Preface

The 7th International Symposium on Marine and Fisheries (ISMF) 2024 marks another significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to explore, understand, and address the critical issues facing marine and fisheries sectors. This year's symposium, organized by the Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Universitas Hasanuddin, in collaboration with Universitas Sulawesi Barat, was held on June 29, 2024, at Unhas Hotel and Convention, Makassar, Indonesia. It brought together experts, researchers, and practitioners from across the globe to discuss and present their latest research and innovations under the theme "Exploring the Main Problems and Effective Solutions in the Marine and Fisheries Sector towards the Achievement of SDG 14 (Life Below Water)."The symposium continues its tradition of providing a robust platform for scientific exchange, fostering collaboration, and generating new insights that are crucial for the sustainable development of our marine and fisheries resources. The event featured plenary sessions with distinguished speakers from renowned institutions, parallel oral and poster presentations across various thematic areas, and rich discussions that highlighted the diverse challenges and opportunities within the marine and fisheries sectors.We are pleased to note that all papers presented at the symposium underwent a rigorous peer-review process, ensuring that the research contributions meet high academic standards and provide valuable insights into the fields of marine and fisheries science.We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all the participants, especially our keynote speakers: Prof. Takahiro Ota from Osaka University, Japan, Dr. R. Dwi Susanto from the University of Maryland, USA, Prof. Hannes Svardal from Belgium, Dr. Maulita Sari Hani from Saudi Arabia, and Prof. Mahatma Lanuru from Universitas Hasanuddin. Their contributions provided valuable perspectives and set the stage for meaningful dialogue throughout the symposium.We also acknowledge the tireless efforts of the organizing committee and the invaluable support from our sponsors and partners including Hasanuddin University, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of The Republic of Indonesia (KKP-RI), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Universitas Sulawesi Barat, University of Maryland, Universitas Brawijaya, Osaka University, Universiteit Antwerpen, The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Makassar City Government, Destructive Fishing Watch (DFW) Indo