Aquatic Life Conference 2024

By Livia Schonenberg @ 2024-08-08T14:49 (+5)

Event dates: September 9th and 10th (half days in EST time)

The 2024 Aquatic Life Conference is one month away. This fully virtual event will feature expert speakers in the aquatic animal welfare and conservation space. The theme of this year's conference revolves around our 4Rs framework - Reduce, Refine, Replace, and Reject, focusing on sustainable and ethical practices and innovations in the global seafood industry.

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Daniel Pauly, Principal Investigator of the Sea Around Us initiative from the University of British Columbia, as the keynote speaker for this year's event. The keynote address will begin on September 9th at 8:30 AM EST. Visit the conference webpage to see the full lineup of speakers and agenda.

“The conference is a wonderful platform to learn from industry experts and to connect with aquatic animal advocates from around the world.”

Sessions

Keynote Speech: Dr. Daniel Pauly, Principal Investigator of the Sea Around Us initiative, the University of British Columbia

Monday, September 9, 2024 - 8:30 AM - 8:55 AM EST

Reduce: This session will open the floor to diverse perspectives around reducing the number of animals in the seafood system. We will learn about biodiversity conservation and campaigns that advocate for sustainable practices in the seafood system, while addressing the socio-economic impacts of industrial fishing on artisanal fishing communities.

Monday, September 9, 2024 - 9:00 AM - 10:25 AM EST

Refine: This session will explore best practices for animal welfare in capture fisheries and captive environments. We take a look at innovative technologies and other strategies to reduce animal suffering, addressing the 5 freedoms of animal welfare. We also spotlight industry leaders that are pioneering robust animal welfare standards, leading the charge in advocating for more compassionate seafood practices.

Monday, September 9, 2024 - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM EST

Replace: This session will explore aquaculture feed alternatives and cutting-edge innovations in alternative proteins for seafood, envisioning a future where sustainable plant-based and cell-based alternatives mitigate the pressures on our current food system.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024 - 9:00 AM - 10:25 AM EST

Reject: This session will underscore the imperative to reject the introduction of additional animals into the seafood system and its supply chain, featuring discussions on banning octopus farming and other harmful aquaculture practices, addressing biosecurity risks, and regulating species introduction for sustainable aquaculture.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024 - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM EST

More about the event

Join us for the Annual Aquatic Life Conference as we celebrate our 5th anniversary, proudly organized and hosted by Aquatic Life Institute. We look forward to providing a platform for leaders from around the world who will share their work on aquatic animal welfare. Last year, we had a remarkable turnout with over 600 registrants, and we are anticipating an even bigger event this year.

This conference will take place online, spanning two half-days to ensure inclusive participation by stakeholders worldwide. The sessions will be held in Eastern Standard Time, and we are mindful of time zone differences, so all session recordings will be made available online following the event. Our sessions this year will be more dynamic than ever, and our goal is to create a space for learning, idea exchange, fostering new connections, and laying the groundwork for future collaborations. We encourage active participation during the live sessions.

Our conference aligns with a pivotal moment in our journey towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. At this pivotal moment, our aim is not just to raise public awareness about the sentience of aquatic animals, but also to underscore the crucial need for incorporating their welfare considerations into legislative frameworks, corporate policies, and seafood certification standards. Through this, we aim to tackle issues related to climate change, sustainability, health, and biosecurity with a comprehensive approach.