The annual Fisheries Science Seminar, organised by the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) will take place on 25 September 2024. This year's seminar will focus on the potential contribution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) towards achieving fisheries sustainability.
The 2024 science seminar will be dedicated to exploring the rapid developments in the area of artificial intelligence to support the scientific process, and in particular how this approach can be instrumental towards sustainable fisheries management with increased transparency of fishing activity and reduced impact on the environment.
The seminar will include presentations from experts in the field followed by discussions involving seminar’s participants. In addition, a poster exhibition, showcasing successful fisheries science projects integrating AI based knowledge, will be displayed at the event premises.
Throughout the duration of the seminar, a poster exhibition displaying successful projects implementing AI in fisheries can be visited on event premises.
How to get to the venue
The Fisheries Science Seminar will take place at COOP in Quai Fernand Demets 23, 1070 Anderlecht, Belgium. The venue can be easily reached from Brussels South/Midi Train Station with public transport. Take metro line 2 or 6 and get off at “Delacroix” (2 stops), exit 3. COOP is on sight and can be reached walking South-West along the canal. Alternatively, take tram line 81 and get off at “Anderlecht Kuregem” (4 stops). COOP is on sight and can be reached walking North-East along the canal.
Registration
The event can be attended physically or remotely. Up to seating capacity, we strongly encourage physical participation to fully participate in the seminar.
- artificial intelligence | fisheries policy
- Wednesday 25 September 2024, 14:00 - 18:00 (CEST)
- Anderlecht, Brussels, Belgium
Programme
- 25 Sep 2024, 13:30 - 14:00 (CEST)Registration and welcome coffee
- 14:00 - 14:30 (CEST)Welcome by DG MARE
Keynote speech “Can we produce trustworthy artificial intelligence to support fisheries and marine research and policy?” by Dr José Antonio Fernandes Salvador, chair of ICES Machine learning working group
- 14:30 - 15:20 (CEST)Thematic sessions in breakout rooms (in parallel):
A. Fisheries conservation and management:
- Fully Documented Fisheries project by Edwin van Helmond, Wageningen University
- Saving Norway's Endangered Atlantic Salmon by sorting out unwanted species using AI by Vegard Kjenner, Huawei Norway and Geir Kristiansen, Berlevag Hunter and Fishermen's Association
- AI.Fish project by Justin Kay, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
B. Benefits and challenges for fishermen:
- OPTIFISH project, by Jade Maes and Els Torreele, Ilvo
- Game of Trawls/Marine Beacon project by Robin Faillettaz, Ifremer
- Fish-X project by Jana Stünkel, Transmartech and Anna Conchon, Collecte Localisation Satellites
C. Data collection and analysis:
- AI in fisheries data collection and analysis by Anton Ellenbroek, FAO
- SMARTFISH & EVERYFISH projects by Rachel Tiller, Sintef Ocean
- 15:20 - 15:45 (CEST)Coffee break
- 15:45 - 16:30 (CEST)Workshops/discussion groups
- Fisheries conservation and management (on-site)
- Benefits and challenges for fishermen (on-site)
- Data collection and analysis (on-site)
- Cross-cutting (online)
- 16:30 - 17:00 (CEST)Closing by DG MARE
- 17:00 - 19:00 (CEST)Networking/cocktail
Practical information
- When
- Wednesday 25 September 2024, 14:00 - 18:00 (CEST)
- Where
- COOPQuai Fernand Demets 23, 1070 Anderlecht, Brussels, Belgium
- Languages
- English
Description
Each year the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) organises a science seminar, which brings together a wide range of stakeholders such as scientists, fishing industry, NGOs, and representatives of the European Commission, Parliament, Council and Member States, to discuss topical scientific developments and links to the implementation of the common fisheries policy. This seminar provides a platform for dialogue on the current and future science challenges, as well as a networking opportunity for all stakeholders, who have an opportunity to reflect on the state of the scientific advice and research on fisheries, and the challenges ahead. This in turn feeds into DG MARE’s internal reflections to shape future policies or adjust current ones, of further relevance ahead of the next Commission mandate.
Following the opening and keynote, the seminar will be broken down into three thematic sessions, which will run in parallel, focusing respectively on: fisheries conservation and management, benefits and challenges for fishermen, and data collection and analysis. The breakout session will consist of presentations from selected speakers (2-3 per session) of about 10 minutes each. All sessions will be available for online audience to watch.
After the coffee break, on-site participants from each session will engage in discussion groups, moderated by DG MARE colleagues, reflecting on AI applications in fisheries. This will be an opportunity to gather participants views and expertise and to allow participants to exchange further with speakers about their research activities. Online participants will be given the opportunity to engage in an online discussion group cross-cutting the different sessions.
To better prepare the exchanges that will take place during the seminar, we compiled a survey with selected questions on AI and fisheries. The survey closed on 11 September 2024. The answers received will be used to guide the discussion among participants during the event and will be included in the seminar’s report.
Previous editions
The 2023 Fisheries Science Seminar focused on the role of Citizen Science in supporting fisheries science and management.
The 2022 Fisheries Science Seminar focused on the implementation of an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM).
The 2021 Fisheries Science Seminar focused on Marine Protected Areas, and their possible benefits for attaining the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy.
