World's Largest Marine Mammal Science Confce in Puerto Rico, Oct 19

Record-breaking meeting will bring 1,500 scientists from over 50 countries to attend

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO — As marine mammals face mounting pressures from climate change, biodiversity loss, fisheries interactions, underwater noise, pollution, and emerging diseases, nearly 1,500 scientists, students, conservationists, policymakers, and industry representatives from over 50 countries will gather in San Juan, Puerto Rico, this October to share the latest research shaping the future of marine mammal science and conservation. 

Hosted from 19–23 October 2026, with pre-conference workshops on 17–18 October, the 26th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals will mark a historic milestones for the Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM): it will be the Society's first conference held in Latin America in its more than 50-year history. 

The selection of Puerto Rico reflects both the scientific importance of the Caribbean and the growing contributions of Latin American researchers to marine mammal science. Bringing the Society's flagship conference to the region expands opportunities for collaboration, strengthens international partnerships, and increases participation from researchers and students throughout Latin America. 

For the SMM President Jeremy Kiszka, hosting the conference in Puerto Rico represents more than a historic first; it reflects the Society's commitment to building the international partnerships needed to advance marine mammal science and conservation. "The future of marine mammal science and conservation depends on global collaboration. By bringing our conference to Puerto Rico for the first time, we're not only celebrating the extraordinary growth of marine mammal science across Latin America; we're creating new opportunities for researchers from around the world to work together on the challenges facing our oceans. 

That's exactly what the Society exists to do." — Jeremy Kiszka, President, Society for Marine Mammalogy For Conference Co-Chair Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci, the conference represents an unprecedented opportunity to showcase Puerto Rico and the wider Caribbean as internationally recognized centers for marine mammal science, conservation, and education while inspiring the next generation of scientists across the region. 

"Hosting the Society for Marine Mammalogy's Biennial Conference in Puerto Rico is a defining moment not only for our island but for the entire Caribbean and Latin America. For the first time, researchers, students, and conservation leaders from around the world will experience firsthand the extraordinary marine biodiversity, scientific capacity, and collaborative conservation efforts that have been built here over decades. 

We hope this meeting will strengthen regional partnerships, inspire young scientists, and leave a lasting legacy for marine mammal research and conservation throughout the Caribbean." — Antonio A. Mignucci, Co-Chair, 26th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals Advancing Science for Ocean Health SMM2026 will feature more than 1,000 scientific presentations across ten scientific themes, along with more than 35 workshops and short courses, covering topics including marine mammal ecology, conservation, physiology, behaviour, acoustics, One Health, emerging technologies, and human–wildlife interactions. 

Researchers will present new findings on some of the world's most pressing marine conservation issues, including climate change, biodiversity loss, fisheries interactions, underwater noise, disease, ecosystem health, and innovative approaches to monitoring and protecting marine mammals. 

The conference theme, One Ocean, One Future: Advancing Marine Mammal Science for Ecosystem Health, reflects the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of marine mammal research and the critical role marine mammals play as sentinels of ocean health. – Press release