Dear Colleagues,

Given the funding uncertainty which many scientists are currently facing, the convening committee has made the decision to extend the abstract submission deadline of the 48^th Annual Larval Fish Conference.

The extended –and final– deadline is now set to April 10, 2025. We hope that this added flexibility will provide more scientists with the opportunity to attend the meeting. *However, please consider submitting your abstract as soon as possible to help the convening committee make timely progress on the scientific program*

Why submitting an abstract?

The Conference – We have prepared a diverse program that will bring together the international scientific community working on the early life history of fishes, from the egg to the juvenile stage. The following 7 topical sessions, will provide early career scientists and senior researchers with excellent opportunities to share their recent work, reconnect with collaborators and friends, and establish new relationships:

1. Moving north: Effects of anthropogenic disturbances and global change on early life stages of native and non-native species
2. Laboratory experimentation to inform ecological and physiological processes in early life stages. 
3. Larval and juvenile feeding, growth and survival: towards an improved conceptual framework of the Growth-Survival Paradigm
4. Early life-history traits in diadromous fishes: Implications for biodiversity conservation in a changing climate
5. Feeding connections: Trophic interactions between zooplankton and larval fish in aquatic ecosystems
6. Exploring biodiversity through the taxonomy and morphology of larval fish
7. Contributed papers: Any other contribution of high quality not fitting the above-mentioned sessions will be considered here

Keynote Speakers include Dr. Marta Moyano, Dr. Pierre Pepin, Prof. Céline Audet and Prof. Kenneth Jeffries.

The venue – With a history spanning over 400 years, Québec City is the only walled city in North America. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it is renowned for its vibrant culture, excellent gastronomy, and warm hospitality. There are many reasons to visit us this summer for an enriching conference experience and a pleasant stay! The conference will be held at Hotel Le Concorde, located near “Old Québec”, a lively district offering breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River and a variety of accommodation options.

Social activities –  To complement the scientific program, we have planned a number of exciting social events to help you to network with your colleagues. We are pleased to announce the following confirmed events: 

• Sunday, June 15th, 5PM to 8PM: The Icebreaker cocktail will take place on a cruise! Don’t miss the chance to board the M/V Louis Jolliet, for a scenic tour of the St. Lawrence River, offering stunning views of Old Quebec’s waterfront.
• Tuesday, June 17th: Poster session and social event — this will be a lot of fun!
• Wednesday, June 18th: LFC Banquet at “Le Parlementaire”, the beautiful restaurant of the National Assembly of Quebec! The event will begin at 6:00PM with a reception in the Main Hall, where you’ll have the opportunity to explore this historic building.

Important information

• Abstracts must be submitted by April 20, 2025 using this form
• If you require a visa to enter Canada, please submit an abstract as soon as possible. We will review it as soon as we receive it to ease your visa application.
• Early bird rates for registration are available until April 24, 2025.
• The Proceedings of the 48th Annual Larval Fish Conference will be published in the ICES Journal of Marine Science (ICES JMS), and all presenters (oral and poster) are encouraged to submit a manuscript. Manuscripts can be submitted at any time from now, with a submission deadline of September 30, 2025. Follow this link for more details on the Proceedings.

We are confident you will enjoy the conference and look forward to welcoming you to Quebec City! Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any question at [email protected]

Warm regards,

The LFC48 Convening Committee

Larval Fish Conference website: https://larvalfishconference.com/

Early Life History Section website: https://earlylifehistory.fisheries.org/

Early Life History Section on FB: https://www.facebook.com/earlylifehistory