Over the last months, the LAMARCA Project has been presented at several leading ocean science conferences, contributing to the dissemination of project results and strengthening collaboration within the marine research community.
Recent studies conducted within the framework of LAMARCA project were presented at the Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM) 2026, held in Glasgow, Scotland, from 22-27 February 2026. Ismael Hernández-Carrasco contributed with the oral presentation entitled «Spatial and Temporal Variability of Eddy Lagrangian Coherence in the Mediterranean Sea over Three Decades of Satellite Altimetry» focusing on the transport properties of oceanic eddies in relation to their Lagrangian coherence was presented in the session: «Physical Oceanography / Transport and Dispersal of Passive and Nonpassive Tracers and Particles» (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2026AGUOSMPS21B.09C/abstract).
Within the framework of the XVIII Spanish Coastal and Port Engineering Conference, held on May 13–14, 2026, a poster describing observational and data sharing efforts from the LAMARCA project, contributing to understanding how ocean transport processes drive the dispersion and accumulation of marine litter in coastal environments was presented by Lohitzune Solabarrieta.
This event represents a key meeting point, bringing together public administrations, companies, research centers, and universities around a common goal: to improve the management and conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems through an integrated approach.
On May 19-21, we had the opportunity to present part of our work on microplastic detection and monitoring in coastal areas of the Bay of Biscay at #MARLICE2026 in Tenerife, an international forum dedicated to marine litter and the #CircularEconomy. Oihane C. Basurko was invited to take part in the “Rivers to sea monitoring” session, which focused on rivers as one of the main pathways through which litter reaches the marine environment.
The panellists shared experiences and monitoring methodologies from river basins to coastal areas, highlighting the key role of data in identifying sources, prioritising actions and designing effective prevention measures. Some key points raised during the discussion included:
? The need to standardize analysis and monitoring practices
? The importance of developing effective solutions to detect and monitor litter in river ecosystems
? The urgency to move from discussion to action.
At the 57th International Liège Colloquium on Ocean Dynamics (25–29 May 2026), a poster on coastal processes in the southeastern Bay of Biscay observed by ocean gliders highlighted new insights into regional ocean dynamics through a multi-platform observational approach. The colloquium brought together international oceanographers to discuss recent advances in understanding submesoscale ocean dynamics.
Several researchers from LAMARCA organized and participated in the 16th International Workshop on Modeling the Ocean (IWMO2026), held in Palma on 2-5 June 2026. IWMO is a leading international forum for integrating advanced numerical modeling with multi-platform ocean observations. By promoting high-level dialogue between theoretical modelers and observational scientists, the workshop addresses the pressing need for physically consistent representations of the Earth system across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales.
LAMARCA contributions included presentations and posters on modern Lagrangian computational methodologies, interplay between horizontal dynamics and vertical sinking of microplastics, and artificial intelligence tools relevant to ocean modelling.
Subsequently, at the 19th ISOBAY Symposium (16–18 June 2026, Donostia), a presentation on physical connectivity and Lagrangian pathways in the Bay of Biscay by Nadine Steiger showcased an atlas of transit times, connectivity patterns, and particle mixing within the Bay, supporting a better understanding of the transport of biological material and marine litter. In contrast to the broader process-oriented focus of the Liège Colloquium, ISOBAY provided a regional forum covering a wide range of marine science topics relevant to the Bay of Biscay.
Researchers from LAMARCA also contributed to workshops and courses focussed on the use of Lagrangian models to study the transport of marine debris. For example, Ismael Hernandez-Carrasco contributed to the Lagrangian Models for Ocean Transport Workshop, held from 15 to 19 June 2026 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, where he delived an invited lecture entitled «Lagrangian analysis tools to study transport and mixing in ocean flows: fundamentals and applications.” (http://www.mohid.com/pages/support/courses.shtml). Lohitzune Solabarrieta also attented the workshop.
Finally in July 2026 Anna Rubio and Nadine Steiger participated in the International Symposium on Marine Science (ISMS 2026) and were part of the EOF Scientific Comitée. The ISMS held in Cádiz, bringing AZTI’s expertise in ocean observation, operational oceanography, and marine research to an international audience. ISMS 2026 brought together experts from around the world, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange on the future of marine science. The event reinforced the importance of international cooperation in advancing our understanding of the ocean and developing effective solutions for a changing marine environment.
Together, these contributions show LAMARCA in action: generating knowledge, sharing data, connecting scientific communities, and turning ocean observations into practical insight to better understand and address marine litter in coastal seas.