FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS
69th GULF AND CARIBBEAN FISHERIES INSTITUTE
7-11 NOVEMBER 2016
GRAND CAYMAN
The 69th Annual conference of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute will be held in Grand Cayman,
(Cayman Islands) from 7–11 November 2016 at The Westin Hotel. The meeting is being hosted by the
Cayman Islands, Department of Environment.
The 69th GCFI conference will focus on applying fishers’ knowledge and marine science to solve problems
by bringing multiple users of ocean resources together to make informed and coordinated decisions about
how to sustainably use these resources and fit this knowledge into Marine Protected Area management. The
emphasis will be on the practical, interdisciplinary, and ecosystem-based approaches, to managing
recreational fisheries and marine protected areas (MPAs). Addressing larval connectivity, fisheries
management, conservation, whilst fostering improved marine resource management throughout the Wider
Caribbean Region.
CONFERENCE THEMATIC SESSION
The Cayman Islands Ministry of Environment is sponsoring the thematic session entitled "Fishing for fun,
food, and the future: fitting recreational fisheries into MPA management". This session will be held
on Monday morning and is based on the interests of the GCFI membership to integrate fishers’ experiences
and knowledge in efforts to improve MPA management. This session supports the idea that achieving and
maintaining healthy coastal and marine ecosystems requires a fundamental understanding of the
relationships between people and their marine environment. In particular, this session will emphasize the
linkages between recreational fishing and the enjoyment of thier marine resources, the economic benefits
derived from these activities and the long-term sustainability of traditional practices within fishing
communities.
The objectives of the session are to provide an outline of the current status of recreational fishing in the
Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico MPAs to compare and contrast these areas, and to establish common
methodological frameworks that will facilitate the evaluation of this activity. Specific session objectives
are to:
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•
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Present and discuss the recreational fishers’ experiences and perspectives within established MPAs
in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico focused on conservation and sustainable use of their
marine and coastal resources.
Exchange knowledge about the different scientific methodologies, procedures, and lessons learned.
•
Define and compare the biological impact of recreational fishing on marine resources in the MPAs,
particularly regarding vulnerable coastal species.
•
Articulate the fishermen’s perspective on current management practices and marine resource
management.
•
Identify opportunities for inter-agency and international cooperation in the study of recreational
fisheries.
TECHNICAL SESSIONS
The conference program features multi-disciplinary sessions arranged in part by ecosystem type. The subject
areas are no different from previous GCFI conferences; each session may have a mix of natural and social
science, management, and technology related to the ecosystem or fisheries. Papers and posters are solicited
in the following areas (other subjects not listed below will also be considered):
 Governance, livelihoods, and organizations
 Reefs and associated ecosystems fisheries
• Shallow and deep reef fishes
• Snapper and grouper fisheries
• Fish spawning aggregations
• Lionfish and other invasive species
• Queen conch, spiny lobster, and other invertebrates
 Marine Protected Areas Science and Management
 Pelagic ecosystem and recreational fisheries
 Continental shelf ecosystem fisheries
• Shrimp and demersal trawl fisheries
 Habitats, climate change, and coastal management
• Essential fish habitats
• Integrated coastal management
• Climate change adaptation
 Aquaculture
POSTER SESSION
The poster session/reception will be on the evening of 8 November 2016. Poster space is limited. See the
poster specification guidelines on the GCFI web site. The preferred poster size is 24” x 36” for either
orientation.
Special call for poster abstracts on “Gender in Fisheries”
The Gender in Fisheries Team (GIFT) based at the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental
Studies (CERMES) at the University of the West Indies is inviting GCFI poster presenters with an interest
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in gender in fisheries to join them in a special section of the poster session devoted to that topic. We are
particularly interested in comparative analyses of women and men, but analyses focused primarily on
women will be a priority. Topics of interest include: Value chains, Social networks, organizations, roles in
science, equality and equity.
Kindly submit your abstracts following GCFI instructions, but indicate Gender as your poster session
preference. For further information contact Patrick McConney at patrick.mcconney@gmail.com.
