Delegate
e-Book
This e-Book has everything you need for the conference. Use the numbered sections to find your way. Staff at the registration desk may point you to a section number, like "see 4.4".
Looking for a talk? Type the presenter's name or a topic in the search box.
Welcome
1.1Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the palawa / Pakana people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters on which this conference takes place, and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
1.2Welcome
ASFB & AFSS welcome you to Hobart 2026
“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.
1.3Organising committees
Conference organising committee
Scientific organising committee
Student subcommittee
1.4ASFB Executive Board
1.5AFSS Executive Board
Venue and delegate info
2.1The venue
- Venue
- Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart
- Address
- 1 Davey Street, Hobart TAS 7000
📍 Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (03) 6235 4535
- Talks
- Grand Ballroom (1, 2 and 3), Harbour View 1, Chancellor Room 6
- Catering and posters
- Federation Ballroom
The venue is on Hobart’s waterfront, a short walk from Salamanca Place, Constitution Dock and the city’s dining areas.
Venue map
The venue map, with the registration desk and the Speaker Preparation Room, will appear here.
2.2Registration desk
Collect your name badge before your first session.
| Day | Open |
|---|---|
| Monday 30 November | 8:00am – 5:30pm |
| Tuesday 1 December | 8:00am – 5:30pm |
| Wednesday 2 December | 8:00am – 5:40pm |
| Thursday 3 December | 8:00am – 4:00pm |
📍 Find the registration desk on the venue map in 2.1.
2.3Name badges and phones
Please wear your name badge to all sessions, breaks and social events. This is for security, so our team and venue staff know you’re part of the conference.
Lost or forgotten your badge? Please come to the registration desk (2.2) and we’ll help.
Please switch your phone to silent during sessions.
2.4Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi details are available at the registration desk.
2.5Getting there and parking
- From the airport
- Hobart Airport is 15 km from the city, about 20 minutes by taxi (around $45 each way).
- By sea
- The Spirit of Tasmania sails from Melbourne (Geelong) to Devonport. See spiritoftasmania.com.au.
- Hotel transport
- Private or group transfers from $15 per person (minimum numbers apply). Book directly at corporatecarstas.com.au, or ask the hotel’s Porters desk to book transport and tours. Please allow plenty of time. These are booked directly, not through ASN Events.
- Parking
- Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart: $25 per day self-park, or $50 per day valet.
2.6Hotels and accommodation
| Hotel | Address | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart | 1 Davey Street, Hobart | Conference venue |
| Crowne Plaza Hobart | 110 Liverpool Street, Hobart | About 850m from the venue |
| Vibe Hotel Hobart | 36 Argyle Street, Hobart | About 500m from the venue |
| Travelodge Hotel Hobart | 167 Macquarie Street, Hobart | About 870m from the venue |
For check-in and check-out times, please check your hotel’s website. For changes to your booking, please contact your hotel directly.
2.7Food and dietary needs
If you told us about your dietary needs when you registered, there will be a special catering station for you at breaks and social events. Please make yourself known to the venue staff.
Not sure what you entered? Log in to your registration dashboard to check, and make any changes before Tuesday 24 November.
After 24 November, please contact us and we’ll do our best to help. As planning is at a late stage by then, we can’t promise late changes.
2.8Merchandise
Collect your pre-ordered conference tee from the registration desk from Monday 30 November, during registration desk hours. Show your name badge.
A limited number of navy hemp caps are for sale onsite for $20 each, while stocks last.
2.9Sustainability and printed copies
Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart follows sustainable meeting practices for conferences and events, including:
- hydro-powered electricity, reflecting Tasmania’s renewable energy mix
- low-energy LED lighting and efficient building management systems
- water-saving fixtures and improved waste treatment
- no single-use plastics
- recycling stations for delegates and exhibitors
Across their hotels, Grand Chancellor also runs waste, energy and water reduction programs, recycling of glass, plastics and paper, staff sustainability training, and gives preference to environmentally responsible suppliers.
To reduce waste, printed programs aren’t handed out onsite. Use the Print or save as PDF button to print this e-Book before you travel.
Program
Times are Hobart time (AEDT). When several sessions run at once, tap a room to see its talks. Search a presenter's name to find their talk straight away.
3.1Sunday 29 November
Registration desk: closed today. It opens on Monday 30 November at 8:00am (see 2.2).
