The 22nd International Conference on Diseases of Fish and Shellfish will take place at the Cultural and Conference Center of Heraklion, Crete, from September 1–4, 2025. Scientists from around the world are expected to attend, with a shared mission: to address the growing challenges threatening the health of aquatic organisms.
A wake-up call from the Mediterranean
The urgency of the issue became strikingly clear in the autumn of 2024, when nearly 500 dusky groupers, brown meagres, and other large fish washed ashore dead along Crete and southern Greece, shocking communities and scientists. The cause was viral encephalopathy and retinopathy, a disease intensified by rising sea temperatures—highlighting the vulnerability of Mediterranean ecosystems to climate-driven crises.
Aquaculture, biodiversity, and animal welfare
The health of fish is not only an ecological matter but also an economic one. Aquaculture is among the most dynamic sectors of Greek food production and exports, and its future depends on effective disease prevention and management.
At the Heraklion conference, researchers will present the latest advances in tackling diseases that threaten both aquaculture and wild species. Fish welfare will also take center stage, with a dedicated session highlighting the ethical and scientific importance of ensuring healthy living conditions for aquatic animals.
Crete itself is becoming a hub for this field: the newly established European Reference Centre for the Welfare of Aquatic Animals, coordinated by the University of Crete, reflects the island’s growing role in shaping European policy and research.
A global scientific meeting point
With more than 500 participants from across the globe, the International Conference on Diseases of Fish and Shellfish is the leading international forum dedicated to aquatic animal health. Its scope reaches far beyond the Mediterranean, covering oceans, rivers, and lakes worldwide.
Organized by the European Association of Fish Pathologists (EAFP) in collaboration with the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research’s Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, the event comes at a critical moment.
The mass die-offs of groupers observed in Greece, Italy, and Spain serve as a stark reminder that aquatic health is a global issue requiring coordinated action.
