REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCING OCEAN LEARNING: NAVIGATING KNOWLEDGE FOR THE PACIFIC

CONFERENCE DETAILS:  

1. PROGRAMME – REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCING OCEAN LEARNING
2. OPENING:
   1. Honorable Minister for Education Opening Speech
3. Presentation Details:
   1. Day 2 Presentation Details
   2. Day 3 Presentation Details
4. Face to face session (by invite only): USP Marine Lower Campus, Suva, Fiji.
5. Virtual session is open to the public through these links:

The University of the South Pacific component of the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) programme is pleased to announce its first ever regional 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: 

1. Promote Knowledge: Promote research, training, and educational work in the Pacific region.
2. Foster connections: Facilitate networking conference participants
3. Support Marine Sector: Encourage research, training, and education in the marine sector.
4. 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.

Email imr@usp.ac.fj for further queries.