3.2Monday 30 November
Registration desk: open 8:00am to 5:30pm (see 2.2)
Grand Ballroom 2 · Session 1.1Ecosystem Change in Marine Climate Hotspots: Insights from Australia
Chair: Claire Spillman
Grand Ballroom 1 · Session 1.2Thinking big at small scales: the persistent value of detailed on-ground research to inform theory, management and policy
Chair: Wim Bovill
Grand Ballroom 3 · Session 1.3From DNA to Autonomous Fleets: Molecular approaches to aquatic monitoring
Chair: Madeline Green
Harbour View 1 · Session 1.4Doing More with Less: Science for Aquatic Systems in a Drying Climate
Chair: Kris Kleeman
Chancellor Room 6 · Session 1.5Genetics Enabled Stock Assessment and Fisheries Modelling
Grand Ballroom 2 · Session 2.1Ecosystem Change in Marine Climate Hotspots: Insights from Australia
Chair: Curtis Champion
Grand Ballroom 1 · Session 2.2Life in Water
Grand Ballroom 3 · Session 2.3Impact and Innovation in Monitoring: Long-term monitoring, condition and response
Harbour View 1 · Session 2.4Life in Water
Chair: Chris Leung
Chancellor Room 6 · Session 2.5Genetics Enabled Stock Assessment and Fisheries Modelling
Chair: Jorden Aulich
3.3Tuesday 1 December
Registration desk: open 8:00am to 5:30pm (see 2.2)
Grand Ballroom 2 · Session 3.1Progressing fisheries enhancement: current initiatives and future directions for fish stocking, habitat restoration, and artificial reefs
Chair: Matt Taylor
Grand Ballroom 1 · Session 3.2Life in Water
Grand Ballroom 3 · Session 3.3Impact and Innovation in Monitoring: Long-term monitoring, condition and response
Chair: David Crook
Harbour View 1 · Session 3.4Life in Water
Chancellor Room 6 · Session 3.5Crowding, catastrophes and climate change: challenges for harvest strategies and population/stock assessment
Chair: Katie Cresswell
Grand Ballroom 2 · Session 4.1Progressing fisheries enhancement: current initiatives and future directions for fish stocking, habitat restoration, and artificial reefs
Grand Ballroom 1 · Session 4.2Managing Freshwater Fish in Regulated River Systems
Grand Ballroom 3 · Session 4.3Impact and Innovation in Monitoring: Methods for measuring pressures and management outcomes
Harbour View 1 · Session 4.4Life in Water
Chancellor Room 6 · Session 4.5Crowding, catastrophes and climate change: challenges for harvest strategies and population/stock assessment
Grand Ballroom 2 · Session 5.1Restoring Biodiversity: Aquatic Habitat, Conservation Action and Community Partnerships
Grand Ballroom 1 · Session 5.2Managing Freshwater Fish in Regulated River Systems
Grand Ballroom 3 · Session 5.3Life in Water
Harbour View 1 · Session 5.4Fish, Food and Culture: Inland and Coastal Fisheries in Transition
Chancellor Room 6 · Session 5.5Life in Water
3.4Wednesday 2 December
Registration desk: open 8:00am to 5:40pm (see 2.2)
Grand Ballroom 2 · Session 6.1Preparing for a summer of extremes
Grand Ballroom 1 · Session 6.2Thinking big at small scales: the persistent value of detailed on-ground research to inform theory, management and policy
Grand Ballroom 3 · Session 6.3The Role of Technology in Aquatic Resource Research and Management.
Harbour View 1 · Session 6.4Making Every Drop Count: From Local Responses to Basin-Scale Recovery
Chancellor Room 6 · Session 6.5Crowding, catastrophes and climate change: challenges for harvest strategies and population/stock assessment
Grand Ballroom 2 · Session 7.1Preparing for a summer of extremes
Session will be followed by a panel discussion
Grand Ballroom 1 · Session 7.2Thinking big at small scales: the persistent value of detailed on-ground research to inform theory, management and policy
Session will be followed by a panel discussion
Grand Ballroom 3 · Session 7.3The Role of Technology in Aquatic Resource Research and Management.
Session will be followed by a panel discussion Panelists: Geoff Tuck (CSIRO), Julian Hughes (NSW DPI), Fisheries Manager - Fang Zhao (NRETAS), and Alison McNamara (Fish ID, Groffith Uni).
Harbour View 1 · Session 7.4Making Every Drop Count: From Local Responses to Basin-Scale Recovery
Session will be followed by a panel discussion
Chancellor Room 6 · Session 7.5Crowding, catastrophes and climate change: challenges for harvest strategies and population/stock assessment
Session will be followed by a panel discussion
3.5Thursday 3 December
Registration desk: open 8:00am to 4:00pm (see 2.2)
Grand Ballroom 2 · Session 8.1Restoring Biodiversity: Aquatic Habitat, Conservation Action and Community Partnerships
Grand Ballroom 1 · Session 8.2Managing Freshwater Fish in Regulated River Systems
Grand Ballroom 3 · Session 8.3Fish behaviour and welfare in fisheries and aquaculture
Harbour View 1 · Session 8.4Early Life Stages as Bottlenecks
Chancellor Room 6 · Session 8.5Sharing Space with Chondrichthyans
Grand Ballroom 2 · Session 9.1Restoring Biodiversity: Aquatic Habitat, Conservation Action and Community Partnerships
Grand Ballroom 1 · Session 9.2Managing Freshwater Fish in Regulated River Systems
Grand Ballroom 3 · Session 9.3Life in Water
Harbour View 1 · Session 9.4Harnessing calcified structures to understand aquatic taxa in changing habitats and through extreme events
Chancellor Room 6 · Session 9.5Sharing Space with Chondrichthyans
Grand Ballroom 2 · Session 10.1Restoring Biodiversity: Aquatic Habitat, Conservation Action and Community Partnerships
Grand Ballroom 1 · Session 10.2Managing Freshwater Fish in Regulated River Systems
Grand Ballroom 3 · Session 10.3Life in Water
Harbour View 1 · Session 10.4Life in Water
Chancellor Room 6 · Session 10.5Sharing Space with Chondrichthyans
3.6Friday 4 December
3.7Posters
Posters are on display in the Federation Ballroom. Presenters stand by their poster during the poster session on Tuesday 1 December, 5:30pm to 7:30pm (see 4.3).
