Summary

The 78th Annual Meeting of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI78) will take place in Cartagena, Colombia, from October 27–31, 2025. Co-hosted by the UNESCO-IOC Sub-commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent regions (IOCARIBE) and the UNDP/GEF/UNOPS PROCARIBE+ Project, the event is endorsed as part of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Under the theme “Partnering for the Oceans: Merging Ocean, Climate, and Biodiversity Efforts Through Regional Marine Data and Innovation”, GCFI78 serves as a platform to evaluate progress under the Ocean Decade, foster dialogue on ocean-positive actions, and strengthen regional partnerships. The meeting brings together scientists, policymakers, fishers, and international organizations from over 40 countries to discuss sustainable fisheries, marine governance, biodiversity conservation, and the blue economy.