In anticipation of the four-day Congress in 2012, which is hosted by the Fisheries Society of the British Isles, a new website (www.6thwfc2012.com) has been launched today (Tuesday 1 November) and four industry leading keynote speakers announced.
The WFC, taking place from 7 - 11 May 2012, addresses the important topic of Sustainable Fisheries in a Changing World, and will examine the science that underpins sustainable fishing; adaptive management and tools to cope with changing environments; the social and economic cost of failure; and meeting increasing food and nutrition needs through cultivation.
Within the key themes, industry speakers from the world fisheries community will address the current and future issues surrounding sustainable fishing and explore informed global solutions. With this in mind, the WFC has extended the deadline for submission of abstract papers and application for travel grants to Friday 18 November.
Congress keynote speakers, which is expected to attract approximately 2,000 delegates to Edinburgh, are:
- Professor Sir John Beddington CMG FRS, Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Government and Professor of Applied Population Biology at Imperial College London
- Professor Ray Hilborn, University of Washington, Seattle, US
- Mike Mitchell, Youngs Seafood Company, UK
- Dr Malcolm Beveridge, Director of Aquaculture and Genetics at the WorldFish Center, Zambia
Designed to be of interest to a broad cross-section of the fisheries industry, from catchers, processors and retailers to those involved in the political, academic, supply and scientific aspects of the industry, the Congress programme provides a crucial international platform for industry leaders, policy makers and key influencers.
Professor Felicity Huntingford, WFC 2012 President and Professor of Functional Ecology at University of Glasgow, said: We confidently anticipate a very successful Congress in Scotland, addressing some highly topical scientific and economic issues that affect the global community every day."
The WFC has a varied and challenging programme for 2012, presenting a crucial opportunity for those with an interest in all aspects of fisheries to be heard. From over-exploitation to human demand, and climate change to population genetics, these issues have never been so crucial as they are today."
With this in mind, we look forward to welcoming the global fisheries community to Edinburgh next year.
