The Bluewave Alliance helps drive the second edition of the SeaWilding Conference and co-organizes Océano Abierto to connect society with ocean action
The international gathering in Barcelona brings together scientific, legal, and civil communities to explore the shift from ocean-as-object to ocean-as-subject. As part of the conference, the Alliance co-organizes a free afternoon event at Port Olímpic de Barcelona designed to directly connect the public with marine conservation projects and volunteer initiatives.
At the Bluewave Alliance, we join forces once again with the SeaWilding Association as key collaborators for the second edition of the SeaWilding Conference 2026, taking place from October 28 to 30 in Barcelona. Under the theme "An ocean with rights: from knowledge to transformative action", this summit establishes itself as one of Southern Europe's leading interdisciplinary forum on marine conservation and restoration.
Endorsed as an official UN Ocean Decade activity, the conference brings together scientists, legal experts, policy makers, and civil society at the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC). The main objective is to advance toward a new relationship with the sea, moving from viewing the ocean as a resource to recognizing it as a subject with the right to exist, thrive, and maintain its ecological integrity.
Océano Abierto: a gateway for public engagement at Port Olímpic
The Bluewave Alliance believes that protecting the Mediterranean requires active participation from across society. For this reason, they are co-organizing the side event Océano Abierto alongside SeaWilding, Animalex, and Port Olímpic de Barcelona. A free, open-access gathering held on the afternoon of Thursday, October 29 at Espai Mestral in Port Olímpic.
Designed as an approachable, dynamic space away from traditional lectures, Océano Abierto features four panel discussions covering citizen science, ocean rights and animal ethics, scientific diving, and early-career ocean professionals. The venue also hosts twelve marine organizations, offering attendees concrete opportunities to get involved, from volunteer programs and citizen science monitoring to active marine restoration campaigns.
Through this partnership, the Bluewave Alliance reinforces its commitment to supporting cutting-edge science and building bridges that bring ocean literacy to everyone, demonstrating that the future of the Mediterranean is built together.
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