NOAA National Symposium on Shellfish and the Environment
Everyone pitches in at harvest time on a family-owned oyster farm in Willapa Bay, Washington [Photo courtesy of Bill Dewey].
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is hosting the National Symposium on Shellfish and the Environment on June 9-10, 2008, in Warwick, Rhode Island. Designed for scientists, natural resource managers, the shellfish aquaculture industry, members of community groups, non-governmental organizations, and government officials, the symposium will address important issues regarding shellfish aquaculture in the United States.
Speakers, including scientific and policy experts from the United States, Canada, and Europe will address a range of topics focused on the environmental effects of shellfish culture. The format will combine scientific presentations with facilitated discussions. Topics include carrying capacity, eutrophication, water quality, habitat, invasive species, genetics, disease issues, social aspects, gear/harvest impacts, and cumulative impacts.
Information generated by this symposium will be used to facilitate public policy and resource management decisions for shellfish culture in the United States.
Due to limited space, participation in this symposium is by invitation only. All conference materials, including a detailed agenda and a symposium summary, will be posted on this web page as they become available.
Ulva, a sheet-like seaweed also known as sea lettuce, clings to bags at an oyster farm in Tomales Bay, California [Photo courtesy of Bill Dewey].
Webcast
NOAA will be arranging for presentations to be webcast for those who are interested but are not able to participate in person. Details on how to access the webcast will be posted on this website once they are available.
Draft Agenda (subject to change)
(posted April 23, 2008)
SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2008
6:30 p.m. Welcome mixer/reception
MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2008
8:00 - 8:15 a.m. Welcome
8:15 - 8:45 a.m. Opening Remarks
Eutrophication/Carrying Capacity/Water Quality
8:45 - 9:00 a.m. Jon Grant (Dalhousie University)
9:00 - 9:15 a.m. Peter Cranford (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
9:15 - 9:30 OPEN QUESTION PERIOD
9:30 - 9:45 a.m. JoAnn Burkholder (North Carolina State University)
9:45 - 10:00 a.m. Odd Lindhal (Kristineberg Marine Biological Station, Sweden)
10:00 - 10:15 a.m. OPEN QUESTION PERIOD
10:15 - 10:45 a.m. BREAK
Invasives/Genetics/Disease
10:45 - 11:00 a.m. Dianna Padilla (State University of New York - Stony Brook)
11:00 - 11:15 a.m. Dennis Hedgecock (University of Southern California)
11:15 - 11:30 a.m. Roxanna Smolowitz (Director of Research, New England Aquarium)
11:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. OPEN DISCUSSION WITH ENTIRE GROUP
12:00 - 1:30 p.m. LUNCH (with Speaker TBD)
AFTERNOON BREAKOUTS - FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS
1:30 - 2:15 p.m. Eutrophication/carrying capacity/water quality
2:15 - 3:00 p.m. invasives/genetics/disease
3:00 - 5:00 p.m. SUMMARY PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSION
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. RECEPTION
7:00 p.m. WORKING DINNER (Speaker TBD)
TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2008
8:00 - 8:15 a.m. Day 2 Welcome
Habitat and Gear/ Education/ Societal Interactions/ Engagement
8:15 - 8:30 a.m. Loren Coen (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation)
8:30 - 8:45 a.m. Kevin Stokesbury (University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth)
8:45 - 9:00 a.m. OPEN QUESTION PERIOD
9:00- 9:15 a.m. Gary Jensen (USDA-CSREES)
9:15 -9:30 a.m. Colin Brannen (World Wildlife Fund)
9:30 - 9:45 a.m. George Leonard (Ocean Conservancy)
9:45- 10:00 a.m. OPEN QUESTION PERIOD
10:00 - 10:30 a.m. BREAK
10:30 - 10:45 a.m. John Hargreaves (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
10:45 - 11:00 a.m. Gary Wikfors (NOAA, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Milford Laboratory)
11:00 - 11:15 a.m. Susan Stonich (University of California - Santa Barbara)
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. OPEN DISCUSSION WITH ENTIRE GROUP
12:00 - 1:30 p.m. LUNCH [Speaker: U.S. Senator Jack Reed (Rhode Island)]
AFTERNOON BREAKOUTS - FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS
1:30 - 2:15 p.m. Gear and Harvest/ Education
2:15 - 3:00 p.m. Societal Interactions/ Engagement
3:00 - 5:00 p.m. SUMMARY PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSION
5:00 p.m. MEETING ADJOURNS
The following information is for invited participants.
Lodging and Travel
The symposium will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 801 Greenwich Ave, Warwick, RI.
The hotel is holding a limited number of rooms under “NOAA Shellfish Symposium”. Participants should book their room as soon as possible by calling the hotel at (401) 732-6000 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EDT. The special meeting rate is not available with online reservations. Symposium participants should plan to stay at the meeting through 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Crowne Plaza Hotel is located 2 miles from T.F. Green Airport, just outside of Providence, RI. A complimentary shuttle to the hotel is available, or take a cab for $5.
Limited funding for travel support is available on a case by case basis. Contact Dr. Sandy Shumway or David O’Brien for more information.
Contact
If you have questions, contact Dr. Sandy Shumway, sandra.shumway@uconn.edu, (860) 405-9282; or David O’Brien, David.OBrien@noaa.gov, (301) 713-9079.