SPECIAL SESSIONS
 Understanding and Strengthening Natural and Social Connections
GCFI has provided an annual international forum to bring scientists, managers, and stakeholders together
to promote cooperative research and management strategies for the sustainability of marine resources in the
Caribbean region. Given the recent agreements for improving cooperation between Cuba and the U.S., this
session will emphasis existing and future needs for collaborative work between Cuba and the wider
Caribbean region on the sustainability and socioeconomic importance of marine resources.
This session will highlight best practices for conducting collaborative research and management related to
marine issues shared by multiple countries of the wider Caribbean region. With an emphasis on promoting
collaborations, the contributions for the session can consist of a range of scientific topics, such as monitoring
spawning aggregations and protecting essential habitats, connectivity of populations across the region, and
other ecosystem research important for the conservation and management of resource resources.
For example, work over the last 14 years in the Cayman Islands suggests that their well-protected Nassau
Grouper populations may not only replenish local populations, but may supply other islands where
populations have been depleted by overfishing. Additionally, a year-long study of their spawning
aggregation sites documented > 27 species using them for reproductive purposes, galvanizing the fact that
their local populations possibly seeds other countries in the region on a monthly basis. Cuba may be in the
direct path of this production; the U.S. could benefit indirectly. Concurrently, research on the West Florida
Shelf has demonstrated both strong population connectivity between Pulley Ridge and the downstream
Florida Keys, but also unexpectedly strong links between the reefs of the Dry Tortugas and those on the
Flower Garden Banks in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. As one example, this suggests that collaborative
research to understand the connectivity of populations from the Cuban reefs is needed.
The session will allow us to share scientific information and recommendations for promoting collaborative
work among the countries of the wider Caribbean region to ensure the sustainability and economic viability
of our marine resources for future generations.
Contacts:
Steve Gittings, NOAA, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries: steve.gittings@noaa.gov
Brice Semmens, Scripps Institution of Oceanography: semmens@ucsd.edu
Bradley Johnson, Cayman Islands Dept. of Environment: Bradley.Johnson@gov.ky
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 Identifying, Understanding, and Reducing Marine Debris in the Gulf and Caribbean
Marine debris is a worldwide issue affecting marine fisheries, ecosystems, endangered species, human
health, and tourism. The Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Region includes a mix of small to large and rural
to industrialized communities that are all detrimentally affected by marine debris. Yet, there is little regional
and even less local recognition of the sources of marine debris, let alone on the impact of marine debris on
the environment and cost to communities. The goal of the session is to bring the science of marine debris to
the region’s marine resource managers and policy makers. The Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute
(GCFI) conference is an ideal venue to bring scientist, resource managers, and policy makers together to
identify and address marine debris issues.
The NOAA Marine Debris Division (MDD) serves as the United States Federal government lead for
addressing marine debris issues. The MDD supports regional coordination efforts in the both the Gulf of
Mexico
(http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/gulf-mexico)
and
the
U.S
Caribbean
(http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/caribbean) including a number of debris removal and prevention projects.
These efforts support GCFI’s role as the Caribbean Regional Node of the United Nations Environment
Programme,
Global
Partnership
on
Marine
Litter
(GPML;
http://unep.org/gpa/documents/gpml/DRAFTFrameworkGPML.pdf).
The intent of the GPML is to foster international partnerships and support policy dialogues and other
activities to promote awareness and enhance capacity building to reduce marine debris. All three entities
(NOAA/MDD, GCFI, GPML) maintain similar missions: to reduce levels of land- and ocean-based marine
debris as well as to reduce impacts of accumulated marine debris on shorelines and aquatic habitats. This
session will benefit participants from government agencies, academia, and NGOs by providing a mechanism
for regional information exchange on this globally pervasive problem. The session will also help foster
enhanced partnerships between NOAA, GCFI, and GPML.
Although there have been a handful of presentations on marine debris spread across several sessions at GCFI
conferences in the past, there has never been a dedicated marine debris session. Presentations will be both
invited and contributed. Presentations should focus on providing both current research and review articles
as well as new results on all aspects of marine debris, including information that will advance solutions to
this problem.
