Eighth IUCN World Conservation Congress, Abu Dhabi, October 2025

The IUCN SSC Marine Conservation Committee and IUCN SSC marine Specialist Group, Task Force and Red List Authority members were involved in many events at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi in October 2025.  

Highlights included: 

• The IUCN SSC Marine Conservation Committee hosted and led on the sessions Collateral damage from non-selective fisheries… and possible solutions and The Diverse Illegal Trade in Funga, Flora and Fauna

• The launch of the Global Assessment of Dugong Status and Conservation Needs, led by Professor Helene Marsh, co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Sirenia Specialist Group

• Screenings of the PBS documentary film "Treasure of the Caribbean", made by IUCN SSC Snapper, Seabream and Grunt Specialist Group member Ana Salceda.

• Accelerating Global Action to Halt the Extinction of Sharks and Rays

• Advancing Marine Conservation Through Research, Literacy, and Policy

• Aquascapes, Landscapes, and the Global Pact: A Connected Approach to Ecosystem Conservation

• Biodiversity first: why coral taxonomy matters for coral reef conservation

• Can the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species help protect deep sea biodiversity?

• Collateral damage from non-selective fisheries… and possible solutions

• Double Red Alert: Corals at Risk

• Enhancing capacities to engage in marine BBNJ-related processes

• Film and Strategic Communication’s Role in Species Recovery Collaborations

• Fly Bird Fly: Thriving as a Young Conservationist

• From Exploration to Stewardship: Can Seamount Exploration Balance the Blue Economy and Deep‑Sea Protection?

• Global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species update

• High-level Panel on Africa's pathway to ocean sector transformation

• Identifying priority marine areas for effective implementation of global biodiversity goals

• Innovation meets Conservation: building and inclusive Ecosystem to Drive Scalable Conservation Impact

• IUCN Red Lists – Celebrating Partnerships for Species and Ecosystems

• Launch of the Global Assessment of Dugong Status and Conservation Needs Report 2025

• Leveraging IUCN Red List Frameworks for Coral Reef Conservation

• Making Way for Sharks and Rays: Where Do We Go From Here?

• New technologies to accelerate the transformative impact of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

• Protecting the Wonders of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean

• Special Screening of the Award-Winning Film "Treasure of the Caribbean"

• Sustainable and Inclusive Blue Tourism: Experience-Sharing from the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Western Indian Ocean

• The hidden cost of plastic pollution and biodiversity loss: Economic & policy implications

• Towards a New Horizon for whale Shark Conservation in India

The Congress led to the The Abu Dhabi Call to Action, and during the Congress the latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ was released.

Detailed daily highlights and videos from the Congress can be found here, and a post from the IUCN Director General, with a highlights video of the Congress, is here.  Additional marine-related news from the Congress included: 

• Arctic seals threatened by climate change, birds decline globally – IUCN Red List

• People of the Oceans Breakthrough: Landmark Step for Indigenous Leadership at IUCN World Conservation Congress

• China Releases Marine Ecological Classification and Zoning Compendium

• Pacific Island Leaders Unite on Nature-Based Action at IUCN World Conservation Congress

• New Ocean Award launched at IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025

Our first newsletter - Dec 2024 Marine Roundup

For a glimpse of the amazing work that the Specialist Groups are doing, and much more, browse our first newsletter here:
Download PDF

Please feel welcome to send us updates and news from your Specialist Groups to share!

Saving Species Sustains Life - declaration

The 2024 SSC Leaders’ Meeting has concluded with a powerful declaration on the need for urgent action to save species and halt biodiversity loss. Let’s act together to support biodiversity for a resilient planet!

Our Planet, Our Responsibility.

https://bit.ly/SSCLeadersMeeting2024-Declaration

#WeAreSSC

[From @IUCNSSC on X ]

Honoring exceptional contributions to marine conservation

Honoring exceptional contributions to marine conservation. We're thrilled to celebrate IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Specialist Groups awarded the SSC Chair's Citation of Excellence for their dedication to protecting vulnerable marine species.

Congratulations to the Anguillid Eel Specialist Group (Matthew Gollock, with Chair of IUCN Species Survival Commission Jon Paul Rodriguez) for their work in conserving eels worldwide. © Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)

A big shout out to the Cetacean Specialist Group (Gianna Minton) for protecting whales and dolphins, essential to healthy marine ecosystems. © Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)

Applause for the Coral Specialist Group( Francoise Cabada-Blanco) for preserving the vibrant reefs that support marine biodiversity. © Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)

Thank you to the Otter Specialist Group (Anna Loy & Nicole Duplaix) for their dedication to these iconic river and sea guardians. © Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)

Cheers to the Pipefish & Seadragon Specialist Group (Amanda Vincent) for safeguarding these unique, mesmerizing species. © Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)

Congratulations to the Shark Specialist Group (Rima Jabado) for their critical work in shark and ray conservation around the globe. © EnvironmentAgency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)

Kudos to the Snapper, Seabream & Grunt Specialist Group (Ken Lindeman) for protecting these important fish populations. © EnvironmentAgency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)

Special mention to Nick Dulvy, recipient of the Harry Messel Award for Conservation Leadership, accepted by Rima Jabado. Your leadership inspires us all! © EnvironmentAgency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)

MCC at IMCC7 in Cape Town, South Africa

Thank you to all who attended our session at IMCC7.

We were so excited to have this opportunity to foster connections between current & prospective IUCN SSC members and to broaden engagement with the IUCN SSC Specialist Groups in the marine realm.

Specialist Group members at the session.

Connecting the Dots: Expanding Our Reach and Impact through IUCN SSC Specialist Groups

Are you at #IMCC7? Join us for a dynamic panel event with the IUCN SSC Specialist Group leaders and connect with the IUCN SSC marine community.

Connecting the Dots: Expanding Our Reach and Impact through IUCN SSC Specialist Groups
Fri, 18 Oct 1:30 - 3:00 pm in Protea

Panel includes MCC members, Rima Jabado (Sharks) & Jean Harris, as well as Charlotte Boyd (KBA Marine Working Group), Loyiso Dunga & Nur Arafeh Dalmau (Seaweed); Toufiek Samaai (Sponge); Melita Samoilys (Snapper, Seabream & Grunt); Heather Koldewey & Miguel Correia (Seahorse Pipefish & Seadragon)

Presenting our new logo

Have you noticed our gorgeous new logo?! We would like to say a huge THANK YOU! to the wonderfully talented Rioka Hayama for her lovely design. Her creativity and attention to detail truly brought our vision to life. You can see more of her wonderful illustrations at riokahayama.com