Researchers from 36 countries will this week take part in the most significant international forum for fisheries researchers and biologists ever held in Western Australia.
Fisheries Minister Norman Moore said more than 500 delegates were expected to gather at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle for the 8th Indo-Pacific Fish Conference and the Australian Society for Fish Biology 2009 Conference and Workshop.
Mr Moore said the week’s theme was biodiversity and biogeography (the historical pattern of species’ spread) and he anticipated scientists would engage in a valuable exchange of information.
“Lessons learned and evidence gathered from fisheries in different parts of the world helps scientists to understand the impacts of environmental change and fishing pressure on different marine ecosystems,” the Minister said.
“Understanding marine biodiversity hot spots, what supports them and the broader role they play, will help us to better manage our fisheries.”
Department of Fisheries supervising scientist Dan Gaughan said the department and the Australian Government’s Fisheries Research Development Corporation were major sponsors of the joint conferences and workshops.
Dr Gaughan said one keynote address would look at the latest efforts in modelling the impacts on marine systems of competing demands in order to develop management strategies to aid environmental sustainability.
“Other presentations will include projects that have explored factors that may have influenced the development of different species of fish and groups of species over time,” Dr Gaughan said.
“Understanding what has led to the current pattern of species distribution should help us predict what changes can be expected in the future through climate change.