Conference Theme

The theme for the Conference is Future-Proofing Fisheries: Resources, Resilience, and Tradition

Future-Proofing Fisheries calls for a forward-looking, solutions-oriented approach to ensuring that Caribbean fisheries can withstand environmental, economic, and social pressures while continuing to provide food security, livelihoods, and cultural identity. It recognizes that sustainability is no longer just about conservation—it is about adaptation, innovation, and inclusive governance. The three pillars—Resources, Resilience, and Tradition—represent interconnected priorities.

Registration

Call for Abstracts

The deadline for abstract submissions for GCFI79 is July 1, 2026. Abstracts will be accepted in English, French, and Spanish. Abstracts are only required in one of the three languages; titles must be in all three languages. Abstracts must not exceed 250 words (275 for Spanish and French). Abstracts must be submitted online via the secure online Abstract Submission Form.

Acceptance to present within an oral or poster session requires submission of an extended abstract. Extended abstract preparation guidelines are available online. Members of GCFI are encouraged to submit full manuscripts or short communications based on presentations given at GCFI meetings to Gulf and Caribbean Research for peer review.  Accepted manuscripts will be published open access at no charge to the authors through the GCFI-GCR partnership. Full manuscripts will also be accepted for publishing in the GCFI Proceedings. 

Authors of accepted presentations will be notified via e-mail. Submissions intended for the oral presentation, but not granted a slot, would automatically be accepted as a poster presentation. Regardless of the format, we encourage everyone who is interested in participating to submit an abstract.

Abstracts for GCFI79 are due July 1, 2026.

Special Sessions & Workshops

Special sessions and workshops provide an informal setting where participants have the opportunity to discuss technical topics in an atmosphere that fosters the active exchange of ideas. A special session/workshop should offer professional development/educational opportunities for conference participants. Workshops may be research-focused (e.g., insights on new methodologies in research) or specific topic or species-base studies (e.g. Nassau grouper, spawning aggregations, megafauna etc).

To learn more about proposing a Special Session or Workshop, please review the Call for Special Sessions & Workshops

Proposals should be submitted before April 30, 2026  via this link

Timeline:

Technical Sessions

The conference program features multi-disciplinary thematic sessions. Each session may have a mix of natural and social science, management, and technology related to the ecosystem or fisheries, highlighting the conference theme. Papers and posters are invited in the following areas (other subjects not listed below will also be considered):

• Governance, livelihoods, and organizations
• Socio-economics
  • Ecological and socio-economic impacts on the fisheries sector
  • Cooperation in the Caribbean: Large and small actions, results, and challenges.
  • Gender in fisheries
• Reefs and associated ecosystems fisheries
  • Shallow and deep reef fishes
  • Snapper and grouper fisheries
  • Fish spawning aggregations
  • Lionfish and other invasive species
  • Queen conch, spiny lobster, and other invertebrates
• Marine protected areas science and management
• Pelagic ecosystem and recreational fisheries
• Continental shelf ecosystem fisheries
  • Shrimp and demersal trawl fisheries
• Habitats, climate change, and coastal management
  • Essential fish habitats
  • Integrated coastal management
  • Climate change science and adaptation
  • Sargassum
• Aquaculture
• Marine litter/debris
• Science and Innovation
• UN Ocean Decade

Student Awards

Outstanding Student Achievement Award

GCFI is awarding $1,500 scholarships to the best oral and poster presentations. The content of the presentation is typically related to final research done by the student related to their thesis or dissertation. If the work is already completed and the student graduated, the thesis or dissertation must not have been defended prior to 1 November 2025. For students with “near complete” projects it is recommended that they should apply for an oral presentation for the award, while those students not quite as far along should apply for a poster presentation for the award. It is recommended that the research should be at least 50% complete in order to be eligible for the awards. Oral presentations competing for the award must be presented in-person at the conference. Virtual poster presentations are eligible for the award. The award winners will receive their scholarship at the following year’s conference, to help support their participation in this meeting. Complete instructions and eligibility requirements are on the Outstanding Student Achievement Awards web page.

