International Experts on Programme at Deep Sea 2003

22 April 2003

Dr André Punt, an internationally renowned expert on marine population dynamics and harvesting theory, has been confirmed to deliver a keynote address at Deep Sea 2003 in Queenstown, New Zealand in December.

The conference, the world's first on deep-sea fisheries, will provide a forum for global experts to discuss the issues relating to the present and future needs for science, conservation, governance, and management of the continental slope and deep seas around the world. It will be held from December 1-5 2003.

Dr Punt, a Research Associate Professor with the School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, has been involved in research on marine population dynamics, stock assessment methods, and harvesting theory since 1986, and has published over 80 papers in the peer-reviewed literature and 300 technical reports.

Dr Punt graduated with a M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in applied mathematics from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He was a Senior Research Scientist with CSIRO Marine Research in Hobart, Australia before taking up his position in the USA.

In 1999, he became the third recipient of the K. Radway Allen Award, presented by the Australian Society of Fish Biology for "an outstanding contribution in fish or fisheries science".

His current research focuses on the performance of stock assessment methods, application of Bayesian approaches in fisheries assessment and decision analysis, and management strategies for fish and marine mammal populations.

André Punt is also on the Editorial Boards of the journals "Fisheries Research" and "Population Ecology".

Other speakers confirmed to attend include: Dr Andy Rosenburg from the University of New Hampshire, Dr John Gordon from Oban in the UK, Dr Wendy Craik, Chair of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Professor Douglas Johnson from Canada, Professor Mori Hayashi, Waseda University School of Law, Tokyo, and Mr Michael Lodge from the International Sea Authority.

For further information please visit www.deepsea.govt.nz or contact: