SSF Regional Symposium for Latin America and the Caribbean
"Bright Spots ~ Hope Spots"

The first SSF Regional Symposium for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC SSF Symposium) will take place on October 1-4, 2024 in Mazatlan, Mexico. The symposium will be hosted by TBTI Global and TBTI Mexico, in partnership with Faculty of Marine Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa.

We are excited to welcome you to Mazatlan for the conversation and discussion about ‘Bright Spots ~ Hope Spots’ in small-scale fisheries in the LAC region. The symposium is a follow-up from the 2022 World Small-Scale Fisheries Congress for LAC, held in Merida, where participants discussed the state of small-scale fisheries in the region, along with the challenges and the opportunities associated with the sector. As per the 2022 congress theme, ‘stronger together’, several examples of the values, importance and contributions of small-scale fisheries were shared. Yet, there is no denying that many small-scale fisheries remain vulnerable due to both internal and external pressure and stressors. More work is required to address the root causes of vulnerability, in order to achieve viable and sustainable future for small-scale fisheries in the region.

The symposium is an opportunity to share lessons about ‘bright spots’ in small-scale fisheries in LAC, and discuss what works well for them and why. While there are still many challenges facing the sector, progress is being made. These are the ‘hope spots’ that require further attention and additional effort. The symposium is organized to foster sharing of experiences, research, lessons and stories, and to encourage in-depth discussions about what more needs to be done to support viable and sustainable small-scale fisheries in LAC, in line with the principles and goals stipulated in the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries.

We look forward to receiving your contribution, and to interacting with you in Mazatlan in October 2024.

Co-Chairs, 2024 SSF Regional Symposium for Latin America and the Caribbean

Minerva Arce-Ibarra Ratana Chuenpagdee

TBTI Mexico TBTI Global

Symposium Format and Call for Participation

Important dates

Call for Abstracts: Open until August 1, 2024

Notification on abstract submission: August 15, 2024

Registration opens: August 15, 2024

IMPORTANT NOTE

The acceptance letter has been sent out. Please check your spam box if you have not received it, or contact us as soon as possible at ssfsymposium@gmail.com

The symposium will be organized as ‘on-site’ only, to facilitate sharing and interactive dialogue. Our goal is to make space for everyone who would like to present their work and to share their perspectives related to small-scale fisheries in the region. In the “Call for abstracts”, you will be asked to indicate whether your contribution falls into the ‘Bright spots’ or the ‘Hope spots’ category. We will also ask you to indicate whether you would like your presentation to be 10-12 minutes or 3-5 minutes.

English is the official language of the symposium, which will be used in all plenary sessions without any translation. For concurrent sessions, presentations in other languages will be accommodated to the extent possible. It is recommended, however, that speakers wishing to present in Spanish, Portuguese or French, use English in their slides. For speakers presenting in English, it would be appreciated if you are able to include some Spanish in your slides.

*** Note on registration fee: Registration fee will be nominal, only to cover the basic cost of the organization. All participants are responsible to cover their own travel and related expenses.

Symposium Registration

Registration Deadline: September 10th*

Registration fees:

1) Registration fee for in-person attendance

➡ Regular fee USD 150

➡ Students and community members USD 125 (ID or other proofs are required)

The registration fee is nominal, covering only the basic cost of the organization. The fee includes access to all sessions, coffee breaks and lunches (for all four days), opening reception, and field trip. All participants are asked to pay the fee and cover their own travel and related expenses. No on-site registration will be available.

*For presenters: If you don't confirm your participation by this date, your paper/session will be removed from the symposium program.

The symposium will be organized as ‘on-site’ only to facilitate sharing and interactive dialogue. Our goal is to make space for everyone who would like to present their work and share their perspectives related to small-scale fisheries in the LAC region.

Disclaimer

By registering for the symposium, you agree that you may be recorded or photographed at this event and that the material may be available for public viewing. Any material collected during the symposium (images, voice, or name) will be used for non-commercial purposes only.

Symposium Program

Please note that the symposium program is tentative and will change during the following weeks. Please continue checking the website for constant updates.

Program-at-a-glance

Venue

Torre Académica, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Mazatlán, Mexico

Av. Leonismo Internacional SN, Antiguo Aeropuerto, 82146 Mazatlán, Sin., Mexico

Special number Journal of Marine Science UAS

The Journal of Marine Sciences UAS invites participants of the SSF Regional Symposium for Latin America and the Caribbean to submit their complete work for publication in a special issue dedicated to the Symposium. Each paper will go through a peer-reviewed process before being accepted for publication in this special issue. Visit the journal’s website for more information about the journal and how to submit. The last day to submit a paper is October 24, 2024.

Scope: The Journal of Marine Sciences UAS (CIMAR UAS) is an online open-access scientific journal of national and international character, edited and published through the Faculty of Marine Sciences of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa. It has a periodicity of quarterly publication, in Spanish and/or English and its aim is to publish original contributions in the format of scientific articles, scientific notes, and reviews on various topics related to the sea. These include, but are not limited to, Fisheries Sciences, Aquaculture (marine and inland waters), Conservation of the environment, Biodiversity, Public Policies, and the Social Dimension in Marine Sciences.

Accomodations

Hotels near Torre Académica

Hotel Conquistador

3 min walk to the venue

Rate $970.00 pesos MX (55 USD) per room

Hotel Posada Los Tabachines

5 min walk to the venue

Rate $850.00 pesos MX (45 USD) per room

Olas Altas Inn Hotel & Spa

15 min walk to the venue/4 min drive

Rate $1300.00 pesos MX (75 USD) per room

Coral Island Beach View Hotel

21 min walk to the venue/5 min drive

Rate $1750.00 pesos MX (100 USD) per room

Hotel Emporio Mazatlán

35 min walk to the venue/8 min drive

Rate $2036.00 pesos MX (115 USD) per room

Holiday Inn Resort Mazatlan, an IHG Hotel

35 min walk to the venue/ 8 min drive

Rate $2036.00 pesos MX (115 USD) per room

Hotel Playa Mazatlan

35 min walk to the venue/8 min drive

Rate $2036.00 pesos MX (115 USD) per room

Hotel Sands Arenas Mazatlán

13 min walk to the venue/5 min drive

Rate $2459.00 pesos MX (140 USD) per room

Symposium Organizing Committee

Co-chairs

Minerva Arce-Ibarra

TBTI Mexico

Ratana Chuenpagdee

TBTI Global, Thailand

Local organizing committee

Eugenio Alberto Aragón Noriega

Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Mexico

Maria Isaura Bañuelos Vargas

Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Mexico

Martín Ignacio Borrego