The President, Professor Gary Carvalho Writes

Spring 2020 The President, Professor Gary Carvalho writes: I welcome an opportunity to bring in accessing the survey, please independent experimental members up to date with some contact the FSBI Administrator, studies, development/validation recent activities of the Society. Jane Smith at j.p.smith@bangor. of a methodology or fi eldwork, or Foremost amongst the original ac.uk. Additional information is similar activities within an existing key objectives of the President’s also now available on the website, programme of research. We off er Strategy Plan (2019-2021) was giving deadlines for other FSBI an outgoing fellowship from the to increase interactions and funding opportunities. We will soon British Isles, globally, as well as representation of our membership, populate an interactive calendar an incoming Fellowship each year, alongside our associations on the FSBI website to provide from appropriate host institutions with other scientifi c societies. a one-stop resource that details across the world, to work in Additionally, I wish to remind FSBI grant deadlines, Council and laboratories and institutions within members of an important role that Committee meetings, symposia, the British Isles. Along similar the Society serves. and other FSBI-related activities. lines, we are pleased to report Progress on key objectives. In relation to closer integration the fi rst FSBI student visit, to our I am pleased to report, with the with other learned societies, partner Society, the Japanese help of our Web Design Consultant, we are currently exploring Society for Fisheries Science (JSFS) Christopher Brodie, release of complementarity with the Institute that will take place in March 2020. our FSBI membership survey, of Fisheries Management (IFM) and The recipient of the travel award aimed at identifying the key needs the Royal Society of Biology (RSB). is Kevin Schneider, from Glasgow and future developments of the Initially we have details on the FSBI University, currently undertaking a FSBI. The survey continues until website, of salient information PhD on the genomics of adaptive 1 March 2020, and we plan to concerning the IFM, including diversity in Arctic charr (see his present key outputs, in the next various training opportunities. report in this issue). Kevin will be edition of the Newsletter. Within Similarly, we plan to promote delivering an oral presentation data protection constraints, reciprocally, details of key relevant in the English session at the JSFS outcomes will inform members of RSB and FSBI activities to reach a spring meeting. Council of the current composition wider scientifi c community across Many of the longer-serving of our membership, and how various disciplines. Importantly, FSBI members will remember the best to match FSBI resources to fi sh continue to serve as an valuable support and contributions representative needs. We are experimental model to explore a of our previous long-term FSBI keen to ensure that in addition plethora of scientifi c questions. publicity coordinator, Professor to our core funding programs, We have launched the fi rst call Terence Langford. Aft er many including our PhD studentships, for the new FSBI funding scheme, years, Terry stood down from that we identify and support a in line with the FSBI mission of the role, though he remains an range of more specialised training enhanced internationalisation, the active member of the Society. programs, especially pertinent FSBI Postdoctoral International Aft er a period without such to fi sh and fi sheries scientists, Travelling Fellowships (PITF), representation, I can report including generic skills in scientifi c with a closing date for the fi rst the appointment of a new FSBI communication. Depending upon applications, on 24 February publicity coordinator, William Perry. perceived needs, we envisage a 2020. The funding opportunity William, was our FSBI-sponsored mix of FSBI-sponsored support aims to support postdoctoral PhD student who attended the AFS for existing training courses, with scientists to undertake research Reno conference in October 2019. the potential to develop bespoke that is in line with the objectives William is in his fi nal year of a PhD, FSBI-led programs. I encourage all of the FSBI, and to facilitate at Bangor University, UK, exploring members, who are yet to complete international mobility and expertise the impacts of domestication in the survey, to do so as soon as and/or facilities of the chosen Atlantic salmon. William moves into possible. If you have problems host. The research can comprise the post with an already close ➤

