Shark and fish biology experts to descend on Hobart

Over the next week Hobart will play host to 260 of Australia’s leading shark and fish biology experts.

Sponsored by IMAS, CSIRO and the FRDC, the joint event at Wrest Point will bring together delegates from the Australian Society for Fish Biology and members of the Oceania Chondrichthyan Society (who specialise in sharks and rays), beginning on Sunday and concluding on Wednesday.

It’s the third major conference to be sponsored by IMAS in 2016, bringing a total of more than 850 delegates to Tasmania for high profile science events.

IMAS researcher Dr Sean Tracey, who is co-chairing the conference and was recently appointed an Ambassador for Business Events Tasmania, said Hobart was an obvious choice for such events.

“Tasmania is home to many world leaders in fisheries and aquaculture research as well as Southern Ocean and Antarctic science, and we are also a very hospitable state - the national and international delegates love coming to Tasmania,” Dr Tracey said.

“The 850 delegates Tasmania’s hosted will deliver significant economic benefits while raising the profile of the local scientific community and ensuring we remain at the forefront of research in key research disciplines.”

One of the main themes of the upcoming conference will be the power of collaborations between scientists and stakeholders from different disciplines and sectors, and stronger public engagement via the growth of citizen science projects and more effective science communication.

In this collaborative spirit, ASFB President Dr Chris Fulton said the conference will bring together women who are outstanding role models for the next generation of scientists and managers.

“Gender inequity remains a major issue for fisheries agencies around the world. At this conference we are celebrating the key contributions of women to our field, and exploring how we can all encourage gender equity in fish and fisheries science.”