Catarina Frazão Santos participates as guest speaker in the European Commission's “Fisheries and Oceans Dialogues”

On March 5, 2025, the “Fisheries and Oceans Dialogues” event, part of the European Ocean Days, took place in Brussels at the headquarters of the European Commission. 

This meeting brought together around 450 participants in person and many more online, representing sectors as diverse as fishing communities, the blue economy, civil society and academia. The aim was to discuss and contribute to the development of the new European Ocean Pact, an essential initiative for sustainable ocean governance in Europe.

Among the guest speakers was Catarina Frazão Santos, a MARE researcher who brought a perspective based on scientific research on the importance of protecting marine biodiversity and the sustainable development of ocean-related activities.

During the session, the importance of adopting an approach based on scientific knowledge to promote the health of the oceans, including strategies for their protection and restoration, was emphasized. The need to integrate the knowledge of civil society and local coastal communities was also highlighted, as well as strengthening collaborations between different sectors to ensure effective and sustainable ocean governance.

The event, facilitated by the European Blue Forum, promoted dynamic debates around four major themes: ocean health and resilience, sustainable blue economy, international fisheries governance and ocean diplomacy. The exchange of ideas and perspectives between the different sectors was a fundamental step towards building a more inclusive and effective European Ocean Pact.

MARE/ARNET's presence at this event reflects the ongoing commitment of scientific research to building innovative and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the ocean.

To view the session click HERE