The International Symposium on Marine Litter and Coastal Ecosystem Nexus (MariNEX 2025) has begun at Khulna University, focusing on the critical relationship between marine litter, coastal ecosystems, and livelihoods. 

The three-day event aims to foster dialogue on innovative mitigation strategies to safeguard the marine environment and promote sustainable practices.

The symposium has gathered over 260 participants from seven countries, including leading researchers, policymakers, civil society organizations, private sector representatives, and government officials. With more than 200 scientific papers presented across seven scientific sessions and one poster presentation session, the event serves as a significant platform for knowledge exchange. Additionally, two panel discussions and a field trip to the Sundarbans will provide stakeholders with opportunities for in-depth discussions on sustainability and conservation efforts.

Hosted by the Fisheries and Marine Resources Discipline of Khulna University, the symposium is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the Integrated Management of the Sundarbans Mangroves and the Marine Protected Area of Swatch of No Ground (SoNG) project, implemented by GIZ Bangladesh in collaboration with Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (SCIP Plastics Project).

The inaugural session featured Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim, Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University, as the Chief Guest, who emphasized the importance of scientific collaboration in tackling marine litter challenges. Dr. Stefan Alfred Groenewold, Commission Manager-Biodiversity Sector of GIZ Bangladesh, and Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf, Director General of the Department of Fisheries (DoF), attended as Special Guests. Dr. Groenewold reiterated GIZ's commitment to marine biodiversity and coastal conservation, while Dr. Rouf underscored the government's role in environmental protection efforts.

A keynote speech was delivered by Professor Dr. Martin Zimmer, Head of the Mangrove Ecology Group at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research and the University of Bremen. He discussed the interconnectedness of mangrove forests and marine ecosystems, highlighting the blue carbon potential and climate change mitigation functions of mangrove ecosystems.

On the second day, the closing session will feature Professor Dr. Md. Nazmul Ahsan, Vice-Chancellor of Khulna Agricultural University, as the Chief Guest, alongside Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) of the Bangladesh Forest Department, as Special Guest.

The third day will include a field trip to the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, where participants will gain first-hand insights into the impacts of marine litter on mangrove ecosystems. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with resource-dependent communities near the Sundarbans to understand how marine pollution affects their livelihoods.

MariNEX 2025 is set to play a crucial role in fostering collaborative solutions and policy-driven discussions for marine litter management, ultimately contributing to the conservation of Bangladesh's coastal and marine biodiversity.