GCFI Travel Awards

GCFI  will offer two travel awards of US$1000 each to eligible students to help offset travel costs to GCFI79. The deadline for students to apply for this award is July 1, 2026. Complete instructions and eligibility requirements are on the GCFI Student Travel Awards web page. Students may apply for a travel award and for consideration for the Student Achievement Award in the same year. Students who received the GCFI78 Student Achievement Award are not eligible for a travel award.

Ron Schmied Scholarship

The Ron Schmied Scholarship, a GCFI initiative supported by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) and private individuals, will be offered to a qualified graduate student in support of their travel to GCFI79. The Scholarship is in the amount of US$1,500, and graduate students with an interest in social, economic, biological, ecological, or management perspectives on recreational fisheries are eligible to apply. The deadline for students to apply for this award is July 1, 2026.  Complete instructions and eligibility requirements for the Ron Schmied Scholarship are on the Ron Schmied Scholarship page. Students may apply for the Scholarship and for consideration for the Student Achievement Award in the same year. Students may also ask to be considered for the Ron Schmied Scholarship and a GCFI Travel Award in the same year but will only receive one award. The recipient of this scholarship must submit an extended abstract or manuscript based on their oral or poster presentation.

Dr Clarence P. Idyll Scholarship

The Clarence P. Idyll Scholarship, a GCFI initiative supported by the Devon Creek Foundation is in the amount of US$2,000 and aims to provide encouragement to the next generation of students and young professionals interested in marine fisheries. Graduate students interested in any aspect of Marine Fisheries (biology, ecology, socioeconomics, management, aquaculture) who might otherwise not be able to attend the annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) conference. are eligible to apply. The deadline for students to apply for this award is July 1, 2026.  Complete instructions and eligibility requirements for the Dr. Clarence P. Idyll Scholarship can be found via this link. Students may apply for the Scholarship and for consideration for the Student Achievement Award in the same year. Students may also ask to be considered for the Dr. Clarence P. Idyll Scholarship and a GCFI Travel Award in the same year but will only receive one award. The recipient of this scholarship must submit an extended abstract or manuscript based on their oral or poster presentation.

Gladding Memorial Award

As a component of the Fisheries for Fishers (F4F) Initiative, the GCFI Gladding Memorial Award (GMA) committee is requesting nominations of outstanding fishers for GCFI79. This annual award is presented to select fishers (male or females) who demonstrate, as Peter Gladding did, significant commitment to the sustainable use and long-term conservation of marine resources in the Gulf and Caribbean region. The winner will be sponsored to attend GCFI79 in Curaçao

You are invited to submit award nominations to the GMA committee at [email protected]. All nominations must be received by 1 July 2026 and nominators are welcome to request further information and guidance. Background information on the GMA, nomination forms with award criteria, and details of the process are available on the Gladding Memorial Award webpage.

CINEFISH Film Festival

The CINEFISH Film Festival aims to combine scientific discourse with artistic expression, using films to explore and communicate information about fisheries, conservation and marine life.

Social Media

To stay informed of all GCFI79 updates, we encourage you to follow GCFI on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and use the Conference Hashtag #GCFI79. More details on fun activities coming soon!

Why Sponsor?

Sponsorship of the GCFI Annual Conference directly supports regional knowledge exchange, capacity building, and inclusive participation across the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Your support helps to:

• Expand access to science and knowledge by supporting students and early-career professionals from across the region
• Strengthen regional cooperation by bringing together scientists, fishers, managers, and policymakers to share solution
• Amplify diverse voices through translation, interpretation, and inclusive participation initiative
• Advance science-based decision-making through technical sessions, workshops, and peer-reviewed conference proceeding
• Foster the next generation of marine leaders through mentorship, networking, and professional development opportunitie
• Support lasting knowledge products that inform fisheries management and marine conservation across the region

Impact Snapshot: GCFI Conference at a Glance

• 40+ countries represented across the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and globally
• 250+ scientists, managers, fishers, and practitioners participating annually
• 100+ students and early-career professionals engaged in training and networking
• Decades of peer-reviewed proceedings informing fisheries management and marine conservation
• A regional network built over nearly 80 years of collaboration and knowledge exchange

These impacts reflect the scale and influence of the GCFI community and the valuable support of our sponsors

For more information on Conference Sponsorship opportunities please see the Sponsorship Prospectus