World Aquaculture Society News
Spotlight on Africa - Magazine Articles Translated
As part of our “Spotlight on Africa” during World Aquaculture 2107 in Cape Town, WAS is pleased to announce that two recent articles from World Aquaculture Magazine have been made available in more languages used in Africa.
Our June 2017 article about Biofloc Tank Culture of Tilapia in Malawi, by Ray Kourie, looks at a success story of using this important technology.
[More..]Large-Scale Biofloc Tank Culture of Tilapia in Malawi – a Technical Success Story
Although Malawi is endowed with the ninth largest lake in the world and the third largest and second deepest lake in Africa, overfishing resulted in the collapse of the tilapia fishery around 1990-1991. Tilapia, known locally as chambo, is the country’s favorite fish and now costs from US$ 4.00-8.00/kg (R55-110/kg) for whole or live fish. This is a result of market scarcity which is unfortunate considering the massive demand for the fish and its abundant availability at very affordable prices (< US$1.50/kg) prior to 1990. Population growth at nearly 3 percent per annum in Malawi since 1990 has put the anticipated supply shortfall of fish in the country at around 80,000 t for 2017 based on sustaining 1990 per capita supply levels
[More..]Editor's Note - Aquaculture and “The Fish on My Plate”
One of the more thoughtful voices shaping discussion of fisheries and aquaculture in the public sphere in the US is Paul Greenberg. The author and fisherman is perhaps best known for his book Four Fish that tells the story of fish that Americans are overeating: cod, salmon, bass and tuna. The PBS Frontline documentary series recently aired a film by Paul called The Fish on My Plate about his year of eating fish every day. At the core of the piece was the question of what fish should I eat that’s good for me and also good for the planet? The film was based on the forthcoming book The Omega Principle about omega-3 fatty acids and how the health of the oceans is connected with personal health. The documentary is about Paul’s journey and exploration of the subject during the year of his self-imposed diet.
[More..]2017/2018 Election Results
The WAS Elections Committee is pleased to announce the results of the 2017/2018 Elected Board of Directors.
President Elect: Maria Celia Portella
Treasurer: Wendy Sealey
Directors: Michael Denson and Humberto Villarreal
By Law Change: Accepted
Thank you to the membership for your votes.
Editor's Note - The Stagnation of U.S. Aquaculture
I came away from the recently concluded Aquaculture America conference feeling discouraged about the prospects for further growth of US aquaculture. It’s not any single event or policy has led me to that view but a conclusion drawn from hearing the same complaints and concerns year after year without any change on the ground.
The stagnation of US aquaculture is obvious at many levels. The largest aquaculture sector in the country, catfish farming, peaked in 2002 and has not yet come close to recovering 15 years later. As a result, the country is no longer a top-10 global producer. Trout production has barely budged in decades. Salmon farming in net pens in Maine and Washington, never fully developed, peaked around 2000. Shellfish production, one of the brighter lights of US aquaculture, grows modestly but faces ongoing challenges from competing users of coastal areas, climate change, and food safety. University research programs in aquaculture have been scaled back and, in
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Dr. Ian Forster - Outstanding JWAS Reviewer - Fourth Quarter 2016
“Of the many benefits of being a reviewer of scientific literature, two stand out. First, is the feeling of participating in the progression of science. Every scientist, whether aspiring or experienced, knows the value of having access to literature that has been peer-reviewed, but the only way this can exist is for people in the field to provide their input as reviewers. Being a reviewer gives me satisfaction in the knowledge that I’m helping to ensure publication of high quality science. A second benefit to me is that by reviewing the work of other researchers, I can gain insights that assist me when thinking about and planning my own research. I’m always delighted when I’m reviewing an article, perhaps one that is not directly in my field and that I probably would not see except as a reviewer, and I read about a technique or statistical procedure that is unknown to me but which could provide valuable new insights, or simplify my work.”
Ian Forster, Ph.D.
Researc
[More..]Plenary Talks for Aquaculture America 2017 - San Antonio TX - Now Online
The plenary session of the recent Adelaide meeting were recorded. We are pleased to offer these excellent talks to the visitors of our site. If you were not in attendance this is your opportunity to experience the plenary session. If you were fortunate enough to attend you can refresh your memory. Enjoy.
[van Senten Video][Rockey Video] [Lyone Video]
Service as a Peer Reviewer: Professional Responsibility, Recognition, and Benefits
Two editorials recently published in the
Journal of the World Aquaculture Society (JWAS) addressed the steady proliferation of journals, particularly open access ones, and impact factors. Both of them note that publication of high-quality, relevant articles based on research that contributes to the advancement of science and its application is the key to sustained value and ultimately survival of journals. Assurance that trustworthy and relevant research results are published is substantially based on peer review that consists of comprehensive and rigorous examination of content, suggestions for improvement, and recommendations to the editor concerning the next step in the postsubmission process. Careless peer review can readily overlook plagiarism, poor design, interpretation of data, and spurious conclusions, resulting in recommendation for publication. These unsatisfactory reviews are essentially a breach of the trust within the scientific community, a trust that is rooted in
[More..]The Role of Probiotics and Their Mechanisms of Action: An Aquaculture Perspective
The rise in bacterial antibiotic resistance and antibiotic residues in cultured aquatic animals due to extensive use of chemotherapeutic agents has become a global concern. Vaccination and immunostimulant treatment are ideal methods for preventing infectious diseases but their use remains very limited and rather uncommon in aquaculture, especially in Southeast Asia.
[More..]Aquaculture America 2017 - San Antonio Texas Abstract Book
For those struggling with the program book for the San Antonio meeting, we have published the abstract book to the website. It can be downloaded from the more info link.
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Special Announcement
Annual WAS Business Meeting
Please join us for the annual WAS Business meeting on Monday, June 26, 2017 from 16:00 to 17:00 p.m. in the Cape Town International Convention Center Meeting Room 1.41. We look forward to seeing you at World Aquaculture 2017!
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Publications
WAS President
June 2017 President's Column
Sadly this will be my last column as I approach the end of my term as President of the Society. Like most nice things, everything comes to an end. I must reflect upon the achievements of WAS during my term and evaluate whether we have made progress toward my proposed objectives of being the leading, high-profile and most important aquaculture society in the world, with a strong commitment to promoting the development of sustainable aquaculture across the five continents by assisting in the exchange of the latest scientific and technological information among academic, private, government and non-profit sectors. I thank all WAS members for entrusting me with the leadership of our Society, and I am grateful to our staff and governing board members for their tireless efforts on behalf of the organization.
I am happy to announce......
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