Request for Bids to Host the World Fisheries Congress

Bids are now being accepted for the 2028 World Fisheries Congress. Full bid packages must be submitted to the WCFS Secretary General by 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time, June 1, 2023.

Basic Bid Criteria for Hosting the World Fisheries Congress

The World Council of Fisheries Societies (WCFS) has members throughout the world and is seeking to expand its membership in regions not currently engaged. Our membership is composed of fisheries and aquatic science professional societies. This meeting should be developed in such a way as to reach new members and attract involvement of fisheries professionals worldwide. The WCFS encourages submissions to host the 10th WFC from regions in which a Congress has not previously been held.

Our quadrennial congress is held during a 4–5-day period of the designated year (2028). The proposed dates of the event should, to the greatest degree possible, not conflict with annual conferences of the WCFS members. The Congress is oriented toward scientific presentations of new research, fisheries conservation, and management findings. Additionally, special workshops or symposia dealing with current issues of broad interest are presented. Eight to twelve concurrent sessions are usually scheduled. WCFS holds its business meeting during the week as a scheduled activity during the Congress. Typically, attendance at recent congresses have been 1,200 – 1,600.

  1. Eligibility for holding a congress: Bids can be submitted only by member organizations of WCFS. If a fisheries society that is not a member of WCFS is interested in submitting a bid, they must apply and successfully be given WCFS member status prior to submission. Applying for membership in the WCFS is a very simple process that involves submitting a letter of intent. For more information about applying for membership in the WCFS, please contact us at 10thwfc@fisheries.org. WCFS does not accept bids from convention facilities, convention and visitor bureaus, or other entities without a partnership with a WCFS member fisheries society. The selection committee will look for a strong expression of support from a governmental and/or institutional organizations or agencies representing fisheries interests.
  2. Planning groups: Groups involved in planning the meeting include an International Steering Committee composed of representatives from WCFS Member Organizations, an International Program Committee including representatives from WCFS Member Organizations, and Conference organizing and program committees composed mostly of members from the “local” host organization. The host for the World Fisheries Congress must commit to working collaboratively with other member organizations on the two international committees.
  3. Financial Management: A budget including proposed registration fees must be submitted to the WCFS Executive Board for their approval no later than 18 months prior to the date of the 2028 Congress. It is expected that the budget will be constructed such that the Congress will result in a modest source of revenue for the WCFS and host society to supporting their continued operations. The meeting budget will include full support for the International Fisheries Science Prize.
  4. Meeting Format: The format of the meeting has varied, depending on the wishes of the local host and the International Steering Committee of the WCFS. Some of the congresses have included a plenary session each morning followed by open contributions in the afternoon. Others followed the traditional model of a single plenary on the opening day followed by concurrent symposia and presentations. Poster sessions and trade shows are the norm.
  5. Meeting room requirements include:
    • Trade show – minimum of 25,000 sq. ft. to provide space for at least 50 10×10 commercial booths, trade show registration booth, refreshments/coffee service, and space for several scattered refreshment tables. Also include space for poster session which usually occupies space adjacent to the trade show.
    • 4-6 rooms to accommodate 200-250 theater style
    • 7-10 rooms to accommodate 100-200 theater style
    • 3-5 rooms to accommodate 100 or less theater style
    • Auditorium to accommodate up to 1,500 for plenary session(s).
    • Ten small rooms are needed through the meeting as ad hoc meeting rooms.
    • Rooms for pre- or post-meeting workshops.
  6. Host hotel accommodations: A designated host hotel should be selected with reasonable adjacency to the convention facilities. In some cases, hotels may have their own convention facilities that can accommodate the Congress. In general, though, there will be separate hotel facilities from a convention center. The host hotel and possible overflow hotels should be identified with sufficient information provided to evaluate their capacity to meet the needs of the Congress.
  7. Hotel and Convention Center Contract Development: In order to ensure that the Congress secures contracts that fairly represent a relationship based upon good practices, provision of appropriate services, legal language, concessions, and other services, the WCFS recommends that the host utilize a professional meeting planner or otherwise confer or have access to experts or others with experience with these administrative issues.
  8. Meeting schedule: It is important that flexibility be a key ingredient because attendance at the individual technical sessions is difficult to predict four years out.
  9. Memorandum of Understanding: There will be developed between the Congress hosts and the WCFS Executive Board a memorandum of understanding that clearly articulates the committee structure of the Congress, relationship between host and International Steering and Program Committees, budget management, publication plans (if any), time line for major tasks, delegation of major responsibilities between the host and the WCFS and any other activities deemed relevant to describe that will assist in making the Congress a success. This MOU will be signed no later than 2 years prior to the date of the Congress.

Site and Host Selection Process

Proposals to host the World Fisheries Congress may be submitted to the WCFS Executive Board, through the WCFS Secretary General (see below for contact information), by WCFS Member Organizations. We do not accept proposals without the full participation and partnership of a WCFS member fisheries society. The WCFS Executive Board is composed of the President, Vice-President, and the Secretary General (hereinafter called the Officers), and 2 members from each Member Organization of the World Council of Fisheries Societies.

Bid package components:

  1. Letter of submittal: The host organization official letter of support indicating their official interest in hosting the Congress. This letter should be signed by the President of the organization and be appropriately approved by the governing body or membership.
  2. Description of host organization including experience with hosting meetings of size and complexity comparable to the history of the Congress.
  3. Proposed site description including: conference facility describing the ability to provide space for all activities identified in item #6 above.  The description should also include hotels (size, location, facilities), options for reduced price student housing such as may be provided by a university dormitory setting, and any features of the location that would make it attractive to an international audience of fisheries professionals.
  4. Travel options – the bid should provide an overall assessment of travel options to the location including nearest international airport and transportation from airport to host site.
  5. Letters of support – the bid package may include as many as necessary from relevant organizations/individuals.

Bid submission and for questions:

Bids are due to WCFS Secretary General Doug Austen (10thwfc@fisheries.org) by June 1, 2023. Selection will be made by the WCFS Executive Board by September 1, 2023, to allow the successful host to fully participate in the 9th WFC in Seattle, Washington, March 3-9, 2024.

Full bid packages must be submitted to the WCFS Secretary General by 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time, June 1, 2023.