Support for scientific conference: Sustaining iconic diadromous fishes: the potential and pitfalls of cultivation (IMPRESS)

Informations

Funding country

Norway

Acronym

-

URL

-

Start date

1/1/2018

End date

12/31/2019

Budget

12,300 EUR

Fundings

Abstract

Diadromous fishes, defined as species that migrate between salt and fresh waters, are sentinel species of the wellbeing of both the freshwater and marine ecosystems. Diadromous fishes native to Europe include the Atlantic salmon, European eel and the sturgeons. Historically, these iconic species have been of major cultural and economic importance to Europe and beyond. Unfortunately, due to a variety of anthropogenic factors such as loss of habitat, pollution, damming of rivers and especially overfishing, wild populations of these fishes have declined dramatically in recent years. In particular, the sturgeons which for generations have been fished for their roe (caviar) are now considered the most threatened of all vertebrate groups with 20 of the 26 species listed as being critically endangered. The major objective of the IMPRESS project is to improve our knowledge on the production cycle of these species leading to more efficient hatchery production of juveniles for releasing back into the wild (restocking). A further objective of IMPRESS is to educate the public on the importance of diadromous fishes, and the societal benefits of healthy diverse freshwater habitats. The major findings of the IMPRESS project will be presented at this conference, which will be open to a broad audience, both researchers and other interested stakeholders. In particular, the conference represents a forum for the 15 IMPRESS PhD students to present their major results.