ICAIS 2026 Schedule

Conference Registration and Information Desk Open from 7:30 - 17:00: Pick up your name badge and registration materials. PowerPoint Manager's Desk Open at select times only: 7:30 - 8:20, 12:30-13:30 - Submissions for presentations taking place tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 26, are due by 16:00 today, Tuesday, Aug. 25. See the full submission schedule for more details. 16:40 - 17:30 - The submission deadline for presentations taking place tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 26, has passed. Submissions for presentations taking place on Thursday, Aug. 27 are due tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 16:00. See the full submission schedule for more details. Presentations can be submitted online through Fourwaves or by bringing a USB/hard drive containing the presentation to the PowerPoint Manager's Desk.

• AM
• PM
• Tuesday, August 25
• Registration Check-in
• Submit PowerPoint Presentation Updates

• AM
• Tuesday, August 25
• Announcements

Lessons from research on vectors for the movement of freshwater invertebrates in New Zealand

• AM
• Tuesday, August 25
• Plenary Presentation

Governing biological invasions under rapid environmental change

• AM
• Tuesday, August 25
• Plenary Presentation

• AM
• Networking
• Break
• Tuesday, August 25
• Exhibitors

• AM
• PM
• Poster
• Tuesday, August 25

• AM
• Concurrent Session
• Aquatic Invasive Plant Control
• Tuesday, August 25

• AM
• Concurrent Session
• Tuesday, August 25
• Molluscs

• AM
• Salmonoid
• Tuesday, August 25
• Special Session

Ships’ ballast water and biofouling have been responsible for thousands of biological introductions across global coastal marine, brackish and freshwater habitats. While ballast water risk and associated management strategies have been intensively studied for at least four decades, informing the establishment of an International Convention, much less is known about biofouling of ships’ underwater surfaces and the trade-offs associated with management practices such as in-water cleaning. With the imminent development of a legally-binding framework for the control and management of ships' biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species, there is opportunity to take stock of successes and lessons learned over the last decades, from both ballast water regulation and voluntary biofouling best management practices. This session aims to bring together global experts on the science and management of ships’ ballast water and biofouling, with the objective to share the latest scientific findings, identify strategies to improve on-the-ground management efforts, and inform ongoing policy discussions. More specifically, the session welcomes contributions on technical and operational ballast water and biofouling management measures across a wide range of aquatic environments/conditions and ship operation profiles. This special session will run as a parallel conference session at the 24th ICAIS, with each presenter allotted time for presentation and questions, following standard conference format. Thereafter, a one-day workshop will be held to foster dialogue amongst participants, bridging the gap between research and policy, with the aims to 1) improve implementation of current ballast water management practices, and 2) advance biofouling management based on experiences and lessons learned to date.

• AM
• Tuesday, August 25
• Ballast Water
• Special Session

• AM
• Concurrent Session
• Tuesday, August 25
• Crab Invasion Mechanisms

• AM
• PM
• Networking
• Lunch

• Concurrent Session
• PM
• Tuesday, August 25
• Invasive Crab Management

• Concurrent Session
• PM
• Tuesday, August 25
• Responses to Aquatic Invasive Species
• Policy
• Early Detection and Rapid Response

• Concurrent Session
• PM
• Aquatic Invasive Plant Control
• Tuesday, August 25
• Biological Control

• PM
• Salmonoid
• Tuesday, August 25
• Special Session

Presentations will be followed by a ballast water-focused discussion from 2:20 - 3:00 PM.

• PM
• Tuesday, August 25
• Ballast Water
• Special Session

• PM
• Salmonoid
• Tuesday, August 25
• Special Session
• Discussion

• PM
• Networking
• Break
• Tuesday, August 25
• Exhibitors

• Concurrent Session
• PM
• Tuesday, August 25
• Policy
• Transboundary Approaches
• Impacts
• Horizon scanning

• Concurrent Session
• PM
• Tuesday, August 25
• Monitoring

• Concurrent Session
• PM
• Tuesday, August 25
• Dreissenids
• Mussels

• Concurrent Session
• PM
• Tuesday, August 25
• Invasive Fish Detection
• Monitoring
• Pathways

This workshop, in combination with the Special Session on Transcending Boundaries Between the Science and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Biofouling, aims to bridge the gap between research and policy, and to connect data needs and risk assessments with effective management and mitigation measures. Participants will be challenged to leverage and build on experience and lessons learned to improve the implementation of current ballast water management practices and advance new biofouling management policies.

• PM
• Tuesday, August 25
• Ballast Water
• Workshop
• Biofouling

Step into an unforgettable evening at Queen’s University Belfast’s iconic Great Hall. Enjoy a conference dinner in one of Northern Ireland’s most sought-after venues. The Great Hall boasts a selection of portraits from the University’s art collection, creating a warm, powerful and theatrical space at the heart of the University. Good food, Irish music, and the rich historic surroundings will make for a night full of networking, celebrating, and enjoying an experience you won’t soon forget. Note: This is a separate ticketed event. You can find more information here.

• PM
• Networking
• Tuesday, August 25
• Dinner
• Special Event