Coordination and collaboration: a workshop to bring together private, governmental and academic interests in the use of artificial reefs for coastal ecosystem management.
Provisional program
Registration form
The use of artificial reefs is becoming increasingly important to enhance marine ecosystems, particularly to provide environmental compensation for anthropogenic disturbance of coastal habitats. However, this work has often been carried out with very little coordination between the government agencies managing these actions, the private companies designing and installing the reefs, and the scientists studying coastal ecosystems. The aim of this workshop is to bring together representatives of these groups and other interested parties to discuss this issue, including academic and government scientists, government managers and decision-makers, private companies and non-profit organizations. The specific objectives of the workshop are: (1) to review past and current projects using artificial reefs, (2) to define desired outcomes and the measures needed to assess their achievement, and (3) to discuss ways of better coordinating and aligning the interests and objectives of the various parties.
The workshop will take place in Rimouski, Quebec, on April 4 and 5, 2024. We plan to start the workshop after lunch on the first day and end it after dinner on the second day to facilitate transportation for participants. We hope that most interested parties will be able to attend in person, but we are also planning an online participation option. The program is currently being prepared, but will include both formal presentations and open discussions, and we encourage workshop participants to make presentations (case studies, for example).
To reserve a place, please contact us as soon as possible (ladd.johnson@bio.ulaval.ca). Thanks to the financial support of Québec-Océan, there is no registration fee, and funds will be available to cover some travel expenses. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Finally, if you can't attend but are interested in the workshop topic in general, please contact us to remain on our mailing list. Also, if you know of anyone else who might be interested in this workshop, please pass on this invitation to them.
Organizing Committee
Ladd Johnson, Université Laval
Christian Nozais, UQAR
Fanny Noisette, UQAR
Katie MacGregor, MPO
