Zooplankton Production Symposium (ZPS), 9-13 May 2016, Bergen, Norway

6th Zooplankton Production Symposium - New challenges in a changing Ocean In early May 2016 ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) and PICES (North Pacific Marine Science Organization) organize the sixth international symposium on zooplankton production. The symposium, the largest of its kind, takes place in Bergen, and is attended by scientists, policy makers and managers from all over the world. Increased temperatures and other human influences will likely affect growth, distribution and mortality of zooplankton. Zooplanktons are grazing on phytoplankton and are themselves important food for animals higher up in the food web. In this way zooplankton connect multiple trophic levels, and the effects of climate change in the zooplankton will propagate to fish and other important marine species such as whales and polar bears. If we are to predict the effects in these species, we have to know the response on zooplankton. Antarctic krill is the only zooplankton harvested on a large scale. Other species, such as the copepod Calanus spp., are harvested on a smaller scale in the Norwegian Sea. New technological solutions allowing for efficient zooplankton fisheries make it possible to produce attractive products like omega-3 supplements, cosmetics, feed for fish farming, etc. Growing demand for these products can force new zooplankton fisheries in the near future, and worldwide there are plans for commercial harvest of several species. Both in terms of the important ecological role of zooplankton and the effects of climate change, it is important that the fishery takes place in a controlled manner.It is crucial with updated knowledge on zooplankton if these fisheries should be sustainable and in an ecosystem based management perspective .The symposium serves as an international collaboration platform where participants are presented for the latest development in zooplankton research and have the opportunity to compare results from all the world's

Increasing temperatures and other climate factors such as pH (ocean acidification) may have impact zooplankton production. Hence, Zooplankton will also propagate effects of changes in primary production to the harvested trophic levels as well as marine mega fauna. Understanding the response of zooplankton is therefore necessary in order to predict effects also higher up in the food-webs. Some species of zooplankton are also currently being targeted for commercially harvesting e.g. krill and copepods & there is an increasing interest in harvesting directly on planktonic resources. In addition, zooplankton forms an important food component of most commercially exploited fish stocks. Knowledge on zooplankton production is therefore essential in order to implement ecosystem-based management and sustainable development, one of the visions of Future Earth 2025. The symposium serves as a global platform for international collaboration among scientits, policy makers & managers. This symposium will enable participants to compare & present findings & strengthening of global partnerships between researchers and stakeholders. This is in accordance with several key approaches for focus of the Future Earth 2025, e.g. of conducting fundamental & applied research across all regions of the world in order to maximize impact & stimulating debate & mobilising capabilities for science & innovation for sustainability. The symposium is composed of eight sessions (S) and six workshops (W). Most of these (see attached flyer) directly address issues that are in focus in the MILUTV-ARENAER call. Biodiversity will be addressed in S3, S4 & W7. As stated in the Future Earth 2025, this is a very important theme in an era of climate change, with important links to ecosystem services (sustainable exploitation). Issues related to sustainable utilization of marine resources, a recurring theme in the Future Earth 2025 & MILUTV-ARENAER call are addressed in S8, W3 & W5 & pollution in W4.