| No. | Presenter | Poster title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kendra Thomas Travaille | From conflict to co-management: Transforming fisheries governance in Australia’s Indian Ocean Territories |
| 2 | Caitlin Ward | A glimpse into a climate-altered future: the response of freshwater fish populations to intense drought conditions in southwestern Australia |
| 4 | Finlay Rossiter-Hill | Sublethal effects of catch and release in Tasmania's most popular recreational fish |
| 5 | Wing Yan Audrey Wong | Resolving the stock structure of blue grenadier (Macruronus novaezelandiae) in Australian waters using genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) |
| 6 | Gangani Dharmarathne | Organic matter source and hydrology jointly shape dissolved organic matter dynamics in urban stormwater pits. |
| 7 | Thomas A Job | The Murrumbidgee Hydraulic Floodplain Inundation Model (Hy-FIM): A 2D hydraulic model derived inundation model for estimating floodplain hydraulic conditions using in-channel flow rates |
| 8 | Brendan C Ebner | Fish as environmental flow indicators in a mostly unstudied and highly regulated river |
| 9 | Justine Holmes | Modernising waterbug monitoring: developing digital tools for scientists and citizen scientists to build better data" |
| 10 | Bill Peirson | Pipe fishways: similarities and differences |
| 11 | Leigha R Aitken | Enhancing fisheries modelling with data from no-take marine reserves |
| 12 | Jonathon A Shaw | eDNA-derived tropical fish community attributes are uninfluenced by increasing sample volume |
| 13 | Jessica Blakeway | A new species of walking shark: Dudgeon’s walking shark (Hemiscyllium dudgeonae) |
| 14 | Stu Little | Recognising and celebrating the co-benefits from on-Country collaboration, learning and networking - the story of the Cultural Advisory Group (CAG) for the Native Fish Recovery Strategy |
| 15 | Manuja Lekammudiyanse | What street sweepers remove and what they miss? |
| 16 | Joshua J. R. Esman | Using novel ocean observations from fishing vessels in Australian pelagic longline fisheries to elucidate the catchability of tuna and billfish under climate change |
| 18 | Helen von Drenkmann | Leaning left: turn bias and habitat complexity shape spatial cognition in a coral-reef fish |
| 19 | Riley Benson | Assessing age and growth of the critically endangered winghead shark (Eusphyra blochii) in the Northern Territory, Australia |
| 20 | Emily Taljaard | Investigating the efficacy of static green LED devices to reduce elasmobranch bycatch in northern Australian pelagic nets |
| 22 | Mitchell Brennan | Flagship species in practice: A case study of the conservation of the Endangered White’s seahorse |
| 23 | Mitchell Brennan | Habitat preference of juvenile Endangered White’s seahorse, Hippocampus whitei |
| 24 | Douglas Reeves | Bidirectional fish passage in a dryland river: fishway monitoring on the Warrego |
| 25 | Louise Hosking | Beyond band counts: chemical sclerochronology for refined elasmobranch age and growth |
| 26 | Miranda Spencer-Altice | Are you my father? Detection of multiple paternity in coastal and deep-sea elasmobranchs. |
| 27 | Danielle Hardie | Science-informed freshwater policy to support sustainable water management in Tasmania: insights from the Rural Water Use Strategy |
| 28 | Malcolm Haddon | More fisheries modelling using R |
| 29 | Richard Takyi | Optimal policies for responding to marine heatwave impacts on fisheries |
| 30 | Golam Mohammod Mostakim | Does temperature alter salinity tolerance in freshwater organisms? Evidence from a meta-analysis |
| 31 | Alex J. C. Burton | Same population, different places: Regional variation in the growth of juvenile school sharks (Galeorhinus galeus) |
| 32 | Luke Pearce | Bringing Back Bluenose |
| 34 | Tasman Sadler | Investigating the Impacts of Trout on Macroinvertebrate Communities in Australian Alpine Streams |
| 35 | Alessia Frattini | Echoes below the surface: revealing Atlantic salmon behaviour through integrated acoustic monitoring |
| 36 | Matthew A Yeo | Living Under a Rock: Innovative trials for the Critically Endangered Notopala sublineata sublineata integrated into fish passage projects |
| 37 | James Wong | Site-Attached Damselfish Show Site-Specific Shifts in Isotopic Niche On Subtropical Reefs |
| 38 | Nathaniel Hess | Estuarine morphology and extreme weather events influence sedimentation rates beneath Sydney Rock Oyster aquaculture, oyster reefs and mangroves in New South Wales |
| 39 | Arielle Cowton | A practical husbandry and breeding protocol for the epaulette shark, Hemiscyllium ocellatum, a toolbox for research, conservation and public education |
| 41 | Eliza Shiels | Southern bell frogs back in the lower Lachlan River, but where from? |
| 42 | Angela Lanspeary | Production of a fresh-freshwater macrophyte field guide |
| 43 | Christian A Muzic | Spatial patterns in foraging and interactions among fish in shallow estuarine habitats |
| 44 | Saori Miura | Impact of Anemone Bleaching on the Brain and Liver Transcriptomes of Anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) |
| 45 | Emma Gairin | Surviving extreme heat: transcriptional responses of juvenile reef fish across a coastal urbanisation gradient |
| 46 | Lara Yavuzdogan | Evaluating Social Media for Monitoring of NSW Recreational Fisheries |
| 47 | Samuel Ho | AUFISHTime: A database of freshwater fish time-series to inform freshwater ecosystem conservation in Australia |
| 48 | Veronika N Biskis | Reconstructing sawfish declines on Australia's east coast |
| 49 | Zachary D.M. Lynch | Broad-scale movement patterns of gummy sharks (Mustelus antarcticus) in southeastern Australia using satellite tracking |
| 50 | John Gooderham | The National Water Account: The "ins" and "outs" of water all in one place |
| 51 | Xiaoni Wu | The Choice of Canned Tuna - Optimising Agrifood Supply Chain for Sustainability and Social Impact |
| 52 | Kiele Braun | The classification and drivers of South Australian flow regimes |
