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INTERNATIONATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT:
AQUACULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT
7-9 December, 2006
FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS
Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences,
Hong Kong Baptist University
Area of Excellence: The Centre for Marine Environmental
Research and Innovative Technology (MERIT)
Hong Kong Baptist University and The Croucher
Foundation, Hong Kong
Malachite green and undesirable chemicals
in fish
The recent malachite green scare occurred in
Hong Kong has attracted lots of public attention on food safety. Malachite
green is a type of industrial dye and has been used for treating infection
in fish. A number of countries including China ban the use of this
chemical in aquaculture. Yet, it has been detected in some of the
fresh water fish from the mainland.
The reduced use of hazardous chemicals does not necessarily imply
reduced production yields should good aquacultural practices are adopted
through the extensive dissemination of correct information among farmers.
In addition, laws relating to the use of chemical fertilizer, pesticides
and other undesirable chemicals, such as antibiotics and growth hormones,
should be established and then enforced within the region through
joint agreements between Guangdong and Hong Kong governments.
Traditional practices of aquaculture
In most Asian and some East European countries, it has been a long-term tradition that organic wastes are used in inland aquaculture. Manure is an effective pond fertilizer. It facilitates algal growth in pond water and enhances fungal growth on manure particles. These organisms will in turn serve as food for different fish species with different feeding modes, and, therefore, all the substances derived from the manure could be fully utilized.
The change of aquacultural practices
However, the recent rapid socio-economic changes in China have resulted in the discharge of a large volume of untreated domestic and industrial effluent, consisting of heavy metals such as arsenic [As] and cadmium [Cd], and persistent organic pollutants [POPs] such as DDT and dioxins. Single species of high priced fish (monoculture) is cultivated using high protein grains (usually with additives) instead of polyculture using manure as the major energy input.
Other chemicals used in aquaculture operations including sediment and water treatment compounds, pesticides, disinfectants, antibiotics, vaccines, immunostimulants, vitamins, etc. All exert harmful effects on the cultured fish, occupational health, adjacent ecosystems, food safety and human health. These chemicals, together with heavy metals and POPs (contained in domestic and industrial effluent), may be taken up by fish, washed off into surface waters or leached to groundwater where they can adversely affect both environmental and human health.
Investigations are urgently needed to study
the persistent behaviour, distribution and ecotoxicological effects
of these contaminants in the pond environment and adjacent aquatic
ecosystems; the health risk due to the consumption of contaminated
fish; and the possible evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
due to the overuse of antibiotics. It is envisaged that the information
gathered in this conference will serve as valuable references for
developing the guidelines for ˇ§Good Aquaculture Practicesˇ¨ or ˇ§Organic
Fish Farmingˇ¨ for aquacultural industries in South China (including
Hong Kong), in order to safeguard public health in the region.
Current status of environmental contamination of aquaculture industries
Environmental impact of aquaculture industries
Fate, persistence, distribution and ecotoxicological impacts of chemicals used in aquaculture industries
Waste minimization in aquaculture industries
Health risk assessment of contaminated aquaculture products
Ecological aquaculture, sustainable aquaculture ecosystems
Integrated aquaculture and agriculture systems
Management techniques of "Good Aquaculture Practices"/ "Organic Fish Farming"
Aquaculture and integrated coastal management
(ICM)
The conference will consist of invited keynote
lectures, oral presentations and poster displays. Participants intending
to contribute papers or posters should submit an abstract of no
more than 300 words in English to the Organizing Committee before
May 1, 2006. The abstract should be typed on A4-size paper with
abstract title, names of authors and their affiliations clearly
shown. Selected papers will be published by a SCI journal after
rigorous peer reviews.
Lam Woo International Conference Center, Hong
Kong Baptist University.
This conference will be of interest to researchers,
lecturers, health inspectors, environmental professionals, legislators
and government officers in relevant ministries who are responsible
for environmental and public health management.
Participants can stay at the Dr. Ng Tor Tai
International House of Hong Kong Baptist University at a discount
rate of US$75/HK$600 per twin room, including tax and breakfast.
The registration fee listed below includes
conference attendance, a conference program abstract, lunches, morning
and afternoon refreshments, welcome reception and conference banquet.
The registration should be made in US$ or HK$ payable to Hong Kong
Baptist University by bank draft.
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Before 1st May,2006 |
After 1st May,2006 |
| Standard |
US$350/HK$2,800 |
US$380/HK$3,000 |
| Students |
US$150/HK$1,200 |
US$170/HK$1,400 |
Local organizing Committee
Dr KM Chan, Department of Biochemistry, CUHK
Dr KC Cheung, CIES and Department of Biology, HKBU
Dr RYH Cheung, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City U, Hong
Kong
Dr SS Chung, CIES and Department of Biology, HKBU (Secretary)
Dr KMY Leung, Department of Ecology and Biodiversity, HKU
Dr Y Liang, CIES and Department of Biology, HKBU
Dr XP Nie, Department of Hydrobiology, Jinan University
Dr CKC Wong, CIES and Department of Biology, HKBU
Prof MH Wong, CIES and Department of Biology, HKBU (Chairman)
Dr WX Wang, Department of Biology, HKUST
Dr L Young, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Hong Kong
Keynote speakers (Tentative)
Hong Kong
Dr LYY Ko (MD), Hong Kong Society of Clinical
Toxicology
Prof JHW Lee, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Hong
Kong
Dr C Leung (MD), In Vitro Fertilization Centre
Prof MH Wong, Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Hong
Kong Baptist University
Prof RSS Wu, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University
of Hong Kong
Dr L Yeung, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Hong Kong
Overseas
Prof BA Costa-Pierce, Department of Fisheries,
Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Rhode Island, USA.
Dr Imre Csavas, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok,
Thailand.
Dr DW Donnan, Scottish Natural Heritage, Edinburgh, UK.
Prof P Edwards, Division of Agricultural and Food Engineering,
Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.
Dr H Fiedler, United Nations Environment Program, Chemical Division,
Geneva, Switzerland.
Dr. Asit Mazumder, Water and Watershed Research, NSERC, University
of Victoria, Canada.
Dr RSV Pullin, International Center for Living Aquatic Resources
Management, Manila, The Philippines.
Prof IMCM Rietjens, Research Centre on Toxicology, Wageningen
University, The Netherlands.
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Reply Form
(please return before 1st May
2006)
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[ ] I wish to attend the Conference
[ ] I wish to submit a paper entitled: ___________________________
___________________________________________________________
for : oral presentation [ ] poster
presentation [ ]
Name: (*Prof/Dr/Mr/Ms)______________________ Sex: ___________
Affiliation: _________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Telephone: _________________________________________________
Email: _____________________________________________________
Accommodation:
[ ] I need accommodation at the NTT Guest House of the
University during the conference
[ ] single room/double room
[ ] shared twin room
* Please delete inappropriate items
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Correspondence
The Conference Secretariat
International Conference on Environmental and Public Health Management
Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences
Hong Kong Baptist University Kowloon Tong
Hong Kong
Telephone: (852) 3411 7054
Facsimile: (852) 3411 7743
E-mail: cies@hkbu.edu.hk
Website: http://www.cieshk.org/upcoming_event.asp
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