56th Annual Conference
Conserving UK Fish Habitats in a Changing Environment
14 – 15 October 2025
Future Inn, Bristol
This year’s IFM Annual Conference will be hosted by the Southwest Branch and will be held in the wonderful city of Bristol.
In an era of accelerating environmental change and growing pressures on aquatic ecosystems, this conference will delve into the challenges facing freshwater, transitional, and marine environments. We will explore how habitat connectivity, ecological resilience, and multi-sector engagement can support thriving aquatic ecosystems and sustainable fisheries into the future whilst offering a comprehensive platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration across disciplines and sectors.
The conference will feature speakers from the UK, Ireland and beyond for two days of presentations, posters, and networking, including the Annual Dinner & Awards.
Conference sessions will cover:
- Habitats under pressure
- Habitat engineering
- Monitoring, mapping and citizen science
- Policy, engagement & funding
- Habitat restoration and creation
- Fish passage
- Connectivity & infrastructure/constructing corridors: Coastal and riverine connectivity projects
The John Gregory Lecture
Shaun Leonard, Wild Trout Trust
We are delighted to announce that this year’s John Gregory Lecture will be presented by Shaun Leonard of the Wild Trout Trust.
Early Careers Group Workshop
13th October 13:00 – 17:00
This year sees us host our first IFM Early Careers Group Workshop. This event will be held at the conference venue on Monday afternoon, prior to the main conference proceedings. The workshop will feature sessions covering fishery specific skills and techniques, career development and mentoring as well as providing an opportunity to network.
This workshop is free of to attend and open to anyone embarking on their career in fisheries management or a related field. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
To register interest in attending please email Iain Turner on iain.turner@ifm.org.uk.
The conference and registration details are available on the IFM website
Who Should Attend
We encourage participation from fishery managers, practitioners, academics, students, conservationists, policymakers, and anyone with a keen interest in fish, fisheries and the aquatic environment.
CPD points are available for attendance at this event.
The IFM
The Institute of Fisheries Management is an international organisation of people whose aim is to support and promote sustainable fisheries management for the benefit of our members, fisheries, wildlife and society.
We have a long history of hosting conferences and technical workshops and have held an annual event for the past 55 years.