From 15 to 19 September, the AtlantECO Final Scientific Conference took place in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azores, gathering researchers from Europe, America and Africa to share groundbreaking insights into Atlantic Ocean microbiomes, microplastics, and seascape connectivity. Representing SPI at the event were Diana Sousa and Elisa Frias-Bulhosa.
Held under the theme “One Ocean, One Health: Microbiomes of the Atlantic Seascape”, the conference provided knowledge-based resources aimed at improving the understanding and management of the Atlantic Ocean and its ecosystems. Beyond science, it also served as a platform to engage policy actors, encouraging responsible behaviour and promoting sustainable Blue Growth.
SPI co-chaired the session “From Atlantic Cooperation to Global Ocean Policy”, which explored equitable cooperation and capacity building through a policy lens. The session included contributions from AtlantECO partners André Abreu (Tara Ocean Foundation), Hugo Sarmento (UFSCAR), and Emma Rocke (University of Cape Town), as well as invited guests Ivo Grigorov (DTU), Saliou Faye (CRODT), Natalia Ospina-Alvarez (AIR Centre), and Sofia Cordeiro (AIR Centre), who discussed the future of All-Atlantic cooperation, including shared ownership, knowledge exchange, and bridging the southern gap.
A special intervention was delivered by Member of the European Parliament Paulo Nascimento Cabral, who discussed European policies such as the Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy, and the Common Fisheries Policy, highlighting their contribution to achieving the 30×30 target – a global commitment to protect 30% of the Earth’s land, freshwater, and oceans by the year 2030.
The conference followed an intensive multi-omics Hackathon held the previous week (8–12 September), where 16 young researchers from Europe, South America and Africa collaborated to address pressing scientific questions using data gathered during the Tara Foundation’s AtlantECO Mission Microbiomes expedition. Their findings were later presented at the Final Conference, strengthening cooperation between early-career scientists from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
SPI’s active role as host partner and member of the Organising Committee highlights its commitment to building a strong, collaborative research community focused on the Atlantic Ocean, fostering meaningful events that bridge science, policy and international cooperation.
