Wang Jingli

wangjingli0715@163.com

THE Shenzhen International Marine Week 2025 officially opened yesterday at OCAT Shenzhen in Nanshan District, launching five days of marine-themed activities running through Nov. 2.

Under the theme “One Ocean, One Dream,” the event forms part of the ongoing China Marine Economy Expo, serving as a public platform for marine culture exchange, science education, and international cooperation.

It features nearly 50 diverse activities across six categories: art, knowledge, flavors, sports, leisure, and ecological oceans, allowing citizens to experience Shenzhen’s coastal charm and sustainable marine culture.

During the opening ceremony, international marine experts shared insights on topics ranging from Hong Kong’s marine development to ecological conservation.

Among the speakers was Tahiry Fanomezana Rakotomamonjy from Madagascar, a program officer for the interim secretariat of the International Mangrove Center (IMC) in Shenzhen, who presented case studies from her home country on strengthening marine culture and community resilience through coastal biodiversity conservation.

In a subsequent interview, Rakotomamonjy emphasized the event’s significance in raising public awareness. “If people can understand evidence of coastal marine production, it will significantly increase public understanding and advocacy,” she noted.

Having worked at IMC Shenzhen for two months, she praised the city’s mangrove protection efforts, describing Shenzhen as “a good example of combining a modern urban environment with biodiversity conservation.”

The ceremony also marked the establishment of the Shenzhen Ocean Culture Pavilion Alliance, strengthening collaborative efforts in marine culture promotion.

According to official data, Shenzhen’s gross ocean product has surpassed 500 billion yuan (US$70.2 billion), supported by 110,000 marine-related market entities operating in the city, underscoring its growing status as a global marine center.