DEEP SEA 2003 CONFERENCE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE LIVELY DEBATE

28 November 2003

More than 260 delegates from 30 countries will be in Queenstown next week for the Deep Sea 2003 conference.

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 runs from December 1-5.

Conference convenor, Dr John Annala said he was delighted to note that the majority of countries involved in international deep-sea fishing would be represented at the conference. There were people from all sectors with an interest in the deep sea.

Dr Annala said he expected a lively and stimulating debate as a wide range of papers had been chosen to provide differing management perspectives. The conference was preceded by a series of meetings in Dunedin, where the debate had already begun.

The Deep Sea 2003 conference is jointly sponsored by the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries, Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.