| 53 | Alissa Tate | Confirming the catch: validating species identification between boat ramp and phone diary surveys in a multispecies recreational fishery |
| 54 | Michael Sharman | The Waterbug App: a citizen science macroinvertebrate survey tool that now teaches taxonomy |
| 55 | Johanna Johansson | How suspended sediment exposure duration impacts stress responses in juvenile coral reef fish |
| 56 | Jason R Hartog | Marine heatwaves – a historical time series for Australia |
| 57 | Ryan J Nevatte | Assessing allometric growth in the morphology of common sawsharks (Pristiophorus cirratus) |
| 58 | Andrew Harford | From Research to Routine Monitoring: OSS's Omics Strategy for Freshwater Ecosystem Assessment |
| 59 | Tiffany Sih | Small fish, big output: revealing a damselfish-mediated biogeochemical pathway linking pelagic nutrients to reef-building corals |
| 60 | Tessa Hyde | A global pattern of ecological traits associated with threatened elasmobranch communities |
| 61 | Cara Masere | Opportunistic monitoring of larval fish during RSV Nuyina voyages |
| 62 | Allira Taylor-Wilkins | Population Dynamics of Native Freshwater Fish in the seasonal rivers of the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia |
| 63 | Darcy Coughlan | Predicting gully occurrence in the Upper Murrumbidgee catchment using GIS software and machine learning |
| 64 | Dale Campbell | Golden perch spawning and recruitment in floodplain lakes after environmental watering |
| 65 | Foyez Shams | Genetic diversity and population genetic structure of Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) in the Lachlan River. |
| 66 | Peter Unmack | Our disappearing creeks in northern Victoria, an impending crisis |
| 67 | Erika Teng Gui | Post-fire ash runoff effects on physiological and behavioural stress responses in an endemic crustacean |
| 68 | Bryson Lashbrook | From water to outcomes: using complementary environmental activities to maximise benefits for native fish across the Murray-Darling Basin |
| 69 | Ian Hawkins | Vanishing under the surface: A complete lifecycle study of decline in Hydrobiosidae caddisflies |
| 70 | Keheng Yan | The effect of nutrient enrichment gradients on fatty acid profiles of riverine algae |
| 71 | Adrienne Gooden | Who's in the estuary? Environmental DNA reveals elasmobranch communities, a threatened-species range extension, and cyclone-driven disturbance across NSW |
| 72 | Younis Menkara | Non-invasive assessment of diet in wirrahs (Teleostei: Acanthistiidae: Acanthistius) using X-ray and micro-CT imaging |
| 73 | Sally Maxwell | Assessing changes in floodplain wetland inundation extent: drought exacerbates interdecadal drying in multiple rivers |
| 74 | Joshua Whiley | Long-distance relationships: life-history variation between three closely-related and geographically separated, imperilled freshwater fish. |
| 75 | Sharon L Jones | From Skin to Sequence: Uncovering the Diversity of Monogenean Parasites Infecting Bull Sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) in Southeast Queensland |
| 76 | Leah Beesley | Devil in the eDNA detail? Effectiveness depends on the method of collection (active vs passive), fish species and environment |
| 77 | Jennifer Hodge | Genomic Foundations for Understanding the Origins and Future of Western Australia's Marine Fish Diversity |
| 78 | Michelle J Hobbs | Freshwater mussel communities in south-eastern Queensland: distribution, habitat and culture |
| 79 | Mohammad Hassan Ranjbar | CyanoIBM: An individual-based model explaining the autumn disappearance of deep chlorophyll maxima of the toxin-producing cyanobacterium Planktothrix rubescens in temperate lakes |
| 80 | Lily Z Bennett | Investigating species-specific cardiac and mitochondrial adaptation to entrained exercise in chrysophrys auratus and seriola lalandi |
| 81 | Alexandra S Johne | Shifting drivers: environmental conditions determine the relative importance of feeding hierarchy, stress and metabolic heterogeneity in structuring growth variation in Atlantic salmon |
| 82 | Zali Grace | Age and growth of King George whiting in northern Tasmania. |
| 83 | Tony Miskiewicz | Comparison of the larval development of three species of the clingfish genus Aspasmogaster (F. Gobiesocidae) from south-eastern Australia |
| 84 | Md Rakibul Hasan | Enhancing the fisheries of the wavy periwinkle, Lunella undulata industry in Tasmania, Australia |
| 85 | Nut MUNPHOLSRI | Beyond the Mainstream: Counterintuitive growth responses of barramundi to hydrological modification in an irrigated tropical basin. |
| 86 | John P Keane | Invasive species in a changing climate: evaluating nine measures for adaptive fisheries management |
| 87 | Mayuresh Gangal | Exploring value – action gap in Indian seafood consumption: Experience from Know Your Fish Initiative |
| 88 | Hayden T Schilling | Simulation testing of integrated stock assessment models for inland fisheries |
| 89 | Shokoofeh Shamsi | When Freshwater Ecosystems Change: Fish, Parasites and the Health of a Shared System |
| 90 | Lachlan George | Working with citizen scientists to investigate the movement of sand flathead (Platycephalus bassensis) in Tasmanian waters |
| 91 | Nadhrah Nasrullah | Predator’s pick: prey-preference of native lobsters offered range-extending and native urchins |
| 92 | Olivia J Johnson | Legacy metal contamination in fish and shellfish from the Timtumili Minanya/Derwent Estuary |
| 93 | Juan Bueno-Pardo | Can your research help small-scale fisheries? |
| 94 | Hugo Ketchell | Tracing mangrove organic carbon and nutrient outwelling within the Hunter Estuary, NSW. |
| 95 | Jackson Wilkes Walburn | On the move: tracking the fine-scale responses of platypuses to variable habitat and shifting climate |
| 96 | Simon Roberts | Development of a machine-learning detector for platypus in time-lapse images from waterways. |
3.8Live program and abstracts
The live program always has the latest times and every talk's abstract. Tap a session, then a talk, to read its abstract.
