Congress Theme & Special Topics of Interest
The overall theme of the congress is Making Marine Science Matter. For marine conservation to be effective, marine conservation science must matter to stakeholders, policy makers, and practitioners. To accomplish this, the congress will be organized around specific topics of interest for marine conservation in general, as well as the local area. This list is not meant to be exhaustive but merely a guide for the conference.
• Marine renewable and non-renewable energy
• Climate, ocean acidification, and the changing oceans
• Advancing marine conservation through international treaties
• Effective conservation planning (including EBM and MPAs, cumulative impacts)
• Communicating marine conservation (marine conservation awareness and outreach, social media)
• Participation in marine conservation science (e.g. citizen and indigenous science)
• Marine tourism
• Estuary restoration
• UK marine conservation initiatives*
• Marine renewable energy*
• Impacts of marine oil spills on marine and coastal ecosystems & fisheries*
• Marine conservation and the media*
• GMOs and aquaculture*
• Future risks posed by marine diseases*
• Threats to deep sea ecosystems*
• Marine conservation on the high seas*
• Educational strategies for marine conservation*
In addition, the SCB Marine Section developed a list of 71 research questions critical to the advancement of marine conservation. These research questions will also be addressed throughout the conference.
*These themes and topics of special interest have been added after reviewing proposals and abstracts and receiving requests from SCB members.