The Global Marine Aquarium Trade Dialogue is an international online forum convened by OFI in collaboration with major sponsor and partner Aquafauna Biosystems.
The marine aquarium trade operates across a complex international supply chain and supports businesses and livelihoods in many countries, including coastal communities where the sustainable use of marine resources can provide important economic opportunities. At the same time, the trade faces increasing expectations around sustainability, traceability, transparency and regulation.
The September 2026 webinar is the first in a planned series of GMAT Dialogues. The intention is to convene these international online forums twice a year, creating a regular platform for sharing new science and practical experience, discussing emerging policy and market developments, reviewing industry progress, and strengthening collaboration across the global marine aquarium sector.
Why the GMAT Dialogue?
The marine aquarium trade is operating in a changing environment. Expectations around sustainability, traceability, animal welfare, transparency and social responsibility are increasing, while regulatory and market requirements continue to evolve.
At the same time, discussions about the trade are often shaped by different data, experiences, assumptions and perspectives. There are areas where the evidence is strong, others where important information is still lacking, and issues where different stakeholders may legitimately reach different conclusions.
GMAT has been established to provide a globally accessible forum where these different perspectives can be discussed openly.
The objective is not to achieve agreement on every issue or promote a predetermined outcome. Instead, the Dialogue focuses on evidence, practical experience and constructive discussion to better understand the issues facing the marine aquarium trade and identify where practical improvements can be made.
The GMAT Dialogue aims to:
Improve the quality of discussion between industry, science, government, conservation and other stakeholders
Identify areas of agreement as well as important questions and knowledge gaps
Share practical experience from across the marine aquarium supply chain
Better understand the economic and social importance of the trade in source countries
Explore practical approaches to sustainability, traceability and responsible trade
Inform future collaboration, research and policy discussions
By bringing these perspectives together, GMAT aims to contribute to better information, better understanding and better decision-making about the future of the marine aquarium trade.
The Global Marine Aquarium Trade Dialogue is an international online forum convened by OFI in collaboration with major sponsor and partner Aquafauna Biosystems.
The Dialogue has been created to support open, evidence-based discussion on the future of the marine aquarium trade by bringing together perspectives from science, conservation, policy, industry, and coastal communities around the world.
The September 2026 webinar is the first in a planned series of GMAT Dialogues. The intention is to convene these international online forums biannually, creating a regular platform for sharing new science, discussing emerging policy and market developments, reviewing industry progress, and strengthening collaboration across the global marine aquarium sector.
Why the GMAT Dialogue?
The marine aquarium sector is entering a defining decade. Expectations around sustainability, animal welfare, transparency, and social responsibility are increasing rapidly, while regulatory and market environments continue to evolve.
At the same time, discussions about the trade are often shaped by different data sets, assumptions, and narratives, leading to fragmentation, misunderstanding, and mistrust.
The GMAT Dialogue has been designed as a neutral, globally accessible platform to improve clarity, reduce misinformation, and strengthen shared understanding across the supply chain.
This is not an advocacy event. The Dialogue does not promote a single position or outcome. Instead, it focuses on evidence, experience, and constructive engagement to better understand complex issues and explore practical pathways forward. Rather than issuing prescriptive recommendations, the GMAT Dialogue aims to:
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Improve the quality of discussion across sectors
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Highlight areas of alignment and ongoing challenge
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Inform future collaboration, research, and policy conversations
By strengthening understanding across diverse perspectives, the Dialogue supports a more credible, resilient, and constructive future for the global marine aquarium trade.
Thursday 10 September: 12:00 GMT
