In light of the recent hurricane in Florida, there has been concern about whether the 2017 ASC would take place. After considering all the available data from Florida, ICES and the US Delegates reaffirm that the meeting will go forward.
The airports are open and operating, most surface transportation is working, some of the hotels are open today while the others will reopen in the next couple of days, businesses in the area of the convention center are open, and the convention center is looking forward to our event. Some parts of the Fort Lauderdale area were impacted to a greater degree than the convention center area, but this should not affect the meeting.
There is always the concern about the sensitivity of visiting an area that has experienced a natural disaster, and our thoughts and wishes go to those people affected by the severe weather, and the aftermath. Everyone we have spoken to has expressed the sentiment that the people of Fort Lauderdale will value our resolve to have the meeting in their city and welcome us.
Please follow through with your plans to attend and if you have changed plans in the last few days, please consider attending after all.
We thank you for your understanding, and hope to see you at ASC 2017.
Cornelius Hammer, ICES President
Jon Hare, NOAA, US Delegate
Bill Karp, University of Washington, US Delegate
Travel advisory
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidance for people living in or traveling to Miami-Dade County, Florida. CDC designates areas for Zika virus transmission prevention in the continental United States and Hawaii as red or yellow. Miami-Dade County is designated as a Zika cautionary (yellow) area, and pregnant women should consider postponing travel to Miami-Dade County.
Read more on the CDC website: Advice for people living in or traveling to South Florida regarding the Zika virus.
