The University of Stirling is to host a major international shellfish conference ‘Shellfish, our undervalued resource’ in August 2011.
Dr Janet Brown, Head of the Shellfish Unit at the Institute of Aquaculture, said: “In the UK the perception of shellfish is that it is something we eat, possibly in upmarket restaurants. However, shellfish reefs form an environment that can provide a myriad of ecological and economic benefits but they have been under such over fishing pressure that these benefits have largely been lost. On a world stage shellfish reefs are considered among the most threatened habitats. This conference hopes to change perceptions, bringing scientists from all over the world to discuss how we can benefit from the experience elsewhere, particularly from the USA where there has been considerable investment and community work in shellfish restoration.”
Holding the conference in Stirling is appropriate, as the city is on the River Forth, once the most productive oyster fishery in Scotland where recently there was significant news coverage when Dr Liz Ashton found 2 live oysters where they had been, till then, considered extinct.
As a conference base the University offers both comfortable hotel-type accommodation plus student-style more economic choices, and also the possibility for family style chalet accommodation for scientists who may take the opportunity to bring their families and enjoy a Scottish holiday.
The conference will run from the evening of Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 August 2011, with a gala ceilidh on 26 August. Please note the dates and further details will be available shortly on the University website.
