Joana Soares stood beneath the vaulted ceilings of a centuries-old hall in Bruges, not as a visitor to the city’s famed medieval charm, but as a steward of its upcoming role in shaping the future of ocean life. In November 2026, this historic Flemish city will host the 7th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB), a pivotal gathering where science meets stewardship on the global stage. Over four days—from 17 to 20 November—researchers, policymakers, and conservation leaders will converge to accelerate efforts in understanding and protecting marine biodiversity, with a special emphasis on coordinated observation and actionable data.
The stakes could not be higher. As oceans warm, acidify, and face mounting pressures from human activity, the need for a unified, global approach to monitoring marine life has never been more urgent. The conference’s opening day sets the tone with two flagship sessions dedicated to two transformative initiatives: Marine Life 2030 and the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON). These are not just scientific projects—they are blueprints for planetary resilience.
On the morning of 17 November, a session led by Joana Soares of the AIR Centre and chaired by Frank Muller-Karger of the University of South Florida and Audrey Darnaude of France’s CNRS will spotlight Marine Life 2030, a flagship programme of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. This initiative directly supports UN Ocean Decade Challenge 2: Protect and Restore Ecosystems and Biodiversity. Its vision is bold—to create a globally integrated system that delivers real-time, science-based knowledge on ocean life by harmonizing technologies, data platforms, and research communities. The session will stress the critical need to expand biodiversity observations and streamline data sharing to empower ecosystem-based management worldwide.
Later that day, Isabel Sousa Pinto from CIIMAR at the University of Porto will join Muller-Karger and Soares to lead the MBON session, focusing on the cutting edge of marine observation. From environmental DNA to satellite-linked sensors, new technologies are revolutionizing how we track life beneath the waves. The discussion will highlight successful integrations between MBON, Marine Life 2030, the Global Ocean Observing System, and the Ocean Biodiversity Information System—proof that collaboration is already yielding results. These networks are not only advancing science but also fulfilling global commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The 7th WCMB is more than a conference—it’s a catalyst. By uniting voices across continents and disciplines, it aims to turn data into decisions, and knowledge into action. As Bruges prepares to welcome the world’s marine science community, the message is clear: the ocean’s future depends not on isolated efforts, but on a shared, coordinated vision.