WFC Workshops

    The World Fisheries Congress will be offering 8 Workshops on Sunday, March 3, 2024. The workshops offered will be a mixture of full day and half day workshops. To register, please go through the WFC attendee registration pathway and select which workshop(s) you are interested in. See workshop fees below. 

    Workshop Session Fees

    Workshop
    Full Day Price
    Half Day Price
    Professional Rate- High Income Countries
    $175.00 USD
    $90.00 USD
    Student Rate- High Income Countries
    $125.00 USD
    $65.00 USD
    Professional Rate- Low & Middle Income Countries
    $87.50 USD
    $43.25 USD
    Student Rate- Low & Middle Income Countries
    $62.50 USD
    $31.25 USD

    Full Day Workshops

    Sunday, March 3, 2024 - 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    GIS applications in Fisheries

    This course will serve as an introduction to using spatial data in a geographic information system platform and is intended to meet the continued needs of fisheries professionals to integrate spatial assessments into their research and management objectives. Participants will learn fundamental concepts of using geographic information and gain experience applying those concepts in hands-on exercises to accomplish real world tasks that might be conducted by a fisheries biologist. We will introduce participants to ArcGIS Pro, a commonly used software, and the open source software QGIS which has seen vast improvements over recent years. We will provide instructions for hands-on exercises for both software packages so participants can choose the program they are most likely to use. Temporary student licenses in ArcGIS Pro will be provided to students who would like to complete the workshop using that software. Lectures will focus on concepts, such as understanding spatial projections and scales,

    Fisheries Strategies for Changing Oceans and Resilient Ecosystems

    FishSCORE2030 was endorsed as a decadal program by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The program will build a global network of scientists, stakeholders, and practitioners to identify approaches to sustain marine fisheries, protect ocean ecosystem health, and secure equitable benefits from fisheries in a changing ocean. This workshop will provide an opportunity to learn more about the program and climate-resilient case studies and to engage in the effort to apply climate-resilient vulnerability assessments and implement effective strategies in diverse fisheries. Abstract: Building resilient fisheries is essential for ensuring the continued flow and equitable distribution of benefits, such as nutritious foods, economic benefits, and cultural traditions, that are necessary for achieving many of the SDGs. The UN Decade of Ocean Science endorsed programme FishSCORE (Fisheries Strategies for a Changing Ocean and Resilient Ecosystems) will form a network of collaborators from across the globe to develop the scientific

    Science communication for fisheries professionals: Approaches for outreach and engagement

    As fisheries professionals, the work we do has critical implications for supporting fisheries and the human communities that rely on these resources.  Yet, the science needed to inform decision-making is often difficult to communicate broader audiences.  Through much trial and error, communication specialists have learned that one size does not fit all when it comes to communicating about fisheries science with non-scientific groups.  Innovative methods and techniques have now emerged that borrow techniques used in other professions that rely on public participation.  This workshop provides a multi-layered and in-depth assessment on the skills and proficiencies needed for fisheries professionals to do meaningful outreach and education.  We will teach effective practices within three main elements of communication.  1) Audience connection –This component will address the importance of finding connections to audiences, including those that be more challenging or unreceptive. 2) Effective messaging – Exploring the psychology of how people receive and

    Full-Day Workshop

    Sunday, March 3, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Advancing The Contribution Of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures To Ocean Conservation And Local Communities In Fisheries

    The need for integrating effective conservation measures into more holistic ocean management strategies has never been greater, making marine conservation critical to sustainable development efforts. Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are taking center stage as countries reconcile the goals agreed to in international agreements. Many area-based fisheries management measures already meet sustainability, ecosystem-based management and marine conservation goals and are well poised to meet the OECM criteria. The workshop objective is to identify challenges, best practices, opportunities, approaches, innovations and solutions related to the application of the OECM criteria in fisheries. The workshop will improve participants’ understanding of the criteria and allow them to use existing case studies to conduct mock OECM evaluations. The discussions will also contribute ideas and content to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s ongoing efforts to produce guidance focused on the identification, establishment, and management of OECMs in fisheries that complements existing non-sectoral guidance. Organizers:

    Half-Day Workshops

    Sunday, March 3, 2024 - 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM or 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

    Free Certification Course

    eDNA (Environmental DNA)- technology and its utility in assessing aquatic biodiversity

    Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Environmental DNA (eDNA) assessment is a powerful tool for studying fish biodiversity in rivers, and it has become increasingly important for the management and sustainability of fisheries and river ecosystems. eDNA refers to the genetic material that can be found in environmental samples such as sediment, water, and air. This genetic material includes not only whole cells but also extracellular DNA and possibly even whole organisms. Non-invasive methods, such as the eDNA approach, provide a more holistic view of fish communities across habitats, and hold great potential for widespread implementation in the surveillance of these ecosystems. The utilization of eDNA analysis has the capability to provide solutions to various ecological inquiries concerning biodiversity, diet, detecting invasive species, and population genetics. In a lot of situations, the use of eDNA analysis may be more effective than traditional methods such as trawling, line fishing, and diver observations in characterizing fish diversity.  Instructors: Dr. Carl Ostberg, U.S. Geological Survey Western Fisheries Research Center ([email protected]) and Dr. Austen Thomas, Smith-Root ([email protected])

    Using Citizen Science To Solve Gaps In Fisheries Research And Management By Recruiting Anglers To Do The Work

    Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM In this workshop, participants will learn how to run a wide range of citizen science programs that can address specific research and/or management objectives. The tool used in this workshop is the citizen science app, MyCatch, which has been used by several state and federal agencies to address specific fisheries research and management challenges. The workshop will demonstrate how fisheries professionals can rapidly set up and launch citizen science projects, recruit anglers, manage the data collection and quality assurance programs, and generate results in near real time with digital dashboards. Examples of past citizen science projects will be reviewed, specifically showing how it can support creel surveys, tagging surveys, population estimates, tracking invasive species and conducting primary research. The group will work through a demonstration of the technology, using tools in real time during the workshop. Organizer: Sean Simmons, Angler’s Atlas, [email protected]

    Reckoning with Colonialism in Fisheries: First Steps for Researchers

    Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM There is growing recognition that colonialism shapes fisheries sciences and management in contexts around the globe. Calls for justice in fisheries governance require systems-level change to devolve power. For individuals working in fisheries governance today, that means reckoning with a massive paradigm shift over the coming decades in the ways that science is conducted and decisions are made. This special session, aimed at researchers who are in the early stages of confronting colonialism in their work, will feature experiences from researchers around the globe who encounter colonialism in the processes and outcomes of their work. This workshop will be centred on our own learning, offering both what we are coming to learn about decolonization, equity, and justice in fisheries, and what we still struggle to come to terms with. We offer this in the hope that in doing so, we can help those struggles manifest into an undoing of contemporary fisheries governance. Please note the organizers of this workshop are working to secure funding to support participation from Indigenous colleagues, from students and from early career researchers through provision of a workshop fee bursary. Please fill out this form (hyperlink: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeATG3ozgLqW8jxWOEx6S8aDQg-_bxBG-vFrBM-Zu00LIBhug/viewform?usp=sf_link) if you’d like to receive financial support. Organizers: Rachael Cadman, Dalhousie University, [email protected] Megan Bailey, Dalhousie University Andrea Reid, UBC Jennifer Silver, University of Guelph Hussain Sinan, Dalhousie University Christine Knott, San Diego State University

    Marine Stewardship Council's Fisheries Conformity Assessor Fundamentals Course

    Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – SOLD OUT Second session added: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM The course is open to everyone who holds a university degree in fisheries, marine conservation biology, natural resources environmental management or relevant fields e.g., economics, mathematics, or statistics. The course is of modular design and is comprised of in-person (1-2 hours) and practical (2-3 hours) lectures, online learning (20 hours) which should be done before the in-person sessions, followed by a final test component. Participants are required to complete all elements of the course and successfully pass the final test. On completion students will receive a Fisheries Conformity Assessors Fundamentals – certificate of achievement. This course provides opportunities for early-career postgraduate level professionals by offering the practical knowledge and skills to take the first steps into the assessor space. On completion candidates will have a comprehensive understanding of the MSC certification and ecolabelling program, and a certificate to add to their professional profile. About the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) The MSC is a global not-for-profit organization with ambitions to end overfishing across the world’s oceans. The MSC operates a third-party certification and verification system for sustainable fishing known as the MSC Fisheries Standard. All certified fisheries must be assessed according to the MSC Fisheries Standard, that is based on the UN FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. The third-party certification and verification system, means that the MSC does not certify fisheries and does not influence the outcome of the certification process. Certifications are undertaken by experts from independent Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs), which are accredited by Assurance Services International. To expand the current pool of assessors in order to meet increasing demand, the MSC has formulated the Fisheries Conformity Assessor Program. For further information please email: [email protected] This workshop will be offered for free. Duration: 4 hours Organizers: Ernesto JardimFisheries…