EurOcean attended the official launch of the ECOP Portugal Node, marking Portugal’s addition to the growing global network of national nodes under the Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) Programme of the UN Ocean Decade.

The event brought together ocean professionals, researchers, students and changemakers for a day of discussions and exchanges focused on ocean careers, collaboration and the future of the blue economy in Portugal.

The programme included an introduction to the ECOP Programme by Evgeniia Kostianaia, ECOP Programme Coordinator, followed by the official opening of the ECOP Portugal Node by Mélinda Martins and Leonor Oliveira Neves, ECOP Portugal Coordinators. Participants also heard from Prof. Luís Menezes Pinheiro, Chair of the Portuguese Committee for IOC/UNESCO, who presented on the Ocean Decade and the role of IOC-UNESCO.

Additional sessions explored pathways in the blue economy and featured a panel discussion on “The Future of the Ocean in Portugal: Careers and Impact”, with contributions from professionals representing different areas of the ocean community.

Through its expanding network of national nodes, the ECOP Programme continues to foster connections between early career ocean professionals worldwide, supporting collaboration, knowledge exchange and opportunities for engagement within the Ocean Decade framework.

EurOcean was pleased to take part in this important milestone for the Portuguese ocean community and looks forward to following the future activities of the ECOP Portugal Node.