Back-to-back meetings
As organizer of the 7th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) is also opening its meeting rooms in Ostend in the week before (9-13 Nov) and after (23-27 Nov) conference. This provides a unique opportunity to organize back-to-back meetings with WCMB 2026. In addition, several groups have opted to organize a side-meeting in the city of Bruges, on November 16th, just before the start of the conference.
This allows people to attend two major scientific activities within a single travel, and can stimulate groups and organizations to also present their initiatives during the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity. This back-2-back meeting opportunity will not only contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 Life below water - but can also greatly contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 – Climate Action. By combining several meeting occasions into a single travel, we can reduce our carbon footprint.
On the leisure side, it provides participants of both a back-to-back meeting and WCMB 2026 the opportunity to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bruges and its surroundings over a weekend. The home city of VLIZ – Ostend – is only 30 minutes away from Bruges, the host city of WCMB 2026. There is easy (public) transportation between Ostend and Bruges.
This pages gives an overview of all these side-meetings (both in Ostend and in Bruges), with information on their organizer, goals and practical details, if you wish to attend any of them.
Ecological Survey Techniques and Data Management Training for ECOPs (9-13 November) (STILL PENDING)
Date: 9-13 November 2026
Convenor: Blue Capacity Development (BlueCaD) Project under the ECOP Programme
Summary
Marine ecological surveys techniques are critical in assessing the ocean environment. These techniques help in gathering essential information for the conservation of marine biodiversity, navigation safety, marine spatial planning and resource management. Capacity development and training on ecological techniques, and the use of simple sensors has been identified as a tool to enhance ocean observation.
Serving as an introduction to ecological data collection techniques and data processing, this course is designed for Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs), students and other oceanographers who intend to pursue marine ecology and coastal oceanography. Relevant biodiversity and environmental datasets will be obtained and used during the training, making it easy to relate, understand and apply the course concept. The course will target ECOPs from under-represented regions, thereby filling capacity development gaps.
For who? Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs).
Format? TBD
Where? Meeting room 'Gadus', Marine Station Oostende (MSO), VLIZ, Oostende
Registration mandatory, limited places available
Assessing Marine Invertebrates for the IUCN Red List (11-12 November)
Date: 11-12 November 2026
Convenor: Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA)
Summary
This workshop is designed for taxonomists and ecologists working on marine invertebrates who are interested in learning how to assess extinction risk using the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List methodology. Participants will gain practical experience applying one of the world’s most widely used species conservation assessment frameworks to marine invertebrates, a group that represents a major portion of global biodiversity but remains significantly underrepresented on the IUCN Red List. The workshop will introduce the principles of Red List assessments and explore how available biological and ecological knowledge can be used to evaluate marine invertebrate species.
Through guided case studies and hands-on exercises, participants will have the opportunity to conduct trial assessments and work on species of their own interest individually or in groups. Additional information on the types of data participants should bring will be shared after registration. The workshop is organized by the Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance and the IUCN Marine Invertebrates Red List Authority.
For who? Open to all interested. A separate registration & selection procedure will start in June/July 2026.
Format? in-person only
Where? Meeting rooms 'Patella' & 'Ostrea', VLIZ, Oostende
More information? sosa.redlist@senckenberg.de - Julia Silva Beneti
Steering Committee meeting of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS SC) (11-13 November)
Date: 11-13 November 2026
Convenor: WoRMS Steering Committee
Summary
The WoRMS Steering Committee (SC) represents the members of the WoRMS Editorial Board in all matters related to the Aphia-WoRMS databases, including acting as a liaison with other international projects and initiatives. The WoRMS SC takes care of the day-to-day business of WoRMS and set priorities for future activities.
A WoRMS SC meeting is a closed meeting, a report of the meeting becomes available on the WoRMS website and is distributed to all Aphia-WoRMS editors within 1-2 months after the meeting.
