1st International Conference on the Cultural Significance of Fish

Conference Details

The Maltings, Ely,

10-11 June 2025

The Institute has a long history of hosting specialist conferences and in recent years there has been a growing number of presentations that have highlighted the cultural importance of fish and the aquatic environment across many aspects of fisheries management

The conference will build on this theme and seek to explore the myriad ways in which fish have influenced, shaped and been depicted in cultures throughout history and around the world.

The conference will bring together speakers and delegates from around the globe for two days of presentations, posters and panel sessions. The conference will also provide opportunities for networking which includes a guided tour of the historic Ely Cathedral and a conference dinner.

The Programme

From the Call for Papers submissions, it became clear that our presenters bring an incredible diversity of knowledge and experience.

Because of this, we’ve decided not to ‘theme’ individual conference sessions. Instead, each session will feature a mix of topics—blending art, language, literature, customs and traditions, social organization, architecture, economic systems, and religion.

We believe this approach will create a much more engaging experience, bringing together seemingly different disciplines in a way that’s both unique and thought-provoking.

But don’t just take our word for it—you be the judge!

The programme can be dowloaded below

Cultural Fish Conference Programme

Keynote Speaker Day 1

The conference will be opened by Shelley Denney of the Dalhousie University in Canada who will present the Peter Spillett Lecture

Shelley's talk is titled Cultural importance of fish to Mi'kmaq people

Shelley is a Mi’kmaq from Eskasoni First Nation and the Senior Advisor for an organization that represents the five First Nations in the Mi’kmaw district of Unama’ki, also known as Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resource (UINR; uinr.ca). With a keen interest in aquatic life and habitats, Shelley attended Acadia University where she obtained her BSc in Biology and later obtained her MSc in Biology at St. F.X University in fisheries ecology. Later in life, she obtained a PhD at Dalhousie University in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Her research interests are in exploring ways Indigenous and western knowledge can be used for the benefit of all, known as Two-Eyed Seeing. Her doctoral research built on her current interest and experience at UINR by exploring how Aboriginal and treaty fisheries can be governed in Nova Scotia using Two-Eyed Seeing.

Shelley enjoys opportunities for working with traditional fishers/harvesters and plays a key role in bringing the voice of traditional Mi’kmaw fishers into discussions with Indigenous, federal, provincial governments.

Keynote Speakers Day 2

Day 2 will be opened by Chatez Connor-Kinghi, Delaraine Armstrong and Hona Edwards of the Ngā Kaitiaki o Ngā Wai Māori of  New Zealand

Their talk is titled The Whakatakanga (Mission) of Ngā Kaitiaki o Ngā Wai Māori. To unite as kaitiaki (guardians) to honour the repo (wetlands) and confront the loss of taonga (treasured) tuna (eel)

You can find out more about theNgā Kaitiaki o Ngā Wai Māori and the work they do on their website 

Networking 

Delegates will be able to enjoy a specially arranged tour of Ely Cathedral on the evening of the 10th June.

Conference Dinner

Join fellow delegates for dinner, drinks and fishy chat at the 15th Century Prince Albert pub.  (this must be booked separately).

Conference Supporters

We are very grateful to the Fishmongers Company Charitable Trust for their kind support of the event

Who Should Attend

We encourage participation from academics, students, cultural practitioners, artists, conservationists, policymakers, and anyone with a keen interest in the space where fish and culture intersect

Delegate Information

Ely is a cathedral city and one of the ten smallest cities in the UK.  It is only 80 miles east of London and is easy to get to by both road and rail.

International delegates can fly into any of the main London airports with Stansted having a direct rail route to Ely.

We have put together a delegate pack of information about Ely, containing info on how to get there, where to stay and things to do once there. This can be downloaded by clicking Ely Delegate Information

There is a map of the city centre showing the Maltings for you to download here map

The conference icon is inspired by a cathedral tile, designed by Lord Alwyne Compton, Bishop of Ely from 1886–1905. The design incorporates a vesica piscis and an unspecified coarse fish.

The artwork was very kindly produced for us by Alex Barty Communications (www.alexanderbarty.com)

All conference enquiries should be sent directly to the conference administrator at [email protected]

CPD points are available for attendance at this event

The IFM

The Institute of Fisheries Management is an international organisation of people whose aim is to support and promote sustainable fisheries management for the benefit of our members, fisheries, wildlife and society.

We have a long history of hosting conferences and technical workshops and have held an annual event for the past 55 years.