CONTENTS: Editorial ... 3 FSBI Phd Student Reports ... 3 Travel Grant Reports ... 7 Notices ... 8 association with the FSBI, and we FSBI through its various activities Biology, associated with our new look forward to working with him, can contribute. It is only through publishing strategy, is to enhance alongside other members of the integration of data across the linkages between fundamental FSBI Communications Committee life cycle of marine species that aspects of fi sh biology and ecology in developing and expanding our locally adapted stocks can retain with fi sheries science. Our Editor- publicity portfolio. integrity and respond to ongoing in-Chief, Michel Kaiser, Senior Contributions of the FSBI within environmental change. The FSBI Editors, Kath Sloman and Nick the fi sh and fi sheries community. has a responsibility to ensure a Graham and the broader more In light of ongoing demands for clear and coherent demonstration diverse editorial board, welcome scientifi c evidence, and in the of impacts arising from proposed new submissions to the Journal face of ongoing environmental shift s in policy, reinforced by that further strengthen such Society threats to fi sh and fi sheries, it illustrative case studies. It outputs and contribution. is timely to remind members remains crucial to support and Important reminders and of some activities in support disseminate quality science across dates. Please remember the call of the FSBI mission. We invest disciplines, encompassing data on for new FSBI Council members, signifi cant resources in facilitating all aspects of the life history of an who are Trustees of the Society and research and training within the exploited species. Such integration can serve for a period of 4 years. international fi sh and fi sheries underpins our ability to elucidate Details and a nomination form community, and as such, identify and predict any disruption of are available on the FSBI website. and promote advances in scientifi c existing spatially defi ned stock Active members are eligible to activity and understanding. The assessment models that depend nominate Council members for FSBI is committed to equipping upon data sharing, typically consideration at the next Council current and future generations of across transnational sea areas. meeting, on 29 April. Candidates scientists with skills and expertise, Key determinants of the ecology will be voted for at the annual enhanced career opportunities of a species depend strongly on general meeting, during our FSBI and networking opportunities processes and exchange with 2020 symposium in July. On joining across individuals and institutions. populations from outside UK Council, an Elected Member is Unlike some learned societies, waters. Indeed, among the various allocated to one of fi ve committees however, the FSBI is a non-political priorities of the Journal of Fish dealing with; Communications, organisation, and while its research Publications, Research Grants, activities can inform policy, the Studentships and Travel Grants. Society does not typically lobby Each committee receives and or promote particular points of assesses funding requests and view. Rather, we aim to foster an work is carried out primarily by objective evidence base in fi sh and electronic mail, although some fi sheries science. Such information, committees may also periodically published within the Society meet in person, usually in London. journal, the Journal of Fish Biology As many members will know, a and at its annual symposia, has major event in our annual calendar relevance to policy that can inform is the FSBI annual symposium, conservation and management this year at Nottingham Trent strategies. With other organisations University, UK (27-31 July 2010), promoting sustainable fi sheries, Fish in a dynamic world. As the such as the FAO, OECD and ICES, title suggests, the focus is on the the FSBI contributes scientifi c diversity of impacts and strategies information with relevance to of fi sh and fi sheries in the context Figure 1: Proposed UK EEZ and Brexit the decision-making process. As of environmental change (see the fi sheries. Many important fi sheries rely an illustration, we can consider flyers in this issue). Our aim is to upon exchange and interaction across implications of the current UK political boundaries, a necessary attract an equally dynamic and Government plan to restrict access corollary to promote local adaptation diverse programme of scientifi c to marine fi shes within the EEZ of and sustainability. The need for an presentations and discussions, the United Kingdom (see Figure 1), evidence base drawing on a range across broad themes. While following Brexit. Without political of approaches in fi sh and fi sheries the deadline for submission statement or alignment, such science, in conjunction with other of abstracts has now passed, fundamental shift s in the way that impacts such as climate change, is a registration is open, and as natural resources are managed core activity of the FSBI and its Journal usual, there are opportunities for requires access to fundamental of Fish Biology. support in relation to bursaries for scientifi c data, reinforced by active Map: Courtesy Maurizio Gibin, EC JRC PhD student. Further details are communication of results. The © 2017 provided on the website.

