World Aquaculture December 2018

WWW.WA S.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • DECEMBER 2018 31 ( C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 3 2 ) continued to expand our board outside of the US and to integrate people from other countries into our activities. Two years later our WAS president was from Europe and then in another two years from Canada. These were firsts. We worked closely with Jim Avault to assist him to make the Journal of the WAS a reputable publication. Our financial management was rationalized with a new accounting system and procedures; secure keeping of important documents and financial certificates; obtaining our 503(c) income tax exemption; and we arranged for our first financial audit to be conducted by a Certified Public Accountant. By that time we were beginning to accumulate money from conference fees and memberships. Working with leaders of the Catfish Farmers of America, the US Trout Growers, and the Shellfish Institute of North America, we continued interactions with the USDA and the US Department of Commerce about how best to advance the new field of fish farming, and initiated discussions with the Food and Drug Administration about drug approvals for aquatic animals, the Office of Coastal Zone Administration to provide for coastal aquaculture (we got stiffed), Attorney General (for Lacy Act enforcement clarification), the Office of Vice President George H.W. Bush for general regulatory relief. We also continued discussions about the role of WAS, particularly in interacting with the US federal government. Were we to be like engineering, architectural, medical, and chemical societies with a clear role of educating government at all levels about the needs of aquaculture, or were we to more narrowly focus on our journal, annual conferences, and other services that might not be considered by some to be “lobbying?” What obligations did we have for the industry side of aquaculture as well as to the scientific and research side? The highlight of the year was our first and only annual conference held in Washington, DC. This also was held jointly with CFA, USTGA, and SINA. Speakers included the President of Tufts University who was an expert on world food needs, the head of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration and other government officials. We had an all-aquaculture products stand-up dinner for well over 1,000 US Government officials, Members of Congress and their staffs, and foreign ambassadors. We served farmed trout, catfish, salmon, alligator, oysters, clams, scallops and shrimp. It was a great success. We asked every conference participant to stay in Washington another day and visit the office of their senators and congressmen. When we left town the US government knew all about aquaculture. The leaders of each association agreed to repeat our Washington meeting every three years or so. Unfortunately, that never happened. Fred S. Conte, 1983-1984 The World Mariculture Society (WMS) represented approximately 2,000 members in over 50 countries, including its affiliate the European Mariculture Society (EMS). Our primary objectives were to strengthen the Home Office and move the Society towards greater international representation. The Board continued the previous year’s activities by finalizing adoption of a computerized financial budget structure, reallocated funds for Home Office activities by hiring a half-time coordinator and established a temporary Home Office Advisor. The activities of the Home Office and the WMS Editor were separated to improve the efficiency and speed of editing and production of the journal. To foster greater inclusion of all aquaculture within the Society, the Board reiterated that the Society’s name was non-exclusive, representing both fresh and saltwater aquaculture, and more importantly, would likely change its name in the future to more adequately represent all aquaculture. To attract more affiliates, and to foster the concept of a true world organization as originally intended by the Society, the Board worked with representatives of the EMS to redefine and create a more favorable affiliate status. We expanded the Board’s international representation to address both the needs and desires of the international aquaculture community. In 1983, two WMS policy changes were established to secure the Society as a science source to influence domestic and international aquaculture policy, rather than serving as a lobby for aquaculture. Board actions provided a strong signal that the WMS was undergoing an evolution and these changes would include fostering inclusion of a true international Board of Directors representing geographical, regional or national entities. The Board announced its decision to consider proposals to establish a United States aquaculture association as an affiliate of the WMS as a necessary step for equitable representation of all aquaculture groups in a true international organization. Another significant accomplishment was creation of the Presidents’ Committee, as a standing committee consisting of Past Presidents to assure that the talent once directing the Society would continue to be available to the Board during these critical periods of change. Gary D. Pruder, 1984-1985 I found and cleaned up my tarnished plaque to find my service dates. We bought the first computer for the Home Office at LSU. With my background as a rocket engineer (Thiokol) and head of applications research (GMC) and only a recent doctorate (Delaware), I was often puzzled working with so many biologists. There were so many unknowns, so few handbooks, no straight lines nor any right angles. After WAS, I had the pleasure of working twenty years at the Oceanic Institute in Hawaii, where biology and engineering came together. Almost everywhere, highly developed commercial breeding, health and nutrition technologies developed in agriculture were further improved and applied. It was a great life experience. My best to current and future leaders of WAS. It takes all kinds working together. John J. Manzi, 1988-1989 It’s difficult to take credit for anything during my presidency because I had the good fortune of having an excellent board with which to work and, in all honesty, they did most of the heavy lifting. Some things we accomplished during my term include: 1) Converting the newsletter into a quarterly magazine — World Aquaculture . We were lucky to get David Aiken to be editor. 2). Starting to use professional management for our annual meetings, leading to a substantial increase in the revenues derived from those meetings. At the time, the meeting in Los Angeles (Aquaculture ‘89) was the most profitable in the organization’s history. 3) Reorganization of the Home Office at LSU and hiring