A large proportion of Catalonia's indigenous continental fish are in decline or at risk of extinction

Global warming and change across the planet is affecting populations of sea and freshwater fish. A good example is the 29 freshwater fish species native to Catalonia, a large proportion of which are experiencing decline or are at risk of extinction. All of these species, including the sturgeon, trout, barb, eel, and whiting, have been affected to varying degrees, as is the case in other countries, due to a combination of several problems. Against this backdrop, and to address these issues, the tenth Congress of Ichthyology will take place from 18 to 21 June. The event is being organised by the Iberian Society of Ichthyology (SIBIC) and the University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic- UCC).

Among the factors in the decline in the freshwater fish species native to Catalonia are the overexploitation of water (excessive abstraction, direct or indirect pollution, etc.), insufficient ecological connectivity (mainly as a result of hydraulic infrastructures such as dams, locks, walkways, bridge foundations, etc.), and competition with increasing numbers of invasive species. 

Other factors include rising global temperatures, which is affecting how both freshwater and marine aquatic ecosystems function, and which lead to higher seawater temperatures in winter, and more extreme droughts that have an impact on rivers. Given this scenario, and with the theme of 'Fishes for Future', the tenth Congress of Ichthyology will emphasise the need to continue research and management to guarantee the conservation of fish and preserve their role in ecosystems and society. 

Marc Ordeix, director of the Mediterranean Rivers Studies Centre (CERM) at the UVic-UCC, says that this congress aims to "be a forum for people from the scientific, technical, business and public administration worlds who specialise in the study, conservation and management of sea and freshwater fish in southern Europe." He says that the congress will "be useful for sharing the latest knowledge about freshwater and sea fish, and for trying to find the best strategies to guarantee their conservation."

A biennial congress

This year, the biennial congress is being organised by the Iberian Society of Ichthyology (SIBIC), the Mediterranean Rivers Studies Centre (CERM) and the Aquatic Ecology Group at UVic-UCC. The first part of the event will take place at the Institute for the Development of the Ebro Regions (Tortosa), as part of the closing of the European Life Migratoebre project, on 18 June. The second part, from June 19 to 21, will take place at the UVic-UCC Faculty of Sciences, Technology and Engineering (FCTE), in the Torre dels Frares building.

Around 200 people are expected to attend the congress, mostly from the Iberian Peninsula, but also from other countries around the world, including France, Norway, the United States, Morocco, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil. Although most of the participants will be researchers at universities, there will also be a strong presence of representatives of companies working in the sector, as well as people from government institutions responsible for this area. 

Speeches by experts from all over the world

The programme of the tenth edition of the congress will include plenary sessions, scientific sessions, presentations of posters and communications and parallel activities, and will feature renowned Spanish and international experts in the study of fish. Among the most renowned is Teresa Ferreira, a professor at the Technical University of Lisbon, who will open the congress in Vic with a talk about "Fish in a changing world." Erich Rochard, a researcher at the French National Institute for Research on Agriculture, Food, and the Environment in Bordeaux (France), will give a presentation in Tortosa, on the subject of "How science supports management actions on diadromous fish." 

Various other experts in the field will be participating in the event in Vic. Emili García-Berthou, professor of Ecology at the University of Girona, will be talking about "Invasions of fish in Iberian inland waters: recent breakthroughs and challenges for the future." Lluis Tort, a professor of Physiology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, will give a course on "Health and well-being in fish. Current research and future perspectives." Laia Ribas, a lecturer at the Institute of Marine Sciences (Barcelona), will focus her speech on "Epigenetic knowledge of repro-immune interactions to shape the phenotypes of future fish." 

Presentations will also be given by Maire-Laure Acolas, a researcher at the French National Institute for Research on Agriculture, Food, and the Environment in Bordeaux (France); Fernando Cobo, a lecturer at the University of Santiago de Compostela (Galicia); Ignacio Doadrio, a researcher at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC, Madrid); Raphaël Lagarde, a lecturer at the University of Perpignan; and Clara Amorim, a lecturer at the University of Lisbon (Portugal). 

The congress will also include courses and networking projects, with Warren Leach and Hugo Marques, Ignasi Arranz, Víctor Gallego and Frederic Casals. Apart from the scientific programme, a social programme has also been organised so that all those attending can discover the city of Vic and the Ter Museum in Manlleu.