fsbi Newsletter Spring 2020 2 this newsletter. It must have been Fisheries Department of FAO where a matter for reflection by Holt that he found his niche. In the 1970s Editorial the medal was named aft er his I once attended a meeting of the great collaborator Ray Beverton FAO Fisheries Committee in Rome There is always sadness when a with whom he researched and and took the liberty of introducing colleague dies and the event is published in 1957 On the dynamics myself to a then very trendy looking more of a loss when the person of exploited fi sh populations Holt at a reception organised by dying is still in mid-career. In one of the most iconic books in the Portuguese Embassy. Sydney this edition, Felicity Huntingford fi sheries science. Ray had strong Holt was most famous in the writes about the life of Victoria connections to the FSBI being its wider world for his work on whale Braithwaite who succumbed to President in the 1980s and he also conservation and it was this that pancreatic cancer at the early age had a place in the UK academic took centre stage on the BBC Radio of 52. She was a valued colleague establishment being the fi rst 4’s obituary programme Last word. and although I did not always Secretary (now called the CEO) of For someone of his age, death is a agree with her views on the mental NERC and then a Professor at the completion rather than, as in the capacities of fi sh, she never failed University of Cardiff aft er he left the case of Victoria, a premature end to to be sharp but reasonable in Lowestoft Laboratory. a life’s work. Despite the diff erence discussion. Sydney Holt took a very diff erent we mourn them both for their At the other end of the scale route in his post-Lowestoft life. He respective contributions. is the death of Sydney Holt on 22 suff ered badly from sea sickness December 2019 in Paciano, Italy, so could not continue at Lowestoft Paul J B Hart at the age of 93. We were able to where Michael Graham, the then Leicester, February 2020 award Sydney the Beverton Medal director, insisted that all scientists in 2017 as previously reported in should go to sea. Sydney joined the Next deadline: 1st May 2020 Reports from FSBI PhD students Ben Parker – macroinvertebrate and fi sh samples microplastic loads also appear to be Bournemouth from sites across their catchments. more dependent on river properties University – 2nd These two rivers diff er markedly in than levels of urbanisation. This is year PhD Student their hydrology, ecology and waste most evident from the number of Microplastics inputs. The study will test whether MPs seen in water and sediment (MPs), small MP concentrations vary seasonally, samples nearer to the source. The plastic pieces correlate with increased levels of slower flow and soft er sediments 1 μm-5 mm in diameter, are an urbanisation, and if they are higher appear to favour the sinking of important and highly topical stressor in certain species or vary in relation materials into the sediment, whereas aff ecting aquatic systems globally. to body size and/or trophic position. for gravel-based sites with greater Compared with marine systems, less This involves carefully processing flow, the turnover time of materials is is known about levels in freshwaters, samples using techniques such as likely higher and MP concentrations including the levels in fi sh and how dissection, microscopy, fi ltration, therefore lower. these aff ect the behavioural and density separation and spectroscopy. The next stage of my work will ecology of contaminated individuals. These analyses separate the MPs commence in early 2020 with the My research is addressing these from other materials while avoiding controlled experiments. In these, knowledge gaps through a contamination from the environment, fi sh will be exposed in tank aquaria combination of fi eld and laboratory equipment etc. to known MP levels that match studies. The fi eld studies are being I am currently almost half way those detected in the fi eld study. completed fi rst, with baseline MP through my fi eld sampling. To date, Following exposure at a range of levels detected then used to inform fi bres are dominating the MPs diff erent levels, I will compare a series of controlled experiments detected within the fi sh samples, actual MP loads of individuals in that test the eff ect of diff erent MP with this generally consistent with relation to their initial exposure levels on fi sh feeding, reproduction, other studies. Since MPs are also levels, and the eff ects of these on body condition and on host-parasite present in water and sediments their foraging rates, body condition interactions. samples, but mostly absent in and reproductive traits. These The fi eld study has involved the invertebrates, fi sh are likely actively experiments will thus test the regularly sampling of sites on two consuming them, possibly due to a sub-lethal impacts of known MP local rivers (Bourne and Stour), with resemblance to prey, or are unable contamination through measuring the collection of water, sediment, to egest them. Environmental their eff ects at the individual level. ➤

