The fifth Port-Cros Symposium on the theme "Maritime transport and Biodiversity"

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The Port-Cros symposiums are intended to help raise awareness and provide information on biodiversity, with a view to identifying the important issues, as well as the measures necessary to preserve this vital heritage. The symposiums take place on the Ile of Porquerolles on the French Riviera. This venue represents a model in sustainable stewardship of marine resources.

The purpose of the symposium is to focus on a specific topic linked to marine biodiversity; a multidisciplinary issue is selected so as elicit a rich variety of points of view.

This year’s topic, Maritime transport and Biodiversity, is ideally suited to involving a broad spectrum of stakeholders. It cannot be denied that shipping, which has developed exponentially throughout history, has enabled spectacular growth in the world economy. However, the increase in shipping traffic has also impacted marine biodiversity.
  

The purpose of this symposium is to present the current status of our knowledge in the following areas: transfer of species, introductions through ballast water discharge, antifouling paint, pollution and ecosystems. We wish to address the major challenges on the forefront today: the opening up of Arctic trade routes (Northwest passage…), ship dismantling, ecologically sound port management, regulatory changes, etc.