For who? WoRMS Steering Committee members only, registration mandatory
Format? In-person
Where? Meeting room 'Pagurus', VLIZ, Oostende
14th session of the IODE steering group for OBIS (11-13 + 16 November)
Date: 11-13 November + 16 November 2026
Convenor: OBIS Secretariat
Summary
The 14th session of the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) Steering Group for the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) will be organised back-to-back with the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity. These Steering Group sessions (SG-OBIS) occur annually, focusing on workplans, strategic objectives and overall network governance. It gathers representatives of the OBIS Nodes, the Secretariat, Coordination Groups and the Steering Group for focused discussions, workshops and coordination sessions.
For who? Invitation only: for OBIS Nodes, Secretariat, Steering Group & Coordination Group members only
Format? Hybrid
Where? Meeting room 'Asterias', VLIZ, Oostende
Towards Inclusive Ocean Governance: Challenges and Opportunities in Biodiversity Protection within the Blue Economy Framework (13 November) (STILL PENDING)
Date: 13 November 2026
Convenor: UN Ocean Decade endorsed Programme for Early Career Ocean Professionals
Summary
- How do MPAs and other integrated management areas serve as spaces for inclusive and effective governance?
- What mechanisms can strengthen the participation of coastal communities, indigenous peoples, artisanal fishers, and other stakeholders in decision-making?
- How can different sectors of the Blue Economy (fishing, tourism, maritime transport, etc.) contribute to biodiversity protection without compromising sustainability?
- What practices can inspire successful co-governance models in South America and Latin America?
- Enhance regional cooperation on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and conservation strategies.
- Explore governance frameworks for marine spatial planning and biodiversity protection.
- Identify sustainable financing mechanisms for long-term marine conservation efforts.
- Strengthen Indigenous and community involvement in marine governance.
- Improve data-sharing and science-policy integration for evidence-based decision-making.
- Recommendations for regional collaboration on MPAs and fisheries governance.
- Strategies for sustainable financing and private-sector engagement in marine conservation.
- Strengthen partnerships between governments, local communities, and international conservation initiatives.
- Enhance science-policy pathways for integrating research into marine biodiversity governance.
- Actionable strategies to address fragmented communication and collaboration among stakeholders.
- Proposals to overcome socioeconomic challenges faced by coastal communities, enabling effective and inclusive governance.
For who? Open to all
Format? Organised as a hybrid session
Where? Meeting rooms 'Patella' & 'Ostrea', VLIZ, Oostende
Workshop on Biodiversity (from coast to deep sea): Ocean Decade Solution Blueprint (16 November) (STILL PENDING)
Date: 16 November 2026
Convenor: Secretariat for the National Decade Committee for Belgium
Summary
This workshop focuses on the Ocean Decade Solutions Blueprint for biodiversity, from coastal ecosystems to the deep sea. We are bringing together experts, partners, and practitioners to contribute with practical tools that support data-driven decision-making. Outcomes will be featured in the final blueprints for the 2027 Ocean Decade Conference to demonstrate tangible impact. The session aligns with WCMB 2026 outputs and serves as part of the National Decade Committee for Belgium’s annual meeting.
For who?
- Invitation-only.
- Ocean Decade partners, programs and projects, alongside decision-makers, technical experts, end users and financing institutions.
- Please contact the Secretariat for the National Decade Committee for Belgium (oceandecade@vliz.be) in case of questions or requests.
Format? In-person
Where? BMCC Bruges
Rewilding Dogger Bank workshop (16 November)
Date: 16 November. From 10 until 16, with intermissions for coffee and lunch.
Convenor: This workshop is organised within the Rewilding Dogger Bank and the WILD programmes framework, by member institutes of the transboundary Dogger Bank coalition: Atlantic Technological University (Ireland), BUND (Germany), Doggerland Foundation (The Netherlands), Senckenberg Research Institute (Germany) and Alfred Wegener Institute (Germany). These programmes aim at creating a healthy and resilient Dogger Bank, through reef restoration, legal action, research, imagination, and a broad public discussion about the possible and desirable futures of the North Sea.
