6 March 2012 U.S. Aquaculture Society Chapter Update In my final column as president of the United States Aquaculture Society, I want to reinforce the subject of WAS President Dr. Ricardo Martino’s column in this same issue on the importance of chapters to the WAS parent society. As aquaculture continues its expansion in the USA and globally, the potential role and importance of WAS and its chapters increases as well. With regards to the USAS, our mission is to provide a national forum for the timely exchange of information among aquaculture researchers, students and industry members in the United States. The USAS serves this mission through sponsoring workshops and meetings, fostering educational opportunities, and publishing aquaculture-related materials important to U.S. aquaculture development. Our membership fluctuates between 800 and 900 members per year, representing the broad spectrum of public and private organizations such as academia, government, industry, education, and other individuals either engaged or interested in aquaculture. While we have a mandate to advance aquaculture, our effectiveness is only as good as our leadership is strong. In that regard, I wish to review briefly the organization of the USAS and opportunities for members to serve the society either in an official or unofficial capacity. Within the elected leadership of the society are the officers and the Executive Board. Officers are represented by the President, President-Elect, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer. The Executive Board consists of the officers, along with four Members-at-Large who are elected to 2-year terms, the Immediate Past-President, and the Student Liaison (a 2-year ex-officio member of the Executive Board). The activities of the USAS are conducted through Committees, which are chaired by officers and executive board members, but may be comprised of members of the society in good standing. Standing committees include the Election Committee, Finance Committee, Conference Committee, Awards Committee, Publication Committee, Student Activities Committee, Student Subunit Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Rules and Regulations Committee, Promotion and Membership Committee, and Presidents Committee. There are also ad hoc committees that are established and dissolved as needed to address specific activities or agendas as deemed appropriate to achieve society initiatives. There are numerous opportunities for members of the USAS to engage in leadership and service to the society. I urge each of you to consider service to the society at some point during your career and engagement with USAS. An engaged membership makes a strong society. I’m extremely fortunate and appreciative of our membership and the opportunity to serve you as President in 2011 and look forward to continued service as Immediate Past-President and beyond. I am further appreciative of all the service and support towards advancement of the society by the 2011 USAS Officers, Executive Board, committee members, and of course our Home Office staff and Executive Director and thankful for their hard work and diligence as they balance service to the society with their daily jobs, family, and other commitments in life. Hoping everyone has a wonderful meeting this year in Las Vegas at “Bringing All Players to the Table” Aquaculture America 2012 and I look forward to seeing all of you there. — Michael H. Schwarz U.S. Aquaculture Society President New FAO Technical Report A new FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper (564) on “Demand and supply of feed ingredients for farmed fish and crustaceans: trends and prospects” has been released. The authors are internationally renowned nutritionists Albert Tacon, Mohammad Hasan, and Marc Metian. Some of the findings highlighted in the Executive Summary include: • About 46 percent of total global aquaculture production is dependent on the supply of feeds. • Compound aquafeed production grew three-fold from 1995 to 2008 or about 11% per year. • Aquafeeds represent only 4 percent of global animal feed production. • About 29 million tons of compound aquafeeds are produced annually, along with 19 to 31 million tons of farmmade aquafeeds, and more than 8 tons of low-value fish used directly as feed. • The aquaculture sector uses more than 68 percent of global fishmeal supplies and 81 percent of global fish oil supplies. • The total use of fishmeal has been declining and is expected to decline further. • In contrast, the use of fish oil is expected to increase slowly. • There is considerable scope to increase the use of meals and oils from terrestrial animal by-products in compound aquafeeds. • On average, compound aquafeeds contain 25 percent soybeans by weight. • The sustainability of the aquaculture sector is more likely linked to the sustainability of terrestrial animals and plants for feed resources than to that of marine products.
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