Research related to the issue of marine pollution and all related aspects. Talks dealing with research on different types of waste (oil, plastic, sewage waste etc.) and its effects on the marine and coastal environment will be accepted. Among other things, the session will deal with the state of pollution and its sources, effects of waste on marine organisms and humans, circular economy and actions for prevention and repair.

Marine organisms developed physiological mechanisms to cope with the highly variable and often harsh environmental conditions where they thrive. One key environmental variable is light spectrum and intensity that together with nutrients and CO 2 control photosynthetic primary production. These organisms developed specific adaptations to survive and even bloom in the oligotrophic blue ocean. The food web that develops in response to the primary production and the physiological mechanisms involved are responsible for the high diversity of consumers. Of particular interest is the endosymbiosis between unicellular algae and reef building corals. The specific adaptations of symbionts and corals to cope with the variable environmental parameters (light in particular) are of great interest, especially in view of global changes (climate, pollution and others) in the marine milieu. We invite abstracts on various aspects of marine ecophysiology in view of global changes from the wide ocean to coral reefs and in particular, the Gulf of Eilat-Aqaba.

Jellyfish (medusae and ctenophores) are ubiquitous and almost everyone in Israel has encountered them in one way or another. Although the number of species worldwide is not large, they may occur in huge swarms and have many impacts on a variety of human interests. Their distribution may be affected by environmental factors, such as seawater temperature and plankton abundance, and by human activities, such as fishing and species introductions (e.g. via ballast water). This session invites contributions on all aspects of jellyfish, and their interactions with humans and the environment.

Microalgae are key components of many ecosystems, both aquatic and terrestrial, driving primary production, system oxygenation and nutrient recycling. These environmental services are affected, on multiple levels, by environmental changes due to climate change and human activities. At the same time, microalgae have a pivotal role in multiple fields in the biotechnology and agriculture sectors, where their unique capabilities are utilized in such fields as water treatment, aquaculture, energy production and alternative proteins, as well as a source of natural compounds for the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industries. Microalgae are thus found at the center of a vibrant, multidisciplinary scientific community, where each field has the potential to both contribute to neighboring disciplines and benefit from them. This session will cover all aspects of algal research, from microalgae in their natural environment (e.g. physiology, ecology) to their use for human benefit (biotechnology), abstracts for talks and posters on these and related fields are welcome.

Physical processes encompass every aspect of the aquatic environment, from global climate dynamics to sub-mesoscale phenomena. These processes influence and are influenced by the chemical and biological dynamics of lakes and seas, playing a crucial role in interdisciplinary research. Our session will delve into the study of physical processes in the lakes and seas of Israel, as well as globally. Examples include, but are not limited to, flow instabilities, sea-level rise, density currents, and internal waves. The session's aim is to foster connections within a wide community of limnologists and oceanographers. We welcome presentations and posters on theoretical, modelling, experimental, or observational work.

Understanding air-sea interaction processes is critical for advancing our knowledge of ocean circulation forcing, weather patterns, climate change, and marine ecosystems. This session will delve into the dynamic exchanges between the atmosphere and the ocean, exploring topics such as heat fluxes, gas exchange, wave dynamics, and the impact of these interactions on the climate system. We welcome presentations and posters on observational, theoretical, and numerical studies on all aspects of air-sea interactions and related oceanic and atmospheric variability. We look forward to insightful discussions and collaborative opportunities.

Understanding ocean chemistry and the various sources and sinks that influence it is essential for interpreting the ocean's carbon budget and climate feedback mechanisms. Additionally, examining trace metal compositions and isotope systems such as Mg, Sr, Nd, U, and Pb is vital for interpreting marine records and past climate changes. While rivers are a major source of oceanic solutes, other contributors include mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal fluxes, low-temperature weathering of oceanic crust, sedimentary processes, subduction zone circulation, and submarine groundwater discharge. Each of these processes affects the ocean's major element composition differently and responds variably to global changes, including shifts in climate and sea level. We invite abstracts that investigate any aspect of the processes affecting ocean chemistry, both in the past and present, including the use of traditional and novel proxies. We welcome theoretical, experimental, and field studies.

The ocean and various biological, biogeochemical, and geochemical processes play significant roles in the carbon cycle, influencing both natural and anthropogenic carbon flows across different timescales. Understanding the ocean carbon cycle and natural sequestration processes is crucial for addressing climate change and developing geoengineering solutions for carbon capture, removal, and sequestration. This session focuses on natural oceanic processes involving inorganic and organic carbon production and sequestration, climate feedback mechanisms, and innovative solutions for CO2 removal from the atmosphere. We welcome studies on the carbonate system, the biological pump, oceanic carbon storage, enhanced coastal weathering, and the impacts of climate change on these processes. Both theoretical, experimental, and field studies are encouraged.

Freshwater environments are complex and dynamic ecosystems where bio- geochemical processes and biodiversity interact in complex ways. These processes and their interplay with a wide range of biota, are crucial for sustaining an ecological balance. This session focuses on the interplay between bio-geochemical cycles and biodiversity in freshwater systems, over a range of trophic levels: microbial, plants, and animals. Microbial communities drive essential processes such as decomposition and nutrient recycling. Plants, including macrophytes and algae, contribute to primary production and provide habitat and food for various aquatic organisms. Animals, from invertebrates to fish, contribute to these cycles through feeding, excretion, and movement patterns. We aim to enhance our understanding of how freshwater ecosystems function and respond to natural and anthropogenic influences. We invite presentations and posters that address these themes through observational and experimental studies, and modeling approaches.

