ZMT - Leibniz Zentrum für Marine Tropenforschung

ZMT becomes official supporter of the “All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance” ahead of global AAORIA forum in Brazil

The Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) has joined the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) as an official supporter, strengthening its role in international ocean science diplomacy ahead of the Alliance’s 2026 High-Level Forum in Brazil. After having been engaged in the initiation of the trans-Atlantic of the European Commission and having contributed to its success for many years under the lead of our former colleague Werner Ekau, the move places ZMT within a growing transatlantic network of countries and institutions working to advance science-based solutions for ocean governance and sustainable marine management.

“By joining AAORIA, we are reinforcing our commitment to international cooperation in ocean science,” says Martin Zimmer, who is coordinating the collaboration on behalf of ZMT. “Addressing global ocean challenges requires strong partnerships across regions, disciplines and sectors – this is exactly what the All-Atlantic Alliance provides.”

AAORIA unites countries from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean to support evidence-based policymaking at national, regional and international levels. The initiative is underpinned by the All-Atlantic Declaration, signed in 2022 in Washington, D.C., by Argentina, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, Morocco, South Africa, the United States and the European Union. Since then, Norway, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Senegal and Ghana have joined, reflecting growing international commitment.

AAORIA supporters include regional and international organisations, non-governmental organisations, businesses, or research or academic institutions. They are not Partners to AAORIA, but they can contribute to the objectives of AAORIA and participate in its activities, including the AAORIA Forum.

High-level stakeholders to meet at the 2026 All-Atlantic Forum in Brazil

The 2026 AAORIA Forum will take place in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil on 15 - 16 April. As the Alliance’s flagship annual event, it brings together policymakers, scientists, industry representatives and civil society from across the Atlantic region. The Forum is hosted by the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI).

ZMT will be actively involved in the programme: Martin Zimmer will present the long-standing link between ZMT and AAORIA and summarize the outcomes of the workshop of the All-Atlantic Network of Coastal Resilience Beacon Sites on 16 April.

Véronique Helfer will have the honour to deliver the opening remarks for the side event “All-Atlantic Network of Coastal Resilience Beacon Sites – From Local to Global: Sharing Knowledge and Experiences“ on April 14, organised by ZMT's Beacons Office. She will also contribute a short impulse presentation, sharing her perspective on scientific and local knowledges integration in research activities related to coastal resilience, with its associated challenges, considering both the ecological and societal dimensions of coastal resilience and participate in a panel discussion aiming at identifying avenues for the Network to become an effective knowledge partner to local communities and reinforcing the pan-Atlantic coastal resilience community.

“This side event will be the occasion to exchange with various actors (scientists, practitioners and political decision-makers from across the Atlantic Ocean) on the major challenges coastal communities are facing, with an emphasis on the Brazilian experience, and on how we can join forces and share knowledges to strengthen coastal resilience across the Atlantic.,” she says.“The outcome of this event will help shape future activities of the Network of Coastal Resilience Beacon Sites, and shall provide best practices for sharing scientific and local knowledges and disseminating local experiences to the international community.”

The All-Atlantic Fora serve as a platform to showcase scientific advances, launch new initiatives and define priorities for transatlantic cooperation. Building on previous meetings, the 2026 Forum aims to accelerate the implementation of the All-Atlantic Declaration through closer international collaboration and joint action.

About the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA)

The All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) is an ocean science diplomacy initiative uniting countries from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean in contributing to the science needed to support ocean policy, governance and management on domestic, regional and international scales in the Atlantic region.  

AAORIA fosters a large and inclusive All-Atlantic community, advancing science cooperation in line with international law. The ultimate shared goal is to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of the Atlantic Ocean. AAORIA and its goals are underpinned by the All-Atlantic Declaration signed in 2022 in Washington DC by Argentina, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, Morocco, South Africa, the United States of America and the European Union, with ever growing interest and support from further countries and partners. Since 2022, Norway, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Senegal and Ghana have also joined the Alliance.  

The Declaration builds upon and ties together the success of two previous cooperation agreements – the 2013 Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation and the 2017 Belém Statement on Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Cooperation, as well as on several other international bilateral and multilateral agreements.