The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) participated in the 7th International Marine Conservation Congress held between 13 and 18 October in Cape Town, South Africa – its first time in Africa. This event joined 800 delegates from 72 countries who gave over 600 presentations.
The team at WCS was truly diverse. There were thirteen participants (nine males and four females) from across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, representing Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar, and colleagues from the shark and ray program based in South Africa. This diversity of perspectives enriched the event, with our team contributing through oral and poster presentations.
Group photo of thirteen WCS WIO representatives at IMCC7
The congress was a platform for learning and inspiration, with pre-workshops, focus group sessions, symposia presentations, posters, and plenaries. We were privileged to hear from inspiring speakers such as Dr. Judy Mann-Lang, Executive of Strategic Projects at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, and Dr. Rima Jabado, Deputy Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and Chair of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group, among others. The two nights of inspiring stories with Films & Conversations on ocean conservation and an Evening with indigenous, local, and international experts, including Dr. Jennifer O'Leary, former WCS Marine Director for the WIO region, left us all motivated and ready to take on new challenges.
Overall, events of this scale are great opportunities for networking with people working on marine conservation topics in Mozambique, the Western Indian Ocean region, and around the world!
Mozambican representatives from WCS, WWF, IUCN, FF, and marine conservationists working in Portuguese-speaking countries like Angola and Brazil