In May 2025, Blue Pangolin Consulting attended the 24th Annual Consultative Meeting on Large Marine Ecosystems and Coastal Partners (LME24), of the IW:LEARN, held in Athens, Greece. The event brought together governments, UN agencies, regional commissions and scientific institutions to drive forward coordinated marine ecosystem management and progress toward the 2030 Agenda.
Attending on behalf of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) and the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), Tom Dallison, Senior Project Manager at Blue Pangolin, participated in a panel on Data, Information and Knowledge Management. During the session, Tom shared insights from Blue Pangolin’s support in the development of the upcoming Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2025 report and emphasised the vital role of the GCRMN in supporting evidence-based policy decisions.
In his remarks, Tom underscored the importance of improved data integration and management to support regional and global assessments, alongside a call for increased willingness and ability to share coral reef data, including from GEF and FAO projects. This message resonated with panel participants and catalysed meaningful dialogue with UNEP, FAO, IW:LEARN, COBSEA and the SPAW Secretariat on practical mechanisms for future data sharing and partnership building.
These discussions opened new avenues for potential collaboration in the GEF-9 funding cycle, including the strengthening of regional data nodes and the incorporation of coral reef indicators into broader ecosystem-based management frameworks. Multiple partners also expressed interest in contributing to forthcoming GCRMN products – a clear signal of the growing recognition of coral reefs within the LME and coastal governance community.
Beyond the formal sessions, LME24 served as an important platform for Blue Pangolin to reconnect with colleagues and clients. Informal meetings highlighted shared priorities on enhancing marine protected areas, addressing local pressures such as pollution and overfishing, and supporting capacity development for coral reef monitoring.
As momentum builds towards the 30×30 targets, Blue Pangolin remains committed to supporting the scientific infrastructure, partnerships and strategic guidance needed to safeguard coral reefs. The discussions held at LME24 reaffirm the critical role of cross-sectoral collaboration and integrated data systems in securing a sustainable ocean future.
