WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • DECEMBER 2015 5 U.S. Aquaculture Society This quarter the USAS Board has been hard at work getting our new website up and running. Check out USAquaculture.org and see what new features and information are available. One of the tabs is an “In the News” segment that links to articles that feature US aquaculture products and industry news. Two November articles reference positive growth in aquaculture in the United States and a third references a survey that states that 47 percent of the US public view aquaculture negatively. Almost all of this negativity is associated with public perception of farm conditions, human health effects of eating farmed products and concern about the use of feeds and antibiotics. This misperception about our products suggests that we have work to do communicating the benefits, safety and quality of US farmed products. Is farm-raised fish bad for you? I get this question a lot from friends and family and even had a vigorous debate at a friend’s wedding two months ago about trout. My answer is always a resounding NO, followed by a very calm and patient explanation of how aquaculture can be an even more environmentally friendly source of protein than wild-caught fish and that the aquaculture industry is moving to lower reliance on reduction fisheries-based fishmeal and fish oil in diets. I state that the aquaculture industry has very few drugs and chemicals that are legal to use in the United States and if you want to talk about environmental impact such as carbon footprint, aquaculture can be significantly lower than wildcaught fisheries, especially when those fish are shipped from around the world. And finally, yes, we are non-GMO. Next, I pepper them with influential supporting experts. I suggest they contact their favorite supermarket; I often use Whole Foods as an example. They have great information on their website in support of seafood sustainability and aquaculture and people trust it. I say, if you don’t believe me, try the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch website (which has not always been a proponent of aquaculture) and take a look at the Best Choices suggestions: US farm-raised Arctic char, barramundi, striped bass, mollusks, stone crab, crawfish, pompano, scallops, seaweed, shrimp, tilapia and trout. Even the Environmental Defense Fund highlights farmed aquatic animals as best choices. How else can I prove it to you? Could we be experiencing the beginning of a sea change in public perception in regard to aquaculture products? Google an online article on aquaculture and scroll down to the comments section. You now see a lot of comments advocating farmed products, dispelling myths about aquaculture with facts and positive discussion about farm-raised seafood sources that is changing perceptions. I find this very encouraging for our industry that people are beginning to see aquaculture in a more positive light. Yes, 47 percent doesn’t sound great but I think we are moving in the right direction. This type of re-education of the public about aquaculture has to begin and be supported by our entire membership. It really does happen at the grassroots level. Change minds with facts. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a great example. Over the last several years farm-raised products have increased significantly in their best choices category. Why? Because several hard-working WAS members now help develop the advisories that educate the public about safe and sustainable aquaculture practices. For this reason, we have been able to influence change. What can you do? Take the time to discuss with friends and neighbors in person, by Facebook or email how these publicly ingrained aquaculture myths are just that, myths. Be honest about our past, provide some history and talk about progress, technology, best practices and industry improvements, (excessive) government regulations keeping aquaculture a safe and healthy option in the US, and by all means serve farm-raised products when you can! — Michael Denson, President CHAPTER REPORTS Korea, continued from page 4 and “Improved Hatchery Production – Feeding Microalgae,” Dr. Young Baek Hur (NFRDI, Korea) on “The Trend and Prospect of Korean Oyster Farming Industry,” Dr. Eric C. Henry (Reed Mariculture Inc.) on “High-density Bivalve Larviculture,” and Dr. Frank Scott Rikard (Auburn University, USA) on “Production of Oyster Larvae Using Shellfish Diet.” Jeju Fisheries Aquaculture Coop and H Mart Held ‘Jeju Olive Flounder’ Events in the US The Jejudo Marine Fish-Culture Co-Operative held promotional events in collaboration with H Mart, the largest Korean supermarket in the US, to expand the export market for Jeju olive flounder from 9-11 Oct at two branches in Dallas, Texas and four branches in Atlanta, Georgia. The events included free tasting and a special discount sale (US$17.99 per pound). Officials of the Jejudo Marine Fish-Culture Co-Operative expected that this promotion event could expand the US market for Jeju olive flounder and help the aquaculture industry of Jeju. Upcoming Events in Korea Busan will host the Seventh World Fisheries Congress under the theme “Challenge to Sustainable Fisheries and Safe Seafoods” from 23-27 May 2016 at BEXCO. There will be 38 sessions on the following topics: Aquaculture, Bycatch, Climate Change and Fisheries, Fish Biology, Fisheries Assessment, Food Science, Hydropower and Energy, Management and Social-Ecological Systems, New Techniques and Technology, and Stock Assessment. A successful WAS meeting was held in Busan in 2008 and you are cordially invited to return for WFC 2016. — Ik Kyo Chung, President
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