Meetings International Tropical Marine Ecosystems Management Symposiums
February 2026
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The International Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management Symposium (ITMEMS) is a flagship activity of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), typically held every four years.
ITMEMS play a pivotal role in strengthening the capacities of coastal and marine managers and their collaborating partners to conserve and promote the sustainable use of coral reefs and their associated ecosystems including seagrasses and mangroves. These symposia seek to strengthen the capacities of managers to apply evidence-based approaches, innovative technologies, and emerging science to address management challenges in the local context. By combining exposure to practical activities along with targeted training common and shared gaps in knowledge, science and experience are bridged, most notably through critical actions:
- Encouraging knowledge exchange and cooperation;
- Demonstrating relevant application of technology and science in management strategies and programmes;
- Providing targeted training and skills development to facilitate uptake of available approaches and tools; and
- Developing networks for professional development and onward learning beyond ITMEMS
ITMEMS are designed to achieve focused consideration of tropical marine ecosystem management issues in the local context, and provide a forum for experiential learning, peer group interaction, mentoring and professional development. Topics and thematics are not homogenous across all symposia, and often reflect pressing needs among the community, and are able to address emerging, or established, capacity needs. Previous ITMEMS sessions and themes range from marine spatial planning, resilience-based management and fisheries management to controlling pollution, economic valuations of ecosystems, and sustainable reef tourism.
To date, five ITMEMS have been convened. The 6th ITMEMS, originally set to be hosted in 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will be hosted in February 2026 under the ICRI chairmanship of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – representing the inaugural ITMEMS in the Middle East region.
Should you have any questions or need more information, do not hesitate to contact the ICRI Secretariat
