RATIONALE:

The erosion of biological diversity at local and global scales has become so serious that The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) has shown that human populations have never impacted the 'web of life' as much as during the last fifty years.

In particular, aquatic ecosystems and fish communities have suffered from habitat loss, species introductions and unsustainable harvesting, which has resulted in substantial changes in fish community structure, species population status and, ultimately, ecosystem function. However, at a global scale, impact assessments, the state of knowledge and policy frameworks are extremely variable, and there is more than ever a need for science to underpin conservation efforts.

Consequently, the conference themes aim to establish a pan-continental base of knowledge and to provide scientific evidence towards the development of sustainable conservation for fish communities. Biological, behavoural and genetic responses of fish will be amongst the many indicators presented as evidence of ecological impacts on freshwater ecosystems. Rehabitation/restoration programmes and policy frameworks will be presented as examples of fish conservation in action.

The Fisheries Society of the British Isles invites you to its annual, international conference on "Fish Diversity and Conservation: Current state of knowledge" to take part in the debate.

THEMES:

  • Trends in global fish diversity
  • Understanding fish behaviour to achieve conservation
  • Linking habitat management to fish conservation
  • The role of introduced species in the decline of fish diversity
  • The role of policies in support of global fish conservation
  • Genetic and evolutionary perspective of fish conservation

Invited speakers:

Jack Jones Memorial Lecture:
Prof. Anne Magurran, University of St Andrews
Keynote speakers:
Prof. Ian Cowx (University of Hull)
Prof. David Dudgeon (The University of Hong Kong)
Dr Julian Olden (University of Washington)
Prof. Steve Railsback (Humboldt State University)
Prof. Paul Skelton (SA Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity)
Dr Yahui Zhaoyh (Chinese Academy of Science)