Reaching gender parity and improving internationalisation after five decades of FSBI symposia, but subtle career‐stage effects on timekeeping remain

We analysed 57 years of Fisheries Society of the British Isles (FSBI) symposia, showing speakers with traditionally female names increased from near absence to reaching parity in recent symposia. International affiliations increased in the late 1980s, peaking in 2024 with 27 countries, albeit with overrepresentation of high-income countries. Timekeeping for 68 presentations at the 2025 symposium showed that senior scientists were more likely to overrun than junior presenters; no systematic gender differences were detected. Although gender representation has improved, timekeeping asymmetries reveal career-stage effects, underscoring the need for consistent data collection, moderation and equitable session management.