For information about the marine debris session and publication, please contact Amy V. Uhrin:
amy.uhrin@noaa.gov or Thomas R. Matthews: Tom.Matthews@MyFWC.com
 Understanding and management of the pelagic Sargassum influx in the Caribbean
The pelagic sargassum influx that has affected the Caribbean region (and West Africa) in recent years has
been a topic of presentations at several past GCFI annual meetings (64th, 65th, 67th) and for the first time
was the focus of a special session during the 68th annual meeting, addressing research and experiences from
different territories in the Caribbean region (Grenada, Martinique, Guadeloupe, USA).
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The massive landings of sargassum observed between 2014 and 2015 have been accompanied by increased
interest and communication on the subject within the region and by the development of regional cooperation
initiatives, including with the support of UNEP-CEP/SPAW RAC and GCFI. This ongoing cooperation has
enabled the sharing of experience and knowledge through a range of new collaborative tools, and several
collaborations between different institutions have been initiated (research sector, tourism, etc.). Interest in
international coordination on this topic has been highlighted in various discussions between organizations
of States in the region in 2015 and 2016 (Association of Caribbean States and Organization of Eastern
Caribbean States).
This session aims to share the latest advances in research on the sargassum ecosystem (ecophysiology,
associated fauna), the origin of sargassum arrivals in the Caribbean and West Africa, the situation of the
phenomenon in Brazil and remote sensing of the sargassum algae to implement forecasting of future
stranding. Recommendations on the management of the massive arrivals to meet the different economic,
social and health impacts will also be presented.
Contacts:
Frédérique Fardin, SPAW-RAC (UNEP-CEP): frederique.fardin.carspaw@guadeloupe-parcnational.fr
Jim Franks, GCFI, University of Southern Mississippi: jim.franks@usm.edu
WORKSHOPS AT THE 69th GCFI
 Vemco Acoustic Telemetry Workshop (6 Nov, 1- 5 pm, registration required)
New and experienced Vemco Acoustic Telemetry users are invited to an afternoon workshop to discuss
the latest in Acoustic Telemetry tools and techniques. The Vemco Telemetry workshop will cover a
variety of topics such as:
•
•
•
Vemco Telemetry Study Design: Ensuring you get the best possible results
Gates vs Residence vs fine scale positioning
Choosing transmitter and receiver programming
Range testing – do’s and don’ts
Range testing – how to analyze your data quickly using Vemco’s new range test analysis
software
Receiver spacing – what makes an effective gate?
Using noise and tilt diagnostics to optimize your study design
Using pings and detections to assess system performance
What’s new in the world of telemetry tools? We’ll discuss several of the latest developments from
Vemco aimed at enabling new science and improving study results
VR2Tx – Vemco’s new Transponding receiver. Monitor your system while deployed.
VR2AR – combined Vemco receiver and acoustic release. Come learn how we can make
deployment and recovery easier, faster and how you can monitor your system while still
deployed
New HR Receivers and very small tags – fine scale positioning of many tags
simultaneously with sub meter accuracy
Setting our next direction
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-
We’re looking to the next generation of VUE and data analysis tools, help us set the
priorities
New receivers, new tags – where next?
For those interested in participating in the workshop, please contact Nancy Edwards:
nancy.edwards@vemco.com
ABSTRACTS
Abstracts for the 69th GCFI are due 15 August 2016. Abstracts will be accepted in English, French, and
Spanish. ALL ABSTRACTS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY ENGLISH, SPANISH AND FRENCH
TITLES. Abstracts are only required in one of the three languages; titles must be in all three languages.
Abstracts must not exceed 250 words (275 for Spanish and French). Abstracts must be submitted using the
secure online abstract Submission Form found via the User Portal.
