Honduras Hosts First Coastal Marine Symposium Led by ECOP Honduras

On 14 and 15 June 2024, the first-ever Coastal Marine Symposium in Honduras took place at the National Autonomous University of Honduras’ (UNAH) TEC campus in Tela. The symposium was led by ECOP Honduras coordinators, Paola Díaz and Zara Guifarro, in collaboration with UNAH and the Honduran researchers: Celeste Diaz, Marcela Garay, and Julio San Martin. This academic and research-focused event was dedicated to promoting marine science and research in Honduras, uniting experts, students, NGOs, government representatives, and Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) committed to studying and conserving Honduras’ coastal and marine environments.

The symposium served as a unique platform for the presentation of research, the exchange of scientific findings, and interdisciplinary collaboration in fields like oceanography, marine biology, marine conservation, and coastal management. One of its main goals was to foster integration and cooperation between Honduras’ Atlantic and Pacific coasts, strengthening the scientific community and raising awareness about the country’s marine resources.

Dr. Jorge Cortés, a renowned marine science figure in Central America, opened the event with a keynote address, followed by five parallel sessions focusing on critical marine-coastal issues:

  1. Marine Socio-Ecological Systems – Research on the interaction between marine ecosystems and society, emphasizing management, conservation, and the dynamics of these natural and social systems.
  2. Marine Pollution – Studies exploring natural and experimental efforts to understand and address ocean pollution.
  3. Coastal Ecosystems – Research on the biodiversity, functions, dynamics, and current threats to key coastal ecosystems.
  4. Iconic Marine Fauna – Discussions on the importance and conservation of iconic marine species, from their ecosystem roles to their portrayal in social media.
  5. Blue Economy – A session exploring the various facets of the blue economy, from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture to marine renewable energy and coastal tourism, highlighting economic viability assessments.

In addition, participants viewed the documentary Deep Rising, which explores the potential impacts of deep-sea mining.

The symposium saw the participation of 54 attendees, 75% of whom were Honduran ECOPs. The event fostered connections among ECOPs, offering them a platform to showcase their contributions to the science needed for achieving the vision set out in the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Despite the event’s success, challenges remained due to limited infrastructure, material, and financial resources. Unfortunately, this prevented the organizers from providing financial support to some ECOPs who wanted to attend, as well as covering participants’ meals and traveling costs.

Nevertheless, the symposium generated significant momentum, with 60% of attendees expressing a desire for the event to be held annually and the remaining participants advocating for it to be biennial. One participant shared, “I really enjoyed the experience. I was glad to represent my organization and see such a diversity of topics in just one day. I’d love to be part of future initiatives like this.”

This event shows the dedication of Central American ECOPs, whose voluntary efforts contribute to the vision of a sustainable ocean in the region. ECOP Central America hopes to continue hosting these invaluable gatherings, promoting marine science and ECOP contributions across the region.

For more information on ECOP Central America activities, visit our website or follow us on Instagram at ECOP_Centroamerica.

This symposium was made possible thanks to the support of the National Autonomous University of Honduras, GOAL, Coral Reef Alliance, Artees, MTM, Healthy Reefs for Healthy People, PROLASANTE Environmental Foundation, and Cayos Cochinos Foundation.

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