The international conference “Ocean and Human Health,” held in Lisbon on 11 and 12 December, brought together CESAM researchers Luís Menezes Pinheiro, Susana Loureiro and Adelaide Almeida, highlighting the inseparable link between ocean health and human health and fostering debate on global challenges such as climate change, marine pollution, biodiversity loss and their impacts on the physical and mental well-being of populations.
Luís Menezes Pinheiro, CESAM researcher and professor at the Department of Geosciences, is currently the coordinator of the National Committee for the Ocean Decade and the organiser of this conference, which convened national and international researchers, policymakers and representatives of civil society from all continents.
At the opening session, the Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, Helena Canhão, emphasised Portugal’s long-standing tradition of excellence in marine research and the central role of research centres such as CESAM, CIIMAR and CIMA, which have made decisive contributions at the interface between marine science and human health. Concrete examples of innovation were highlighted, including Blue One Health programmes and the development of new marine-derived pharmaceutical compounds, underscoring the ocean’s potential as a source of therapeutic solutions and well-being promotion.
In her address, Helena Canhão reaffirmed the Portuguese Government’s commitment to strengthening the national scientific system, announcing the ongoing revision of the Science and Innovation Framework Law, aimed at reducing fragmentation within the scientific ecosystem and promoting stronger links between research, innovation and public policy. This new framework will include the creation of an Agency for Research and Innovation, with strategic missions defined through open dialogue with the scientific community, supported by a multiannual programme contract to ensure funding predictability and safeguard curiosity-driven research.
The Secretary of State also called for the active involvement of the marine research and human health communities in defining strategic priorities and allocating funding, stressing that informed decision-making requires robust scientific input. She further reaffirmed that public investment in science and innovation will be consolidated, recognising the central role of research in ocean protection, sustainable development and population health.
The conference addressed the challenges of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), particularly those related to marine pollution and the rebuilding of society’s relationship with the ocean, as well as Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 14. The event established itself as a strategic platform for interdisciplinary and international dialogue, reinforcing the role of Portugal—and institutions such as CESAM—in generating scientific knowledge oriented towards integrated solutions at the ocean–health interface.
Within the scientific programme, Susana Loureiro, CESAM researcher and professor at the Department of Biology, presented work developed over a decade of collaboration between CESAM and iBiMED, focusing on mercury contamination, fish consumption and reproductive health. Adelaide Almeida, also a CESAM researcher and professor at the Department of Biology, presented research on new approaches to combating pathogenic agents present in the oceans.
At the closing session of the “Ocean and Human Health” conference, Luís Menezes Pinheiro highlighted the collective, collaborative and strongly international character of the event, emphasising the broad network of cooperation among scientific, institutional and political partners. National Committees for the Ocean Decade from several countries were brought together, alongside leading international institutions, reinforcing the global dimension of the initiative.
In his final remarks, Luís Menezes Pinheiro also stressed that the conference was deliberately conceived as more than a traditional scientific meeting, positioning itself as a truly interdisciplinary and inclusive space, where science engaged with medicine, social sciences, policymakers, non-governmental organisations and entities working with vulnerable groups, including people with mental health conditions and disabilities. He underscored the value of two intense days of debate and exchange, marked by diverse perspectives and the high quality of contributions, reinforcing the importance of continuing to build bridges between science, society and public policy.
Regarding CESAM’s participation in the “Ocean and Human Health” conference, CESAM Director Amadeu Soares stated: “Science, society and public policy, framed within the One Health concept, are core pillars of our activity.”