FSBI 2024 Annual Symposium
ADVANCING FISH ECOLOGY, MANAGEMENT AND FORECASTING THROUGH OMICS
15th-19th July 2024, Bilbao

The 2024 Symposium, convened by AZTI, will present the latest science on omics applied to fish ecology, management and forecasting.
The conference will bring together scientists from a range of disciplines to explore ways of integrating our research and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and policymakers to improve the effectiveness of management and conservation.
We look forward to seeing you in-person in Bilbao!
You missed out!
Symposium Themes
Below is a selection of themes that will be part of the symposium, but basically, any study making use of omics data, either by itself or in combination with other approaches, to advance on fish ecology, management and forecasting is welcome.
Contributions should focus on the development of new omics based tools for improving fisheries assessment and management, or on the use of omic approaches or omics derived information to inform fisheries assessment and management.
Contributions should focus on the development of new omics based tools for improving informing traceability and avoiding Ilegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, or on the use of omic approaches or omics derived information to inform food control and IUU related policies, including compliance with landing obligation, among others.
Contributions should focus on the use of omics tools to better understand adaptation at the molecular level, studies on phyloeography, speciatiation, causes and consequences of species hybridization and introgression, …
Contributions should focus on understanding genomic level responses to climate change and other anthropogenic impacts (e.g fisheries-induced evolution) for anticipating consequences such as range-shifts, population decline/erosion, …
Contributions should focus on the use of omic tools to better understand species interactions with the environment and among communities, including species distributions and abundance, trophic webs, non-indigenous species, etc.
Contributions on emerging technologies or approaches that could be of potential applications to study fish ecology, management and forecasting
Key dates
Abstract submission opens: 4th December 2023
Abstract submission closes: 29th January 2024
Notification of abstract acceptance: 8th March 2024
Registration opens: 8th March 2024
Conference and Travel Award application deadline: 15th March 2024
Early bird registration closes: 1st May 2024
Late registration closes: 17th June 2024
Conference: 15-19th July 2024
Abstract submission
Information will be added soon
Travel and conference awards:
Information will be added soon
Instructions for presenters:
Posters
Information will be added soon
Speed talks
Information will be added soon
Oral presentation
Information will be added soon
Location
Vibrant City
The conference will be held in “Bizkaia Aretoa”, in Bilbao which is located right by the river and only a few minutes walk from emblematic places such as the Guggenheim Museum. The venue is also only a 10-minute walk from the accommodation, the “Colegio Mayor de Deusto”, just across the river.
Both the venue and the accommodation are located in the heart of Bilbao, within walking distance of many restaurants, bars, places of interest, making it a perfect setting for an FSBI meeting.




FIND YOUR WAY AROUND
Use this link to find key locations,
this city map to find your way around Bilbao,
and visit Euskotren and Metro Bilbao for transport info.

Social Events
Several social events are planned, which include a wine reception at the Bilbao Maritime Museum, where you can discover the close relationship that Bilbao and its people share with the sea, and a Banquet and awards ceremony at the restaurant of the San Mames stadium, the cathedral of soccer.
Beautiful surroundings
Bilbao serves as an excellent base of operations for exploring the remarkable surroundings, such as the UNESCO Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, the Urkiola Natural Park and many other destinations in Bizkaia and the rest of the Basque Country

Travel information
PLANE
The main airport is Bilbao Airport, located at about 12 kilometers north of the center of Bilbao. The A3247 public bus service runs every 15 minutes and connects to the city center (20-minute ride approx.). You can also take a taxi at the taxi rank located in front of the Passenger Terminal Building, on the level 1 (Arrivals sidewalk).
FERRY
The Port of Bilbao is a main link between the Iberian peninsula and several American and north European cities. From the UK, you could take a direct ferry from Porstmouth to Bilbao, or from Plymouth to Santander (and then a 1h15 bus ride to Bilbao). From Ireland, you could take the ferry from Rosslare to Bilbao.
TRAIN
The Abando Indalecio Prieto station serves as the gateway to reach Bilbao by train. From this station, long distance trains offer connections to major cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and other locations throughout the country. In addition, suburban lines C1, C2 and C3 provide an excellent connection between Bilbao and the rest of Bizkaia, facilitating travel within the province.
BUS/COACH
The Bilbao Intermodal bus station is located within the city center, in the San Mamés subway station. There are bus services connecting the station with other Spanish and European cities. From Spanish cities: Check bus companies such as ALSA to find routes and schedules from your city of origin. From European cities: Check bus companies like Flixbus, where you can find international bus services from cities like Paris or Lisbon.
CAR
The extensive road network in Bizkaia offers easy and comfortable driving throughout the territory. If you are coming from France or Galicia, you can arrive via the A8 highway. On the other hand, if your starting point is Madrid, you can take the A1 highway to Bilbao. The accomodation has parking service at the following address: Camino Ugasko, 7. 48014- Bilbao. There are also a number of car parks scattered throughout the city, the closest one to the venue being Parking Plaza Euskadi (24h)
Keynote speakers
JACK JONES
LECTURE
University of Bangor, UK

