MARE attends the International Conference on Marine Bioinvasions in Madeira
MARE played an important role in the 12th International Conference on Marine Bioinvasions (ICMB), held from October 6 to 9 in Madeira. This world-renowned event brought together experts from various countries to discuss the latest advances in the study of exotic and invasive species in marine and coastal environments. 
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.
The MARE Biological Invasions Group at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (CIÊNCIAS) was strongly represented, including Paula Chainho, Frederico Carvalho, Inês Afonso, Sara Cabral, Romeu Ribeiro, and Antonella D’Amore, who presented ten oral and poster presentations.
According to Inês Afonso, the conference covered a wide range of topics, including monitoring and detection of new species, assessment of ecological impacts, and comparison of methodologies used in various regions of the world. According to the researcher, “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.”
During the event, Inês Afonso 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. The research presents information on the presence of non-native species along the Portuguese coast, relating them to different types of habitat, categories of the Water Framework Directive, and the main vectors of introduction. This study improves knowledge about the distribution of exotic species in Portugal and strengthens the capacity to assess and manage the risks associated with marine 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.
Text by Vera Sequeira
Photographs by Paula Chainho