2nd International Eel Science Symposium

Units covered

9th - 11th July 2024 

(early registration on the evening of the 8th)

Conference Overview

This event is hosted in partnership with the Environment Agency (EA).

The symposium follows on from the very successful 1^st symposium which was held in 2017 at ZSL London Zoo, as well as the European Eel Conference held at Fishmongers Hall in London in 2013 and the Fish Impingement and Entrainment Conference held in Liverpool in 2023.

The Symposium aims to provide a global forum for scientists and researchers to present the latest data, initiatives, and new and developing techniques on the biology and management of anguillid eels across multiple spatial scales in a changing world. It will foster and develop international links between key academic, policy, industrial and other stakeholders to promote better understanding of the issues, parallels and conservation opportunities for these iconic species.

 The symposium will bring together 150+ speakers and delegates from around the world for three days of presentations, posters and panel sessions as well as a number of networking events including an evening reception on the River Mersey and a poster/networking event at the British Music Experience.

There will also be a small trade exhibition featuring industry specific companies

Programme

Sessions will cover

• Protecting the Eel: Economics and Legislation
• Marine Phase Studies
• Monitoring and Population Assessment 
• Behavioural Studies 
• Protecting the Eel: Trade and Trafficking 
• Threats, Diseases and Propagation
• Technical Assessment and Solutions 
• Eel Health: Genetics and Mortality

The conference programme can be downloaded below

2nd Eel Science Symp Programme

We are very grateful for the kind support of Hydrolox as our Headline Sponsor

Hydrolox has been supplying screens directly to the water-extracting world for more than 20 years.  Hydrolox engineered polymer traveling water screens are easy to install in existing intake structures, require virtually no maintenance, and address the needs of water-extracting facilities across all industries.

You can find out more here

Keynote Speakers 

The symposium will be opened by Caroline Durif of the Marine Research Institute in Norway who will present the Peter Spillett Lecture

Carolines talk is titled What have we learned since Bertin? How trends in science have shaped eel research since 1942

Dr. Caroline Durif is a principal research scientist at the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) in Norway, where she has been working since 2004. She received her PhD in France on the migration of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) and its challenges linked to hydropower. Her research now deals broadly with fish migration and life-history strategies of fish.  She also specializes in studying how the behavior of marine organisms can be affected by climate change (global warming, ocean acidification, ozone layer depletion) and other anthropogenic effects (renewable marine energy and offshore surveys). Dr. Durif gives scientific advice on the status of eel in Norway and at an international level. Since 2023, she chairs the Working Group on Eel under the umbrella of the Internation Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission (EIFAAC), and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM).

Day two's keynote will be presented by Eden Skipper of the Ngati Makō hapū tribe from Te Waipounamu in the South Island of New Zealand.

Eden's talk is titled  If the lake is full of eel and the houses full of our language, the people will be well

Eden has recently moved from Christchurch New Zealand to London. His affiliated Māori tribes are Ngāti Makō and Ngati Irakehu, over time they have developed many customs and practices around how they live alongside the tuna.

He was born and raised in Te Mata Hapuku, originally settlement for its fishing prospects, its reputation today is as a traditional fishing place of tuna. He was taught by his late grandfather George Skipper, a well-respected eeler who started his teachings as young as four years old. Now Eden shares that knowledge to younger generations and visitors during the migration.

He previously worked as Strategic Adviser on indigenous policy and economic interests for the Ministry of Primary Industries. Eden likes working on system thinking with pragmatic solutions to meet the long-term challenges towards a just and fair society.

Day three will open with a keynote from Robert Schabetsberger from the University of Salzburg

Roberts talk is titled From myth to reason: Progress towards unravelling the mysteries of tropical Anguillid eels

Robert graduated from the University of Salzburg, Austria in 1993 investigating the role of urodele amphibians as top-predators in a high-altitude lake. From 1996 to 2002 he worked as a post-doc with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at the Alaska Fisheries and Hatfield Marine Science Centers in Washington and Oregon studying gadid fish and salmon. After returning to Austria he started biodiversity research in tropical lakes. In 2012 his team put the first satellite tags on tropical eels in the South Pacific. They moved on to the Indian Ocean in 2020. He also works as a free-lance TV journalist and has produced a documentary on the search for eel spawning areas:

https://vimeo.com/423302512

password "journey"

Conference Events

The symposium provides a great opportunity to connect with fellow researchers, industry experts, and conservationists from around the globe.

Early Registration and Ice Breaker.

Monday evening 7-9pm

To kick off the week in style we invite you to join us and your fellow delegates for a drink in the Sefton Suite of the Adelphi Hotel.

Poster Session and Networking Event 

Open to all delegates

Tuesday evening 7-9pm - British Music Experience, Cunard Building

Please join us to look at the wide array of posters we have had submitted from across the globe, alongside the musical exhibits. Drinks and nibbles will be provided.

The British Music Experience is housed in the Cunard Building on Liverpools historic docklands.

The evening is kindly sponsored by ISI Screens Inc

Conference Dinner on the Mersey Ferry (please note this must be booked separately) 

Wednesday evening from 7.30pm

Join us for an evening afloat on the River Mersey. Guests will enjoy an evening meal and drinks whilst taking in the views of Liverpool and the Wirrals historic waterfront as the sun sets.

The dinner is kindly sponsored by RS Aqua

Post Conference Social. The Bridewell Pub 

Open to all delegates

Thursday afternoon 5.30pm onwards

A final opportunity to network with delegates over a drink in the Bridewell. This isn't your usual pub as it is housed in a converted police station. So if you fancy a drink and some fishy conversation whilst sat in a cell please come and join us.

Delegate Information

Liverpool is a great city to visit with lots to see and do from the Beatles to the famous Three Graces buildings, historic docklands and great museums and galleries including Tate Liverpool.

Liverpool is well connected by road, rail, air and sea! Served by two international airports - Liverpool and Manchester. Liverpool Lime Street station connects the city to the wider UK rail system with services from multiple operators.

We have put together a comprehensive delegate pack of information about Liverpool, where to eat out and how to get there and travel around when you do. This can be downloaded by clicking here

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

For more information on Liverpool check out the Visit Liverpool website 

Accommodation 

Please note that due to large coach trip and group bookings at the Adelphi Hotel we recommend that delegates don't stay at the hotel. Please use our accommodation guide to find other local options.

As you would expect for a major city there are lots of accommodation options to choose from . We have pulled together some accommodation options here Liverpool Hotel Accommodation

Promo Video

We have produced a short promotional video that can be watched on the IFM Vimeo page here 

Conference Sponsors

The conference is very kindly supported by

Headline Sponsors 

Poster Session 

Conference Dinner  

Student Sponsors

Early Registration/Ice Breaker 

Conference Supporters