3 fsbi Newsletter Spring 2020 Bethany Smith – show that weight change over the understand how adaptation to University of month was signifi cantly aff ected diff erent environments shapes the Glasgow – 2nd year by parasite (Schistocephalus genomes of diverging ecomorphs. PhD Student solidus) infection and an interaction Importantly, I am also focussing My project aims to between fi sh source and destination. on the amount of ongoing or past use complementary Additionally, cold source fi sh gene flow between ecomorphs lab and fi eld transplanted to the warm habitats and among populations and its experiments to investigate plasticity were signifi cantly more likely to potential eff ects on the divergence and evolution in Threespined be infected than any other group. process. Using this whole-genome sticklebacks (Gasterosteus These results suggest that parasite approach, I discovered genes aculeatus) across thermal habitats. infection may play an important role and genomic regions that are Geothermal hot springs in Iceland in the distinction between the warm consistently diff erent and under have created numerous habitats that and cold habitats. selection in all sampled pairs of have extreme temperature gradients Work is continuing with further ecomorphs of Arctic charr. What is within very short distances, allowing analysis of the data gathered more, these genomic regions have for the investigation of temperature during the fi eld experiment, and been shown to be associated with as a factor. preparations are being made for the key quantitative traits in a range of My lab experiments, at the beginning of the gene expression salmonids. University of Glasgow, use fi sh analysis of the lab experiment It has been shown that the bred from wild sticklebacks caught samples. demographic history of populations in six of these warm-cold habitat can influence the degree and Kevin Schneider pairs in Iceland. When the wild fi sh nature of diversifi cation. However, – University of were bred, their egg clutches were we know little about the interplay Glasgow – 4th year split in two and divided between of demography and adaptation or PhD Student a warm (18ºC) temperature and a selection at the genome level. With cold (12ºC) temperature and then Some groups of the help of in-silico simulations raised to adulthood. From October salmonids, such of large genomic elements and to December 2018, I collected the as charr and comparisons of the obtained livers and brains of these fi sh. whitefi sh, repeatedly and rapidly genomic signatures of selection I plan to use these samples to diversifi ed into co- occurring under various demographic investigate how gene expression ecomorphs in various lake habitats. scenarios to real-world data, in these organs is aff ected by the This diversifi cation potential has, I am trying to disentangle the rearing temperature and the habitat at least to some degree, a genetic complexities of these evolutionary the wild parents were sourced basis. Using transcriptome data processes to inform analyses of from. For my fi eld experiment, I from various species of salmonids, empirical data. Specifi cally, this travelled to Iceland in June with my I screened for footprints of natural approach can clarify which metrics supervisor, Dr Parsons, and built selection to identify the genetic can be used to detect unbiased 12 m3 cages in the warm and cold toolbox that could enable some signatures of selection under sides of a geothermal habitat known salmonids to diversify rapidly. In complex demographic scenarios. to contain sticklebacks. We caught this way, I pinpointed the gene fi sh from either side of the habitat functions associated with weak and weighed, photographed and or strong selective pressure in tagged them. I then performed a charr and whitefi sh as well as reciprocal transplant experiment those that experienced molecular by placing warm-sourced fi sh into diversifi cation. These patterns of cages in the cold habitat, and vice selection characteristic of charr versa (as well as control fi sh that and whitefi sh can tell us more were placed in cages in their native about the potential for evolutionary habitat). Aft er 30 days we recovered innovation and the importance the fi sh, weighed, photographed of certain biological processes in and identifi ed them before taking rapidly diversifying taxa. liver, brain and muscle samples that Various populations of Arctic will be used for gene expression charr, which is oft en considered analysis. This design allows for an the most variable vertebrate assessment of the eff ect of thermal on earth, are characterised by habitat on growth rate and gene ongoing or recent diversifi cation expression and whether warm into mostly benthic and limnetic and cold fi sh respond diff erently. ecomorphs. To learn more about Preliminary results from the data this evolution-in-progress, I am gathered during this experiment using whole-genome data to

fsbi Newsletter Spring 2020 4 Victoria Anne Braithwaite 1967-2019

use and population processes in with kind and engaging interactions juvenile Atlantic salmon. This came with her colleagues, skilful about because, having correctly mentoring of student assistants identifi ed the relative paucity and a spirit of generosity that much of studies of spatial learning in enriched the world around her.” fi sh, Victoria approached us to In 1994, Victoria took up a suggest our working together. The lectureship in Animal Behaviour at resulting successful application the University of Edinburgh, where for funding from the UK’s Natural she remained until 2007, when Environmental Research Council she moved to the United States was jointly written and drew to take up a post as Professor heavily on Victoria’s expertise of Fisheries and Biology at Penn in spatial learning in animals. State University. During her time She proved herself to be the in Edinburgh, Victoria continued to perfect collaborator. She was study orientation and navigation in Victoria Braithwaite was an an extraordinarily eff ective, fi shes, demonstrating among other outstanding biologist