Kotor, Montenegro: Today, the International Conference “Adriatic Biodiversity Conservation – AdriBioPro2019” is opened in Cultural Center “Nikola Đurković”, to provide updated scientific, decision-making and policy-relevant information across a broad array of different Adriatic issues, marine biology and related scientific disciplines. More than 100 participants from 15 countries will have 92 presentations during two-days conference in 9 topics: Marine biodiversity conservation, Conservation of coastal and marine areas, Preventing marine pollution, Rare and endangered species in the Adriatic Sea, Marine invasive and alien species, Roles of aquaria, Sustainable use of marine resources, Marine biotechnology, and Freshwater biodiversity conservation.
This conference is organized by the Institute of Marine Biology of the University of Montenegro. Few words about the Conference background. In December 2017, the Institute was granted by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to implement a project “Marine Biodiversity Conservation Center “Boka Aquarium” – MonteAqua”, in cooperation with the Center for Fisheries and Biodiversity Conservation of Inland Waters, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac. The main project activity is setting up Marine Biodiversity Conservation Center “Boka Aquarium” in the Institute of Marine Biology in Kotor. This conference is final project event, dedicated to gather all relevant national and regional stakeholders and to secure closer regional cooperation in the Adriatic Sea region.
Of the Conference’s scope, Dr Aleksandar Joksimović, Conference Scientific Committee Chair said, “The Conference is organized to include plenary and breakout sessions covering both disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives. Particular focus will be put on the development opportunities which marine biotechnology can offer in the Adriatic.”
Commenting expected Conference impact, Professor Đurđica Perović, the University of Montenegro Vice Rector said, “We trust that Conference results will be used in shaping future marine science priorities and policy in Montenegro and other Adriatic countries.”
The Institute of Marine Biology of the University of Montenegro is granted by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to implement a project “Marine Biodiversity Conservation Center “Boka Aquarium” (MonteAqua)” in cooperation with the Center for Fisheries and Biodiversity Conservation of Inland Waters, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac. The AdriBioPro2019 conference is final project event, dedicated to gather all relevant national and regional stakeholders and to secure closer regional cooperation in the Adriatic Sea region.
About Institute of Marine Biology: Since its establishment IMB performed comprehensive research of the marine and coastal area, which has its wide impact to the environmental protection and pollution-prevention, and practical application (e.g. sea food industry). Core competencies of IMB are focused on research in the fields of mariculture, marine conservation, ichthyology and marine fisheries, chemistry, general biology, neurophysiology and eco-physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology. Recent results present marine biodiversity of Boka Kotorska Bay, and provide inputs for the National Strategy for Integrated Coastal Zone Management of Montenegro.