AWSEL/BM 2026 Study Day
30th September 2026:
Meeting objectives – This ECAWBM residents’ study day aims to enhance understanding of fish welfare and behaviour across a range of clinical and applied settings. The programme will focus on recognising and alleviating pain in fish, alongside the assessment and management of clinically relevant behavioural problems. Through expert-led sessions, residents will explore how behavioural principles inform welfare assessment and clinical decision making in ornamental, laboratory and farmed fish, supporting evidence based, species appropriate veterinary care. This is followed by a meeting with the subcommittee chairs, outlining procedures related to residency, credentialing, and examinations to ECAWBM residents and supervisors.
Chairs of the Study Day:Manuel Sant’Ana, Congress Organizing Committee Chair
Venue: Four Points by Sheraton Ljubljana Mons
Organizing committee:
James Hunt, Chair of AWSEL
Sarah Heath, Chair of BM
Lorella Notari, Chair of BM Education Subcommittee
Elein Hernandez, Chair of AWSEL Education Subcommittee
Claire Diederich, AWSEL Training Officer
Isabel Luño, BM Training Officer
Ludovica Pierantoni, ECAWBM Vice-President
Peter Thornton, ECAWBM President
Programme
08:30 – 08:45
Registration
Meeting Room Plečnik 1
Plenary Session: BM and AWSEL
08:30 – 08:45
Opening – Manuel Magalhães-Sant’Ana
09:00 – 09:50
How to ensure your ornamental fish are healthy – Donna Snellgrove
09:50 – 10:40
Pain Assessment in Fish – Lynne Sneddon
10:40 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 11:50
Anaesthesia and analgesia in Zebrafish – Lynne Sneddon
11:50 – 12:40
Improving the welfare of ornamental fish – Donna Snellgrove
12:40 – 14:00 Lunch
Breakout Scientific Session 2
BM and AWSEL residents’ parallel meetings
14:00 – 16:00 Meeting Room Plečnik 1
Fish Behaviour Case Discussion
Moderators: Sylvia Masson, Isabel Luño and Lorella Notari
16:00 – 16:20 Coffee break
Breakout Sub-specialities Session
BM and AWSEL residents’ parallel meetings
16:20 – 17:20 Meeting Room Plečnik 1
UPDATES from the Chairs of the 3 Subcommittees (BM)
17:20 – 17:30 Meeting Room Plečnik 1
Closing remarks – Lorella Notari
Meeting Room Ravnikar
Fish Welfare Science, Ethics and Law Case Discussion
Moderators: Elein Hernandez, Manuel Magalhães-Sant’Ana, Sophia Hepple
Meeting Room Ravnikar
UPDATES from the Chairs of the 3 Subcommittees (AWSEL)
Meeting Room Ravnikar
Closing remarks – Elein Hernandez