Since the first conference in 1993 (Antalya, Turkey), the MEDCOAST conference series has moved around the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, visiting Taragona (Spain), Qawra (Malta), Antalya (Turkey), Hammamet (Tunisia), Ravenna (Italy), Kusadasi (Turkey), Alexandria (Egypt), Sochi (Russia), Rhodes (Greece), Marmaris (Turkey) and Varna (Bulgaria). The conference has been organized in every odd numbered year, regularly in the months of either October or November. MEDCOAST 17 is the second meeting in Malta after 20 years following the third MEDCOAST conference held in Qawra (1997).

The past twelve events of the biennial MEDCOAST conference series produced 29 volumes of proceedings totalling over 18 000 pages, which constitute a very important source of information for coastal and marine sciences, engineering, management and conservation issues. MEDCOAST conference proceedings are covered by the major indexing schemes such as ISI Thomson, Scopus and Compendex. Starting with MEDCOAST 17, the name of the conference series is changed to “International MEDCOAST Congress on Coastal and Marine Sciences, Engineering, Management and Conservation”. The conference series will continue to give special emphasis to the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian seas.

The thirteenth MEDCOAST congress in Mellieha (Malta) takes place at a time when the European Union is keenly involved in facilitating programs for Mediterranean and the Black Sea in the fields of Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP), Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). The Mellieha congress will provide excellent opportunities for discussing national and regional efforts and capabilities in these and related fields as well as the future needs and directions. The meeting will also be a good occasion for networking and collaboration initiatives.

Similar to the past twelve events, the technical program of the second Maltese congress will include an opening and keynote session, thematic parallel sessions for oral presentations, several special sessions, a poster session and the closing session, in which the Mellieha Declaration will be reviewed and endorsed by the participants and the best poster winners will be announced and given prizes. The Mellieha congress will also have a rich social program including a half-day cultural tour and a full-day technical trip to interesting sites along the attractive coast of the Maltese islands.

We expect that MEDCOAST 17 international congress, organized in this idyllic central Mediterranean island in collaboration with two institutions of University of Malta, enhanced by the charms of historic towns and environs, enjoying the rich culture and warm hospitality of the Maltese people, will serve as a reference event for discussing numerous issues of coastal and marine areas of the world and particularly of the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian seas. We are confident to have another very successful and enjoyable congress in Malta at the end of October!

TOPICS OF MEDCOAST 17 CONGRESS

A. Coastal systems, Conservation issues

Geography, geology, geomorphology, sedimentology;
Oceanography, operational oceanography;
Coastal and marine ecosystems, biology and ecology;
Marine mammals, endangered species;
Conservation issues, biodiversity, exotic & invasive species;
Coastal ecosystems management;
Rehabilitation of damaged ecosystems;
Coastal and marine protected areas;
Coastal landscapes;

B. Integrated Coastal Management (ICM)

Theoretical framework and case reports;
Coastal management tools and instruments, databases;
Coastal and marine policy, science and policy integration;
Coastal governance, institutional arrangements;
International efforts and programs in ICM;
Legal, economic and social issues;
Environmental / ecological economics;
Education, public involvement & NGO role, media role;
Evaluation of ICM impacts, coastal management indicators;
Demonstration pilot projects;

C. Coastal management issues

Coastal and submarine archaeology, management of ancient sites, monuments and ship wrecks;
Coastal wetlands, dunes, estuaries, deltas and lagoons;
Beaches and their management;
Water quality management, water and sediment pollution, land based sources, hazardous wastes, ocean acidification, algal blooms, bio- indicators of pollution and monitoring, pollution control;
Marine litter, solid wastes management;
Trans-boundary pollution issues, legal context;
Environmental impacts, coastal degradation,   Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Strategic  Environmental Assessment (SEA);
Disaster prevention, mitigation and management;
Climate change impacts, adaptation and mitigation strategies;

D. Sustainable development of coastal/marine areas

Sustainable development concerns, indicators, sustainable development of coastal and marine resources;
Blue economy issues, Integrated Marine Policy (IMP),  coastal and maritime spatial planning (CMSP);
Urban development issues, waterfront renovation;
Coastal tourism planning and management, ecotourism, recreation, marine tourism;
Living resources, fisheries, mariculture;
Marine transportation issues, oil transport;
Marine energy issues
Sitting of major industrial facilities;

E. Coastal engineering, Modelling, Decision support systems, Data management

Coastal, environmental and ecosystem modelling;
Coastal hydrodynamics;
Coastal sediment transport and erosion;
Coastal processes and erosion, shoreline management;
Coastal and ecocoastal engineering;
Water level changes, sea level rise and consequences;
Coastal and marine monitoring;
Use of remote sensing technology and geographic information systems in coastal management.