Open the live program (new tab)
Every talk and poster in this e-Book has a Read abstract button. The search box also finds co-authors and words in the abstracts.
All abstracts are also in section 10, Program Abstracts, where you can sort them by session or by abstract number, and print them.
Browse all abstracts (section 10)
Choose Save as PDF as your printer to keep a copy.
Social events
Please wear your name badge to every event. To add a ticket, ask ASN staff at the registration desk.
4.1Welcome reception
- When
- Sunday 29 November, 6:00pm to 8:00pm
- Where
- Waterline, Brooke Street Pier, Franklin Wharf
📍 Open in Google Maps - Ticket
- Included for full registration delegates. Additional guests $80, selected during registration.
4.2Student mixer
- When
- Monday 30 November, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
- Where
- The Brick Factory, 55 Salamanca Place, Hobart
📍 Open in Google Maps - Who
- Students and invited guests only, including the ASFB Executive and FRDC representatives
- Ticket
- Free for registered students. RSVP needed for catering and venue capacity.
4.3Poster session
- When
- Tuesday 1 December, 5:30pm to 7:30pm
- Where
- Federation Ballroom, Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart
- Ticket
- Free for full registration delegates, selected during registration
- Posters
- Full list in 3.7
4.4Conference dinner
- When
- Thursday 3 December, 7:00pm till late
- Where
- Kingfisher, Elizabeth Street Pier
📍 Open in Google Maps - Ticket
- $120 for delegates, $150 for additional guests, bought during registration
4.5Field trip: Salmon Ponds and Derwent catchment
- When
- Friday 4 December
- Meet
- Front of Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart
| 10:30am | Meet the bus at the front of Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart |
| 11:00am | Bus departs for Salmon Ponds (sharp) |
| 1:30pm | Lunch at Pancakes by the Pond |
| 4:00pm | Bus departs Salmon Ponds |
| 4:30pm | Arrive back at the hotel (approx.) |
Presenting
5.1Speaker Preparation Room
See the venue map in 2.1 for the Speaker Preparation Room.
| Day | Open |
|---|---|
| Sunday 29 November | 3:00pm to 5:00pm |
| Monday 30 November | 8:00am to 5:00pm |
| Tuesday 1 December | 8:00am to 5:30pm |
| Wednesday 2 December | 8:00am to 5:00pm |
| Thursday 3 December | 8:00am to 5:30pm |
Upload your talk from a USB drive or external hard drive at least 2 hours before your session.
Presenting on Monday? Please upload on Sunday 29 November between 3:00pm and 5:00pm to avoid the Monday morning rush. If you can’t make it on Sunday, the room opens at 8:00am on Monday.
5.2Giving a talk
Your notification email has your session date, time, room and talk length. You can also search your name at the top of this page.
Format
- Supply your slides in PowerPoint (.ppt or .pptx), set to 16:9 widescreen.
- Using Apple Keynote? Convert to PowerPoint first. Please prepare and present in Microsoft PowerPoint.
Content and timing
- Allow about 1–2 slides per minute.
- All talks run strictly to time. We strongly encourage you to use part of your time for audience questions.
Slide tips
- Use at least 24–32pt for body text, and larger for headings.
- Keep to one key message per slide.
- Use visuals (graphs, images, icons) instead of large blocks of text.
- Use strong contrast between text and background.
- Keep graphs and charts simple, and highlight the key insight.
- Avoid small text and cluttered visuals, so everything is readable from the back of the room.
Videos, animations and notes
- Embed all videos in your PowerPoint, and bring a backup copy on a USB drive.
- Remove preset slide timings and automatic slide advance.
Presenter Notes view is only available in the main plenary room (Grand Ballroom 2). Breakout rooms have lectern laptops without Presenter View.
On the day
- Personal laptops can’t be connected at the lectern. Upload your talk in the Speaker Preparation Room (5.1).
- Upload from a USB drive or external hard drive at least 2 hours before your session.
- Arrive at your room 15 minutes before your session to meet the chair and other speakers.
5.3Presenting a poster
- Find your poster number in 3.7, or search your name.
- Check your poster size: A0 maximum (84.1 × 118.9 cm), portrait. Velcro tabs are provided for mounting.
- Put your poster up in the Federation Ballroom from 8:00am on Monday 30 November.
- Stand next to your poster during the poster session on Tuesday 1 December, 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Your poster can stay up until the end of afternoon tea on Thursday 3 December.
- Take your poster down by the end of afternoon tea on Thursday 3 December. Posters left after this are taken to the registration desk. Posters not collected by 4:00pm on Thursday 3 December will be thrown away.
Need to print locally? Services near the venue: Fast Forward Digital, Snap Print Solutions Hobart and Art Poster Plus.
5.4Chairing a session
Thank you for chairing! Please check the email we sent you for the full session chair information.
- Meet your speakers in your room 15 minutes before the session starts.
