Symposium Goal, Objectives & Structure

The goal of the symposium is to produce an updated, science-based assessment of the management and conservation utility of circle hooks in commercial and recreational fisheries around the globe. Note that the symposium is not a venue for advocating widespread use of circle hooks. Rather, our objective is to provide a forum for individuals, organizations and agencies to share relevant research results and perspectives and to subject their findings to peer-review through publication in an internationally-recognized scientific journal.

This exchange of information in an interactive forum is an essential step for developing much-needed uniformity in circle hook terminology, research approaches, and data analyses as well as for fostering greater collaboration among the international scientific, management and conservation communities. Relevant themes as they relate to circle hooks include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Historical and regional perspectives
  • Empirical field studies
  • Ecological and population impact assessments
  • Fishery management evaluations
  • Socioeconomic research and analyses

The symposium will host contributions of oral presentations, posters and manuscripts. All symposium participants are encouraged to: (1) submit one or more manuscripts pertinent to the themes above before, during or very soon after the symposium; (2) give a 20 minute oral presentation; and (3) assist in the peer-review process by reviewing manuscripts submitted by colleagues. Invited presenters are required to perform all three of the above. The conference will be divided into 3-4 sessions, depending on the nature and volume of responses to our Call for Abstracts. For example, presentations (and papers) may be organized by the hooks compared, types of organisms assessed or fishing mode under scrutiny. Manuscripts that emerge from the peer-review process will be published together in a special issue of the Bulletin of Marine Science (BMS).

Please visit again as the details of our symposium evolve or subscribe to our mailing list for updates.