The University of the South Pacific component of the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) programme is pleased to announce the call for abstracts for the Conference on Advancing Ocean Learning: Navigating Knowledge in the Pacific (April 14 -16, 2025), which will take place at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji. This event is made possible through the support of the European Union and the Government of Sweden.
Objectives:
- Promote Knowledge: Promote research, training, and educational work in the Pacific region.
- Foster connections: Facilitate networking conference participants
- Support Marine Sector: Encourage research, training, and education in the marine sector.
- Enhance Ocean Learning: Strengthen ocean studies in the Pacific.
Theme 1: Coastal Fisheries and Marine Resource Management
Coastal fisheries are vital for Pacific communities, providing food, jobs, and income for small-scale fishers. The sustainable management of coastal living marine resources is essential to maintaining food security and small-scale livelihoods, especially considering increasing fishing pressure and growing demand for seafood. We welcome contributions on the following topics:
- Sustainable management of resources and biodiversity in coastal areas.
- TEK (Traditional Ecological Knowledge) in coastal fisheries.
- Coastal challenges: climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, resource depletion, compliance, invasive species; and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
- Fish post harvesting, market access and economic value.
- Sustainable technology in coastal fisheries and management.
- Enhancing fisheries and coastal management skills through education and training programs.
- Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) and human rights in fisheries.
Theme 2: Marine Sustainable Development
This theme focuses on the sustainable use of ocean resources to promote economic growth, improve livelihoods, enhance well-being, and protect marine ecosystems. Education and research play key roles in supporting both development and conservation efforts. We welcome contributions on the following topics:
- Safeguarding biodiversity through marine genetic resources and ocean finance for conservation and resilience.
- Sustainable business management, including private-public partnerships.
- Monitoring, control, surveillance (MCS) and enforcement; and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU).
- Marine spatial planning and maritime boundaries.
- Breakthroughs in sea transport, shipping, tourism, fisheries, and aquaculture (including marine renewables such as energy and materials) and addressing marine pollution.
- Enhancing skills in offshore fisheries and marine sustainable development through education and training programs.
- Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) and human rights in fisheries.
Submission Guidelines
- The abstract should include a title, the name(s) of the presenter(s), email addresses, and affiliation. Abstracts must not contain any photos, tables, references, illustrations, or graphics.
- The abstract must be no more than 300 words and written in English.
- Abstracts should be submitted electronically to imr@usp.ac.fj
Submission Deadline for Abstracts: 21 February 2025 (12 am, Fiji Date and Time)
The conference secretariat will notify the successful candidates by 28 February 2025.
Join us to advance knowledge, education, and capacity-building in Pacific fisheries and marine resource management. We look forward to your abstracts and collaborating to enhance the sustainable management of our marine resources.
Email imr@usp.ac.fj for further queries.