Acceptance to present within an oral session requires submission of a full and complete manuscript or
extended abstract in the proper format (MS Word and jpg or PowerPoint figures) prior to presentation at the
meeting. Poster presentations do not require submission of a manuscript although they are enthusiastically
accepted. However, students wishing to compete for the student awards and who are presenting an oral OR
poster presentation are required to submit a manuscript for publication in the GCFI Proceedings at the
meeting. Manuscript preparation guidelines are available online (pdf).
The Book of Abstracts will be available online in page-flipping and PDF formats. No printed Book of
Abstracts will be distributed at the conference.
CINEFISH
Are you interested in submitting a short film for this year’s CINEFISH film festival at the GCFI
conference? If so, please email the following information to CINEFISH at cinefish@gcfi.org :
•
•
•
•
•
•
Title of film
Brief description of film (2-3 sentences)
Film makers(s)
Duration of film (specify) – Note films should be 10-15 minutes or less
Film still shot
Type of film
o Documentary: A non-fictional motion picture to document some aspect of reality.
o Animation: A short, hand-drawn, stop motion, character animations or computer animated
production.
o New media: This includes Music Videos and Public Service Announcements (PSAs).
o B-film: These are low budget films
Please note that films should be recorded in AVI format. The deadline for submission is 30 September
2016.
GLADDING MEMORIAL AWARD: CALL FOR FISHER NOMINATIONS
The GCFI Gladding Memorial Award (GMA) committee is requesting nominations of outstanding fishers
for the 69th GCFI GMA. This annual award is presented to select fishers (men and women), who
demonstrate, as Peter Gladding did, significant commitment to the sustainable use and long-term
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conservation of marine resources in the Gulf and Caribbean region. The winner will be sponsored to attend
the GCFI meeting in the Cayman Islands to receive his or her award, and to participate in the Fishers Forum
and main conference.
You are invited to submit award nominations to the GMA committee at gma@gcfi.org. All nominations
must be received by 30 June 2016. Background information on the GMA, nomination forms with award
criteria, and details of the process are available on the GCFI website.
THE RON SCHMIED SCHOLARSHIP
The Ron Schmied Scholarship, a GCFI initiative supported by the International Game Fish Association
(IGFA) and private individuals, will be offered to a qualified graduate student in support of their travel to
the 69th GCFI in Grand Cayman. The Scholarship is in the amount of US$1,500, and graduate students with
an interest in social, economic, biological, ecological, or management perspectives on recreational fisheries
are eligible to apply. The deadline for students applying for the award and submitting an abstract and all
supporting paperwork is 31 July. Students will be notified of acceptance/rejection of their application by 1
September. Complete instructions and eligibility requirements for the Ron Schmied Scholarship are on the
GCFI web page at: http://www.gcfi.org/StudentAwards/RonSchmied/RonSchmiedEng.php. Students may
apply for the Scholarship and for consideration for the Student Achievement Award in the same year.
Students may also ask to be considered for the Ron Schmied Scholarship and a GCFI Travel Award in the
same year, but will only be awarded one of these sources of funding.
THE SCRFA TRAVEL AWARD
The Science and Conservation of Fish Aggregations Association (SCRFA) will offer a Student Travel
Award of US$800 to a student in the Caribbean Region to attend the 69th GCFI, Grand Cayman. Originally
formed in 2000 and known as the Society for the Conservation of Reef Fish Aggregations with the mission
of promoting responsible stewardship of fish aggregations, in particular, reef fish spawning aggregations,
the Society modified its name in 2012 to reflect its focus on science and the inclusion of all aggregating fish
species. The SCRFA Student Travel Award is to encourage and help students to work in this important area
and showcase their ideas and work at GCFI.
Applications should be submitted by 1 August 2016. Applications and further information enquiries are to
be sent to Martin Russell (SCRFA Chair/CEO) or, visit: www.SCRFA.org
STUDENT AWARDS
GCFI is offering two travel awards of US$750 each to eligible students to help offset travel costs to the 69th
GCFI in Grand Cayman. The deadline for students applying for these awards is 31 July at which time
abstracts and all supporting paperwork must be submitted. Students will be notified of acceptance/rejection
of their application by 1 September. Complete instructions and eligibility requirements for the travel awards
are on the GCFI web page at: http://www.gcfi.org/StudentAwards/StudentAwardsEng.php. Students may
apply for a travel award and for consideration for the Student Achievement Award in the same year. Students
who received a Student Achievement Award at the 68th GCFI are not eligible for a travel award to the 69th
GCFI.