Emeritus Prof. Carvalho will tal about...
Emeritus Prof. Gary Carvalho has for around four decades employed genetic markers to address questions in ecology and evolution. Alongside many colleagues and students, he has utilised genetic and genomic tools to study fish behaviour, population structure, size, and distribution. He has engaged with governance and policy to foster awareness and the inclusion of genetics in environmental management, especially in commercially exploited fishes. The underpinning strategy has been to elucidate drivers of genetic change and then to apply such understanding to the conservation of genetic resources.
MANAGEMENT
& FORECASTING
University of Oslo, NO

Dr. Jentoft will talk about the use of genomics to study behaviour and adaptation of Gadiformes, including work within the AquaGenome project, aiming at sequencing 1K cod genomes to provide a deep genomic variation catalog in this species to study local adaptation.
Dr. Sissel Jentoft, researcher at the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), has extensive experience within marine evolutionary and population genomics understanding how genomes are influenced by adaptation to changing climates and environments. The overarching goal of her work is to gain new and unprecedented knowledge to further improve the development of sustainable management and restoration programs for key marine resources
ECOLOGICAL GENOMICS
& ADAPTATION
Charles University, CZ

Dr. Musilova will talk about how deep-sea fishes and cichlids can see in the dark, which she studies using molecular tools (genomics and transcriptomics) to understand evolutionary adaptations to extreme environments, such as the deep ocean and deep freshwater lakes.
Dr. Zuzana Musilova, researcher at the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, works on the evolution of fish sensory systems, focusing on different groups of fish from the deep-sea lineages, through tropical cichlids to European freshwater species. The main goal is to search for molecular mechanisms of sensory adaptation and to link them to the fish ecology, evolution and biology.
TRACEABILITY
& IUU FISHING
Liverpool J. Moores University

Dr. Mariani´s talk will guide us through a journey showcasing on how a couple of decades ago we realised how some simple, reliable DNA tools could unveil major issues in the seafood trade. It opened up the proverbial "can of worms”, and thrust many of us in a pronouncedly transdisciplinary realm. Now, as the tools become more powerful, rapid, and data-rich, biologists can address increasingly complex questions, but not without consolidating and strengthening their engagement with the socio-economic and policy dimensions of the global seafood supply
Stefano Mariani, Professor of Marine Biodiversity at the School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, developed his passion for fish ecology along the Tyrrhenian coast in Italy, where he completed his Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees, and headed to England (Hull) to expand his knowledge in population genetics. Then, he established his own research group in Dublin and begun his investigations on seafood (mis)labelling. A return to England (Salford and then Liverpool) led to a new blooming passion: environmental DNA, which itself continues to fuel, inspire, and bolster his never-abandoned endeavours around trophic ecology, population biology, and the complexity of seafood supply.
Programme
Under construction
Monday optional activities
Excursion
Under construction
Workshops & Special Interest Groups
Under construction
Special Issue of the Journal of Fish Biology
Registration / Accommodation

Congratulations to this Year's FSBI Medal Winners
Each year, the FSBI awards medals for lifelong individual contributions to fish biology and/or fisheries science, with a focus on ground-breaking research; for lifelong individual or team contributions to conservation, training or public understanding of the disciplines; and for individual exceptional advances in early career within these disciplines.

Beverton Medal
TBD
The Beverton Medal is awarded in recognition of ground-breaking research and lifelong contribution to the study of fish and fisheries science.

Le CREN MEDAL
TBD
The Le Cren medal is awarded to one or more individuals who have made a lifelong contribution, with a focus on conservation, training or public understanding.

HUNTINGford MEDAL
TBD
The Huntingford medal is awarded to a member of the society with the most impactful paper in the Journal of Fish Biology.

FSBI MEDAL
TBD
The FSBI medal is awarded to an early career scientist who is deemed to have made exceptional advances in the study of fish biology and/or fisheries science.
Symposium Committees
Local Organising Committee:
Naiara Rodriguez-Ezpeleta (AZTI)
Natalia Díaz-Arce (AZTI)
Oriol Canals (AZTI)
Mukeshkumar Parasram (AZTI)
Miguel A. Pardo (AZTI)
Estibaliz Díaz (AZTI)
Meritxel Gonzalez Intxausti (AZTI)
Irantzu Zubiaur (AZTI)
Manuela Abasolo (AZTI)
Ainhoa Ruano (AZTI)
Domino Joyce (University of Hull, UK)
Will Perry (Cardiff University Water Research Institute, UK)
Chris Brodie (Royal HaskoningDHV, UK)
Scientific Advisory Committee:
Naiara Rodriguez-Ezpeleta (AZTI)
Aitor Albaina (EHU/UPV)
Alexia González-Ferreras (IH Cantabria)
Carmen González Sotelo (IIM CSIC)
Filipe Ribeiro (MARE, PT)
Anna Sturrock (University of Essex, UK)
Colin Adams (University of Glasgow, UK)
David Murray (CEFAS, UK)
Sarah Helyar (Queen's University Belfast, UK)
Ilaria Coscia (MI, Ireland)
Kenza Mokhtar (INRH, Morocco)
Romina Henriques (University of Pretoria, South Africa)
Rajeev Raghavan (KUFOS, India)
