All-Atlantic Forum 2025 launches two major initiatives for coastal resilience and scientific collaboration

The European Union chaired the annual gathering of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance(AAORIA) in Brussels on 25 and 26 September. This annual forum builds on more than a decade of trans-Atlantic Ocean science cooperation, spanning from the Arctic to the Antarctic.

In addition to sessions on ocean observation and modelling, ocean literacy and polar science, two major initiatives were launched:

• The All-Atlantic Network of Coastal Resilience Beacon Sites, a community of locally managed sites that pilot actions, share best practices, and scale-up coastal resilience actions at the local level
• The Blue Intergenerational Programme, designed to foster a community of ocean experts across generations and geographies around the Atlantic Ocean, with the goal of restoring the health of coastal waters

In his keynote speech, James Honeyborne, executive producer of the documentary series "Our Oceans", emphasised the power of storytelling in showing how science is addressing our shared challenges. He also highlighted the need for a collective action for the Ocean through networks such as AAORIA.

The AAORIA Forum

Many of the attendees of the conference were 'Early Career Ocean Professionals' (ECOPs) actively contributing to AAORIA's intergenerational activities.

The Forum brought together around 400 participants, ranging from scientists to policymakers and Ocean actors from the EU and its 12 AAORIA Partners, which now includes Ghana, AAORIA's newest Partner who joined in 2025.

Background

The All-Atlantic Ocean Research & Innovation Alliance is an ocean science diplomacy initiative uniting countries across the Atlantic to generate the knowledge needed for effective ocean policy, governance, and management at local, regional, and international scales. Guided by the All-Atlantic Declaration, signed in 2022, its Partners are Argentina, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, the European Union, Ghana, Iceland, Morocco, Norway, Senegal, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The recording of the Forum will be available on the All-Atlantic website together with more information on how to participate in the follow-up actions of AAORIA.

More information

International policy on Ocean research