ASFB 50th: “There were a few conferences with babies in tow.”
Gretta Pecl and Jonah Yick reflect on their favourite fishy moments, including those yet to come.
The ‘Women in Ichythology’ poster exhibition at the 2016 ASFB conference in Hobart, Tasmania. © Andrew Katsis.
This year, the Australian Society for Fish Biology celebrates 50 years of supporting fish and fisheries research in the Australasian region. We invite ASFB members, past and present, to help fill the gaps in our history by sharing their memories.
There are three ways you can contribute:
Tell us your favourite ASFB memory
Send us your favourite photo from an ASFB event, or a photo of yourself in action undertaking some fishy work (send your photos, with a descriptive caption, to asfb50th@gmail.com)
Answer 10 quick questions about yourself
Here are some of the submissions we have received so far.
Favourite ASFB memory
I have very fond memories of ASFB conferences and a quite a few highlights. ASFB was one of the first ‘proper’ conferences I attended — back in the days you had photos developed, printed, and then stuck them on manually on to card !!), and then there were a few conferences with babies in tow, and a keynote almost exactly 20 years after my very first ASFB conference. But the best highlights would have to be conferences where your students present their work, and get great feedback, or even win prizes.
Gretta Pecl
ASFB in pictures
Submitted by Gretta Pecl:
“I’ve had some great times out in the field, and taken the odd celebrity here and there out on trips. The celebrity, in this case, is Dr Harry Cooper (second from right), not the almost-as-famous-in-the-marine-world Sean Tracey, Belinda McGrath, or Mike Steer!”
10 questions
Jonah Yick
Are you a robot fish? No
First ASFB conference: Darwin, 2014
Favourite fish: The southern bluefin tuna. They look so sleek and perfectly evolved for speed, they inhabit amazing coastlines with spectacular scenery, and they also taste delicious!
Main fish biology interests: I have a very broad range of interests. My position for the last 11 years has been based around pest fish management, in particular the common carp. My role also involves balancing the management of freshwater acclimated recreational fish species, alongside the management and conservation of native fish species. Outside of my day job, I am regularly involved in various studies on a volunteer/contractor basis involving tagging and tracking marine meso/apex predators, as well as citizen science initiatives.
Memorable ASFB conference experience: Hobart, 2016 — the only conference where I had other members of my team (The Tasmanian Carp Management Program) present carp work alongside me, in my home town.
Memorable field experience: It is yet to come — the day we can confidently report that carp have been eradicated from Lake Sorell, and consequently the state of Tasmania.
Which fish would you most like to be? Broadbill swordfish.
Which fish would you least like to be? A lamprey (sp)
Do you have any fishy aspirations? Continue to work on fish for the remainder of my career!
Favourite reads: Sea Fishes of Southern Australia.