Summary:
This workshop is indented to provide a platform for experts working on the Dogger Bank area and the wider North Sea to exchange knowledge, data, and perspective on shared goals. The Dogger Bank is a key area in the North Sea, one of the busiest seas in the world, spreading across different national boundaries, which has suffered a long history of anthropogenic pressures. Therefore, it has become increasingly urgent to protect and restore the species and ecological functions of the Doggerbank, also as a step towards a healthier North Sea. In order to design appropriate and realistic intervention measures, it is fundamental to reconstruct the historical ecology of the Doggerbank, prior to the impacts which homogenised the seafloor, alongside the development of shared targets and restoration objectives.
Within the Rewilding Doggerbank programme, a large horse mussel (Modiolus modiolus) reef restoration is planned, while the WILD project aims at understanding the past and present ecology of the Dogger Bank benthos in order to come to a pilot project for restoration at the German marine protected area of the Dogger Bank. Additional projects may already be underway or under development across the countries connected to the Dogger Bank. Furthermore, similar restoration initiatives involving other reef-forming species or habitat types may provide relevant insights, methodologies, and lessons learned that can inform future restoration efforts in the area. The workshop therefore aims to bring together a range of experts, including research institutes and commercial companies, to share knowledge and data related to restoration activities and ecosystem research in the region. Through this exchange, participants will be able to identify current knowledge gaps, evaluate the state of the art of ongoing restoration projects and target species, beginning with horse mussels, and explore opportunities for future collaboration towards shared goals.
For who?: The workshop is open to all interested people upon registration, subject to seats availability/while seats are filled up. Available seats will be filled on a first come-first served basis. Registrations are open until the 31st of October 2026.
Format? In person workshop
Where? Concertgebouw Brugge, room 2
More information: For registration/inquiries please contact:
Caterina Coral ccoral@doggerland.earth
Menno de Boer mdeboer@doggerland.earth
José Maria Farinas Franco JoseMaria.Farinas-Franco@atu.ie
Moritz Sonnewald moritz.sonnewald@senckenberg.de
From Sea to Pharmacy: drugs from the sea (23 November) (STILL PENDING)
Date: 23 November 2026
Convenor: Perha Pharmaceuticals
Summary
Marine natural products are a source of inspiration for the development of therapeutic drugs. This day is a one-day overview of the current progress and hopes for the future.
For who? All interested
Where? Meeting room 'Asterias', VLIZ, Oostende
Registration mandatory
Ocean Literacy for Blue Citizenship Capacity Building: Strengthening ECOPs’ Role in Marine Biodiversity and Governance (23-27 November) (STILL PENDING)
Date: 23-27 November 2026
Convenor: ECOP Programme
Summary
The Ocean Literacy for Blue Citizenship Project trains Early Career Ocean Professionals in ocean governance, advocacy and stakeholder engagement. Part of the ECOP Programme under the UN Ocean Decade, it blends online learning, live sessions and a hands-on workshop. Participants gain practical skills and join a global community to support ongoing collaboration and impact.
For who? TBD
Format? TBD
Where? TBD
IMBRSea - special meeting: the way forward in Ocean education, training future ocean stewards (24-25 November)
Date: 24-25 November 2026
Convenor: IMBRSea
Summary
Special IMBRSea, invitation‑only, meeting on 24–25 November 2026, hosted by VLIZ in Oostende, Belgium: A moment for alumni voices, reflection, and shaping the future of IMBRSea together.
This special meeting aims to strengthen the IMBRSea community by creating space for alumni feedback and discussion on how the programme can continue to evolve. Alumni experiences and perspectives are essential in shaping the future of IMBRSea, and we warmly encourage graduates from all cohorts to participate. The meeting will combine open discussions, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities. Invitations will be shared directly with alumni."
For who? IMBRSea education board, invitation-only, registration mandatory
Format? In-person only
Where? Meeting room 'Ostrea', VLIZ, Oostende
A decade for early career scientists contributions to uncover hidden diversity in the deep sea (25-26 November) (STILL PENDING)
Date: 25-26 November 2026
Convenor: Early Career Ocean Professionals
Summary
For who? Early Career Ocean Professionals
Format? Hybrid meeting
Where? Meeting rooms 'Homarus' & 'Pagurus', VLIZ, Oostende
