Background.

Conferences are scientific meetings where the advances and results of recent studies are presented. In Mexico, the first conference on coral reefs was held in 2000 in Veracruz, and since then they have been held biannually until completing eleven editions in 2022.

Objectives.

Make a report and analyze the most relevant trends of the works that have been presented at the Mexican Coral Reef Conferences in order to understand the history of these meetings and the studies on coral reefs in Mexico.

Methods.

The abstract book and documents produced during the eleven Mexican Coral Reef Conferences, held in Mexico from 2000 to 2022, were reviewed to analyze the studies presented, keynote speakers, venues and other aspects related to the conferences.

Results.

Eleven conferences have been held and almost 1,600 studies have been presented in them, with an average of almost 150 works per conference, presented both orally and as a poster. The number of presentations in each format has varied, but in the last two editions they have been closely similar. The number of authors per paper has increased, as has the participation of women. The keynote speakers have been mostly men, but in the last two conferences there has been a change in the values and gender equality is currently being sought.

Conclusions.

The number of collaborators and women participating in the studies presented has increased. The current critical situation of coral reefs and their organisms requires greater efforts, different approaches, and paradigm shifts in several areas of knowledge. These efforts, as well as the exchange of ideas and knowledge, are favored in these conferences, so it is essential that they continue to be carried out and supported in the future.