Australia is at the forefront of economics based fisheries management, with explicit targets of maximum economic yield in Commonwealth fisheries and strong economic efficiency objectives in most States. The need to improve economic research capability in Australia to meet the needs of these management objectives has been recognized by FRDC through the economic capacity building project (FRDC 2008/306) and funding from the Seafood CRC to run a series of "Master classes" for managers and industry to explain the basic economic concepts that apply to fisheries management. While these programs have been successful, there is substantial benefit in attracting the world's best fisheries economists to present new ideas and methods that can ultimately benefit Australian fisheries and aquaculture industries. The aim of the conference is to attract such economists as well as practitioners (managers and industry) with strong economic focus. This also provides an opportunity to showcase the work being undertaken in Australia to an international audience, gaining strong feedback that will ultimately lead to improved economic analyses and hence management of Australian fisheries.