6 MARCH 2016 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG U.S. AQUACULTURE SOCIETY Sponsored Publications Request for Proposals The USAS is seeking proposals for publications, including books, conference proceedings, fact sheets, pictorials, hatchery or production manuals, data compilations, and other materials that are important to U.S. aquaculture development and that will be of benefit to USAS members. Individuals wishing to have a project considered for funding by the USAS should prepare a proposal — guidelines are available on the website www.was.org. Conditions for Publication: The USAS Board of Directors will rate proposals and select projects for publication. The successful applicant will serve as co-author; however, depending on contribution to the publication, the applicant may not necessarily serve as chief or sole author. The USAS will cover general publication and distribution costs for one or more projects up to $5,000 each year. However, special consideration will be given to worthwhile projects that exceed this limit. No compensation will be provided to the authors for their time spent in writing the publication. The publication will be property of the USAS and will be sold through the WAS bookstore. Contact: DR. LUKE A. ROY • Phone: 501-676-3124 • Email: lroy.aquaextension@gmail.com Recent news in the first quarter of 2016 has given us critical knowledge on how to better manage farms more correctly in our area. It was predicted that the overall fisheries production would show both a big drop and a gain in 2016. Growth in China weakened as compared to last year, according to published data from the Chinese Agriculture Ministry. In India, according to the Society of Aquaculture Professionals, higher production costs and diseases are likely to slow down shrimp production in 2016. Production declined by over 10 percent in 2015 due to flooding and disease outbreaks caused by the microsporidian (EHP) and this will continue into 2016. Thailand’s shrimp production still shows slow growth and has yet to recover from the EMS disease crisis. Meanwhile, Indonesia continues to export more shrimp and has achieved greater market share in the US. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) forecasts that shrimp exports will reach $3.3 billion in 2016, which is a 12 percent increase from 2015. Shrimp prices saw an increase of 5-20 percent in the Mekong Delta region due to low supplies. There are both favorable and unfavorable signs in our region for the shrimp industry. So the question is: how can we contribute to help the industry? The Asian Pacific chapter organized a Smart Shrimp Aquaculture Workshop from 20-22 January, 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand. The topic of the workshop was, “Living with EMS and EHP: Challenging the Disease through Smart Shrimp Farming.” The workshop was supported by the Asian Institute of Technology and Can Tho University and received sponsorships from Blue Aqua International and INVE Aquaculture. There were a series of presentations by internationally and locally renowned expert speakers such as Claude Boyd, Albert Tacon, Farshad Shishehchian, Olivier De Camp, Kallaya Sritunyalucksana and Chalor Limsuwan, all of which shared their ideas and expertise with industry affiliates. The workshop was successful for the Asian Pacific Chapter, honored speakers, and participants. The workshop increased revenue for the Asian Pacific chapter and 128 new members joined the chapter. Participants were from 21 countries such as Fiji, Abu Dhabi, Turkmenistan, Canada, Ecuador, Thailand, Iran, Singapore, UK, Germany, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Mexico, France, and Spain. Participants represented commercial sectors, government agencies, research institutes and student networks who were willing to absorb knowledge, exchange information, and share the best practices and successful stories with others. The participants were a great group of people that had enthusiasm and a positive spirit, which made the workshop more productive and intriguing. They paid very close attention to the presentations and also asked the speakers many interesting questions. Certificates were issued to the participants and speakers. We will host APA 2016, which will take place in Surabaya, Indonesia from 26-29 April, 2016. This is a major podium where the giants of world aquaculture gather to discuss the future of “Profitability, Sustainability and Responsibility.” The APA 2016 will be an exceptional prospect for academics as well as aquaculture experts to enhance and share their knowledge, have peer engagements, widen their network, and expand their vision of the industry. It will also be a perfect international platform for different industries to meet with potential business partners and acquire new markets. For more information, visit was-apc.org. — Farshad Shishehchian, President Asian Pacific Chapter CHAPTER REPORT
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