From Shenzhen to Xiamen: Second Blue Wave Conference to Inspire ECOPs
Shenghui Li (Guangdong Ocean University, China; ECOP-China)
The Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) Programme under the UN Ocean Decade has announced that the Blue Wave Conference 2026 will be held in Xiamen, China, from 6 to 7 June 2026, under the theme “Youth Leadership for the Unknown Frontiers”. Building on the outcomes of the inaugural Blue Wave Conference in Shenzhen in October 2025, the Xiamen meeting will further strengthen ECOP-led contributions to ocean science, policy, and action.
Reflecting on the First Blue Wave Conference in Shenzhen
The Blue Wave Conference 2025, held in Shenzhen from 30 to 31 October 2025, was hosted by the China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association (COMRA), the Advanced Institute for Ocean Research (AIOR, SUSTech)/Shenzhen Ocean University Preparatory Office, the Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University (SIGOU), the Global Ocean Capital Promotion Council of Shenzhen, the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), and the Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) Programme. The conference combined high-level discussions with interactive and youth-focused formats, including keynote speeches, technical sessions, a Model United Nations-style negotiation, innovation roadshows, and a global youth marine art exhibition.
Opening Ceremony of the first Blue Wave Conference in Shenzhen, China
A key outcome of the Shenzhen meeting was the launch of the “2025 Blue Wave Shenzhen Initiative”, a shared vision to empower ECOPs to contribute to the UN Ocean Decade through science, innovation, and community engagement. The conference also helped advance the concept of “Blue Citizen”, linking ocean literacy with concrete local and regional actions.
Release of the “2025 Blue Wave Shenzhen Initiative” (from left: Shenghui Li, Evgeniia Kostianaia, Alvin Baloloy, Laura Khatib, Gayathra Bandara, and Adreeja Chatterjee)
Shenzhen sessions highlighted several priority areas for ECOP engagement. These included: (1) ocean science and artificial intelligence, with advances in machine learning models for weather and climate prediction, marine environmental forecasting, and new omics technologies for deep-sea and marine genetic resources; (2) international ocean governance, with discussions on marine resource development, environmental protection, marine spatial planning, and regional cooperation in the seas of East Asia; (3) marine technology and the sustainable blue economy, covering offshore renewable energy, natural gas hydrate research, and seabed mineral resources; and (4) youth-led initiatives in conservation, education, and public engagement, including mangrove restoration, coastal community work, “Blue Citizen” initiatives, and school-based programmes that enhance ocean literacy.
Several dedicated youth platforms were also launched or strengthened in Shenzhen, including the PEMSEA Network of Young Leaders (PNYL), the Indian Ocean Young Scientist Association (IOYSA) seminar, and ECOP- and youth-led collaborations under the Ocean Literacy Hub Asia and the Global Primary and Secondary School Ocean Literacy Alliance (OLGA‑Ed). These outcomes laid the groundwork for continued cooperation among ECOPs, institutions, and partners at regional and global scales, including the proposed Global Partnership for Youth Empowerment in Ocean Science and Action under the 2025 Blue Wave Shenzhen Initiative.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Session highlights during the first Blue Wave Conference
Xiamen 2026: Inspiring ECOPs to Embrace the Unknown
The Blue Wave Conference 2026 in Xiamen will build on the momentum from Shenzhen and connect with World Ocean Day activities planned in Xiamen in June 2026, including the flagship event on strengthening the sustainable use and protection of the ocean, as well as the “Voyage of Deep-Sea Discovery and Ocean Decade into Campus” outreach activities. Under the theme “Youth Leadership for the Unknown Frontiers”, the 2026 conference will encourage ECOPs to engage with scientific, technological, governance and social frontiers where uncertainty is high but the potential for transformative impact is significant. In 2026, Xiamen is also a candidate city to host the secretariat of the new High Seas (BBNJ) Agreement, which is reflected in the conference’s emphasis on BBNJ‑related science–policy dialogue.
The Blue Wave Conference 2026 will provide a platform for ECOPs to engage with World Ocean Day activities in Xiamen, including discussions on deep-sea development and protection, blue economy innovation, and BBNJ‑related science–policy dialogues on the sustainable use of marine resources. It will showcase innovative approaches that link science, technology, policy and public engagement, connect ECOPs with large-scale outreach and education activities, and further strengthen youth leadership through global collaboration networks and youth-led innovation projects.
Call for ECOP Participation
The ECOP Programme invites ECOPs from all regions and disciplines, including natural and social sciences, engineering, policy, education, art, communication, and community work, to participate in the Second Blue Wave Conference in Xiamen from 6 to 7 June 2026, and to engage in the World Ocean Day activities on 8 June 2026.
The conference will be especially relevant for ECOPs who are:
- Contributing to, or interested in joining, UN Ocean Decade programmes, projects, and actions.
- Working at the interface of science, policy, and society, and seeking to share practical experiences and lessons learned.
- Exploring new methods, tools, or partnerships to address uncertain or emerging ocean challenges, including deep-sea, BBNJ, and blue economy issues.
Further information on registration, calls for abstracts and contributions, and potential support opportunities will be announced through ECOP Programme communication channels. ECOPs are encouraged to follow upcoming announcements and begin preparing ideas, case studies, and initiatives they would like to showcase in Xiamen.
By connecting the achievements of Shenzhen with the ambitions of Xiamen, the Blue Wave Conference series aims to provide a sustained platform for ECOPs to learn from one another, co-design solutions, and collectively shape the future of ocean science and action throughout the UN Ocean Decade and beyond.