It is with a great pleasure that we invite you to take part in the 9^th WIOMSA Scientific Symposium to be held on the 26-31 October 2015 at the Wild Coast Sun Hotel in South Africa. This biennial forum is the largest open scientific conference in the region on marine and coastal issues and is expected to gather some 500 delegates from across the globe.

The 9^th Symposium will be a unique opportunity for all those involved in the marine and coastal environment  including scientists, researchers, practitioners, academics, students, policy makers the private sector, experts, community leaders, and media professionals to meet and discuss the latest scientific developments in  marine and coastal research, explore how such developments can be realistically applied by users. Participants will also share knowledge, experience and solutions to the challenges experienced in our coastal and marine environment.In the upcoming months, we will work on building a strong scientific programme.

As was the case in previous editions of the symposium, the programme will include key note presentations from top scientists, oral and poster presentations, all covering the main symposium themes:  Vulnerability, Resilience & Adaptation; and Biodiversity and ecological processes; Utilization of resources; Human dimension and governance systems; Understanding Ecosystem Services; and Innovations in Support of an Ocean-based Economy.

In addition, a wide range of dynamic activities, such as workshops, round table discussions, special sessions will provide participants with opportunities to network, share best practice and present their studies in front of hundreds of delegates and media representatives from around the world.

For the 9^th Symposium, we are particularly inspired by the success of the last symposium held in Maputo, Mozambique in 2013, where the contributions of the private sector and policy makers in the special sessions on oil and gas and the uptake of research results by policy were outstanding!  We hope to build on this success and to go further in interfacing with these sectors.

The 9^th WIOMSA Scientific Symposium is jointly organized by WIOMSA, the University of KwaZulu-Natal and The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), partnered by the Oceanographic Research Institute and the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board.

In the months ahead, we encourage you to learn more about the scientific programme, and to get involved in this landmark event by developing and submitting abstracts, and making plans to join us in South Africa.

Dr Jacqueline Uku

WIOMSA President