CONGRESS CHAIR

Prof. Erdal Özhan, President, MEDCOAST Foundation

CONGRESS CO-CHAIRS

Prof. Louis F. Cassar, Univ. of Malta
Prof. Anton S. Micallef, Univ. of Malta

EXECUTIVE PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Prof. E. Özhan (Chair), Mediterranean Coastal Foundation
Dr. S. Abdalla, ECMWF, Reading, UK
Prof. V. Axiak, Chair, Environmental & Resources Authority, Malta
Prof G. Baldacchino, ProRector, University of Malta, Malta
Dr. V. Barale, Joint Research Centre of EU, Ispra, Italy
Prof. J. A. Borg, University of Malta, Malta
Prof. L. F. Cassar, University of Malta, Malta
Prof. A. Drago, University of Malta, Malta
Dr. C. Galdies, University of Malta, Malta
Dr. A. Giardino, DELTARES, The Netherlands
Prof. R. Kosyan, RAS SIO SB, Gelendzhik, Russia
Prof. A. S. Micallef, University of Malta, Malta
Dr. Frank van der Meulen, The Netherlands
Dr. C. Pergent-Martini, University of Corsica, France
Prof. G. Pergent, University of Corsica, France
Mr. J. van der Weide, CEMC, The Netherlands
Prof. A. T. Williams, Swansea Metropolitan Univ., UK
Mr. A. Zammit, Ministry of Gozo, Malta

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

Abstracts for MEDCOAST 17 Congress must be submitted to the MEDCOAST Foundation online via the Congress webpage or sent by e-mail no later than 29 May 2017. They should be limited to single-spaced one page at the maximum, and must list the names, titles, affiliations, mailing addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of each author.

Abstracts should be sufficiently informative and must summarise the major theme, findings and conclusions of the paper. The last name of each author and co-author(s) should be underlined. In the upper right hand corner, one of the topics of the MEDCOAST 17 Congress, which is addressed by the abstract, must be indicated. If necessary, you may use a new topic that is not on the list. In the case that the paper is co-authored, please indicate at the end of the abstract, the person who will present the paper at the congress.

Notification of acceptance of the abstract, together with the format for manuscript preparation and submission instructions, will be e-mailed to the first author (or to the corresponding author) by 19 June 2017. The final manuscript, prepared in full accordance with the instructions, must be received by 07 August 2017 in soft copy either through online submission from the Congress website or by e-mail. In the case of failure in complying with the rules for preparation of manuscripts or in meeting the deadline for submission, the paper will not be included in the Congress Proceedings and the Program.

The Executive Program Committee and the MEDCOAST Foundation will accept or reject papers based on information in the accepted abstracts and will assign accepted papers to appropriate poster and oral sessions.

PUBLICATIONS

Accepted papers for both oral or poster presentations will be published in the Proceedings of MEDCOAST 17 Congress, which will be given to the participants at the time of the congress, as a part of the registration fee. As has been done for the previous MEDCOAST conferences, it is planned to publish Special Volumes in leading journals on coastal and marine sciences and management, by using selected papers from the proceeding and following the usual peer review procedure.

CONGRESS SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS

A large number of organisations have been invited for sponsoring and supporting the MEDCOAST 17 Congress. The complete list will be announced in the Congress webpage.

SPECIAL SESSIONS

A number of thematic sessions, organized in collaboration with several collaborating institutions, will be included in the congress program.

POSTER SESSION

Certain topics may be better presented in the MEDCOAST 17 Poster Session. If you wish to make a poster presentation, please so indicate in your abstract.

A poster competition will take place and a jury will evaluate all poster presentations. Three Best Poster Prizes will be given to the winners during the Closing Session.

COMMERCIAL EXHIBITS

A commercial exhibition of sustainable coastal and sea resource management and related facilities, products, systems and services will be held parallel to the MEDCOAST 17 Congress. Participation by public and private agencies is encouraged.

SOCIAL/CULTURAL EVENTS

A rich variety of social and cultural events will be included in the congress program. A half-day trip to famous places around Mellieha as a social/cultural activity and a full-day technical trip to interesting coastal sites of Malta during the final day of the congress are planned.

DEADLINES

Abstract submission:                May 29, 2017
Acceptance notification:           June 19, 2017
Manuscript submission:            Aug 07, 2017

More information about the congress like registration fees & accommodation are posted at the Congress web page.

For other information, contact MEDCOAST Foundation:

E-Mail: medcoast2017@medcoast.net
Phone: + 90 (252) 284 44 50
Mail: P.O. Box 10, Ortaca 48600, Mugla, Turkey
Website: www.medcoast.net
Conference website: www.conference.medcoast.net