Symposium

Indian River Lagoon Symposium

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) Symposium is the result of a multi-institutional, multi-agency effort to provide a forum for discussing Indian River Lagoon science and its application to management of the lagoon. The symposium is open to scientists, decision makers, students, education and outreach professionals, and the interested public. The intent is to facilitate better communication among these groups so that the gaps between research and its application can be narrowed.

The goals of the symposium are to:

The theme for the 2024 symposium is IRL Fish. The IRL is home to a wide variety of fish species, ranging from small forage fish to large predators. Fishing attracts anglers and tourists, contributing to the local economy, and is a cultural tradition for many communities around the Lagoon. The health of the IRL fish populations can serve as an indicator of the overall health of the lagoon. Changes in these populations can signal environmental issues such as pollution, habitat degradation, and climate change.

Program Schedule: Technical sessions consisting of oral and poster presentations will be held all day on February 22. The Indian River Lagoon 2024 Update will focus on the current status of IRL fish and will be held on February 23 from 8:30 to noon. The Update is suitable for the public as well as researchers and resource managers.

Abstract Submission: Oral presentations and posters on all aspects of science relating to the IRL are encouraged. Abstracts of oral presentations (both 10-minute slots and abbreviated presentations, “3 Minutes – 3 Slides”) and posters are solicited. Information on abstract submittal is available at http://indianriverlagoon.org/symposium.html). The abstract deadline is November 30, 2023.

Registration Information: Registration, required for all participants, includes access to all sessions on both days, coffee breaks, lunch, and end-of-the-day reception on February 22. Registration will begin in December after the abstract deadline (the link will be sent out at that time and posted on the IRLS website at: http://www.indianriverlagoon.org/symposium.html). For those submitting abstracts, please register by December 8.

Early registration fees are $50 (regular) and $25 (students) and are due for all participants by January 19, 2024. Late registration fees are $65 ($40 for students). Late registration closes February 7, 2024, at 5 p.m., unless availability ends sooner, which is quite likely based on previous years (e.g., IRLS 2023 hit the enrollment cap on January 26, 2023).

Students: Note that when you first connect to the site, the default registration is the full participant amount, but once you designate yourself as a student, you will then see the lower rate.

Steering Committee: A Steering Committee with representatives from academic, governmental, and non-profit organizations defines the goals, basic outline, and structure for the symposium; identifies potential participants; and provides guidance, logistical support, and planning for the symposium. The Steering Committee is instrumental in making the symposium a truly collaborative effort within the diverse IRL research community. The 2024 Steering Committee members are:

•

Irene Arpayoglou – FDEP/Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves

•

Dennis Hanisak – Florida Atlantic University

•

Chuck Jacoby – University of South Florida

•

Elizabeth Salewski – South Florida Water Management District

• Loraé Simpson – Florida Oceanographic Society

•

Holly Sweat – Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce

•

Linda Walters – University of Central Florida

• Jessy Wayles – Indian River Lagoon National Estuarine Program

Venue: Harbor Branch (for directions, see https://www.fau.edu/hboi/about/location-maps/) is located along the Indian River Lagoon in Fort Pierce, Florida, centrally located between the cities of Fort Pierce and Vero Beach.

IRLS 2024 IRL Fish

The call for technical presentations is here.

IRLS 2023 IRL Seagrass

The program is available here.

The Abstracts of presentations are available here.

The forum program for Indian River Lagoon 2023 Update is available here.

IRLS 2022 IRL Connectivity Materials

The program is available here.