World Aquacluture Magazine - September 2020

14 SEP TEMBER 2020 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WA S.ORG T he Publication Committee of theWorld Aquaculture Society is seeking to fill the Book Editor Position. Any candidate for the Book Editor Position must be a member of theWorld Aquaculture Society in good standing and should have past experience with the publication of books and the changing landscape of publishing, including online publishing. The term for the Book Editor Position is three years and subject to renewal for an additional three years. The Book Editor Position shall receive an annual stipend that is based on the number of proposals that were logistically managed ($100 per proposal), whether Position Announcement: WAS Book Editor Position or not successful, and a designated amount associated with the actual first printing of any book during each fiscal year ($300 per printing). The combined amounts per fiscal year cannot exceed US $1,000. A letter of application must address the basis of interest in the Book Editor Position as well as any experience (qualifications) in reference to the performance of the described job responsibilities. Deadline for applications is September 30, 2020. Please send your application via email with appropriate attachments to Dr. Lou D’Abramo, Chairman of theWAS Publications Committee, at loudabramo@gmail.com . A quaculture’s ability to help alleviate the world’s need for quality protein sources is threatened by climate change and as such, the World Aquaculture Society has joined with the American Fisheries Society in support of the Statement of World Aquatic Scientific Societies on the Need to Take Urgent Action Against Human-Caused Climate Change, Based on Scientific Evidence . The statement highlights major scientific findings related to effects of climate change on aquatic ecosystems. It also provides recommended actions, based on scientific findings, to avoid further degradation. All findings in the statement are supported by peer- reviewed scientific studies. The Statement concludes by saying “It is time to acknowledge the imminent need to act to address climate change. Delaying action to control greenhouse gas emissions is negligent if humankind wishes to conserve the world’s aquatic resources and our society that depends on them.” WAS Joins AFS in Support of Climate Change Statement More than 100 aquatic professional societies representing more than 80,000 aquatic scientists or professional practitioners are participating. As members of a scientific society focused on aquatic ecosystems, WAS provides the best science to the public and decision makers about factors that degrade these ecosystems. Unless checked rapidly, climate change will continue to cause irreversible changes to the earth’s aquatic ecosystems, societies and economies. To avoid the worst of these changes, what the science says about the urgency for action on this issue must be considered and emphasized. Scientists speaking out in support of science is critically important to educate the public and have scientific findings incorporated into policy decisions. The Statement can be found on the AFS website: https:// fisheries.org/2020/06/draft-statement-of-world-aquatic-societies-on- human-caused-climate-change/ . I n preparation for a Special Session during the next World Aquaculture conference (WA2020) in Singapore, now postponed to June 2021, WAS and the international body of marine professionals, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), have coordinated and held a series of roundtables to discuss and exchange information pertaining to the risks associated with plastics in aquaculture. Globally, marine industries are taking action to curb the rising ocean plastic crisis to identify and tackle the gaps for marine-based sources of litter and waste management. The aquaculture sector is having to cope with production and management of plastic waste, and the implications that ocean plastics may have on stocks and potential health risks from harvested products. Lost and abandoned gear from aquaculture facilities may be a serious contributor to plastic debris but there is substantial variability in its distribution and abundance. Awide array of plastics are used in everyday operations and exposure to extreme weather, accidental loss or even conflicts can discharge debris into the environment. However, there is still a lack of understanding of geographical trends and gaps in the underlying regulatory support to Roundtables on Risks of Plastics in Aquaculture properly manage the life cycle from production through to disposal and recycling. Additionally, as plastics accumulate in the marine environments there are growing concerns over the implications of microplastics for aquaculture species relating to ingestion and chemical contamination. Alhough current understanding suggests that the risk to human health is very low, microplastic contamination of aquatic environments will continue to increase in the foreseeable future and at present there are significant knowledge gaps on their occurrence and their possible effects on seafood safety. With demands and reliance on aquaculture still growing, there are various challenges to allow sustainable growth, and in particular questions on pollution monitoring and management that participants of the roundtable have partially evaluated. The final report of the broad cross-section of experts and stakeholders involved will be openly shared in the next issue of World Aquaculture and the roundtable participants encourage submissions of abstracts on this topic to ensure a very productive Special Session duringWA2020. —Guillaume Drillet, WAS Director ( C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 1 6 )

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