The Global Aquaculture Alliance participates in conferences, meetings, and other events held around the world. The following articles reflect GAA's most recent activities. For more information, click below to receive GAA's free Update e-newsletter or view an index of previous activities.

> > [ PAST ACTIVITIES ] < <

GOAL 2008: 'Key Event'
Conference, Hotel Registration Now Available
Global Outlook for Aquaculture Leadership (GOAL) 2008 is shaping up to be a memorable conference. "Especially with the rising prominence of China on the international scene, GOAL will be a key event -- one not to be missed by major players in farmed fish and shrimp," GOAL organizer and GAA Assistant Director Sally Krueger said.
 
The Global Aquaculture Alliance will host GOAL 2008, the premier annual conference on farmed seafood, October 28-31 in Qingdao, China. This year, the China Aquatic Production Chamber of Commerce (APCC) will cohost the event.
 
The GOAL series reports regional supply data for farmed fish and shrimp, as well as global seafood market trends. Its half-day sessions include panel discussions on aquaculture issues and solutions, and time for professional networking.
 
May Site Visit
Krueger has scheduled an early-May site visit to Qingdao. She is to meet with representatives of APCC; the Shangri-La Hotel, the venue for GOAL 2008; and various service providers to finalize most of the arrangements for GOAL 2008.
 
Krueger said she expected to confirm many details during the trip. "Everything from securing visas to setting menus will be up for review with our in-country cohost," she said. "We are lucky to have APCC to assist us in making this a unique conference filled with Chinese hospitality. When the results of this planning come together in October, participants will be wowed, as the program and business opportunities are only a part of the overall experience."
 
Registration Open
Registration for GOAL 2008 is now available. Registration packets were distributed by postal mail in mid-April to invite recent GOAL participants and GAA corporate members to attend the 2008 event in China. E-mail notices directing recipients to the online GOAL forms and information were also sent in April.
 
GOAL 2008 is a by-invitation meeting for major international seafood buyers, producers and suppliers. If you have not received an invitation, contact the GAA office. All registrations will be reviewed by the conference committee before approval.
 
GOAL Theme: Sustainability
The GOAL 2008 theme is "Sustainability -- Our Journey and Commitment." Sustainability is key to the global aquaculture community in which GAA operates. The common goal of GAA, its active members and many others in the industry is to support continued development of aquaculture while also preserving and protecting resources.
 
GAA's most important effort in its commitment to sustainability is its investment in the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) facility certification program. Since the original BAP standards for shrimp farms were launched in 2003, GAA has shared the continued "journey" toward greater sustainability with a range of stakeholders in developing certification standards for shrimp hatcheries, seafood-processing plants, and now channel catfish and tilapia farms. Additional standards for feed mills and other culture species are in process.
 
GAA invites participants to attend the special GOAL sessions on certification to learn more about BAP and other certification systems.
 
New for 2008
Several elements of GOAL 2008 will differ from past GOAL events. Presentations will still cover major farmed species from shrimp and salmonids to tilapia and catfish. However, data will be more condensed to encourage more time for questions and discussion. Repetitive statistics will be included in participant notebooks but not recited by speakers.
 
A selection of technical tours to area farms and processing facilities will be offered in association with GOAL 2008. Unlike most past tours, the tour schedule will begin after the conference ends. This approach should work well, as many GOAL participants are expected to remain in Qingdao for the November 4-6 China Fisheries and Seafood Expo.
 
Hotel Reservations
Also new for 2008, hotel reservations for GOAL will be handled by the GAA office for participants who plan to stay at the Shangri-La Hotel in Qingdao. For convenience, hotel reservation forms are posted on line and were included in GOAL mailings.
 
In addition to elegant new accommodations, the Shangri-La offers fine dining, a 24-hour business center, extensive fitness facilities and a location close to both business and recreation options. Daily rates start at U.S. $169 for single rooms and range to $385 for executive suites.
 
Sponsorships Available
Sponsors will play an important role in supporting GOAL 2008, GAA's largest annual fund-raiser. At press time, Pacific Supreme Co. and Preferred Freezer Services had committed as Platinum Sponsors of the event. Both previous high-level sponsors of GOAL meetings, the companies will enjoy prominent exposure, complimentary registrations and other benefits.
 
Eastern Fish Co.; Harbor Seafood; Mazzetta Co., LLC; Trident Seafoods and Urner Barry will be Gold Sponsors of GOAL 2008. Additional Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsorships are available, with sponsor packages that start at U.S. $4,000. Contact the GAA office for details.
 
GAA Challenges Shrimp Labor Study
To Provide Details or Apologize
Executive Director Wally Stevens Interviewed on CNN
In an April 24 press release, the Global Aquaculture Alliance challenged the authors of a newly released report on working conditions in shrimp-processing plants in Thailand and Bangladesh to provide specific details or deliver an apology to the countries and companies involved in shrimp production.
 
GAA Executive Director Wally Stevens delivered the challenge in an interview on CNN that aired on the U.S. edition of the network.
 
