World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 2026
The 7th edition of the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity will be organized in Bruges between November 17th and 20th 2026. The WCMB 2026 will fly the UN Ocean Decade flag, as it has been endorsed as a UN Ocean Decade Event. The overall theme of the Conference is “The marine biodiversity insights we need, for the ocean we want”. As the Conference will take place a little over halfway through the UN Ocean Decade, it will provide an excellent opportunity to take stock of ongoing actions and initiatives, but also evaluate what still needs to be tackled by the end of the Decade.
Nature Restoration Academy: Building the Skills to Restore Europe’s Waters
Between 29 and 30 of October the Nature Restoration Academy brings together early-career professionals, students and practitioners for two days in Berlin, preceded by an online baseline session, to build practical skills in marine and freshwater restoration.
BLUE CONNECT at European Maritime Day 2026
From 21-22 May 2026, BLUE CONNECT joined the MPA Community Network booth at the European Maritime Day in Limassol’s old town. Alongside PHAROS, Blue4All, BioProtect, MSP4BIO and EFFECTIVE, it presented science-based tools and collaborative approaches for more effective Marine Protected Area planning and management. The booth also introduced the MPA-CN as a growing space for connecting MPA projects, managers, stakeholders and experts across Europe, helping share knowledge, reduce fragmentation and strengthen cooperation.