Turning the Tide: Advancing Science, Solutions, and Cooperation on the Tropical Atlantic Sargassum Situation
June 10th, 2025, 3pm - 6.30pm
Mama Shelter - Nice, France
As part of a broader three-part initiative during the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, June 2025, this event will explore the technical aspects of the ongoing Sargassum crisis affecting the Caribbean and Atlantic coastal regions.
Held off-site at the Nice Mama Shelter hotel, this event is uniquely designed for both a technical and non-technical audience, including policymakers, civil society actors, private sector stakeholders, and media. It will translate complex scientific and technical knowledge into accessible insights, emphasizing actionable strategies. Key themes will include biodiversity conservation in the face of massive Sargassum influxes, technological advancements in monitoring and forecasting Sargassum blooms, and the development of sustainable value chains that transform Sargassum from a hazard into a resource.
The final session will foster the understanding of the technical challenges and opportunities associated with Sargassum, to encourage cross-sector collaboration, and build momentum for knowledge-based decisions and solutions. By bridging the gap between science and policy, this event will contribute to the larger UNOC3 dialogue on ocean resilience and sustainable blue economies.
Towards an Integrated Marine Debris Observing System
June 12th 2025, 5-6.30pm
Mama Shelter - Nice, France
Taking place alongside the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, this official side-event hosted by GEO Blue Planet will introduce IMDOS – the Integrated Marine Debris Observing System.
Tailored for a non-technical audience, the event will highlight the global initiative’s mission, showcase successful international collaborations, and explore how harmonized data and monitoring systems support marine litter policies worldwide.
IMDOS was launched following the OceanObs’19 Conference as a joint initiative of GOOS (Global Ocean Observing System) and GEO Blue Planet, and a partner of the UNEP Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML). The initiative aims to support global marine debris monitoring by promoting the development of standardized, FAIR, and open data frameworks that help fill knowledge gaps and meet diverse stakeholder needs.