Our team recently returned from the 36th Annual European Cetacean Society (ECS) Conference, held in Ponta Delgada, Azores - an important meeting for marine mammal scientists and conservationists across Europe.
This year’s conference held particular significance for our organization, as it marked the first ECS annual meeting chaired by Tilen Genov, following his election as Chair of the Society in 2024.
As part of our participation, team members Krista Lokar and Shakira Quiñones presented two scientific posters addressing human-related threats to our bottlenose dolphin population, as part of our Work Package 2 of our ongoing SeaInsights project.
In addition to the poster presentations, our team took part in a specialized genetics workshop, gaining insight into advanced methodologies for population genetics, environmental DNA and their conservation applications. We also took advantage of this occasion to meet with our SeaInsights collaborators from the University of Padova to exchange updates and ideas about our project.
The conference offered a valuable opportunity to share our findings, exchange insights, and learn from leading experts in marine mammal research and eDNA methodologies. At the same time, our participation enhanced the visibility of the SeaInsights project, fostering broader recognition and potential collaborations within the scientific community.
We are grateful for the opportunity to participate and share our findings with the wider marine science community. Events such as the ECS Conference are essential for fostering collaboration, exchanging knowledge, and advancing the conservation of cetaceans and their habitats.
