Events
Stay up to date on upcoming events with the MLA calendar. We post MLA meetings, trainings, festivals and openings as well as other events that pertain to the lobster industry. You can sort by category or tags (i.e.lobster boat races). Let us know if you have something to post! 207-967-4555 or andi@mainelobstermen.org
The co-chairs are working towards finalizing the agendas for both meetings. We will send along additional information on agendas, presentations and other related meeting materials shortly.
Both of these meetings will be on the zoom platform. We will send separate notices with meeting links as we get closer to the scheduled meeting day.
The Organising Committee of the 12th International Conference and Workshop on Lobster Biology and Management have been reviewing the likelihood of ICWL being able to proceed in 2021. Given the current status of COVID-19 internationally we consider that it is unlikely that international travel will return to normal in 2021 that would allow the successful hosting of the conference and workshop in a face to face capacity.
Therefore, the Organising Committee has again reluctantly decided to postpone the 12th International Conference and Workshop on Lobster Biology and Management to October 2022.
Please refer back to the website for updates or sign up to our mailing list.
12th International Conference and Workshop on Lobster (and Crab) Biology and Management (ICWL)
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the Western Rock Lobster Council (WRL) are pleased to be hosting the 12th ICWL workshop on 17 – 22 October 2021 at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle, Western Australia. POSTPONED TO 2022
This year, the ICWL returns to where it all began in Western Australia (WA) over 40 years ago, when a group of 37 lobster biologists from 6 countries met in Perth, Australia to discuss and compare their work on lobster ecology, physiology, and management protocols, and to find common themes amongst the different species that were commercially fished. Since its humble beginnings the ICLW has grown in popularity and prestige, and in recent years has attracted 150-200 participants from around 20 different countries.
Fremantle is a major port for the western rock lobster fleet just 20 km from Perth, the capital city of WA. The western rock lobster fishery is the largest single species fishery in Australia with a value of over AUD$450 million annually, and a long history of internationally recognised research, management, and compliance. In 2000, this fishery was the first in the world to receive the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) accreditation.
The theme of the 12th ICWL is ‘ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM)’. EBFM is a holistic approach to fisheries management that recognises all the interactions within an ecosystem rather than considering a single species or issue in isolation. We consider this represents best practice for fisheries management and reflects that fisheries research and management focus is now broader than just sustainability. Therefore, in addition to presentations that focus on lobster (and crab) biology and stock assessment, we will also welcome presentations that examine other aspects of EBFM, such as ecosystem effects of fishing, economic assessments, social issues, governance, and compliance with management regulations.
This year we are also very excited to extend the scope of the conference to include submissions relating to other decapod species, specifically crabs, welcoming abstracts on all aspects of crab research, biology and management.
Given the interest in lobster aquaculture worldwide, particularly the Asian region, we are also hoping to attract strong support for the planned aquaculture session. As always an industry day is planned to be an important component of the program, and we are looking forward to welcoming commercial and recreational lobster industry participants.
WRL and DPIRD are looking forward to hosting scientists, managers and industry participants in Western Australia in 2020. We welcome any ideas that you may have for the lobster workshop such as particular sessions and special workshops that could be held as part of the 12th ICWL.