ABOUT NCMPE 2024

Marine ecosystem encompassing over 70 % of the earth’s area, provides vital supplies of food, and biodiversity; maintaining the trophic structure and ecosystem services. Unfortunately, these vital ecosystems face an escalating threat – marine pollution. Marine pollution encompasses various harmful substances introduced into the marine environment, resulting in detrimental effects on both marine life and human health. It manifests in numerous forms, including chemical pollution from industrial runoff, the insidious spread of non-biodegradable plastic waste, catastrophic oil spills from maritime activities, excessive nutrient runoff leading to harmful algal blooms, and sediment pollution through erosion.

The repercussions of marine pollution are profound and wide-reaching. Ecosystems such as coral reefs and kelp forests suffer extensive damage, marine species face endangerment through habitat degradation and ingestion of pollutants, and humans risk health issues through the consumption of contaminated seafood and exposure to polluted beach water. Moreover, the economic consequences are significant, with losses impacting fisheries, tourism, and coastal communities. Understanding and addressing these issues is where ecotoxicology plays a pivotal role. Ecotoxicology is the study of how pollutants affect living organisms and ecosystems. It helps us comprehend processes like bioaccumulation and biomagnification, toxicity testing, and environmental risk assessment. Recent advances in ecotoxicological research, including the use of molecular tools and modeling techniques, offer hope for better strategies to mitigate and prevent marine pollution. To protect our oceans, we must combine knowledge, conservation efforts, and individual actions, ensuring a healthier future for our planet and generations to come.

In light of these conditions, the "National Conference on Marine Pollution and Ecotoxicology – NCMPE-24" emerges as an excellent forum for addressing marine pollution issues at local, regional, and global scales. The conference holds the promise of fostering more effective resolutions to these pressing problems, with the aim of securing a better future for our marine environments.