GCFI will offer two Student Achievement Awards which will cover all expenses to the subsequent GCFI
conference. Students must meet the abstract deadline to be eligible for the Student Achievement Awards.
Students wishing to be considered for these awards must indicate their interest at the time of abstract
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submittal on the abstract submittal form. Eligibility criteria for the Student Achievement Awards can be
found at: (http://www.gcfi.org/StudentAwards/OutstandingAwardEng.html). Note that a manuscript of the
talk/poster must be submitted at the meeting to be eligible for this award. Students who applied for the
award when submitting their abstract may withdraw from consideration of the award by the first day of the
conference. Winners of these awards will be announced on Friday at the end of the conference. Please check
the website (www.gcfi.org) for other Student Awards.
REGISTRATION
Registration can be completed online via the User Portal. Early registration (until 30 September) for the
meeting is US$185 ($85 for students); late registration after 30 Sept is US$225 ($100 for students).
Registrations at the door are US$250. Check the GCFI website (www.gcfi.org) for registration rates for
daily participation.
Everyone registering for more than one day is automatically a member of GCFI and will receive a CD copy
of the GCFI Proceedings from the meeting when published. Onsite registrations may be made with a credit
card, check, money order, or US currency. Other arrangements may be made by contacting
registrations@gcfi.org.
THE VENUE
The meeting venue will be the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort and Spa, an AAA Four
Diamond resort, featuring 343 luxuriously appointed guest rooms highlighted with Westin Hotels &
Resorts Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Bath amenities. Nestled among tropical palms and casuarina trees
that are situated on 700 feet of the most pristine white sand of the famous Seven Mile Beach.
The hotel offers excellent cuisine. The restaurants are sophisticated environments that are complemented
with unique foods and drinks that will cover all your needs. Located only 20 minutes from the airport.
For Hotel reservations please complete the hotel booking form found at:
https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/events/start.action?id=1604053771&key=250A5290
For information related to travel to the GCFI conference in Grand Cayman, please visit the GCFI Grand
Cayman conference website. We have included information related to airfare, the hotel as well as other
important travel information. Please be sure to revisit the conference webpage often as information changes
regularly.
FISHERS FORUM AND FIELD TRIP
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The Fishers Forum comprises a themed session in the main conference ending in the presentation of the
Gladding Memorial Award (Monday, 7th) and a field trip especially for fishers (Tuesday, 8th ). The theme
for the 69th GCFI is “Fisheries learning exchanges: engagement and enlightenment through experience”.
Fishers and other GCFI participants with experience of fisheries exchanges who are interested in sharing
information in the Fishers Forum should contact Will Heyman (heymanwill@yahoo.com) or Mitchell Lay
(mitchlay@yahoo.co.uk) by 30 June 2016. Details of the Forum session and field trip will be in the second
GCFI announcement
FIELD TRIP AND TOURS
On the afternoon of Wednesday 9 November choose from among three tours of the City and island
attractions that have been specially designed with you in mind. A contribution to each tour will be required
from each participant. Please check the GCFI website for updates on tours.
VISA APPLICATION
For the 69th GCFI Conference, all individuals travelling by sea or air will require a passport or other
accepted official form of identification to enter the country.
There are a number of countries that require visas to travel to Grand Cayman. Please make contact with the
local Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Immigration Department, for enquiries or to obtain one.
For requirements to enter Grand Cayman, please visit:
http://www.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/cighome/find/guides/entryrequirements
As the meeting approaches, more information about the venue and program will be posted on the conference
web page.
Remember advanced planning can smooth the visa application process for you. Apply for your visa
well in advance of your travel!
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN GRAND CAYMAN IN NOVEMBER
FOR THE 69th GCFI!
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