Tom Jilbert (ABRU-MERG) and Alf Norkko (Benthic Ecology Team-MERG) attended the International Conference on Ocean Deoxygenation in Kiel, Germany on 3-7 September. Tom gave a keynote on phosphorus cycling in coastal regions, while Alf's keynote focused on coastal hypoxia and benthic ecosystem functioning. The coastal oceans are experiencing some of the most severe oxygen loss of any aquatic systems globally, due primarily to human impacts such as nutrient inputs. The conference was attended by 350 delegates and culminated in the publication of the Kiel Declaration. This document, drafted by the conference organizers and already signed by over 300 scientists, calls on governments and societal actors to combat the threat of ocean deoxygenation.
For more information about the conference, see the official website.