Global aquaculture production has grown more than 600% in the past three decades and now contributes the leading share of aquatic animal protein for human consumption in favor of capture fisheries. The sector's longevity is economically beneficial, providing jobs and income through production and trade and safe and nutritious seafood for the growing human population. Yet, the blue economy revolution has brought various challenges related to available resources, climate change, increased regulations, and social awareness of food systems transformation. With that, novel technologies in research and culture have significantly impacted our ability to transfer the gained fundamental knowledge into efficient technologies and practices in monitoring, studying, modeling, and producing. Still, green solutions are required to ensure sustainable aquaculture that coexists with our oceans, freshwater, land, and other industry-related resources. This session is a unique platform for a comprehensive discussion on all aspects related to aquaculture research and development. We invite abstracts from all related fields and encourage researchers, farmers, technology producers, policymakers, and stakeholders to participate actively in this inclusive discussion.

Mesophotic ecosystems are found at depths of 30-150 meters, and deep-sea ecosystems, extending beyond these depths to the abyss, host a diverse array of biota and a unique abiotic environment. In recent years, the scientific community has rapidly accumulated knowledge regarding the ecology and biodiversity of benthic taxa and fish within mesophotic and deep-sea environments, yet we remain in the exploratory phase of fully understanding these ecosystems, mainly due to logistical complexities and the high costs associated with working at these greater depths. The potential role of mesophotic and deep-sea ecosystems in mitigating the impacts of global habitat degradation has garnered significant interest. These ecosystems occupy areas exceeding those of shallow environments, underscoring the necessity of comprehensive studies to ascertain their current state and trajectory amidst a rapidly changing world. Crucially, understanding the supportive role of mesophotic and deep-sea ecosystems in the resilience of shallow water areas is imperative for assessing the overall biodiversity and ecosystem health. This knowledge is vital for informing protection and management strategies, such as the establishment of Marine Protected Areas. This session aims to bring together experts (researchers and students) from diverse disciplines, including ecology, biology, geology, chemistry, oceanography, taxonomy and systematics, genetics, and technology to advance the fields of mesophotic and deep-sea research. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we seek to further characterize these mid-depth and deep-sea environments and their intricate biological communities. Discussions will focus on recent findings, methodological advancements, and the future directions necessary to enhance our understanding of mesophotic and deep-sea ecosystems. Through this concerted effort, we aim to delineate important areas for conservation and management, ensuring the preservation of these critical ecosystems in the face of global environmental change. Join us in exploring the depths and contributing to the growing body of knowledge that will shape the future of mesophotic and deep-sea.

One of the major uncertainties in ocean chemistry is the identification and quantification of global solute sources and sinks involving pore waters and coastal groundwaters. The transition from open sea to sediments, characterized by a high sediment-to-water ratio and low oxygen levels, significantly alters the composition of seawater. Due to the diverse lithology, sediment composition, and sediment characteristics influencing water residence time, the variability in seawater composition in and around sediments is considerable. This session invites abstracts that explore water-rock interactions between seawater and surface or coastal sediments, track chemical changes in groundwater and porewaters, model geochemical reactions and reactive transport, and study the implications for global alkalinity budgets, the carbon cycle, and potential climate effects. We welcome theoretical, experimental, and field studies.

The session focuses on interactions involving microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi. Connections with microbial organisms are essential to life on Earth and are abundant across the tree of life, from microbial communities to multicellular life forms. Such interactions shape population dynamics, diversity, evolutionary processes, and ecosystem functionality. in this session, we will explore the diverse organisms, interactions, and processes involving microbes in aquatic environments, examining how these relationships influence the health of both individual partners and the broader ecosystem. These microbial relationships are often context-dependent and influenced by environmental factors such as nutrient availability, light, and temperature. Global changes in aquatic environments could further alter these interactions by affecting the physiological and immune responses of both partners. A recent example of the potential impact of microbial interactions occurred in the Gulf of Eilat, where mass mortality events among sea urchins and fish were observed. Ideally, talks will address questions related to the nature of these interactions, their ecological impacts, and their dynamics in a changing ocean environment.

Morphological changes and sedimentary processes along the coasts are no longer disposed only to natural transport and sediment supply but rather to a range of anthropogenic infrastructure disturbances, climate change and sea level rise. As a result, it is important to understand the natural coastal development as background processes as well as focus on evaluating coastal vulnerability and the possible outcomes for strategies to protect coastal resources. The session welcomes studies that discuss the current and paleo-processes either observations, measurements or modeling that characterize the effects of natural, climate change and anthropogenic processes such as: Coastal and beach geomorphology Nearshore sediment supply, transport and nourishment Flood events and estuary morphology Sustainable infrastructure and mitigation strategies We particularly welcome studies that bring new tools and strategies to quantify and characterize the impacts on changing coastal processes and morphology to better inform resource management.

The Role of Science in Aquaculture 1. Scientific advancements in aquaculture, such as genetic improvement, disease control, and sustainable practices. 2. ⁠The importance of research and development (R&D) in improving aquaculture techniques. 3. ⁠Case studies of successful science-driven aquaculture innovations. Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry 1. Collaboration between academic institutions and the aquaculture industry. 2. ⁠How science and education drive innovation and sustainability in aquaculture. 3. ⁠Examples of successful partnerships and outcomes. Challenges and Future Directions 1. Addressing the challenges faced by the aquaculture industry, including environmental concerns, resource management, and climate change. 2. ⁠The role of emerging technologies (e.g., AI, IoT, biotechnology) in the future of aquaculture.