8th International Marine Conservation Congress

About This Event

The 8th International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC8) is organised by the Society for Conservation Biology Global Marine Program and takes place from 13 to 17 November 2026 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland. The congress is a global gathering focused on advancing science-based solutions for ocean conservation. It brings together hundreds of marine scientists, conservation practitioners, policymakers, educators, students, artists, journalists and community leaders working across research, policy, management, communication and community engagement. The event format includes plenary sessions, accepted sessions, poster presentations, field trips, special events and a film night. Registration is open, though specific costs are not stated on the page.

The programme includes plenary speakers and accepted sessions covering marine conservation topics. The congress aims to identify critical gaps in marine conservation globally, learn from conservation successes and failures, and identify pathways to integrate community knowledge and interdisciplinary science into policy and governance processes. An IMCC8 app is available for attendees to access the schedule and programme information.

For UK SME owners and sustainability leads working in marine sectors or coastal industries, this congress offers access to current marine conservation science and policy developments. The gathering provides opportunities to understand how conservation research translates into practical management approaches, and to connect with practitioners working on ocean-related challenges that may affect business operations or supply chains dependent on marine resources.

Key Takeaways

• Identifying critical gaps in marine conservation across global regions and ecosystems
• Learning from documented conservation successes and failures in marine environments
• Integrating community knowledge and interdisciplinary science into policy and governance
• Connecting marine scientists, practitioners, policymakers and community leaders
• Accessing current research on ocean conservation challenges and solutions

Who Should Attend

• Marine sector businesses seeking to understand conservation science affecting their operations
• Sustainability leads in companies with coastal or ocean-dependent supply chains
• Professionals working on marine policy, management or community engagement
• Organisations interested in science-based approaches to ocean conservation