- Keep the session strictly to time.
Workshops
Start your conference early. These practical, interactive sessions are a great chance to build your skills, explore key topics and connect with other delegates before the main conference begins. All workshops are on Sunday 29 November.
How to join a workshop
- Already registered for the conference? Add the workshop to your registration as an add-on.
- Only coming to a workshop? Register as Workshop Only.
Go to the Registration page Sunday in the live program
Times and sessions may change. Check the live program for the latest information.
6.1Workshop 1: Fishes as habitats: practical skills in detection of parasites
Full day
- When
- Sunday 29 November, 9:00am to 4:00pm
- Where
- IMAS Salamanca Teaching Laboratory, 20 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point TAS 7004
- Cost
- $65 per person
- Places
- Limited to 30
- Includes
- Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
About this workshop
Parasites are biodiverse, ubiquitous and ecologically significant, yet are often misunderstood and underappreciated. Fishes are excellent hosts! Some parasites cause significant disease threatening human health, commercial fish stocks or native fish populations. Most parasites are economically unimportant and exist in tolerated equilibrium with hosts. These parasites receive minimal attention and represent much undiscovered biodiversity, including many imperilled taxa which will be lost without being detected by science. Parasites also add much complexity for understanding fishes at the levels of individual physiology, population dynamics and community ecology. Parasite specimens and infection data are valuable and informative, but the opportunities to collect these data are frequently overlooked.
This practical workshop will develop direct experience dissecting fresh fishes in search of live parasite taxa. Learn who the parasites are, where and how to look for them, and how to isolate and preserve encountered specimens. The practical component is complemented by theory designed to provide a foundational awareness of parasite biodiversity and parasitology concepts, challenge perceptions of parasites, and to inspire consideration for parasites in programmes of scientific enquiry focused on fishes and ecosystems.
This workshop is for researchers and stakeholders working with fishes, fisheries and aquatic ecosystems interested in developing the basic theoretical awareness and practical skillset required to begin exploration of the parasite faunas in their focus fishes. We hope this workshop will promote mutually rewarding collaboration with parasitologists and parasite taxonomists.
Workshop led by
- Dr Storm MartinAssociate Lecturer, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth
- Dr Kate HutsonSenior Scientist and Team Lead, Aquatic Health, Cawthron Institute, New Zealand
- Dr Ivona MladineoAssociate Professor, University of Tasmania, Hobart
6.2Workshop 2: From Pixels to Policy: Building a National Framework for AI-enabled Recreational and Charter Fisheries Monitoring
Full day
- When
- Sunday 29 November, 8:30am to 4:00pm
- Where
- IMAS Salamanca Lecture Theatre, 20 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point TAS 7004
- Cost
- $50 per person
- Places
- Limited to 60
- Chair
- Dr Alyssa Marshell
- Includes
- Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
About this workshop
Artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision and machine learning are rapidly transforming fisheries monitoring in Australia. While this workshop will focus on recreational and charter fisheries, advances across all sectors, including commercial fishing and aquaculture, are creating new opportunities to improve the scale, efficiency and resolution of fisheries data collection. Emerging applications such as boat ramp and fish cleaning station cameras, mobile apps and citizen science platforms can support the estimation of fishing effort, species identification, fish length measurements and catch monitoring across broad spatial and temporal scales.
This workshop will bring together fisheries researchers, managers, computer vision specialists, industry and recreational fishing representatives to explore the current landscape of AI-enabled monitoring and identify opportunities for national collaboration. Building on a national online workshop held in June 2026, the focus will shift from individual projects to the broader questions of coordination, standardisation and shared infrastructure.
The workshop will feature short speed presentations, breakout discussions and interactive planning sessions covering emerging technologies, lessons learned, data standards, privacy and social licence, and how AI-derived data can be integrated into fisheries research, stock assessment and management. Participants will explore opportunities for cross-jurisdictional monitoring of shared stocks and discuss pathways to a coordinated national framework.
Potential expected outcomes include a collaborative review or perspectives paper, a national repository of projects and resources, identification of priorities for shared datasets and infrastructure, and the establishment of a national working group to guide future development of AI-enabled fisheries monitoring in Australia.
Workshop led by
- Dr Alyssa Marshell (Chair)Senior Research Fellow / Fisheries Scientist, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania (UTAS)
- Dr Joni Pini-FitzsimmonsCharles Darwin University (CDU)
Workshop schedule
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 8:30am – 9:00am | Arrival |
| 9:00am – 9:20am | Welcome |
| 9:20am – 10:20am | Session 1a: Speed presentations Colleagues from across Australia and overseas share work in their patch and insights on how we could coordinate more effectively. |
| 10:20am – 10:40am | Morning tea |
| 10:40am – 11:00am | Session 1b: Dr Asta Audzijonyte (IMAS, UTAS) How AI-based image analysis is being advanced in fisheries monitoring internationally, with a focus on the EU. |
| 11:00am – 12:00pm | Session 2: Updating the current landscape We revisit the June workshop outcomes, confirm what still holds, add what is missing, and scope what ‘best practice’ might look like. |
| 12:00pm – 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm – 2:00pm | Session 3a: Breakout streams We will break into streams to progress key aspects of this work. |
| 2:00pm – 2:30pm | Afternoon tea |
| 2:30pm – 3:30pm | Session 3b: Breakout streams We will share information across streams and agree on next steps. |
| 3:30pm – 4:00pm | Wrap up Next steps and confirm commitments. |
Break times may vary slightly. Check the live program for the latest timings.
