Marine science forum to focus on ocean conservation

The Marine Science and Industry Sub-Forum of the 2024 Greater Bay Area Science Forum was held in Nansha, Guangzhou, from Nov 17 to 18 in order to explore the optimal balance between marine conservation and sustainable development, enhance China's influence in marine research and governance, and contribute to the development of a maritime powerhouse and a modern marine industrial system.

The event was organized by the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) and gathered more than 300 academicians, experts and scholars from research institutions and universities in the field of marine science to discuss the "exploration of deep-sea habitats and marine ecological conservation and utilization”.

Responding to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the forum focused on the parts of deep-sea and other habitats most vulnerable to human activity and global disturbances in the next decade, with participants systematically discussing topics such as environmental conservation in the South China Sea and deep sea, deep-sea observation and exploration, and resource development.

Participants put forward suggestions for enhancing China's deep-sea network and engineering, promoting the digitization of typical deep-sea habitats, strengthening marine conservation, maintaining marine biodiversity, exploring new species and advancing future marine industries.

The Laoshan Laboratory Guangzhou Institute was unveiled at the forum, and Guangzhou Marine Laboratory and Sealien (Guangzhou) Technology signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement.