The project IMPASSE "Environmental impacts of alien species in aquaculture" was funded within the EU's Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development in order to address the EC's need for a thorough evaluation of the potential impacts of non-indigenous species in aquaculture. Its overall goal is to develop guidelines for environmentally sound practices for the introductions and translocations in aquaculture, guidelines on quarantine procedures and risk assessment protocols, and procedures for assessing the potential impacts of invasive alien species in aquaculture and related activities.

Among the actions required to disseminate the knowledge accumulated in the course of the 2-year project, IMPASSE foresaw the organization of the final international conference "Managing Alien Species for Sustainable Development of Aquaculture and Fisheries" (MALIAF) to be hosted by the University of Florence (Italy) between 5 and 7 November 2008. Its main objective is to present IMPASSE's results to the scientific community, administrators, and stakeholders, but also to extend the discussion on the strategies needed to develop sustainable and profitable aquaculture and fisheries across the world. The conference will be followed by the production of a proceedings volume gathering the main talks and contributions given.

MALIAF will provide a unique opportunity for many leading scientists engaged in research on invasive alien species to meet and share their knowledge with practitioners, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies. This will have a positive impact on the ongoing process, at the EU level, of developing regulations governing the use of alien species in human activities, including aquaculture. Specifically, MALIAF will contribute to strengthen cooperation at international, regional, transboundary, and local levels and to develop integrated actions to standardise guidelines or protocols for species movement, risk assessment, and quarantining. By suggesting strategies for an effective management of aquatic ecosystems and for a mitigation of the risks posed to organisms, communities, and ecosystems by alien invasive species, MALIAF will pinpoint means and opportunities that might ultimately improve the quality of life, assuring both human well-being and economic development of the society in general.

Themes of discussion will be:

• Reviews of introductions of aquatic alien species in different, environments, countries and regions.
• Impacts (environmental, ecological, social and economic) arising from the introduction of non-native aquatic species.
• Aquaculture and aquaculture-related operations involving non-native species.
• Analysis of drivers of the use of introduced species.
• Constraints in establishing good practices in the introduction of aquatic species.
• Dispersal mechanisms from aquaculture-related activities.
• Risk assessment and management.
• Quarantine procedures.
• Recommendations on potential mitigation-remediation procedures and contingency plans.