious experience" in marine vertebrates and invertebrates. This evidence of sentience in marine organisms is not merely an academic discovery, but an ethical imperative that establishes urgent legal obligations toward billions of sentient oceanic beings.

The documented capacity to suffer, experience emotional states, and form concepts of "self" in marine species establishes inherent moral rights that transcend their human utility, demanding a revolution in legal frameworks from fisheries regulations to global conservation policies. Scientifically documented marine sentience provides the necessary empirical foundation to expand legal personhood and rights of nature beyond ecosystems toward individual species, transforming the oceanic legal paradigm from property toward recognition of subjects of rights with verifiable conscious capacities.
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12:30PM

conf: Legal Personhood: The Mar Menor Case
On September 30, 2022, Spain marked a historic milestone in European environmental law with the approval of Law 19/2022, which recognized legal personhood to the Mar Menor lagoon and its basin, making it the first European ecosystem to obtain rights equivalent to those of natural and legal persons. This conference examines the paradigmatic case of the Mar Menor as a pioneer in the practical application of rights of nature in Europe, an extraordinary achievement accomplished through a Popular Legislative Initiative that gathered over 600,000 citizen signatures and obtained parliamentary support from all political parties except one.

Dr. Eduardo Salazar Ortuño, Professor of Environmental Law at the University of Murcia and one of the legal architects of this revolutionary legislation, presents an analysis of the process that transformed the Mar Menor from an "object of protection" into a "subject of rights" with legal capacity to defend itself in courts. Law 19/2022 establishes fundamental rights for the lagoon ecosystem: the right to exist as an ecosystem and evolve naturally, the right to protection, conservation, maintenance, and restoration, creating an innovative governance system through the Mar Menor Guardianship, composed of a Committee of Representatives, a Monitoring Commission, and a Scientific Committee. The recent constitutional ratification by the Constitutional Court in 2024 and the approval of Royal Decree 90/2025 that operationalizes these bodies demonstrate the legal viability of this model.

This conference explores the transformative implications of the Mar Menor case for the evolution of global environmental law, analyzing how this European precedent is inspiring similar initiatives in other ecosystems and jurisdictions. From an ocean governance perspective, the Mar Menor model offers a replicable blueprint for giving legal voice to marine ecosystems in crisis, demonstrating that recognizing intrinsic rights of nature is not merely a philosophical aspiration but a practical and effective legal tool for environmental protection in the 21st century.
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13:15PM

Closing ceremony

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October 23 to 25
Barcelona
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