News

1. Press release, click here for details. For further information, please contact: Dr. Chaoshu Zeng, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia; Tel: +61 747816237; Fax: +61 74781 4585; Email: chaoshu.zeng(at)jcu.edu.au

2. We are pleased to inform you that the journal Aquaculture International (www.springerlink.com/content/100128) has agreed to publish proceedings from the ISAMC meeting as a special issue. You are invited to submit a manuscript of your ISAMBC paper for inclusion in this special issue, subject to the usual peer-review process and editorial approval. Click here for more information.

Welcome message

Welcome to the official website of the "International Symposium on Aquaculture, Biology and Management of Commercially Important crabs-2009" (ISABMC-2009) to be hosted by Shanghai Ocean University and Chinese Crustacean Society, 8-11th November, 2009.

Over the past decades, crab aquaculture has emerged as a new industry, driven by increasing market demands and collapses of crab stocks and fisheries worldwide. The collapse of crab fisheries has also prompted stock enhancement efforts in a number of countries. With annual aquaculture production of various crab species approaching 700, 000 tonnes, China is undoubtedly the biggest farmed crab producer in the world and substantial crab restocking programs have also been underway for sometime.

Built on crab symposia previously held in Australia, the Philippines and Vietnam, the present conference seeks to bring together international crab scientists and industry stockholders to share insights into important issues on crab aquaculture, biology and resource management, and to highlight future research needs for the sustainable development of crab aquaculture and fisheries management.

The symposium will take place at the new campus of Shanghai Ocean University in Shanghai, China, following the annual meeting of the Chinese Crustacean Society. As a metropolitan city, Shanghai is conveniently located within a short distance to several major crab aquaculture regions in China, including both freshwater mitten crab, saltwater mud crab and swimming crab farms. Field trips to crab farms will be organized to give participants a first hand experience on crab farming in China. A national competition among crab farms for the largest and best quality Chinese mitten crab will also be held at the symposium venue on the first day.

Organizing Committee

Honorary Chairmen: Prof. Yingjie Pan, President, Shanghai Ocean University
.Prof. Jianhai Xiang, President, Chinese Crustacean Society
Conference Chairmen: Prof. Yongxu Cheng, Shanghai Ocean University, China
.Prof. Patrick Sorgeloos, Ghent University, Belgium
Co-Chairmen: Dr. Chaoshu Zeng, James Cook University, Australia
.Dr. Lewis Le Vay, University of Wales, Bangor, UK

Proceedings

Selected papers will be published in a special issue of 'Aquaculture International' (http://www.springer.com/life+sci/ecology/journal/10499) after being peer reviewed. Oral or poster presentors who wish to publish their papers in the journal of 'Aquaculture Internatinal' are required to submit their full papers in publishable form no later than 15 March 2010.

Conference Picture