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AquaPLAN at the 2025 All-Atlantic Forum

26-09-2025

Over the last few days AquaPLAN has been attending the 2025 All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) Forum at the European Commission in Brussels. The Forum brings AAORIA partners and stakeholders from across the Atlantic Ocean together to advance ocean science, innovation and cooperation from pole to pole. AquaPLAN was represented by our coordinator Elena Maggi and Mascha Stroobant from the University of Pisa (UNIPI). This year’s Forum theme was ‘From Enlightnement to Action’ and was held from 25-26 September 2025.

If you missed the livestream, you can watch it back here: Day 1 and Day 2

AAORIA is an ocean science diplomacy initiative uniting countries from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean in contributing to the science needed to support ocean policy, governance and management on domestic, regional and international scales in the Atlantic region. 

Key AquaPLAN-related Moments Day 1:

: The iconic façade of the Charlemagne Building, setting the stage for the first day of collaboration

: A dynamic wrap-up scribing session, capturing the essence of shared insights

: A group pic featuring Lucie Cocquempot (IFREMER), Dina Eparkhina (EUROGOOS), Elena Maggi (UNIPI), Sigi Gruber (AAORIA), and Simona Costa (Tour4EU)

: A snapshot of synergy: Elena Maggi, Oliver Wilson and Emma Horgan (Marine Institute, coordinators of OKEANO), Alice Estrela (SCIENCE CRUNCHERS, GES4SEAS) exchanging ideas on ocean sustainability

: A moment from the FAQ session, with a question on how light and noise pollution will be addressed in future AAORIA strategies (!!!), featuring Steve Thur (NOAA)

Key AquaPLAN-related Moments Day 2:

: A group pic featuring Isabel Sousa Pinto (CIIMAR and University of Porto) Peter Heffernan (Oceano Azul Foundation), Elena Maggi (UNIPI).

: The infographic highlighting some messages related to the session focused on Aquaculture (“Action for Sustainable Blue Economy and Food from the Ocean”).