Concept

The GLOW symposia, organized by the Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society in collaboration with partner institutions in the host countries, are a series of international events aimed at fostering collaboration and communication among Great Lakes scientists and key stakeholders in fisheries, aquaculture, and ecosystem management. These symposia provide a platform for promoting a deeper understanding of the ecosystem-based structure, function, and performance of both healthy and impaired ecosystems, viewed through integrated, multidisciplinary, and sustainable lenses. The GLOW events bring together researchers, students, investors, managers, and other stakeholders from across the globe to discuss and share insights on the management and preservation of Great Lakes and other large lake ecosystems.

Furthermore, the application of Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) in large and Great Lakes has been a key focus of the GLOW symposia. In the African Great Lakes, fisheries and aquaculture are vital to the livelihoods of riparian communities, yet these resources are under significant exploitation pressure. These mounting stresses on the lakes, and their tributaries, have noticeable effects on their ecosystems, with shifts in species composition being one of the most apparent indicators. Such changes are critical and should be closely monitored and studied, with the findings widely disseminated. This conference we’ll be focusing on various ways we can build up the resilience of our lakes (both Large and Great) through policy, transboundary cooperations, ideal management practices, community participation, and enforcements.