On November 29 2017 the Regional Seas annual meeting was held in Cape Town, South Africa. Topics discussed included collaboration and funding opportunities as well as partnerships and the second cycle of the Regular Process. The meeting was held back to back with the collaboration meeting '‘Building International Partnership to Enhance Science-Based Ecosystem Approaches in Support of Regional Ocean Governance’ (http://marine.iwlearn.net/capetown2017)' which took place on November 27-28 2017 in Cape Town.'