The AIR Centre’s Executive Director, Miguel Miranda, participated in the International Conference on Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture (CIPAS 2025) in Luanda, Angola, showcasing the application of Copernicus Earth Observation data to enhance ocean monitoring and support fisheries operations in Angolan waters.
Organized by Angola’s Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources under the theme “Responsible Fishing and Sustainable Aquaculture: A Challenge, a Commitment, a Mission Uniting the Nation,” the two-day conference brought together national and international experts to foster dialogue on sustainable fisheries.
On November 5, Miguel Miranda presented “Integration of Copernicus Data into the INIPM Portal: Supporting Ocean Monitoring and Fisheries Operations” as part of the Science, Data and Ocean Monitoring panel. His presentation highlighted the AIR Centre’s collaboration with Angola’s National Institute of Fisheries and Marine Research (INIPM) to enhance ocean observation capabilities using advanced satellite data. He also promoted the sea state forecasting service supported by the AIR Centre, which provides real-time data on significant wave height, peak period, currents, temperature, salinity, and elevation for Angola’s coastal waters – essential parameters for safe and efficient fisheries operations. This service is now fully accessible via INIPM’s official portal.
By integrating Copernicus data into local monitoring systems, the AIR Centre is supporting Angola in strengthening its capacity for evidence-based fisheries management and ocean surveillance, bridging Earth Observation technology with practical applications for ocean sustainability.
The conference was opened by José de Lima Massano, Minister of State for Economic Coordination, who emphasized Angola’s commitment to the National Development Programme 2023-2027 and the National Strategy for the Sea of Angola 2030, aligning with the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the African Integrated Maritime Strategy 2050.
The AIR Centre’s participation in CIPAS 2025 reinforces its commitment to supporting sustainable ocean management and fostering international collaboration in marine science across the Atlantic basin.


CLOSED CALL in Geodesy / Geophysics
Open call for a position in Geodesy / Geophysics, to develop scientific activities in the areas of Geodynamic, Earth gravity, and Atmospheric processes.
Deadline: 31 July 2020, 18h (GMT)
Networking Friday with Sigi Gruber (Head of the Healthy Oceans and Seas Unit, DG RTD, EC)
On July 10th, 2020, 1-2 PM UTC, Sigi Gruber, Head of the Healthy Oceans and Seas Unit, DG RTD, EC, presented the work of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance. The Alliance is the result of science diplomacy efforts involving countries from around the Atlantic Ocean, and supports the implementation of the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation signed in May 2013 and the Belém Statement on Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Cooperation signed in July 2017. It aims at enhancing marine research and innovation cooperation so as to promote its well-being, prosperity and security for present and future generations.
Networking Friday with Paolo Corradi (ESA)
On July 3rd, 1-2 PM UTC, Paolo Corradi, ESA – European Space Agency, introduced the topic of marine plastic pollution and how remote sensing could contribute to solve what has become one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. The results achieved in the frame of the ESA activities on remote sensing of plastic marine litter will be reported. The presentation concluded by introducing the recent ESA Open Space Innovation Platform – OSIP campaign of ideas, which will fund a significant number of novel projects aiming at advancing the research towards a reliable detection of marine plastic accumulations from space. The session will be moderated by Kostantinos Topouzelis, expert in Marine Remote Sensing, University of the Aegean, Greece.