with a life- imaginative and meticulous things that the way a particular long interest in animal cognition, researcher, well able to deal with species uses spatial cues is fi nely who carried out research on the the intellectual and technical tuned to the environment in which diffi cult and controversial question challenges of moving from studying it lives. In 2005, this and other work of whether fi sh feel pain. She died birds in the terrestrial environment on the spatial abilities of animals on 30th of September 2019, aft er a to working with fi sh in the aquatic earned her a Fellowship of the long and brave fi ght against cancer. environment. She also moved very Royal Institute of Navigation. Victoria had a strong eff ectively from precisely controlled The research for which Victoria association with the Fisheries experiments in the laboratory to is probably most famous arose out Society of the British Isles (FSBI), fi eld studies of space use by tagged of discussions with her Edinburgh regularly publishing in the Journal individual fi sh. colleague, Michael Gentle of of Fish Biology and giving loyal John Armstrong recalls that the University’s Roslin Institute, service as a member of FSBI “Victoria applied herself with then working on nociceptors in Council, as Chair of the Research immense enthusiasm to the chickens. With an unerring eye for Grants Committee and, aft er her challenging issue of resolving important un-asked questions, move to the United States, as what is going in in the minds Victoria recognised just how little the Society’s North American of fi shes, and in particular how was known about nociception in representative. In 2006 she they map their surroundings fi shes. In 1999, she and Gentle was awarded the FSBI medal for and use cues to navigate. obtained funding from the BBSRC her outstanding contribution to This endeavour led Victoria to for a programme of research into research in fi sh biology, a small construct what came to be known nociception and pain in rainbow taste of which is given in this as the sensory deprivation unit trout (concentrating at that point obituary. where she spent months sat in on the mouth). Victoria and her Having taken a BA in Zoology, darkness and silence training colleagues went on to show at Victoria gained her PhD in 1993, young salmon and observing their a neuroanatomical level that both at Somerville College, responses to tiny changes in the these fi sh possess the same Oxford. Her PhD studies on how environment. Salmon were not kinds of nociceptors that are homing pigeons use visual cues as compliant subjects and at fi rst found in mammals and at the guides for orientation marked the results made no sense. However, neurophysiological level that beginning of an enduring interest through skilful redesign of the standard nociceptive stimuli such a in spatial learning in animals experiments Victoria revealed the bee venom and acetic acid, applied and what this tells us about their potential importance of deposited to these receptors induce similar cognitive capacities. Aft er her PhD, olfactory cues to salmon and patterns of response in fi sh as they Victoria moved to the University hence the beginnings of a new do in mammals. At a behavioural of Glasgow, to work with myself and much deeper understanding level, they demonstrated that fi sh and John Armstrong (from the- of [the] structuring of their social exposed to such harmful stimuli, then - Scottish Offi ce Agriculture interactions and space use in as well as showing a physiological and Fisheries Department’s natural streams. This is one stress response, also undergo Freshwater Laboratory) on the example of Victoria’s focused complex shift s in motivation and role of visual landmarks in space determination, which was coupled attention, the last eff ect being ➤

5 fsbi Newsletter Spring 2020 reversed by morphine. These greatly from her creativity and the people that she worked with, important results, subsequently knowledge. She was friendly and and her concern and care for their extended by several research inclusive, and so easy to like. She wellbeing. As a benefi ciary of groups looking at diff erent species also had a great sense of humour. Victoria’s mentorship in the early of fi sh and diff erent parts of the The British humour –appreciated days of my own research career, I body, received much attention and and perhaps similar to that of west oft en reflect on how she managed have generated a sea change in the Norwegians?” the perfect balance between way the welfare of fi sh is perceived As well as being an outstanding allowing her students and post- and protected. researcher, Victoria was a docs considerable freedom to For the rest of her life, Victoria committed and highly eff ective pursue their own interests, while continued to wrestle with the undergraduate teacher and an providing enough guidance to challenging question of pain in inspirational trainer and mentor ensure that the essential elements animals, working with colleagues of young researchers, most of of a project were addressed. I from many diff erent disciplines to whom went on to work in fi sh and realise now what a rare skill this develop ways of studying rigorously fi sheries biology. She supervised is. Those of us fortunate enough the subjective experiences of some 20 doctoral students, to have worked with Victoria will animals, particularly when exposed one of whom (Philip Boulcott, never forget her warmth and to harmful stimuli. To give a now working at Marine Science her kindness. Perhaps most typically thoughtful but robust Scotland) writes: “I