Late Breaking Call for Abstracts - Open until 5 October, 2026!
We welcome submissions featuring late-breaking findings, new or recently updated study results, and contributions from those who missed the deadline for the first Call for Abstracts. We will accept abstracts for oral (spoken), speed (short spoken), and poster presentations. Second abstracts from delegates are welcomed if the topic falls within the priority areas for the late breaking call for abstracts. Priority will be given to those who are submitting their first abstract.
Priority will be given to submissions addressing the following areas:
Climate Change, Marine Heatwaves & Ocean Warming
- Fisheries management in a changing climate
- Adaptation planning and governance
Ocean Industrialization
- Conservation in urban and industrial seascapes, including ports and coastal cities
- Deep-sea mining and other deep-ocean extractive threats
- Balancing renewable energy, shipping, and aquaculture
Sustainable Finance, Ocean Valuation & Resourcing
- Conservation finance
- Impact investment
- Blue economy
Seafood Traceability, Illegal, Unreported & Unregulated (IUU) Fishing & Enforcement/Governance
- Seafood traceability
- IUU fishing, enforcement, implementation, and governance
- Cross-border cooperation
Scotland Conservation Issues, Successes & Challenges
- Conservation successes
- Emerging challenges
- Fisheries and marine governance
- Community-led conservation
Late-breaking abstracts will be reviewed on a competitive basis, with decisions communicated soon after the October 5 deadline.
Presenters of accepted abstracts must register for IMCC8 by October 15, 2026. Each registered delegate may present one abstract at the conference.
We particularly encourage researchers, practitioners, policymakers, community leaders, and others with new or recently emerging work to take this opportunity to share their contributions with the IMCC8 community.
Submit your late-breaking abstract:
IMCC8 Abstract Submission Platform
Abstracts
Abstract Submission Guidelines
- One Abstract, One Presentation Rule: To accommodate as many delegates as possible, each person is limited to one presentation as the first or presenting author. However, second abstracts from delegates are welcomed if the topic falls within the priority areas for the late breaking call for abstracts. Priority will be given to those who are submitting their first abstract.
- Scope: This rule applies to all oral, speed, and poster presentations across general and symposia sessions.
- Exceptions: This limit does not apply to plenary speakers or participants in workshops, focus groups, or panel discussions.
- Co-authorship: You may be listed as a co-author on multiple presentations.
- When submitting your abstract, you’ll first select your preferred presentation format (oral or speed talk or poster presentation). The next step depends on whether you will present in a symposium, general themed session, or poster session.
Session Type
When you submit, you will categorize your abstract based on these session formats:
| Session type | Who can Submit? | How to Apply |
|---|---|---|
| Curated Symposia | Invited Speakers Only | Select the specific symposium title from the provided list. |
| Open Symposia | Open to All | Best for oral presentations on specific, organized topics. Select up to three preferred sessions. |
| Themed Sessions | Open to All | Best for oral or speed talks on broad marine conservation themes. Select up to three preferred sessions |
| Poster Sessions | Open to All |
No theme selection is required; all posters are grouped into dedicated networking sessions. |
Presentation Formats
Oral Presentations
- Duration: 15 minutes total (12 minutes for talk + 3 minutes for Q&A).
- Setup: Rooms are equipped with a computer and data projector.
- Note: If an oral slot is unavailable, you may be offered a speed talk or poster.
Speed Presentations
- Duration: 5 minutes for key results (strictly enforced).
- Engagement: The final 30 minutes of the session are dedicated to one-on-one dialogue with delegates.
- Note: Speed talks are limited to general themed sessions.
Poster Presentations
- Posters are a visual, concise way to showcase research and projects, providing presenters the opportunity to interact informally with their colleagues. Text should be limited to brief statements and each poster should make a unified, coherent explanation of your work. Professional quality materials that are legible from a distance with minimal text are required.
- Poster design tips can be found here.