Posted: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 5:14 p.m., EST

Ornamental Fish International (OFI), a trade association representing the ornamental aquatic industry, has finalized the program for its conference on invasive alien species scheduled for this year’s Aquarama trade show.

The conference, which is set for May 30, in Suntec, Singapore, aims to raise awareness of how the ornamental fish industry can serve as a pathway for invasive alien species as well as the potential damage invasive alien species can cause to biodiversity, the economy and human and animal health.

OFI President Gerald Bassleer and OFI Executive Board member Svein Fossa are expected to open the conference. The following is a list of the scheduled speakers and their topics of discussion:

• Keith Davenport, Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association, Great Britain – What are Invasive Alien Species
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• Junko Shimura, Convention on Biological Diversity, Canada – The International Approach
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• Gordon Copp, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Great Britain – The Aquarium Industry as a Pathway
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• Anthony Ramsey, OFPIG, Australia – The Australian Situation
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• Peter Ng and Tan Heok Hui, Raffles Museum, Singapore – The Singapore Situation
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• Michael Browne, Invasive Species Specialist Group, New Zealand – International Databases
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• Marshall Meyers, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, United States – The Invasive Alien Toolkit
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• Anil Kumar, Marine Products Export Development Authority, India ­– Closing Remarks.

Registration for the conference is 50 Euros, or about $65. The fee also includes coffee and tea, lunch and dinner.

Click here to register. Click here for more information on the conference or on invasive species. <HOME>