61st GCFI - Gosier, Guadeloupe French West Indies
10-14 November 2008
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About Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is a Departement within France and is a part of the European Union. There are two principal islands that are connected by a small bridge as well as several smaller and more remote islands. Grand Terre is primarily comprised of rolling hills and numerous small communities. In contrast, Basse-Terre is more mountainous island with lush vegetation, numerous streams and waterfalls, and, near the peaks of the mountains, fumeroles. Four hundred thousand people live on Guadeloupe. The currency of Guadeloupe is the Euro. more>> -
The Venue
(updated 9 September)
The 61st GCFI will be held at the Hotel Arawak in Gosier, Guadeloupe. The Arawak is a 3-star hotel located on the beach and within walking distance to the village of Gosier. GCFI has negotiated a special conference rate of 90 € per night per room for single or double occupancy (an additional 5 euros per night per person will be charged for the 3rd or 4th person in a room) and reservations must be made through an online form in order to secure the conference rate. Breakfast will be charged at 10 € per person per day. Rooms can accomodate 1, 2, 3 or 4 people. Lunch will be provided free of charge for the first 150 people registering at the hotel before 1 October. Transportation from the airport to the hotel will also be available for those registering early. SCUBA excursions and other water sports opportunities are available at the hotel. The Program
The Keynote Speaker - Dr. Dirk Zeller
The following is from the website of Dr. Zeller at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Dr Dirk Zeller is Senior Research Fellow and Project Manager of the Sea Around Us project at the Fisheries Centre, UBC. The Sea Around Us Project, funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts in Philadelphia, aims to document, communicate and mitigate fisheries impacts on marine ecosystems at a global scale. Dirk leads international collaborations on catch data reconstruction, is responsible for global coral reef fisheries and global marine pollution modelling, engages in ocean governance and fisheries policy research, and collaborates with Dr Rashid Sumaila (Fisheries Economics Research Unit) on issues in resource economics.
Dirk has a specialization in marine and fisheries ecology, and also has interests in marine resource policy, global ocean governance, marine reserves, coral reef ecology, and conservation. He also has strong expertise in bio-telemetry and advanced tagging technology in quantitative ecology and fisheries research. Dirk collaborates with scientists in Australia, Asia, Europe, South America, the Caribbean and Pacific. He has represented the Sea Around Us project at conferences and workshops in Canada, USA, Europe, Australia, and South America.
more>>General Meeting Information
The 61st GCFI will be comprised on oral sessions and poster sessions. All oral presentations will be simultaneously interpreted into English, Spanish, and French. All oral presenters are required to submit a manuscript for publication in the Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute. This year we are reinstituting the Wednesday afternon field trip which will go to Basse-Terre to visit a waterfall and other beautiful locations.
BONUS - A free excursion to the islands of Petite Terre will be offered on Saturday 15 November to the first 150 people registering for a room at the hotel. This excursion will include lunch. Special Sessions
Coastal Resources versus Habitat Degradation - Marine resources are considered as decreasing in many of the Caribbean countries. In parallel, coastal marine habitats, i.e. coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove, show increasing signs of decline since the second part of the last century. The questions addressed by this session will be: 1) in what way and to what extent habitat degradation may affect the resources? 2) Conversely, what impact may have the over-exploitation of the resources on the stability of coastal habitats? more>>
Spawning Aggregation Conservation and Management - This special session is open to the membership to submit oral and posters. Oral presentations will be selected to ensure a wide representation. Special consideration will be given to papers that explore experiences with aggregation protection and the development ofpractical approaches and insights based on experiences. These can include outreach and educational components. There will be a panel session that draws on the talks and summarizes lessons learned, identifies gaps in science, and practical lessons learned.Marine Invasive Species: Issues of Concern in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico – The Special Session will consist of 6 invited speakers covering a range of issues including: vectors, importation of live rock, lionfish, current treaties and agreements, and volunteer programs to monitor reef communities. The Workshop will address relevant invasive species issues emphasizing the connectivity between the Gulf and Caribbean regions. Brief workshop presentations will precede an open, interactive discussion of topics to include: using the USGS invasive species database, issues of concern to ports and harbors, taxonomic experts database, and individual species of concern. If you would like to introduce an issue at the workshop, please contact the session co-hosts: or . All conference attendees are encouraged to attend the Special Session and Workshop.
Special Workshop - ParFish
ParFish (Participatory Fisheries Stock Assessment), a recently developed fisheries assessment method is aimed at obtaining information on stock condition in situations where data are limited or completely absent (Walmsley et al. 2005). The ParFish method has particular utility for small, artisanal coastal fisheries and where fisher input into management is desired. ParFish can be thought of as a management tool, potentially providing a starting point for obtaining stock status when previously unavailable and as a method capable of incorporating multiple data types as well as fisher feedback into management. For additional information, email the organizers. more [pdf]>>
The Fisher Forum
The theme for the 2008 Fishers Forum at GCFI is: Impacts of climate change on small-scale fisheries. The session will feature a few brief presentations on the topic followed by a panel. Discussion amongst fishers, scientists, managers and others will be aimed at identifying research required to gain a better understanding of problems and solutions, with a view to developing the ideas into funded projects. The Forum is open to all GCFI participants, but fishers are especially welcome. Fishers attending GCFI will be asked to share their views on likely impacts at sea and ashore, and how about their concerns may be addressed. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a major sponsor of the 2008 Fishers Forum at GCFI.-
Opportunities for Students
A number of opportunities are available to help support travel for students including the GCFI Student Travel Awards and the Ron Schmied Scholarship. Students are also eligible to compete for the 2 awards for Outstanding Achievement. These awards are granted to the best presentations at the annual meeting and the winners are awarded travel to the subsequent meeting of the GCFI. [info]
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Travel Information more>>
(UPDATED 9 JUNE)Air Travel
Three airlines service Guadeloupe. AirFrance flies from various European destinations and Miami (Saturday mornings). American Airlines has daily flights from Puerto Rico. Air Caraibe flies direct from Costa Rica, Haiti (with Dominican Republic connections), and Panama City, Panama. more>>
Visa Requirements
(UPDATED 9 JUNE)People who require visas to enter the European Union are required to obtain visas prior to arrival in Guadeloupe. Visas can be obtained through the French embassies.