Omics research for sustainable fisheries: AZTI hosts the prestigious FSBI International Symposium

• The annual international symposium of the Fisheries Society of the British Isles (FSBI) will present the latest advances in the use of omics science to improve understanding of fish ecology and enhance fisheries management and sustainability from 15-19 July.
• The event will be attended by more than 150 participants, leaders from research institutes all over the world.
• The AZTI technology centre will host this event organised annually by the FSBI which, for the first time in its history, will leave British soil in its face-to-face format.

Bilbao, 15 July 2024– The Basque Country consolidates its position at the forefront of fisheries science by being selected as the first venue outside the British Isles to hold the prestigious international annual Symposium of the Fisheries Society of the British Isles (FSBI). From 15 to 19 July, the Bizkaia Aretoa in Bilbao will be the setting for the presentation of the most significant advances in omics sciences, a field that encompasses disciplines such as genomics and proteomics, which are fundamental for understanding the molecular complexity of living beings. This event will stand out for its special emphasis on the application of these disciplines to the management and conservation of fish species and the ecosystems they inhabit.

El simposio reunirá a más de 150 personas expertas y líderes provenientes de universidades, centros de investigación, entidades gubernamentales, ONGs y empresas de 33 países y 5 continentes. El centro tecnológico AZTI será el anfitrión de este encuentro global que se centrará en explorar el impacto revolucionario de las ciencias ómicas en la biología y ecología pesqueras. La edición de este año resaltará la creciente importancia de estas disciplinas para la gestión y conservación de los ecosistemas pesqueros y sus recursos.

The symposium will bring together more than 150 experts and leaders from universities, research centres, government bodies, NGOs and companies from 33 countries and 5 continents. The AZTI technology centre will host this global meeting that will focus on exploring the revolutionary impact of the omics sciences on fisheries biology and ecology. This year’s edition will highlight the growing importance of these disciplines for the management and conservation of fishery ecosystems and their resources.

Naiara Rodriguez Ezpeleta, coordinator of AZTI’s Biotechnology and Molecular Ecology area, underlines the relevance of omics sciences, stressing that: ‘These cutting-edge technologies, which have mainly revolutionised medical research, are emerging strongly in the field of ecology. Their application is enabling the development of more precise and effective management and conservation strategies in aquatic ecosystems.’

The symposium will address a wide range of topics, from studying the genetic connectivity of populations to define management units, to the use of environmental DNA to monitor biodiversity. In addition, multi-omics approaches to understanding evolutionary adaptations to climate change and estimating species resilience will be examined. The findings and approaches presented will be fundamental in addressing contemporary challenges and breaking new ground in fisheries conservation.

Challenges and new horizons for fisheries sustainability

The scientific achievements presented at this symposium not only reflect the current state of scientific research, but also lay the groundwork for future advances. ‘The sharing of omics technologies opens a way to empower countries where these techniques are still emerging, democratising knowledge and fostering international collaboration,’ says the AZTI expert.

Bringing together experts in fisheries biology and genetics and end users in the same forum is fundamental to capitalise on diverse and complementary perspectives. This meeting stimulates enriching discussions that can generate new ideas and projects, thus boosting innovation in the field.

This symposium not only reinforces the importance of the omics sciences in understanding complex biological processes, but also underlines their crucial role in designing more effective fisheries management and sustainability strategies adapted to the challenges of the 21st century.