The Ocean Decade Coordination Office for the Tropical Americas and Caribbean (DCO-TAC) invites the scientific community to actively participate in four calls for papers in leading international scientific journals, focused on the publication of Special Issues related to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030).

These initiatives represent a unique opportunity for the regional and global scientific community to showcase research addressing fundamental themes for the future of the ocean, including marine biodiversity, ocean health, sustainability in deltas, and ocean literacy.
A total of five scientific journals are participating in the calls:
-
Marine Pollution Bulletin
-
Ocean & Coastal Management
-
Regional Studies in Marine Science
-
Marine Environmental Research
-
Journal of Sea Research
Active Calls for Papers:
1. Conservation and Management of Marine Biodiversity
-
Journals: Marine Pollution Bulletin, Regional Studies in Marine Science, Ocean & Coastal Management, Marine Environmental Research
-
Submission deadline: December 31, 2026
-
More information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/322036/ocean-decade_-conservation-and-management-of-marine-biodiversity
2. Sustainable Marine Pollution and Ocean Health
-
Journals: Marine Pollution Bulletin, Regional Studies in Marine Science, Marine Environmental Research
-
Submission deadline: November 30, 2026
-
More information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/322705/ocean-decade-sustainable-marine-pollution-and-ocean-health
3. Megadelta Programme – Sustainability of Deltas Associated with Large Rivers
-
Journals: Ocean & Coastal Management, Regional Studies in Marine Science
-
Submission deadline: December 31, 2026
-
More information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/322112/ocean-decade_-megadelta-programme-deltas-associated-with-large-rivers-seeking-solutions-for-the-problem-of-sustainability
4. Promoting Ocean Literacy
-
Journals: Ocean & Coastal Management, Journal of Sea Research
-
Submission deadline: April 30, 2026
-
More information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/322296/ocean-decade_promoting-ocean-literacy
All submitted articles will undergo peer review and must meet the quality standards required by each journal. While Open Access publication is not mandatory, opting for it will provide greater visibility and impact for the published research.
The DCO-TAC warmly encourages researchers, academics, and experts from the region and around the world to contribute to these Special Issues, thereby strengthening ocean science and its role in sustainable development.
CURRENT NEWS ITEMS

Reviving Sydney Harbour: Transforming urban seascape

Building long-term coastal resilience under chronic climatic stress
Coastal cities and territories in the Caribbean face a complex mix of climate and development challenges…

In a heartfelt ceremony, Patricia was honored with the prestigious UNESCO Medal for 30 Years of Service. This accolade is a testament to her enduring commitment to excellence and her steadfast…

What’s Next:
- Integrating indigenous and local…

The newly recognized Decade Actions strengthen the existing portfolio of hundreds of initiatives endorsed by the Ocean Decade since 2021. With lead institutions spanning 21 countries – from…
A unified approach to Ocean-Climate-Biodiversity challenges
Ocean opportunities and challenges transcend borders, demanding collective action to unlock the economic…

Who organizes CARIBE WAVE?
A CARIBE EWS CARIBE WAVE task team is responsible for the overall conduct of the exercise. The NOAA/UNESCO IOC International Tsunami Information…

Implemented by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO as part of the Ocean Biodiversity Information Systems (OBIS) Programme, the …

Malta: Tsunami Risk and Preparedness
The first documentary explores Malta's vulnerability to tsunamis,…