Leading fisheries experts across research, industry and management will come together in a dynamic and comprehensive program to address the future of fisheries

 

The World Fisheries Congress 2020 (WFC2020) will welcome an inspiring range of Australian and international speakers to share global perspectives under the theme ‘Sharing our oceans and rivers – a vision for the world’s fisheries’.

The congress will be held in Adelaide from 11 to 15 October 2020, bringing together Australia’s largest gathering of research, industry and management representatives across commercial, recreational and Indigenous fisheries.

Their aim: to discuss key developments needed to ensure a sustainable future for the world’s oceans, lakes, estuaries and rivers.

Chair of the WFC2020 committee Gavin Begg is also executive director of Fisheries and Aquaculture for Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA). He says the plenary speakers taking part will deliver insightful, engaging presentations, offering something of value to every delegate.

“WFC2020 aims to foster cooperation and engagement in commercial, recreational and Indigenous fisheries,” he says.

“We have brought together world leaders in research, industry and international fisheries policy to speak across the four key themes: sustainable fisheries; fish and aquatic ecosystems; fisheries and society; and the future of fish and fisheries.”

Excitement for the congress is continuing to build; Gavin Begg is encouraging people from the local and international fisheries community to take part and expects more than 1500 attendees.

Registrations are now open – to register, click here.

WFC2020 Plenary Speakers

Manuel Barange, the director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Resources Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, Italy, has expertise in physical and biological interactions; climate and anthropogenic impacts on marine ecosystems; fish ecology, behaviour and trophodynamics; and fisheries assessment and management.

Meryl Williams has more than 40 years of experience in fisheries, aquaculture, conservation and human development, including as director general of WorldFish, director of the Australian Institute of Marine Science and executive director of Bureau of Rural Resources (Australia). In recent years, Meryl Williams has focused on trends in fish value chains, impacts of aquaculture and fisheries on women and gender equality, and public knowledge for responsible fish production.

Beth Fulton, principal research scientist with CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, focuses on sustainably managing potentially competing uses of marine environments and adaptation to global change, including effective means of conserving and monitoring marine and coastal ecosystems.

Olaf Weyl, a principal scientist at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, researches how to better conserve Africa’s aquatic biodiversity and freshwater ecosystems. Olaf Weyl’s work is multidisciplinary and his interests include fisheries, native fish conservation and aquatic invasions. His research includes natural systems and processes, and understanding how humans alter and benefit from aquatic systems.

Ratana Chuenpagdee, from the Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John’s, Canada, is leading a major global research partnership, ‘Too Big To Ignore’, which aims to elevate the profile of small-scale fisheries and rectify their marginalisation in national and international policies.

Martin Exel, of Austral Fisheries, is also the managing director of SeaBOS, a collaborative venture between 10 of the world’s largest seafood businesses and the Stockholm Resilience Centre in Sweden. SeaBOS aims to transform wild capture and aquaculture fisheries across the world into sustainable seafood producers and promote a healthy ocean.

Matthew Osborne is a Kaurna and Narungga man who has extensive experience in Indigenous fisheries. He is the program leader, Aquaculture and Regional Development in Northern Territory Fisheries and in this role oversees a range of Aboriginal and industry development programs, including those supporting small-scale fishing and aquaculture operations in remote Aboriginal communities.

Further information about these plenary speakers, and others as they are announced, is available here.  

FRDC RESEARCH CODE: 2018-059

More information

World Fisheries Congress
Registrations are now open – to register, click here