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The emergency closure of the Baltic cod fishery in 2019 was the sad low point of mismanagement of Baltic fisheries. The Low Impact Fishers Europe (LIFE) apex organisation of small-scale, coastal fishers had invited managers, NGOs and other interested parties to a consultation to explore how to stop the desastrous downward spiral. Since 2019 things have not improved. On the contrary. The collapse of cod in the Western Baltic has also been followed by that of herring and sprat as major food of cod. The flatfishes are still there but can not replace either the ecological function or the economic role of the collapsed species in the ecosystem. Marta Cavallé, Executive Director of LIFE, flanked by Brian O'Riordan, her predecessor, opened the meeting and welcomed all participants.

This year again, the environment festival in Brussels offered a good opportunity to carry the message of World Ocean Day. On 2 June 2024, in the spacious Tour & Taxis park in Brussels, in what was once the largest railway station for goods in Europe, families and visitors from the vicinity in Schaerbeek and whereabouts flocked to the activity tents and food stalls, never in risk of overcrowding. Mundus maris welcomed visitors in Tent no.17 throughout the day.

Demonstrations in more than 100 towns and cities in Germany and all over Europe were called by Fridays for Future to mobilise citizens across the region for more decisive climate action and for turning out on 9 June by voting for democratic parties and against the right wing extremists threatening climate action and citizen rights. Mundus maris participated in the march in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Entirely organised by citizen volunteers with the support of businesses or organisations acting on a voluntary basis, the H.O.M.E event at the Tour & Taxis maritime station welcomed families and other visitors the weekend of May 25 and 26, 2024. H.O.M.E. stands for House Of Mother Earth and is an initiative of the non-profit Climattitude. Our friends of COREN and Mundus maris asbl were invited to provide animation for the 'kitchen', one of the many rooms of the home in the spacious and well restored Gare maritime. What better to propose than protecting baby fish to let them grow and reproduce for healthy food for ever!

On May 21, 2024, in honour of UNESCO Day and World Ocean Day (June 8, 2024), Mundus maris asbl presented the "Oceanic Echoes" concert, performed by the internationally acclaimed Dusk String Quartet. The concert was hosted at the Flemish Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Tour & Taxis complex in Brussels, home to the National Committee for the Ocean Decade for Belgium and the Flemish UNESCO Commission. Mundus maris, a member of the Committee, contributes through its scientific, educational, and artistic initiatives.

The conferences for young marine researchers (YOUMARES) of the German Society for Marine Research (DGM) started as a self-organised event to give students and young professionals an opportunity to share their study results, gain experience in presenting their work in a friendly environment and network. Over the years participation grew more and more international and since the pandemic the general shift towards hybrid events allowing remote participation opened up new opportunities. The on-site part of the 14th edition was convened in Hamburg on board the museum and entertainment ship Cap San Diego, in close proximity to the emblematic concert halls of the Elbphilharmonie.

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) is an independent judicial body established by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It has jurisdiction over any dispute concerning the internpretation or application of the Convention, and over all matters specifically provided for in any other agreement which confers jurisdiction on the Tribunal. Disputes relating to the Convention may concern the delimitation of maritime zones, navigation, conservation and management of marine living resources, protection of the marine environment and marine scientific research.

The international fish market demand and technological advances are among the main drivers that have damaged marine ecosystems. This situation has resulted in the vulnerability of Small-scale fishing (SSF) communities, who depend on these same ecosystems for various functions and services, including cultural services, the supply of fish for income and food, etc. However, fishers are managing to navigate through some of the twists and turns offered by the market and a range of technologies in a perpetual search for ways to ensure a transition to guarantee viability of SSF, including its cultural dimensions. This thematic webinar by Aliou Sall recorded on 26 April 2024 aimed to share insights into the initiatives by small-scale fishers from a socio-anthropological angle drawing on examples from Senegalese fishing communities.

The annual Assembly of the European Geosciences Union takes regularly place in Vienna because of the huge conference facilities at the Austria Center Vienna able to accommodate the many participants, usually upwards of 10,000. The 2024 edition took place 14-19 April. As in previous years, Mundus maris contributed a presentation to the stream of research work sponsored by the International Association for the Promotion of Geoethics (IAPG). This year's main session was convened by Silvia Peppoloni with co-conveners Svitlana Krakovska, Giuseppe Di Capua, and David Crookall under the title "Geoethics: The significance of geosciences for society and the environment".

Invited by COREN, Comprendre et Agir pour l'Environnement asbl (Understand and take action for the environment), Mundus maris participated in the inspiring Eco-Teens Day in Brussels on Friday, 12 April 2024. Some 180 secondary school students from 16 schools in Brussels showcased what concrete environment friendly activities they had carried out throughout the school year ending soon. An exhibition space showcased their demands for more youth involvement in environment protection.

This thematic webinar lecture was delivered on 29 March 2024 by Dr. Kafayat A. Fakoya as part of the research collaboration on the Vulnerability to Viability Platform focused on small-scale fisheries in Africa and Asia. She holds a PhD in fishseries from Lagos State University (LASU) and is a V2V co-investigator, doing interdisciplinary research and consultancies. She is also a member of Mundus maris asbl with broad interests in research towards sustainable fisheries ecosystems and gender equity.