The conference

Coastal lagoons and estuaries are unique systems that offer a large number of goods and services. They are highly productive and include important fisheries and aquaculture exploitations, playing an important role in biogeochemical cycles, protecting and promoting the genetic diversity of the species that inhabit or use them as refuge or nursery. They are ideal for water sports, having a high tourist and recreational value, and can also be used as mesocosm for scientific research and educational projects. However, for the same reasons, these environments are exposed to many human pressures that could affect their biodiversity, resilience or even the entire functioning of the ecosystems they represent.
Due to the high degree of heterogeneity and complexity of the hydrodynamic and the ecological processes that are inherent to these ecosystems, new research and experience gained through observation networks need to be strengthened to further develop, preserve and manage their potential.
This symposium seeks to bring together scientists, managers and stakeholders to discuss new scientific findings and experiences on the knowledge and use of coastal lagoons, from cold-fresh-water Baltic lagoons to the warm-hyperhaline lagoons in the Mediterranean.
A part from the usual session themes that the conference is dealing with, this year we have one session dedicated to European Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) and its relations with data FAIRness. We anticipate that the issues connected with these topics will be ever more relevant in the next years, and we would like to discuss their relevance for lagoons and transitional areas.
The Eurolag conference that is held every 2 years starting from 2003. Even if the initial focus was on European lagoons, for many years we now welcome also colleagues from other continents.