EBUS International Conference: Discussing the sustainability of upwelling systems and the oceans

Posted on 10 November 2022

From September 19th to 23th, the International Conference on Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems (EBUS): Past, Present, and Future & Second International Conference on the Humboldt Current System.
This space brought together young scientists and world experts with the aim of sharing knowledge and discussing many issues that contribute to the sustainable management of ecosystems.

Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems (EBUS) provide valuable ecosystem services to human beings. They contain more fish per unit area than anywhere else in the global ocean. That contributes to food and livelihood security strategies in many countries. Conditions linked to these upwelling systems allow the Peruvian sea to be one of the systems with the highest biomass of fishery resources. According to the Ministry of Production, the Peruvian sea contributes 8 to 10% of the world's catches of marine species.

The EBUS are a major concern of the scientific community due to the impact that this can have on marine ecosystems due to the effects of climate change and global warming. Therefore, the conference represented an opportunity to understand its importance, from its vulnerability and resilience to large-scale disturbances, in ocean ecosystems. It also allowed discussion about possible actions to promote its sustainability.

"At the conference, specialists from many sectors and backgrounds discussed possible responses to future trends, and identified the needs and opportunities for adaptation, given the changes in these ecosystems and the advancement of science in their monitoring and research," said Shaleyla Kelez, Leader of the Wildlife program of WWF Peru.

During the event, WWF Peru presented 3 investigations: 1 in oral presentation and 2 in poster. Farid Mondragón, from the Wildlife Program of WWF Peru, presented orally (session 14), the remote electronic monitoring camera project developed in Máncora for the monitoring of fishing and bycatch. Also, with Nelly de Paz de Acorema and the Institute of the Sea of Peru (Imarpe), they presented a poster (session 15) on the effectiveness of pingers or acoustic devices in the gillnet fishery in order to reduce the bycatch of marine cetaceans.

Finally, they presented the project for the diagnostic study of ghost gear in Peru (session 24). This project was led by Wilbert Marín from IMARPE, in collaboration with WWF. Regarding this, Marín mentioned the following: "Short- and medium-term activities such as those implemented, allow us to create awareness among fishermen, and from now on, to be able to work together, in order to achieve healthy seas for the benefit of the population".

On the other hand, Farid Mondragón, WWF Peru Wildlife Assistant commented: “Our participation was possible due to teamwork. Two videos made by WWF about our projects were awarded in the first edition of the scientific video contest of the congress”. It is worth mentioning that the video entitled "Acoustic technological devices "pingers" improve coexistence at sea" won third place and the video "RedCicla" won second place as best video of the night.

Undoubtedly, this was an important event for the scientific community and many actors from the marine-coastal and fishing sector, to discuss issues and actions to be carried out for the sustainability of the oceans and the biosphere.

Download the book of abstracts about the conference: https://www.ebus-lima2022.com/es/program/book-of-abstracts

Watch the videos here:

“Pingers” acoustic technological devices improve coexistence at sea” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjqBfwcAZaw

“RedCicla” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cefvgDw1nhI&list=PL777aYfFGCVllzjZDmJuhRj0P3jVGx3bb

EBUS International Conference: Discussing the sustainability of upwelling systems and the oceans

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