MARE organizes the International Conference on Marine Bioinvasions in Madeira.
MARE organized the 12th International Conference on Marine Bioinvasions (ICMB), which took place from October 6 to 9 in Funchal, Madeira. This globally recognized event brought together scientists and policymakers from dozens of countries to discuss the latest challenges and advancements in the global management of invasive marine species—one of the greatest threats to marine ecosystems.
The conference was organized by the Scientific Committee of the Society for the Study of Marine Bioinvasions, in partnership with the Local Organizing Committee, formed by MARE-Madeira, ARDITI, and the University of Madeira. It was supported by ARNET – Aquatic Research Network, o Office of Naval Research Global, Associação Oceano Atlântico, Monte Palace Madeira, Secretaria Regional de Turismo, Ambiente e Cultura, Bordal, GiMaRIS, PICES, PeerJ, Windsor Travel and EuroMarine Network..
Over the course of three days, the ICMB fostered an environment of science, sharing, and collaboration, featuring more than 40 presentations by MARE researchers. These were part of a program that addressed topics such as early detection of invasive species, assessment of ecological impacts, and comparison of methodologies applied across different regions of the world.
According to Inês Afonso, “participation was essential to disseminate the work we have been developing and to exchange experiences with teams from other countries, opening space for new ideas and collaborations.” The researcher received the Best Student Presentation award on the first day of the conference for her work on updating a national database of exotic marine species—a tool that enhances knowledge about the distribution of these species in Portugal and strengthens the ability to assess and manage the risks associated with bioinvasions.
The organization of this conference by MARE-Madeira and the strong participation of researchers from the Center reflect the growing relevance of Portuguese research in this area, in a global context of concern about the impact of invasive species on marine ecosystems.
More information
News in Diário de Notícias Madeira
Text by Vera Sequeira
Photographs by Paula Chainho