CONFERENCE ON FISHERIES AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENT (CFCE) Theme: “The Changing Marine Fisheries and Coasts: Challenges and Opportunities for Changing Minds” September 25th - 27th, 2017 Openening: College of Physicians and Surgeons, Accra; 25 September, 2017. Main Conference: Erata Hotel; East Legon; 26 & 27 September, 2017. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS Submission: Now open Closing date: 15th September, 2017 The Centre for Coastal Management (CCM) in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the University of Rhode Island (USA) with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is organising this maiden conference. This initiative is designed to strengthen policy linkages and enable researchers, journalists, and think tanks connect their voices to the sustainable fisheries and coastal development agenda of Ghana. The conference will provide an opportunity for a more holistic discussion on a resource that is shared by millions of people, yet, under threat and mismanaged. This conference will feature panel discussions, keynote presentations and session papers. There will also be an opportunity for industry and market players to showcase their latest technologies. A. Papers are invited to discuss a range of themes that include, but are not limited to: Fisheries and coastal governance and policy: To address various issues including overcapacity and overfishing, etc. Fisheries economics and value chains: Post-harvest processes, transport and handling, standards, labelling and certification, marketing, etc. Ocean and coastal management: Coastal mapping and analysis, GIS techniques and applications for fisheries and coastal zone management, modelling and simulations of fisheries and coastal environmental issues, coastal protection (erosion, tidal waves, etc.) Marine and coastal environment: environmental stressors and pollution control, marine protected areas and biodiversity conservation, climate change and adaptation, etc. Marine and coastal businesses: oil and gas development and exploration, local content, corporate social responsibility and corporate environmental management, industrial ecology, eco-tourism, recreation, etc. Mariculture and green businesses for the coastal environment: Culture potential of coastal and marine organisms, biology of culture species, growth performance of culture species, business and profitability models, etc. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices: Fish transshipment, unauthorized fishing gears, unapproved zones, target species and sizes, etc. Livelihoods and poverty reduction in coastal areas: Supplementary livelihoods, education, etc. Child labour and trafficking: Fisher migration, demographic shifts, etc. ABSTRACTS SUBMISSION: Register and submit your abstract using the online registration form by 15th September, 2017 All abstracts must be submitted and presented in English. Abstracts should be based on any of the above listed topics Abstracts should not exceed 300 words. Authors should indicate their presentation preference: oral or poster. After submitting your abstract, you will receive an email acknowledging receipt of the abstract. There will be continuous review of abstracts on receipt and notification of acceptance/rejection of the abstracts submitted will be sent to you via email by September 18th, 2017. Authors decide if the abstract submitted is either for a PAPER for oral presentation or POSTER and follow the instructions below: PAPER - ORAL PRESENTATION POSTER Paper sessions will be held in parallel sessions according to predetermined thematic areas. Each presenter will be allocated 15 minutes for oral presentation and audience discussion. There will be dedicated poster sessions which will be supplemented by personal visits to stands during coffee breaks. Paper should not exceed 8,000 words including references. Poster size A0 in portrait format. Rooms for aggregated presentation sessions and time of presentation will be communicated one week before the conference. Poster titles will be placed on poster boards under thematic categories, to guide the placement of posters All abstracts will be published in a Book of Abstracts and made available at the conference. All accepted papers will be published in a peer reviewed journal. The comments from the oral presentation and subsequent peer review processes will ensure that the quality of papers meet the journal requirements for publication. It is however the prerogative of the editor of the journal to decide on the acceptance or otherwise of each paper. B. Industry players and other groups who want to display their products should contact the organisers so that space and time would be allocated at the event (send email to organisers: ccm@ucc.edu.gh) C. Important dates to note Abstract Submission Deadline: 15th September, 2017 Notification of Acceptance/Rejection of abstracts: 18th September, 2017 Final Paper Submission Deadline: 20th September, 2017. Registration for conference participation Now until 25th August, 2017 Conference Dates: College of physicians and surgeons, Accra 24th - 27th September, 2017 D. Conference Fees All conference participants except students are required to pay a non-refundable conference registration fee of GHS 100.00 (Ghanaian applicants) and GHS 450.00 (Foreign applicants). Students will be required to present valid student identification for a waiver of the confernece fees. Payment should be made to the account details below: Account Name: Centre for Coastal Management Bank: Zenith Bank Ghana Limited Branch: University of Cape Coast Account Number: 0006011407382