6.3Workshop 3: Developing the ASFB Threatened Species Watch List
Half day
- When
- Sunday 29 November, 12:00pm to 4:00pm
- Where
- IMAS Salamanca Boardroom, 20 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point TAS 7004
- Cost
- Free
- Places
- Limited to 30
- Includes
- Lunch and afternoon tea
About this workshop
The ASFB Threatened Fishes Committee has maintained a national list of threatened freshwater and marine fishes for over 30 years. Historically, the ASFB’s Threatened Species List provided an important source of information at a time when national (EPBC) and global (IUCN) assessments were incomplete or outdated. With recent updates to IUCN Red List assessments and the ongoing expansion of EPBC listings, there is an opportunity to redefine the role of the ASFB list to complement, rather than duplicate, these existing frameworks.
This half-day workshop will bring together ASFB members to develop a new Threatened Species Watch List: a streamlined, qualitative approach to documenting species and populations of emerging conservation concern. The watch list will provide a mechanism for highlighting recently described species, undescribed taxa, and species or populations experiencing rapid declines or new threats that may not yet be reflected in formal conservation assessments.
Participants will work collaboratively to define the purpose and scope of the watch list, establish criteria for inclusion, develop a standardised assessment template, and discuss listing submission and publication processes. The resulting framework will provide a practical, citable, and easily updated resource that complements IUCN and EPBC assessments while improving ASFB’s capacity to communicate emerging conservation concerns for Australia’s freshwater and marine fishes.
The workshop will be of interest to researchers, managers and practitioners working in threatened species conservation, as well as anyone interested in helping shape the future direction of the ASFB Threatened Fishes Committee and its role in supporting fish conservation in Australia.
Workshop led by
- Mitchell BrennanPhD Candidate, UTS
- Amy TimsUniMelb / Monash
6.4Workshop 4: Everything You Need to Know About Publishing
Afternoon
- When
- Sunday 29 November, 1:00pm to 4:00pm
- Where
- Freycinet Room, CSIRO Marine Laboratory, Castray Esplanade, Hobart
- Cost
- Free for registered delegates
About this workshop
Publishing in peer-reviewed journals is one of the most important, but often most daunting, milestones in a researcher’s career. This workshop, facilitated by CSIRO Publishing, is designed to demystify the publishing process for early- to mid-career researchers through direct engagement with experienced journal editors and publishing professionals.
The session will open with a moderated panel discussion featuring up to three editors or publishing specialists, who will share practical insights on the full submission lifecycle: from what makes a manuscript compelling to how to navigate reviewer feedback and revision. Topics will include common submission pitfalls, the role of the cover letter, best practices for responding to reviewers, and the growing landscape of open access publishing.
A live audience Q&A will follow, giving participants the opportunity to seek personalised advice and raise questions specific to their own publishing journeys. Depending on audience interest, prioritisation of audience questions will be accommodated. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to strengthen their manuscripts, improve their engagement with the editorial process, and approach publication with greater confidence.
This workshop is particularly suited to researchers preparing their first submission, seeking to refine their approach to scholarly publishing or those struggling to navigate the publishing ecosystem.
Workshop led by
- Pat HannahJournal Manager, CSIRO Publishing
Plenary speakers and awards
7.1Award recipients
How much can we alter a river’s flow regime without causing ecological impacts? Evidence from an ELOHA trial
Thursday 3 Dec, 4:30pm · See in programRead bio
Angela Arthington did her Ph D in entomology and started her freshwater career in the 1970s researching invertebrate diversity in Queensland’s dune lakes and urban streams but soon progressed into work on alien fishes by invitation from ANPWS. Collaborative research on native fishes and their habitat and environmental flow requirements soon followed, producing a raft of publications on river and regional assessment methods (e.g., ELOHA) and later her book “Environmental Flows: Saving Rivers in the Third Millennium” (2012). Angela received the “Making a Difference Award” (US Instream Flow Council) for protection of fragile river and floodplain ecosystems and threatened species. Her commitment to the conservation of aquatic biodiversity has helped to bring the freshwater biodiversity crisis into scientific and policy prominence (e.g., the freshwater Emergency Recovery Plan and its implementation). Life in retirement is enlivened by editorial roles with Frontiers in Environmental Science.
Securing Australia’s water future
Thursday 3 Dec, 4:00pm · See in programRead bio
Justin Brookes is a lecturer at Adelaide University. He has worked in the water sector for 30 years and commenced at SA Water upon completion of his PhD in 1998. Justin’s research spans cyanobacteria, lake and reservoir management, pathogen transport, aquatic biogeochemistry, microbial ecology and more recently sawfish and crocodile ecology. He has published more than 200 refereed journal papers, 10 book chapters and four books on lake and reservoir management. Justin has secured more than $35million in research funding and his applied research supports water policy and planning. Justin has supervised 30 PhD students and lectures to 500 undergraduate students each year. In 2025 he was awarded the prestigious Hilary Jolly Award by the Australian Society of Freshwater Sciences.
Fish, plastics and people: exploring the changing pressures on our oceans
Tuesday 1 Dec, 9:00am · See in programRead bio
Nina Wootton is a marine ecologist and lecturer at Adelaide University, working at the intersection of marine ecology, fisheries, environmental science and conservation. Her research focuses on practical, science-based solutions to environmental challenges, with particular interests in marine plastic pollution, contaminants, seafood and fisheries. Nina investigates how plastics and microplastics move through marine food webs and affect seafood species, ecosystems and human health. She also works with industry, government, Traditional Owners and communities to support sustainable fisheries, coastal restoration and ocean conservation. Nina is the South Australian representative on the Australian Society for Fish Biology Executive Council and was awarded the ASFB Early Career Excellence Award in 2025.
