

4WSFC North America
June 20 - 22, 2022
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Getting IT Right
Under the theme ‘Getting IT Right,’ the congress will facilitate dialogue about and across different dimensions of change and transition, imagined as many ITs needed to achieve and maintain sustainable fisheries, coastal communities, and ocean activities. The congress aims to discuss bold prospects and innovative ideas and strategies needed to address pressing issues for North America’s small-scale fisheries, and fisheries and ocean sustainability, set within the context of a changing ocean, the Covid-19 pandemic, and climate change, among other challenges.
The congress is closely tied with the Ocean Frontier Institute's Module I on 'Informing Governance Responses in a Changing Ocean', building on its research that examines the consequences of social, ecological, economic and institutional changes for the future of fisheries, coastal communities and the economy of Atlantic Canada. The congress offers a unique opportunity to formulate informed, integrative, and proactive policies and research agendas for North America that support and promote sustainable fisheries and oceans.
The congress will be organized around seven main topics:
Getting ADAPTATION Right
Getting AQUACULTURE Right
Getting CONSERVATION Right
Getting BLUE ECONOMY Right
Getting GOVERNANCE Right
Getting SMALL Right
Getting THE FUTURE Right
Within and across the seven themes, we welcome participation from fishers and fishing communities, industry, government, civil society, and academia, interested in fisheries and ocean sustainability in the North America region. The congress will be an opportunity to share experiences and lessons learned, talk about what is already being done right and/or discuss ideas about prospects for what can be done better for moving forward.
The 4WSFC North America is co-hosted by Memorial University and OFI Module I, in partnership with TBTI Global and other key organizations.
Abstract submission for the 4WSFC North America has been closed. If you have submitted an abstract but have not received a confirmation of submission, please contact 4wsfcongress@gmail.com.
CONGRESS REGISTRATION
Registration fees:
1) Paid registration for in-person or hybrid attendance
➡ Regular fee CAD 125
➡ Students and community members CAD 75
The registration fee includes access to all sessions, refreshment and reception.
Cancellation Policy: CAD 30 administration fee will be withheld for cancellations received in writing prior to June 1, 2022. No refunds will be issued after this date. No on-site registration will be available.
2) No cost registration for virtual attendance only (all sessions)
➡ For those not attending the congress in-person (virtual attendance only), registration is offered free of charge.
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The 4WSFC-North America is a hybrid congress. All congress participants, including those participating in-person AND those attending virtually, need to register through the Zoom Events platform by June 10. Once this is completed, those attending in-person will receive a special link to complete the payment and finalize their registration at a later date.
Note: to complete the registration on Zoom Events platform, you will need to have a Zoom account. Use an existing account, if you have it. Otherwise, create a new one.
All congress sessions will be recorded in the Zoom Events platform and posted on the TBTI YouTube channel. By registering for the congress, you are agreeing that you may be recorded or live-streamed at this event and that the recording of the event may be available for public viewing. The recordings as well as any material collected during a recording or a live-stream (images, voice or name) will be used for non-commercial purposes only.
Travel support
If you are student or community member looking for travel support, please contact 4wsfcongress@gmail.com.
VENUE
Delta Hotel Conference Centre, St. John's, Canada
The Delta Hotel, located in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, will be the venue for the in-person congress events. Find more information about the Delta Hotel here.
ACCOMODATIONS
Special room rates are available for congress attendees at the Delta Hotel during June 19-22.
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Guest room rate (single/double occupancy): CAD 159, plus a 4% Tourism levy and 15% HST
Cutoff date for booking: June 3, 2022
Reservation procedure
To secure your reservation, please contact Delta's In-House Reservations Department directly via e-mail at marie.lewis@whg.com or wendy.richards@whg.com.
In your message, please note the group name: World's Small Scale Fisheries Conference.
Delta In-House Reservations Department is also open Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (Newfoundland Standard time). The number is 709-570-1614 or Toll Free at 1-800-793-3592.
To ensure you avail of the special room rate, you must use the contacts specified above. If you are are calling the Delta In-House Reservations Department, please do so during the work hours.
Alternative accommodations
If you interested in booking an alternative accommodations, please visit Newfoundland and Labrador Travel Guide.
CONGRESS ORGANIZING COMMITTEES
International Organizing Committee
Ratana Chuenpagdee (Chair)
Memorial University
Evan Andrews (Co-chair)
Memorial University
Megan Bailey
Dalhousie University
Patricia Pinto da Silva
NOAA - Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Katia Frangoudes
University of Brest
Cynthia A. Grace-McCaskey
East Carolina University
Sarah Harper
University of Victoria & University of British Columbia
C. Julián Idrobo
Aurora College
Johan Joensen
FFAW-Unifor
María López
Memorial University
Paul Foley, (Co-chair)
Memorial University, Grenfell Campus
Kristen Lowitt
Queen's University
Charles Mather
Memorial University
Prateep Nayak
University of Waterloo
Fred Phelan
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador)
Sheila Prall-Dillman
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Maritimes)
Gerald Singh
Memorial University
Joshua Stoll
University of Maine
Susan Squires
University of North Texas
Coordination and Logistic Support
Vesna Kerezi
OFI Module I & TBTI
Angela Drake
OFI Module I
2022 International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA)

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2022 the International Year for Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022). IYAFA aims to enhance understanding of, raise awareness, and support the contributions of small-scale and artisanal fisheries and aquaculture to sustainable development around the world; specifically their role in food security, nutrition provision, poverty eradication, and sustainable use of natural resources. IYAFA 2022 also aims to promote sharing and collaboration among small-scale fishers, fishworkers, fishfarmers, and stakeholders to support policy co-development.
The IYAFA Global Action Plan (GAP) promotes inclusive value chains, gender equity and equality, awareness and resilience to climate change and disasters, sustainable use of biodiversity, empowering fishers, building partnerships, and nourishing nations by, with, and for artisanal fisheries and aquaculture. These key messages are the foundation of IYAFA, and will help guide sustainable development in the years to come.
The 4th World Small-Scale Fisheries Congress series is part of IYAFA. We recognize and celebrate the billions of people whose lives and livelihoods are artisanal fisheries and aquaculture around the world.