Aotearoa Aquatic Diseases Symposium

We are delighted to announce that the 3rd Aotearoa Aquatic Diseases Symposium (AADS) will be hosted by the Cawthron Institute in Nelson, New Zealand. Also note that prior to the conference we will have a 2-day workshop – Shellfish and finfish wet-lab and histopathology – on the 15th and 16th March 2027, Nelson.

The 3rd AADS provides a forum where people from academia, government and industry can share research and insights into aquatic diseases.  The symposium encourages broad perspectives including the role of Mātauranga Māori, the rapidly changing landscape of aquatic disease emergence, the challenges to our biosecurity, and the future safeguard of people, environment, wildlife, and seafood industries. The meeting will feature plenary talks, thematic sessions, a satellite workshop, and networking events, with a strong focus on integrated approaches to understanding and managing infectious diseases at wildlife, livestock, human, and environmental interfaces. We expect approximately 100 delegates from across New Zealand, the Pacific and Australia.  Attendees can enjoy the wonderful Nelson-Tasman region as part of their visit, including the Abel Tasman National Park and Marlborough Sounds within easy reach.  

We invite presentations and submission of Abstracts on a diversity of topics including, but not limited to:

·         Evolution and ecology of aquatic wildlife diseases (e.g., aquatic mammals, seabirds, amphibians, fishes, aquatic invertebrates)

·         One Health and vector-borne diseases (e.g., seafood safety, harmful algal blooms, seafood allergy, mosquito-borne diseases)

·         Aquaculture, commercial and customary fishery health (e.g., salmonids, fish, shellfish, crustaceans)

·         Aquatic surveillance, epidemiology, diagnostics, vaccines, treatments, policy, biosecurity, and management

·         Aquatic health from mātauranga Māori, social science, livelihoods, and Pacific nation perspectives.

Abstract Submission

Expressions of interest are sought for oral presentations. Contributing presenters will be allocated an oral presentation of 12 mins. Please email your Abstract to aads@cawthron.orgn.nz

 Abstracts should be a Word file and include a clear concise title, list of authors using superscript to identify affiliations. Please provide six key words at the end of the Abstract. The presenting author should be named first author in bold text. Abstracts need to be 250 words or fewer. Abstracts to be received by 18th December 2026.

Pre-symposium workshop details

When: 15th and 16th March 2027

Where: Nelson, New Zealand

Venue: Cawthron Aquaculture Park, Glenduan, Nelson – transfers will be available to and from Nelson city.  

What: This workshop is ideal for aquatic animal health professionals, biosecurity, aquaculture, and fisheries staff who work with shellfish and finfish samples as well as those interested in applying sampling techniques and building their histopathology foundations. 

What’s included? All-inclusive registration fee (morning-tea, lunch), transfers to and from Nelson. The workshop will cover aspects of gross pathology, sampling and dissection, anatomical features, histopathology for shellfish and finfish. The workshop includes practical, experiential training.