The European Elasmobranch Association will convene at the end of September in Italy for its annual scientific meeting. The main theme this year will be 'information aimed at increasing public awareness and education'.

The Organizing Committee passionately believes that sharks - and indeed the whole marine environment - have a better chance of being protected if the public is correctly informed. Communication is the key, and in order for communication to be effective it must be scientifically updated and correct, interesting and exciting but never sensationalistic.
The European Elasmobranch Association (EEA) was founded in England in 1995 by a group of researchers. It is composed of National Associations (one per nation) that study Elasmobranchs. The EEA member organisations seek to co-ordinate their efforts to influence and reverse the factors which are threatening the status of shark populations and fisheries, and to promote and carry out research. Priorities for action include the following:

* Introducing effective management on a regional basis to regulate shark and ray fisheries and ensure that they are sustainable.
* Reducing shark and ray by-catch and mortality in other fisheries.
* Increasing research effort on the biology of sharks and rays and their fisheries, including the promotion of a collaborative tag and release programme.
* Improving records of catches, landings and international trade in species of sharks and rays.
* Improving management of critical habitats, including nursery grounds, under threat.
* Increasing the amount of information available to the public and decision-makers.

At the present time there are EEA member organisations in Portugal, Italy, Germany, Eire, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Republic of San Marino and Spain. Organisations in Switzerland and Sweden are likely to join the network in the near future.

Every year the EEA Board of Directors (one member per each nation) meets to discuss and plan its future activities. This meeting, open to the public, usually takes place on Friday and is followed on Saturday and Sunday by the Scientific Meeting.

7th EUROPEAN ELASMOBRANCH ASSOCIATION MEETING 2003

26th - 28th September 2003

San Marino Republic with the cooperation of the Aquarium at Parco Le Navi - Cattolica

FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS

Dear Colleagues on behalf of the European Elasmobranch Association board, we have the pleasure to invite you to attend the 7th EEA annual meeting.
Uno Squalo per Amico will be hosting the 7th Annual Meeting that will be held at the Aquarium at "Parco Le Navi" in Cattolica (on the Adriatic Sea Coast, north of Ancona).
The Annual Board Meeting of the EEA Board of Directors is planned to take place during the afternoon of Friday 26th September. This business meeting will be open to all participants who wish to attend as observers.
The main EEA/Shark Trust scientific meeting will take place during the next day (Saturday 27th).
A visit to San Marino's old town and Castles is planned for Sunday 28th.
Papers are now invited for these dates.

The main theme of the meeting will be information aimed to public awareness and education.

Sessions may include also:
Public Aquaria participation
Conservation and management
Distribution and abundance
Recreational and commercial fisheries
Biology and behaviour
Morphology, molecular biology and genetics

Presentation, exhibition and poster opportunities will also be available. For more information, please contact 7EEA@libero.it

Please forward this message to other colleagues who would be interested in this meeting, or let us have their contact details.

Best wishes
Marco Affronte
Irene Bianchi
Eleonora de Sabata
Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara


Follow this link to the EEA webpage and to the Shark Trust website