Morigenos – Slovenian Marine Mammal Society to host Europe’s largest conference on marine mammals in Slovenia

Morigenos will host the 38th European Cetacean Society (ECS) Conference in Piran next year. The event is Europe’s largest international gathering dedicated to marine mammals and will also be the largest of its kind worldwide in 2027.
The conference will bring together researchers, conservationists and other experts from around the world to present the latest findings on the biology, ecology, behaviour and conservation of marine mammals. Krista Lokar and Polona Kotnjek of Morigenos are leading the organisation of the conference. As part of the preparations, Morigenos is hosting the ECS Council in Piran this week for a pre-conference meeting that includes a visit to the conference venue.
Hosting the conference is an important mark of international recognition for Slovenia and reinforces the country’s role in marine research and conservation. The event is also of considerable economic importance to the local community. In recent years, ECS conferences have attracted between 600 and 800 participants from around the world. With many international visitors staying for several days, these events make a significant contribution to local tourism, hospitality and other services. According to the organisers’ estimates, this year’s conference in Dundee, Scotland, generated approximately £1.9 million in revenue, further illustrating the wider impact and potential of such international events.
“Hosting an event of this kind offers an exceptional opportunity both to raise Slovenia’s profile and to further develop scientific collaboration in marine mammal conservation,” Morigenos emphasises.
Piran will thus become a global hub for marine mammal research and conservation next year, bringing together the international scientific community to exchange the latest scientific findings and best practices.
The European Cetacean Society, currently chaired by Dr Tilen Genov of Morigenos, was founded in 1987 and works to advance scientific research, strengthen marine mammal conservation and raise public awareness.