The 43rd CIESM Congress (Mediterranean Science Commission- Commission for the Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean) was held between October 14 to 18, 2024 in Palermo, Italy exploring a wide range of marine disciplines carried out in the Mediterranean regions. The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research participated in this Congress on behalf of the Pandoteira project.
The primary objective of the conference was to present research activities implemented in the Mediterranean related to the marine environment. Specifically at the conference, presentations were made regarding marine geosciences, climate of the ocean and physics, marine biogeochemistry, marine microbiology and biotechnology, marine biological resources and marine ecosystems and marine policies/coastal systems. In addition, seminars provided an opportunity to discuss other topics of common interest such as open science.
Cyprus has been participating in CIESM since 1977. The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research is the National Representative in this Organization and participated in the board meeting on October 13, 2024 as well as in presentations of research results between October 14 and 15, 2024. These concerned citizen science initiatives, quantification of carbon sequestration by marine ecosystems, and biodiversity recording within marine protected areas in the Mediterranean.
The specific conference offered us the opportunity to network, as well as exchange opinions and experiences regarding the management of marine protected areas in the Mediterranean. In addition, it gave us the opportunity to discuss common challenges and opportunities for collaboration with international scientists.