"Over the past 10 years, our organization has led the way in the development of global aquaculture standards," Stevens said. He added that GAA's Best Aquaculture Practices standards encompass social justice issues such as worker safety and child labor regulations, and address food safety, traceability and the environment, as well.
 
Producers seeking BAP certification must undergo a rigorous, independent audit by a recognized certification body. Companies that do not measure up on all of the key areas are not certified. Failure to maintain compliance with a standard will also cause a company to lose its certification, Stevens said.
 
In addressing the issue of worker rights, Stevens said, "Families are at the heart of the seafood industry in the United States and around the globe, and we who are in the business of putting food on American tables consider any evidence of child labor or worker abuse to be abhorrent."
 
He questioned why the report's authors chose to release their report without contacting the Global Aquaculture Alliance, the leading global aquaculture standards-setting organization. "Our approach is to work with many organizations to find common ground and solutions to the challenges that face a young industry such as aquaculture," Stevens said. "We prefer a solution-oriented approach rather than one that creates headlines and creates a climate of fear, uncertainty and doubt."
 
Stevens pointed out the fact that one-third of the shrimp consumed in the United States has been processed at BAP-certified facilities.
 
Jory Presents on Industry Status, Feed Management During Mexico Course
Global Aquaculture Advocate Editor Dr. Darryl Jory gave two presentations at an April 24-25 regional course on aquaculture feed manufacturing sponsored by the American Soybean Association -- International Marketing at the Hacienda El Carmen near Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
 
The event was attended by representatives from regional companies involved in the manufacturing of animal feeds and members of the National Association of Animal Feed Manufacturers. The main purpose of the course was to promote aquafeeds as an important component of aquaculture development in Jalisco and surrounding states in Mexico.
 
Industry Status
Jory's first presentation, "Current Status of Global Production of Main Aquaculture Species," included a broad and critical overview of the status, challenges and outlook for world production of major aquacultured species, including carp, sal­monids, tilapia, shrimp and shellfish. Major producing areas were discussed, along with the need for increased seafood production.
 
Jory explained that aquaculture faces several hurdles for further industry expansion. The market is expressing demands for certification and novel value-added products. The industry must both expand local and global markets, and continue to seek cost-efficient production technologies for selective breeding, seed­stock production, nutrition, growout and health management.
 
Health Management
The second talk was on "Postmanufacturing Management of Aquaculture Feeds." It involved a detailed discussion of the various steps and procedures used to properly manage commercial aquafeeds from the time they leave the manufacturing facility.
 
The objectives of feed management at the farm level are to provide animals the best-quality artificial feed in the required amounts and at the right times and places. Satisfying these objectives requires experience and knowledge of shrimp behavior and feeding habits. It also requires regular pond sampling that provides accurate and timely data on pond environmental parameters and animal biomass, mean size and distribution.
 
Feeds management is a sequential process that is only as strong as its weakest link. It involves feed selection, proper handling and storage, feed application and adjustments to feeding rates. Proper postmanufacturing management of aquafeeds is critical because even the best aquafeed -- if not stored, handled and used properly -- is not much more than an expensive fertilizer that can even contribute to water quality deterioration.
 
To provide context to the presentation, Jory reviewed general aquafarm management procedures including production logistics, pond preparation, fertilization, animal health management, water and pond bottom quality assessment, aeration and water exchange, and effluent management.
 
GAA Prepares for Board Expansion
The Global Aquaculture Alliance is preparing to expand its board of directors to support more diverse participation in the organization's governance. A vote by the 12 current board members will be taken in June on whether to allow up to 18 directors to serve on the GAA board.
 
The anticipated expansion of the board will encourage participation by a wider cross section of GAA membership, Assistant Director Sally Krueger said. "As our organization continues to grow, this change will bring more interests into the GAA leadership group," she said. "We welcome the perspectives of new stakeholders in representing additional species and geographic areas, as well as the topical information they bring that is vital to the sustainable growth of aquaculture."
 
A proposal to revise GAA's bylaws for the additional directors was approved during the February GAA board meeting. Formal notice of the proposed change was distributed in mid-April.
 
Representatives of GAA's Governing and Association Members are eligible for the two-year board positions. Board members are elected by representatives of GAA’s corporate members at the annual Global Aquaculture Alliance meeting.
 
Alliance Staff Grows
The Global Aquaculture Alliance staff is growing to answer the administrative needs of the alliance.
 
A full-time accountant will be hired this spring to help manage the financial side of GAA. The accountant will administer the organization's annual budget and perform related accounting and office duties. In addition to providing regular reports to GAA officers, the new staff member will oversee grant funding for GAA's proposed aquaculture development foundation.
 
Interviews for the position have been completed, and the chosen candidate will be notified soon.
 
GAA also has a new intern. Ruth Munoz supports the GAA office staff by organizing files, helping with mailings and completing time-consuming office tasks. A native of Mexico, Munoz also assists Spanish-speaking members as they communicate with the other GAA staff. She will likely work in the office until the planning of GOAL 2008 is complete.