"Life in Water: Sharing Spaces in Dynamic Systems"

Australian Society for Fish Biology / Australian Freshwater Sciences Society 2026 recognises that water is living Country that connects all beings. Rivers, seas, estuaries, and wetlands are shared relational domains where humans, animals, ancestors, and spiritual forces coexist within systems of responsibility. Grounded in this understanding, the conference brings together perspectives from across disciplines and traditions to foster solutions and optimism for thriving fish and aquatic ecosystems..

At the heart of the theme is sharing - of the physical realm of water and the resources it sustains; of insights gained through observation and scientific research; of knowledge passed through generations; and of the spiritual and emotional connections to land and sea Country. Sharing spaces explores how multiple species, ecological processes, and human activities coexist, interact, and are managed within interconnected aquatic environments across space and time. Achieving this requires not only practical tools, such as spatial planning, connectivity mapping, long-term monitoring, and adaptive governance that balance ecological function with diverse human uses, but also care, empathy, and a willingness to compromise.

Intersecting with these shared spaces is the inherently dynamic nature of aquatic systems. Heatwaves, algal blooms, drought and flooding, boom-and-bust populations, regime shifts, and invasive species continually reshape ecological conditions. By bringing together lessons from environmental change and disturbance, the conference aims to accelerate understanding of complexity in aquatic environments. Managing dynamic systems means listening to Country, learning from variability, and embedding flexibility in governance; aligning with adaptive knowledge rather than imposing rigid control.

By exploring shared spaces and dynamic systems, the conference aims to show how resilient aquatic ecosystems emerge when coexistence is actively managed within environments that are constantly changing. By balancing the needs of species and people while adapting to variability, disturbance, and uncertainty, we hope to show that ecosystems can restore, rebuild, and thrive to enable a fish-positive future.