We are pleased to announce that the 35^th annual European Cetacean Society Conference will be taking place in Catania (Sicily Island, Italy), in the Central Mediterranean Sea. This conference is being organized by the Marecamp Association at the University of Catania and the Ciminiere of the Metropolitan City of Catania.

The conference theme is

Marine mammals and human activities:
how to reach a sustainable development of coastal areas?

Several studies conducted in the European Seas by many research groups have highlighted the correlation between demographic variations of cetacean populations and worsening in the Mediterranean water quality, especially near coastal areas more susceptible to anthropogenic pressures, which adds value to the role of marine mammals as important flag species, apex predators and bio-indicators of the general health of the marine ecosystem. At the same time, this emphasizes the need for targeted conservation management actions to spatial prioritization, and to preserve marine mammal habitats by addressing sustainable anthropogenic activities.

Being a common concern of many other coastal regions where the attention of the scientific community, the local authorities, and citizens toward marine mammals is essential, especially in areas not yet protected as the Gulf of Catania which needs to take urgent measures, you can follow this topic issues as the main theme of the 35^th European Cetaceans Society Conference - Catania 2024.

The 35^th ECS Conference will be conducted only in the traditional in-person format. All the speakers of talks and posters will be required to attend the meeting in person.

The Conference agenda includes 2 days of workshops (8^th and 9^th April) and 3 days of plenary sessions (10^th, 11^th and 12^th April). 

Take a look at the provisional schedule and scientific program of the Conference here.

Check out the latest information about the Venues and Social Events of the Conference here.

See all important dates and deadlines here.

Student members of the ECS can volunteer at the conference and benefit from free registration. Application is now closed! 

More information about volunteering and requests for support can be found here.

Workshops

Workshops will be hosted by the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences of the University of Catania.

The submission for workshop proposals is now closed. 

Descriptions, schedule, and registration modalities of the workshops taking place on the 8-9^th of April can be found here. 

Places are limited so registrations will be on a first-come, first-served basis until March 25^th, 2024.

Video 

To submit a video proposal write to ecs2024@marecamp.com by March 7th, 2024. Please include in your message:

- a short abstract with the title, author(s) or contributor(s), and affiliations

- the name of the person who will introduce the video at the conference 

- a brief summary of the video contents

- the video duration

- a link to download the video file

Remember that the video should be subtitled in English and not exceed 10 minutes.

Notification upon decision from the conference Scientific Committee will be sent by March, 2024.

Keynote speakers

• Dr. Bruno Cozzi, former professor of Veterinary Anatomy and Neuroanatomy at the Universities of Milan and Padova, former member of the Italian Scientific Delegation to the International Whaling Commission, currently serves as senior scientist at the University of Padova. He wrote textbooks of veterinary anatomy, human neuroanatomy, and dolphin and whale anatomy in Italian, English, German, and Japanese.
• Dr. Frances Gulland currently serves as Chair of the US Marine Mammal Commission, she is a Research Associate at the University of California, Davis.  Dr. Gulland has served on a number of federal and state advisory panels, including the Working Group on Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events, the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Team, and California’s Ocean Protection Council and Oiled Wildlife Care Network.
• Dr. Philip Hammond is research professor at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. He has contributed to the IWC Scientific Committee, the ICES WG on Marine Mammal Ecology and the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group, and is an associate editor of Marine Mammal Science and a member of the SMM Conservation Committee.

See more information about the Keynote Speakers and the Scientific Committee on the Conference program page.

Social events

During the 35^th ECS Conference, we are delighted to propose a curated series of events aimed at acquainting participants with the splendors of the Sicilian region—its natural wonders, cultural heritage, and typical gastronomic emblematic in and around Catania. Congress attendees will partake in authentic and unforgettable experiences, all conducted with utmost regard for nature and environmental preservation, and fostering both enjoyment and intellectual enrichment.

Further details about the icebreaker (9^th April), student party (10^th April), movie night (11^th April), banquet and dancing (12^th April), and additional local events are accessible on the Venues & Social Events page.

Hosting organisation

Marecamp is a voluntary association based in Catania, founded in 2014 following the merger of other pre-existing organisations, which carries out research, training and outreach activities promoting coastal culture and Sicilian marine resources, with particular attention to the eastern Ionian area. Partner of the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and the contiguous Atlantic area (ACCOBAMS), it is registered in the Single National Register of the Third Sector (RUNTS) and recognized by the Sicilian Region. Its activities, conducted by experts animated by a great passion for the sea, are aimed at disseminating knowledge about cetaceans to a wide public, and at supporting the availability of data on the health status of the different species for the scientific community and decision-makers. The main aim is to encourage the maintenance of marine mammal populations in Sicilian waters, guiding the community towards the adoption of good sustainable practices, and offering ideas to orientate management plans aimed at protecting threatened species and environments. The association's proceeds are allocated to the realisation of free experiences for less fortunate children, and to support scientific research and protection activities for cetaceans resident in the Gulf of Catania promoted as part of its historic program “Dolphin watching and Conservation in the Gulf of Catania”.

More info at www.marecamp.com

Supporters

The 35^th ECS logo was donated by Sofia Tumino (LinkedIn profile).

Support the conference with your organization! Your contribution will primarily used to permit a greater number of students to attend the conference reducing fees and offering grants. Furthermore, supporters help cover the expenses related to the promotion and management of the event. Find more information here.

The Venue

The 35th ECS Conference will be held at the multifunctional complex “Le Ciminiere di Catania” Exhibition and Congress Center (10-12th April).
Workshops will be hosted by the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences of the University of Catania in its classrooms located in Catania city center (8-9th April).

Catania is easily accessible thanks to its international airport, as well as being a very popular tourist destination for its naturalistic, architectural, and cultural heritage, starting to the Etna (the highest active volcano in Europe!), to the baroque of the city, to the traditional historical shipyard, all of them UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

More Information about the Venue is available here.

More updates on the Conference program are published here.

Enjoy Catania!

We are striving to minimize waste production during the conference. 

To help us achieve a successful low-waste event, we kindly encourage you to bring your own water bottle or cup.

Local Organizing Committee

Chair: Clara MONACO, Marecamp Association

Dario GAROFALO, Marecamp Association

Alessandra RAFFA, Marecamp Association

Stefano FLORIDIA, Marecamp Association

Giuliana PELLEGRINO, Marecamp Association

Chiara COPAT, Marecamp Association

Carla TUMINO, Marecamp Association

Venera FERRITO, University of Catania

Anna Maria PAPPALARDO, University of Catania

Morgana VIGHI, Tethys

Virginia SCIACCA, CNR - ISP

Giorgio Maria RICCOBENE, INFN - LNS

Salvatore VIOLA, INFN - LNS

Contacts 

ecs2024@marecamp.com

To request payment receipts or for other information related to the payment of registration or membership fees, write to treasurer@europeancetaceansociety.eu .

| M E N U   S u m m a r y |

Conference main page 

Conference program & Abstract book 

Workshops 

Venues & Social Events

Enjoy Catania

Important dates 

Registration

Guidelines for Authors

Student volunteering 

Travel and Accommodation 

Leisure

Supporters and Exhibitors