Out of sight out of mind

Date: 16 June 2011

Delving beneath the surface of alarming declining fish biodiversity.

The blind fish in the picture is the Heminoemacheilus hyalinus, found in caves in China.

The species’ decline and dwindling fish stocks elsewhere in the world are the focus of a conference next month that hopes to address the declining biodiversity of our rivers and seas, which millions rely on as a vital source of food and clean water.

Scientists from around the world will congregate at Bournemouth University to examine models for conservation, genetic and evolutionary factors contributing to decline and how changes in policy could support global fish conservation.

“In this century, conservation ecology will not remain a vague philosophical debate, a scientific hobby or an emotional relation to our environment,” said Bournemouth University’s Professor Rudy Gozlan who is organising the conference. “Nor will it remain a political token. In the next few decades conservation ecology will become a matter of national security... your security.”

The Fisheries Society of the British Isles hold this event each year, attracting around 130 delegates and speakers from around the world, including the United States and China to name but a few.

Taking place from 18-22 July 2011, the conference aims to establish a pan-continental base of knowledge about the current state of play as well as providing scientific evidence to inform the development of sustainable conservation for fish communities.

Biological, behavioural and genetic responses of fish will be amongst the many indicators presented as evidence of ecological impacts on freshwater ecosystems.

Rehabilitation and restoration programmes will be presented as examples of fish conservation in action.

Speakers at this year’s conference have a very impressive collected knowledge and include Professor David Dudgeon (The University of Hong Kong), who’s findings on the world state of rivers and the biodiversity threat were published in Nature at the end of last year.

Other speakers include Professor Anne Magurran (University of St Andrews), Professor Ian Cowx (University of Hull), Dr Julian Olden (University of Washington), Professor Steven Railsback (Humboldt State University), Professor Paul Skelton (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity) and Dr Ya-hui Zhao (Chinese Academy of Science).

Professor Felicity Huntingford, President of the Society said “The international mixture of speakers and their enthusiasm to protect and conserve fish and fisheries stresses the importance of the conference. It is a major event in the research calendar and anyone interested in the future of the world’s fish and their stocks should attend. We are delighted to see the range of interests and involvement and hope the research paves a way to a brighter future for fisheries and for human populations dependent on them.”