Accidental ecologist
Tuesday 1 Dec, 9:30am · See in programRead bio
Joe is a riparian ecologist and lover of plants. He completed a PhD at The University of Melbourne on the role of river flows in shaping riparian vegetation. He is currently a Senior Research Fellow at UoM and enjoys working with land and water managers, Traditional Owners and others to restore wetland ecosystems. His current research focuses include environmental flow management; novel approaches to instream revegetation; and Wurundjeri-led research and management to better care for billabongs.
Wanted and unwanted fish passage: addressing connectivity challenges in human-modified rivers
Monday 30 Nov, 9:20am · See in programRead bio
Joachim Bretzel is a freshwater fish ecologist specialising in aquatic conservation in regulated river systems. He completed his PhD at Charles Sturt University (CSU), investigating fish entrainment and impingement at water diversions and the effectiveness of fish-protection screens. He is currently a Fisheries Scientist with Australasian Fish Passage Services and an Adjunct Research Fellow at CSU. His research focuses on fish passage, community and movement ecology, water infrastructure impacts, and the design and evaluation of measures to improve connectivity and habitat in regulated rivers. Joachim works across applied fisheries research and monitoring projects throughout eastern Australia to support evidence-based management and conservation of freshwater fish.
7.2Plenary and invited speakers
Tasmanian Aboriginal seafoods: cultural care in commercial fishery settings
Tuesday 1 Dec, 8:30am · See in programRead bio
Professor Emma Lee OAM is a trawlwulwuy woman from tebrakunna country, north-east Tasmania. She joined Federation University in 2023 to further Indigenous-led research and social impacts. Emma is an internationally recognised expert on Indigenous methodologies, especially as applied to land and sea management. She has written books, papers and reports on Indigenous rights, governance and regional development. Her favourite research areas are government policy, renewables, tourism and fisheries. Emma has also led work to establish a market for cultural fisheries in Tasmania through an inaugural Aboriginal food tourism trail based on commercial abalone operations.
In 2023 she became the first Indigenous woman to be a global recipient of a Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation. In 2021, she was the first Indigenous Australian editor of a Best Practice Guideline for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Emma was also a finalist for 2022 Australian of the Year (Tasmania) for her body of work in Indigenous rights.
Stream invertebrates and energy flow
Wednesday 2 Dec, 5:40pm · See in programRead bio
Richard Marchant studies the community ecology and population dynamics of aquatic insects and other lotic invertebrates. He did his PhD on the energy dynamics of brine shrimps in salt lakes in western Victoria, Australia. He then spent several years investigated the feeding and population ecology of riverine amphipods in Ontario, Canada and the composition of tropical invertebrates in billabongs in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory. Since arriving at the Museum of Victoria 45 years ago he has mostly worked on stream invertebrate communities in Victoria but has strayed into southern NSW and Macquarie Is. He is now retired.
Bridging the gap between fisheries management, fish health and fish culture
Wednesday 2 Dec, 8:30am · See in programRead bio
Margaret H. Murphy, Ph.D. AFS President. Margaret is a Fisheries Program Manager for the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. She manages Lake Champlain programs including Lake Sturgeon research, habitat assessment and restoration, and coordinating with New York State and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff on salmonid management and sea lamprey control. In addition, Margaret provides statewide coordination for flow and hydropower relicensing projects. Prior to joining VT DFW, Margaret spent over 25 years in private consulting primarily focused on fish, water quality, and habitat issues related to contaminated sediment sites. Her final four years in consulting were spent running her own small business in the Adirondack Mountains in New York providing services related to water quality, habitat, and fisheries management throughout the region. Margaret received her B.S. in Biology from Siena College and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Fisheries from SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Margaret has been an AFS member for over 35 years and has served as president of two chapters, the Northeastern Division, and Water Quality Section as well as chair of numerous committees and meeting planning teams. Margaret has participated or chaired the Strategic Plan revision committee for the past four updates. Margaret has been a Certified Fisheries Professional since 2002 and became an AFS Fellow in 2022.
Managing the unprecedented: lessons from South Australia’s harmful algal bloom for science, policy and management
Wednesday 2 Dec, 8:30am · See in programSponsors and expo floor plan
8.1Our sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors and exhibitors for supporting ASFB–AFSS 2026. Visit the exhibitors in the Federation Ballroom – find them on the expo floor plan in 8.2.
Gold sponsors
Silver sponsors
Workshop sponsor
Plenary sponsors
Concurrent session sponsor
Exhibitors
Conference dinner partner
8.2Expo floor plan and exhibitors
The exhibition is in the Federation Ballroom (mezzanine level), with catering, posters and tea and coffee. Visit the exhibitors during breaks.
Help and contacts
9.1Need help?
Please come and see us at the registration desk. ASN Events staff are there throughout the conference and are happy to help with any question.
Desk opening hours are in 2.2 Registration desk.
9.2Conference secretariat
- Organiser
- ASN Events
- Phone
- +61 3 8658 9530
- Address
- Level 2, 5 Queens Road, Melbourne VIC 3004
- Contact
- Send us a message via the contact form
Program Abstracts
10.1About the abstracts
All abstracts for ASFB–AFSS 2026, as submitted by the authors. Type a name, topic or id# in the search box at the top to find an abstract. Tap an abstract’s title to read it on its own page.
10.2All abstracts
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