Doubletree Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, June 21-24, 2010

Purpose
To discuss technical prospects and risks associated with managing invasive ­n­sh with genetic biocontrol strategies and to provide decision support for future genetic biocontrol endeavors.

Symposium Website and Registration
Register online at www.seagrant.umn.edu/ais/biocontrol using the secure payment system. Reserve a room at the Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis-Park Place at http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/MSPPHDT-INV-20100621/index.jhtml.

Early registration (by April 1, 2010) – $175 (student: $50)
Late registration (April 2, 2010 – June 1, 2010) – $250 (student: $75)
Registrations will not be accepted after June 1, 2010.

The Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis-Park Place is located 16 miles from the Minneapolis - St. Paul International Airport at 1500 Park Place Blvd., Minneapolis, Minnesota. The hotel's phone number is 952-542-8600. The website is www.doubletree.com.

For additional information, contact: Leah Sharpe (phone: 802-698-0259, e-mail: sharp092@umn.edu)

Expect to Contribute
Join the world's leading experts in a highly interactive scienti­c exchange about the genetic biocontrol of invasive ­fish. By participating in this symposium, you will help to build a shared understanding of genetic biocontrol issues.

The International Symposium on Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Fish will explore turning genetic biocontrol methods into practical tools. The symposium is designed to create opportunities for ­sheries managers, scientists, government regulators, industry representatives, and others with interests in the use of genetic biocontrol to:

-  Review the status of genetic biocontrol technologies with a focus on invasive ­n­sh
-  Create a framework for assessing risks before genetically modi­ed organisms are released
-  Discuss opportunities for stakeholders to contribute to developing and assessing genetic biocontrol technologies
-  Examine the regulatory context for genetic biocontrol of invasive ­shes and mussels
-  Consider the economic impacts of aquatic invasive species and of genetic biocontrol technologies
-  Develop three synthesis papers to guide further research and development

Agenda

Access the complete agenda at www.seagrant.umn.edu/ais/biocontrol

Monday, June 21: Focus on the development of genetic biocontrol technologies

Participants will review the status of genetic biocontrol technologies, including chromosome-based, gene-based, and other targeted methods. Presenters will o‑er information about combining genetic biocontrol methods with other control methods before participants discuss genetic biocontrol research needs.

Tuesday, June 22: Focus on environmental risk assessment of genetic biocontrol applications

Participants will hear presentations and contribute to discussions about environmental risk assessment with an emphasis on early risk assessment steps, the status of the science, research needs, and methods for stakeholder deliberation. Small groups will begin formulating a research agenda.

Wednesday, June 23: Focus on regulations and economics a­ecting technology and risk assessment

Participants will learn about the regulatory and economic contexts governing the development and application of genetic biocontrol technologies. Small groups will identify economic and regulatory issues and needs a‑ecting the future of genetic biocontrol.

Half-day writing retreat - Thursday, June 24: Working groups

If you are willing to contribute text to one of the synthesis papers resulting from this symposium, you are invited to participate in a post-symposium working group. Lead authors for symposium syntheses have been selected. During the morning, working groups will integrate draft outlines into an expanded outline and agree on writing tasks and deadlines.

Speakers of Note
Keynote:  Dan Simberloff­, Ph.D., University of Tennessee in Knoxville, USA, studies susceptibility of ecosystems to invasion, the implications of these invasions, and interactions between invasive species. He earned an Eminent Ecologist Award from the Ecological Society of America, and has been critical of the U.S. government’s inaction in combating invasive species.

Robert Devlin, Ph.D., Fisheries and Ocean Canada, is one the world’s leading scientists in developing genetically modi­edsh and de­ning their ecological risks. He applies molecular and general genetics, physiology, and ecological approaches to questions of salmonid biology, particularly the enhanced growth of coho salmon and rainbow trout.

Keith Hayes, Ph.D., Commonwealth Scienti‑c and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia, is an international expert on quantitative risk assessment for aquatic invasive species. He is assisting the daughterless carp team and is a senior research scientist responsible for developing and applying high quality risk assessment techniques.

Anne Kapuscinski, Ph.D., Dartmouth College, USA, is an international expert on the science and policy of biotechnology risk assessment and has advised U.S. and Canadian governments, the United Nations, and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. She earned a Pew Marine Conservation Fellowship for research and policy work on ecological e‑ects of aquatic biotechnology.

Ron Thresher, Ph.D., Commonwealth Scienti‑c and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia, is renowned for leading the daughterless carp team, the ­rst group in the world to explore genetically modi­ed organisms for combating invasive vertebrate species. He is a marine ecologist and was the foundation head of the CSIRO Centre for Research on Introduced Marine Pests.

Steering Committee
Anne Kapuscinski (Chair), Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Professor of Sustainability Science, Dartmouth College Former Sea Grant Extension Specialist in Biotechnology and Aquaculture, University of Minnesota
Leah Sharpe (Coordinator) Ph.D. Candidate, Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, National Science Foundation IGERT trainee in risk analysis for introduced species and genotypes
Dan Ashe, Science Advisor to the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Jim Barrett, Director, Native Fish Strategy, Murray-Darling Basin Authority
Robert Clarkson , Fishery Biologist, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Doug Duncan, Fish Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 2 (Southwest)
Jeff­ Gunderson, Associate Director and Fisheries and Aquaculture Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Sea Grant College Program
Mike Ho­ff, Regional Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 3 (Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region)
K. Bruce Jones, Chief Scientist for Biology, U.S. Geological Survey
Glen Knowles, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 2 (Southwest)
Weiming Li, Professor of Fisheries and Wildlife and Physiology, Michigan State University
Marshall Meyers, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council

Major Sponsors
Major sponsors of The International Symposium on Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Fish include the University of Minnesota
Sea Grant Program, Dartmouth College, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Murray-Darling
Basin Authority of Australia.