The 36th annual European Cetacean Society Conference will take place in the beautiful city of Ponta Delgada, in the Azores island (Portugal) from the 12th to 16th of May 2025.

The conference theme is:
“Navigating Waters of Change” – it aims to reflect the multifaceted nature of current marine mammal research, exploring and showcasing its challenges and opportunities, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.

We are facing unprecedented environmental changes, with human activity pushing Earth’s systems toward dangerous tipping points. The oceans help mitigate climate change but suffer as a result, experiencing acidification and shifts in biodiversity that negatively affect cetaceans—causing health issues, food scarcity, and disrupted migrations.

Azoreans, living in a key cetacean hotspot, observe these impacts firsthand. In response, scientists emphasize the need for long-term, comparative studies, aided by emerging technologies (like telemetry and passive acoustics) and opportunistic data sources (such as whale-watching and fisheries programs). These tools enhance research and conservation of marine mammals across global boundaries.