Well, everyone has gone home now and a very sucessful symposium is behind us. The next symposium will be held in 2003 in Qingdao in China and will be organised by Dr Kangsen Mai who can be contacted at this e-mail address: kmai@mail.ouqd.edu.cn

1. The Photo albums (I would like to receive any scanned images from the symposium that I will add to the albums)
2. The abalone song
3. A feedback page which we would appreciate receiving from you and which will be collated and sent on to the next symposium organisers.

PRESIDENT: Peter Cook (South Africa): pcook@botzoo.uct.ac.za

VICE PRESIDENT: Ricardo Searcy Bernal (Mexico): rsearcy@faro.ens.uabc.mx

SECRETARY: Neville Sweijd (South Africa): nsweijd@botzoo.uct.ac.za

TREASURER: Susan McBride (USA): scmcbride@ucdavis.edu

SYMPOSIUM ORGANISER: Kangsen Mai (China): kmai@mail.ouqd.edu.cn

PAST PRESIDENT: Scoresby Shepherd (Australia): shepherd.scoresby@saugov.sa.gov.au

Atillio Ziomi (Chile): aziomi@fundch.cl

Rodney Roberts (New Zealand): rodney@cawthron.org.nz

Saowapa Sawatpeera (Thailand): saowapa@bucc.buu.ac.th

Anne Flemming (Australia): annflem@cosmos.net.au

Tom Kawamura (Japan): tomohiko@myg.affrc.go.jp

Maria Teresa Viana (Mexico): viana@faro.ens.uabc.mx

UPDATE POSTED 17 January 2000 (New)

1. A final programme and schedule of oral presentations has been posted on the website.

http://www.ab2000.org.za/finlprog.html and/or http://www.ab2000.org.za/image60.gif in the appropriate place on your webrowser, or just click here).

2. For those who are giving oral presentations, the talks are 15minutes + 5minutes for questions/discussion, except in cases where we have specifically asked for 25+5 talks (you know who you are!). Please have a look at the programme to see.

Poster boards are 1.8 (high, from the floor) X 1.5 wide. You can use all that space if you need to.

3. Manuscripts MUST be handed in the secretariat at the symposium for consideration for publication in the proceedings.

• Locate Table Mountain from the airport and head in that direction on the N2 freeway towards "Cape Town".
• As you approach the mountain (go past the two huge Athlone Cooling Towers on your right), look out for UCT's red roofed buildings - clearly visible at the foot of the mountain in front of you (left of the highway, not to be confused with Groote Schuur Hostpital that’s on the right).
• Follow the road until it forks at the foot of the mountain. Take the left fork to "Muizenberg" (M3) and then stay in that left hand lane. (Ignore any previous signs that say "Muizenberg"). Look out for an old windmill (Mostert’s Mill) and take the next turnoff (2nd one, M4) to "Rosebank/University"
• At the traffic lights, proceed straight toward "Middle Campus". The buildings on your left will be those of "Woolsack" residence where our delegates are staying. A bit further on is the Education Building where the symposium is being held. You can park your car in the parking lot on the right hand side.

• We have planned a new activity that has become traditional at the abalone symposia. Please remember to bring some of your local shells with you to South Africa, for the Shell Trading Market to be held at and during the post-workshop drinks gathering, on Wednesday the 9^th at the symposium venue. The wider variety you bring, and the rarer your shells, the better your bargaining power!
• Please bring some local and/or exotic abalone (cooking/ eating/ preparation) recipes with you. It is our idea to produce a booklet of abalone recipes from around the world - your recipe (together with a photo of the species) and an acknowledgement of origin, will be published sometime, somehow, most likely on the ABNET website.

2. We have included a booking form on the webpage for the Technical Tours. Payment for these tours will only be accepted at registration - however you can e-mail me (nsweijd@botzoo.uct.ac.za) with a copied and pasted version of the form. You can also fax it (+27-21-6503301, marked with "ATTENTION: NEVILLE SWEIJD".

1. Update of submission of abstracts and acceptance.

We are in the process of finalising the programme and have replied to authors that have submitted an abstract. There will be inevitable changes to the provisional programme before the symposium starts. If you have submitted an abstract but have not heard from the organisers, then please contact Neville Sweijd (nsweijd@botzoo.uct.ac.za).

2. Registration

The registration deadline is the 30^th of November, so please ensure that your registration forms reach us by that date. We will accept fax or e-mail copies of the registration form with copies of your payment details EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF CREDIT CARD payments, where your original signature is required. It is vital that you attach proof of payment to the University of Cape Town (in the form of a bank deposit or an attached cheque). Late payments will incur a late payment penalty (see registration forms).

3. Pre- and post-conference Technical Tours: (click here)

 

4. Workshops

1. A fisheries compliance workshop - co-ordinated by Brian Hemming, SARDI, Australia. (email: hemming.brian@wpo.pi.sa.gov.au )
2. An abalone genetics Workshop - co-ordinated by Nick Elliott, CSIRO, Australia (e-mail: nick.elliott@marine.csiro.au)
3. "Indicators of the Status of the Stock" - an industry-focussed workshop, co-ordinated by Rick Officer, TAFI, Australia. (Rick.Officer@dpiwe.tas.gov.au).

If you have any general inquiries please contact Neville Sweijd (nsweijd@botzoo.uct.ac.za).