What is ASI?
The Asian Society of Ichthyologists (ASI) is dedicated to the study of fishes in Asia. The Society’s objectives are to:
- Promote the understanding, appreciation, wise economic use, and conservation of fishes.
- Promote and evaluate the development and advancement of all branches of ichthyology.
- Gather and disseminate scientific, technical, and other information about fishes to Society members and the general public through publications, meetings, and other forms of communication.
- Encourage the teaching of ichthyology and other biodiversity sciences in colleges and universities.
The ASI meets annually (with recent gaps related to the COVID-19 pandemic). Previous conferences were held in Penang, Malaysia in 2014, Guilin, China in 2015, Taipei, Taiwan in 2016, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in 2017, Nanning, China in 2018, Aceh, Indonesia in 2019, and Penang, Malaysia in 2024. Attendees at each conference have numbered between 100 and 250, with large attendance each year by students from Asian universities.
What is IPFC?
The Indo-Pacific Fish Conference (IPFC) is a series of meetings dedicated to sharing research on the systematics and ecology of Indo-Pacific fishes. The IPFC series is about fishes in the phylogenetic sense (Craniata less Tetrapoda). The focus of IPFC is Indo-Pacific biogeographic region including marine and freshwater environments, with emphasis on warm-water taxa. While IPFC is not primarily a fisheries conference, elements of fisheries science such as conservation and management can be included. These unique aspects distinguish IPFC from other conferences.
IPFC is not affiliated with any formal society, though the conference may be held in conjunction with meetings of other societies. The first IPFC was held in Sydney in 1981, and subsequent conferences have been held every four years (except during the COVID-19 pandemic) (download the IPFC 10th Anniversary booklet) It is undoubtedly one of the world’s premier ichthyological conferences and is eagerly anticipated by marine, estuarine, and freshwater fish enthusiasts alike. The upcoming conference in Taipei, Taiwan will be the 12th IPFC.