was lucky importantly, she showed us how quotation from her book Do Fish enough to study under Victoria it was possible to successfully Feel Pain? (2010 Oxford University when she supervised my PhD, on combine the twin responsibilities Press): “The issues and the the behaviour of sticklebacks. I was evidence are not always black and always struck by her enthusiasm of an academic career and raising a white, which makes pain in animals for the subject, and for science in family.” a diffi cult topic, with tricky ethical general, fi nding it an infectious At the time of her illness, and philosophical implications. source of inspiration when work Victoria was on the point of taking However, if we already accept that became, as it so oft en does, tough up the post of Director of the mammals and birds are sentient and slow moving. Very little was Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater creatures that have the capacity to regarded by her as being too much Ecology and Inland Fisheries in experience positive and negative when it came to lending a helping Berlin, where her broad scientifi c emotions – pleasure and suff ering, hand if it was needed. … She is vision and expertise, organisational we should conclude that there is sorely missed.” skills and careful treatment of now suffi cient evidence to put fi sh Another graduate student, colleagues would have provided alongside birds and mammals. Cairsty De Pasquale, now inspirational leadership. In the Given all of this, I see no reason Associate Professor at Penn State: context of this proposed move, why we should not extend to fi sh “Victoria was a one-of-a-kind Anne-Gro Salvanes says: “I looked the same welfare considerations mentor, throughout my PhD and so much forward to her moving that we currently extend to birds beyond. I was always in awe at her back to Europe so we could see and mammals.” eff ortless ability to make science each other more oft en and continue At Penn State University, so accessible to everyone, to take working together. And then she had Victoria pursued various lines complex scientifi c concepts and to give up for cancer. It is just so of research into behaviour and describe them in a straightforward tragic that Victoria had to leave her cognition in fi shes, for example way. She was an intensely curious children, the scientifi c community, working with colleagues at the person, and instilled in me an this world and all of us so young. University of Bergen, where she ‘enquiring mind’, something I will She was a very special and good held a visiting professorship. forever be grateful for. She was an friend and colleague. Victoria has A close colleague from Bergen, inspiration.“ been such a great inspiration to my Anne Gro Salvanes, describes Victoria trained and mentored work as a scientist!” how a meeting at the FBSI many postdoctoral researchers, The many colleagues and symposium on Fish as Models including Iain Barber (recent friends Victoria made during her of Behavior (2003) led to a long President of the FSBI and a tragically shortened career and and fruitful collaboration to study Professor at Nottingham Trent the many young researchers whom environmental influence on University, UK) who comments: she inspired and for all of us in the behavior and neural development “Victoria was a brilliant behavioural FSBI, we all have good reason to in fi sh, with several highly cited scientist and an outstanding mourn her loss. articles as one result. “Victoria has research leader, but what made been an exceptionally important her so special was that her deep research collaborator and a very curiosity about the natural world Felicity Huntingford good friend. I have benefi ted was matched by her interest in Glasgow, December 2019

fsbi Newsletter Spring 2020 6 plastic pollution, marine protected areas and the sargassum influx. Travel Grant Reports I particularly enjoyed the ‘fi shers Monash potentially can be included in forum’ session, where fi shermen University, my future researches. No less talked us through short fi lms they Clayton, Victoria, important, being in the 3rd year of had produced about their fi shing Australia, my PhD in Australia, presenting at methods and sustainability. used the FSBI EEA was a fantastic opportunity for Alongside the academic sessions, travel grant me to promote the outcomes of my there were plenty of social and to attend the PhD research at this critical stage in networking events such as drinks 23rd European my career, network with European with the GCFI board members, a Elasmobranch Association (EEA) scientists and forge some new. I poster session and a banquet on Meeting, held in Rende, Italy. would like to thank again the FSBI the beach! One poignant event Working to protect sharks, rays and for helping me experience such an was a fi lm screening of ‘Albatross’ chimeras in Australia is awesome, amazing, interesting and varied by Chris Jordan, which shows unfortunately the land Down trip, which has taught me so much. how plastic pollution can impact Under is quite far to reach and species even in the most remote the possibilities to connect with areas of the world. researchers working in the rest of I was surprised by the the world are scarce. Thanks to diversity of talks in the lionfi sh the FSBI travel grant I was able to session, which included topics travel to Italy and participate to such as ulcerative skin disease, the 2019 European Elasmobranch vocalisations and lionfi sh traps. I Association (EEA) meeting, a presented a ten-minute talk titled renowned conference bringing ‘Invasive lionfi sh decrease shelter together