World Symposium on Blue Economy: From Local to Global Commitments to Innovation, Conservation and Climate Resilience to Harness the Potential of the World's Oceans

Despite growing awareness, Latin America lacks a dedicated high-level forum linking blue economy stakeholders across science, industry, and policy. Fragmented initiatives, insufficient data sharing, and limited investment in marine technologies hinder progress. The World Symposium on Blue Economy in Niterói will bridge these gaps, fostering actionable commitments and a regional roadmap. This event will integrate science, engineering, and socio-economic planning.

The ocean economy contributes over US $2.5 trillion annually to the global economy. For developing nations like Brazil, a well-managed blue economy can reduce poverty, enhance food security, and drive innovation. Conversely, neglect leads to habitat degradation, loss of livelihoods, and increased vulnerability to sea-level rise. Aligning with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) and SDG 14, this symposium addresses the critical need to reconcile economic development with ocean conservation.

The scientific value of the event lies in the exchanges of cutting-edge research on technologies, how to address ocean data gaps, and further marine spatial planning.
Economically, it will facilitate matchmaking between technology startups, impact investors, and port authorities, projecting potential creation of green jobs in ocean production and waste-to-value chains. It may also link projects in areas such as large and small circulation of plastics, management in fishing communities, and certification schemes for regenerative seaweed farming, for instance.

It is hoped that the event will generate project partnerships and catalyse further blue economy investments in Brazil, Latin America, and beyond.

The main objective of the event is to advance a sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient blue economy framework for the Global South, with a focus on Atlantic Ocean governance. The specific objectives of the event are:

a) To further cooperation and networking in the inter-American research and innovation network on low-impact marine aquaculture and deep-sea biotechnology.
b) Catalyse corporate investment in coastal infrastructure, ensuring zero net loss of mangroves and coral reefs

The Symposium also aims to bring together the various actors active in the field of biomass generation,  research and development, and users.

1. Aquaculture intensification without antibiotic overuse
2. Blue economy: sustainable use of inshore and offshore areas
2. Coastal resilience engineering against sea-level rise
3. Deep-sea mining: risks, regulations, and alternatives
4. Desalination powered by ocean renewable energy
5. Digital traceability in artisanal fisheries value chains
6. Indigenous and traditional knowledge in coastal management
7. Insurance and financing instruments for blue ventures
8. Marine biotechnology for human and animal nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics
9. Marine protected areas as economic drivers (tourism, spawning stocks)
10. Maritime autonomous vessels and green shipping corridors
11. Mechanisms for resolving transboundary fisheries disputes
12. Ocean-based carbon removal and blue carbon credits
13. Ocean literacy and integration into school curricula
14. Plastic pollution remediation and circular ports
15. Reducing the impact of offshore oil and gas production
16. Sustainable offshore wind energy in tropical Atlantic waters

Other themes may also be considered. Please contact the organisers to discuss the details.

Papers admitted to the event and presented at it may be submitted to the book "Blue Economy:  From Local to Global Commitments to Innovation, Conservation and Climate Resilience to Harness the Potentials of the World´s Oceans”. This will be published by Springer Nature as part of the World Sustainability Series,  the leading peer-reviewed book series on sustainability.

Each author will be given a complimentary PDF of their chapters and the book. The submission is not mandatory; it is only suggested. Colleagues who only want to make a presentation or attend the sessions are also welcome to participate.

The event will be of special interest to:

• Academics and researchers such as marine biologists and oceanographers,  economists and planners
• Offshore oil producers
• Industry executives and representatives 
• Government officials and mayors of coastal cities
• Investors and development banks
• Blue-tech entrepreneurs, maritime lawyers, port operators, and fisheries cooperatives 
• UN Agencies, NGOs, and multilateral agencies

Also, journalists covering climate and sustainability will certainly find the Symposium very interesting.

The Symposium is organised by the Biomass and Water Management Center (NAB), at Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Brazil, and the Research and Transfer Centre “Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management” at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany, together with the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDR), and the International Climate Change Information and Research Programme (ICCIRP).

The Biomass and Water Management Center (NAB), at the Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Brazil is a highly suitable event location for this symposium due to its established history of hosting international events and its recognised leadership in blue economy research, demonstrating a commitment to environmental challenges that will resonate strongly with symposium attendees.

Rio de Janeiro State is Brazil’s blue economy powerhouse. It holds the largest offshore oil and gas fields (pre-salt layer), significant ports (Itaguaí, Rio, Angra dos Reis), and the only Brazilian nuclear power plant requiring coastal cooling systems. Rio hosts world-class oceanographic institutions (IEAPM, UFF, COPPE/UFRJ) and Petrobras’ research center (CENPES). The city of Niterói, across Guanabara Bay, is pioneering ecosystem-based management of an urban bay—serving as a living laboratory for pollution remediation and mangrove restoration. Furthermore, Rio’s experience with mega-events (Rio+20, 2016 Olympics) provides proven logistical capacity. Hosting the symposium here sends a powerful South-South message: that developing economies can lead innovation in reconciling industrial maritime activity with biodiversity targets, while offering an accessible gateway for Amazonian and Caribbean nations to engage in Atlantic blue economy dialogues.

The symposium will take advantage of Rio de Janeiro as the gateway for Latin America’s biomass-based economic transformation, bridging science and market reality.

There are two possibilities for attending the symposium:

1. By only attending the symposium (without a paper presentation): please register on the following form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/22ds0LEn6x 

2. By delivering an oral presentation: Researchers may submit any complete, original, and unpublished research papers, either conceptual or empirical. To participate, participants need to submit an abstract of 200 to 300 words, along with the authors' names and full contact details. Abstracts should be submitted by using the following form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/kPAg6XeA1B
 

• Deadline for submission of abstracts: 30th October 2026
• Deadline for registrations: 10th March 2027 
• Deadline for full papers: 30th June 2027
   

A registration fee of €295 (plus taxes) for international guests and R$ 500 for Brazilian delegates will be charged to delegates to offset the preparation costs. Students at the bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD level are eligible for a discounted registration fee. Proof of student status will be required, for example a valid student ID or enrollment certificate. The registration fee, in this case, will be €100 (international students) or R$ 250 (for Brazilian students) plus VAT per delegate. 

• Professor Walter Leal, HAW Hamburg (Germany), Manchester Metropolitan University (UK)
• Professor Raimundo Damasceno, Biomass and Water Management Research and Innovation Center (NAB), Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Brazil

Coordinator
Dr. Laís Trevisan, HAW Hamburg, Germany 
Prof. Thelma de Barros Machado, NAB-PGEB, UFF
 

For sponsorship opportunities, speaking slots, or partnership inquiries, please contact the organising committee at: FTZ-NK-Events (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de