Aquaculture conference ends on positive note – Fishfarmer Magazine

Aquaculture conference ends on positive note12 June, 2014 –

ONE clear message has emerged from the World Aquaculture Adelaide 2014 (WAA14) conference: the global aquaculture industry is very well-placed to grow in a sustainable and socially responsible way, and will play an increasingly important role in supporting global food security and nutrition.

Incoming President of the World Aquaculture Society, Graham Mair, said the global aquaculture industry has been growing in an environment of much greater social and environmental awareness compared to some of the other primary industries.

‘As a result, social responsibility and sustainability are primary issues that are shaping this rapidly developing global industry,’ he said.

‘The conference opened with delegates being told that the world has to produce more food by the end of this century than what has been produced in total in the last 10,000 years.

‘In fact one of our two plenary speakers, Charlie Arnot from the US-based Center for Food Integrity, told us that to meet the challenge, the industry has to embrace new models of public engagement that build and maintain the public trust and social licence to operate.

‘The fact that at least a quarter of the 80 sessions at the conference relate quite directly to sustainability and social responsibility, indicates the importance of these values across the whole industry, and that we are taking these issues seriously.’