FSBI 2026 Annual Symposium
27th-31st July 2026
Breaking Siloes in Fish Biology, Southampton
The 2026 Symposium, convened by University of Southampton, is about breaking siloes in fish biology.
The conference aims to bring together scientists from a range of disciplines to explore ways of integrating our research and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and policymakers.
For any enquiries please contact FSBI2026@soton.ac.uk
Breaking Siloes in Fish Biology
Fish populations are facing extensive concurrent pressures from climate change, pollution, parasites, fishing and more. The impacts of these challenges create wide-ranging issues, such as food security, altered biogeochemical cycles, degraded habitat quality, and more. Developing future solutions to these diverse problems requires interactions among multiple disciplines. By breaking down siloes and actively engaging in interdisciplinary discussion and research, we can better inform legislation, management and policy, which happen at these borders.
Movement through transition zones
How do mobile fish, elasmobranchs, and marine mammals alter their ecology as they move through different types of habitats? This session will bring together researchers working at the interfaces between pelagic and inshore habitats, marine and freshwater systems, deep and shallow seas, and tropical to polar habitats.
Fish biology in a urbanised environment
How are fishes influenced by spatio-temporal variation in the organisms that they interact with,
such as prey, predators, competitors, parasites, commensals, etc? This session aims to characterize interspecific interactions among fishes and other taxa, bringing together researchers and practitioners
focused on trophic ecology, biomechanics, ecophysiology, behavioural ecology and more.
The fisheries-science policy interface
In the UN Decade of Ocean Science, how can we effectively facilitate dialogue among scientists, policy-makers, and the public to ensure the best possible outcomes by 2030? This session will aim to bring together academics, policy-makers, industry, and public-facing professionals to facilitate constructive dialogue on how to incorporate fisheries science effectively into policy.
Fish and human health
How could challenges facing fish stocks globally impact human health in the short and long-term? Here, we aim to bring together industry, medical professionals, policy-makers, and researchers working on topics related to aquaculture, fisheries, nutrition, and biochemistry.
Fisheries management in a changing world
How can we adapt fisheries management in the future to mitigate the impacts of projected future global change? In this session, we will bring
together practitioners working at the interface of fisheries science and global change biology to design actionable change for the future.
Patterns across ecological scales
How are fishes influenced by spatio-temporal variation in the organisms that they interact with,
such as prey, predators, competitors, parasites, commensals, etc? This session aims to characterize interspecific interactions among fishes and other taxa, bringing together researchers and practitioners
focused on trophic ecology, biomechanics, ecophysiology, behavioural ecology and more.
Incorporating behaviour and physiology into fish conservation
How can we incorporate science on fish behaviour and physiology into conservation solutions? Data from these disciplines is increasingly being recognized for its utility for animal conservation and resource management. This session will bring together behavioural ecologists and ecophysiologists with policy-makers and practitioners to devise applied conservation solutions.
Key dates
Abstract submission deadline: TBC
Notification of abstract acceptance: TBC
Symposium Award application deadline: TBC
Early bird and presenter registration closes:TBC
Late registration closes: TBC
Submission to JFB special issue deadline:TBC
Programme
Instructions for presenters
Posters
A poster consists of easily read text and graphics describing your work.
Preferred format Portrait A0 size paper (841 mm wide x 1189 mm high). If you prefer landscape or a smaller portrait sized poster, note that that height cannot be greater than 190 cm and width cannot be greater than 95 cm
Posters should ideally be put up on Monday afternoon, but you can also put them up on Tuesday morning.
Oral presentations
Orals are scheduled for 10 minutes, with 8 minutes maximum for presentation.
Questions will be right after your talk or as part of a Q&A panel with other speakers in your session afterwards
Preferred format: Power Point or PDF widescreen (16:9).
You will be asked to upload your presentation a few days before the meeting. More information on this will be provided soon.
Monday Workshops
TBC
Spawning Run
TBC
Participants on this 5km run are doing this activity at their own risk, and the University of Southampton does not accept responsibility for injury, loss and damage sustained by a participant unless the above injury, loss and damage is proven to have been caused as a direct result of negligence on the part of the organisers. Running is a physically active sport, and - if in doubt about your physical ability - you should seek advice from your doctor before taking part.
Registration / Accommodation
TBC
Financial support to attend the symposium:
FSBI Travel Grants:
The FSBI offers the opportunity for its members to apply on a competitive basis for financial assistance in support of travel to the FSBI annual symposium.
Special Issue of the Journal of Fish Biology
Journal of Fish Biology is calling for submissions of original studies that.... TBC
Symposium Committees
Local Organising Committee
Dr Lauren Nadler (University of Southampton, UK)
Dr Will Perry (Cardiff University Water Research Institute, UK)
Dr Chris Brodie (Haskoning & Trace Biomonitoring, UK)
Scientific Advisory Committee
TBC
Dr Anna Sturrock (University of Essex, UK)
Dr Sarah Helyar (Queen's University Belfast, UK)
The 2026 FSBI Symposium is proudly convened by
And sponsored by
We aim to achieve the highest standard, maintained through the good will and dedication of the council (who are the charity trustees) for the FSBI. We are always interested to hear member feedback, and are pleased to attend the Annual Symposium to ensure we stay in touch with all those concerned.
The FSBI is registered in the United Kingdom as a charity (Number: 256475) and is affiliated to the Royal Society of Biology. Contact FSBI support Line at 020 3925 3477 or Email theteam@fsbi.org.uk
