Session: S-155
Conservation research in urbanized marine environments

Nearshore ecosystems are changing rapidly as coastal zones globally become increasingly urbanized. Many of the organisms that persist in urban marine habitats hold tremendous ecological, social, and economic value, leading to complex conservation challenges. Researchers and practitioners in coastal cities around the world have recently made great strides towards advancing scientific knowledge, developing novel planning and policy strategies,... [ view more ]

Nearshore ecosystems are changing rapidly as coastal zones globally become increasingly urbanized. Many of the organisms that persist in urban marine habitats hold tremendous ecological, social, and economic value, leading to complex conservation challenges. Researchers and practitioners in coastal cities around the world have recently made great strides towards advancing scientific knowledge, developing novel planning and policy strategies, and enhancing public engagement in urban marine conservation. This symposium brings together speakers from a range of backgrounds to share their experiences, with the goal of finding synergies across cities and across disciplines that improve our ability to meet conservation challenges in an increasingly urban world. Symposium contributions will be welcomed from all relevant fields. Likely topical areas include the following:

• Characterization of marine biodiversity and distribution patterns in urban areas
• Urban drivers of population decline or recovery over time among marine taxa.
• Use of urban habitats by marine protected species and important marine consumers.
• The extent, characteristics of, and factors affecting coral reef ecosystems in urban environments.
• Marine resource use, fishery development, and fisheries management of heavily urban settings.
• The potential for ecological engineering in marine urban environments.
• Citizen- and community-initiated marine conservation programs in coastal cities.
• Outreach and public engagement in conservation of marine organisms that live in urban areas.
• Urban planning, policy development, and city initiatives that integrate marine conservation objectives: Approaches, challenges, and lessons learned.