leading researchers use in the presence of native not only European but from all spiny lobster’. My talk focused on over the World (North and South the results from my research in America, New Zealand and all Christina Hunt from the University Honduras in the summer of 2019, around the Mediterranean). of Oxford UK used her travel grant which included in-situ habitat Several outstanding talks were to attend the Gulf and Caribbean preferences and ex-situ shelter given by the invited speakers: Fisheries Institute 72nd conference competition experiments. I received Ted Taylor, a leader in physiology, (GCFI72) in Punta Cana, Dominican useful feedback and had some Barbara Block, expert in tagging Republic. She chose GCFI72 to interesting discussions about my techniques, Diana Pazmino, present her work as it is the one that work, both of which have proven presenting all the possibilities that most lionfi sh researchers attend and invaluable now I have started genetic techniques possess, Sarah thus would be good for presenting writing up my results as a paper. Fowler, presenting the advances in her research and networking. I would like to thank the FSBI sharks protection and management The fi ve-day conference was for funding my travel to the GCFI and Holly Shiels narrating the packed full of interesting talks conference and for funding the amazing adaptations that allow on a wide range of topics such as research that I presented. the longest living vertebrate, the Greenland shark, to cope with ageing. Given my main interests the most stimulating talks were the one related to conservation, physiology and fi sheries history and management of this extremely threatened group of animals. At the conference I had the privilege to presented part of the results of my experiment investigating the long- term reproductive impairments caused by fi sheries capture stress in an Australian ray. Alongside, the conference it was also important to learn about other research topics and new techniques (from genetic tools to tagging techniques) that

7 fsbi Newsletter Spring 2020 would focus on a particular topic. will deliver insightful, engaging Notices Please contact Mike Kaiser if you presentations, off ering something are interested. of value to every delegate. Briefi ng papers “WFC2020 aims to foster The World Fisheries Congress Briefi ng papers were fi rst cooperation and engagement 2020 (WFC2020) is set to welcome instigated when Professor Nick in commercial, recreational and an inspiring range of plenary Polunin was Vice President of the indigenous fi sheries, which is why speakers for the event taking place Society in the late 1990s. Their we’re pleased to welcome world- in Adelaide from 11 to 15 October aim is to provide non-technical class plenary speakers at this 2020. As part of the dynamic, and neutral summaries of issues year’s congress,” Prof Begg said. engaging and comprehensive relating to fi sh and fi sheries that “We’ve thrown the net out wide, program, the speakers will share could be useful to journalists and and have brought together world their global perspectives under the policy makers. Early papers have leaders in research, industry and overarching theme ‘Sharing our dealt with marine protected areas international fi sheries policy to oceans and rivers – a vision for the and fi sh welfare. The Society is speak across the four key themes: world’s fi sheries’. seeking people who would be Sustainable Fisheries; Fish and The congress will bring together prepared to propose new topics for Aquatic Ecosystems; Fisheries and the largest gathering of research, briefi ng papers and to write one. Society; and the Future of Fish and industry and management sectors Oft en the papers provide the basis Fisheries.” across commercial, recreational for a review which is published in and indigenous fi sheries, to Summer symposium 2021 in the Journal of Fish Biology, subject discuss key developments needed Leuven Belgium to the normal refereeing process. to ensure a sustainable future The summer symposium from If you are interested in producing a of the world’s oceans, lakes, 5th– 9th July 2021 will take place briefi ng paper or have an idea for estuaries, and rivers. at the Leuven Institute for Ireland one, please contact Ian Winfi eld in Chair of the WFC2020 Gavin in Europe, Leuven. The local the fi rst instance. Begg said the plenary speakers, organiser will be Filip Volckaert Journal of Fish Biology who will be announced in March and the topic of the meeting will The Editor in Chief, Professor when registration will open, be ‘Fish and Ecosystems’. Michel Kaiser is looking for new assistant editors to help with the handling of papers. He is also keen to hear proposals for review papers or for special issues which Information Desk

For all membership enquires (except In the UK and Europe subscription enquiries subscription payments), including grant should be addressed to: application submissions, please contact the [email protected] Charities and Social FSBI offi ce at: Enterprise Department, Brabners, Chaff e Street, FSBI, c/o Charity & Social Enterprise Horton House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool L2 3YL Department, Brabners, Horton House, Tel: 0151 600 3000 (ext. 3362) Exchange Flags, Liverpool L2 3YL, UK Fax: 0151 227 3185 Contact: Shirley Robinson See http://www.fsbi.org.uk/membership/ Phone: +44 (0) 151 600 3362 joining-the-fsbi/ for further information. Email Enquiries: [email protected]

Secretary: Dr Ian Winfi eld Mob. +44 (0)7747 532897 E-mail: ianjwinfi [email protected] www.fsbi.org.uk

fsbi Newsletter Spring 2020 8