World Aquaculture Society

World Aquaculture Society
Name	World Aquaculture Society
Founded	1969
Headquarters	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Type	Nonprofit professional association
Purpose	Promotion of aquaculture research, education, and industry development
Region served	Global
Language	English
Leader title	President

World Aquaculture Society The World Aquaculture Society is an international professional association dedicated to the development of aquaculture through research, education, and industry outreach. Founded in 1969, the Society brings together scientists, practitioners, policymakers, and companies from regions including North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and South America to share advances in finfish, shellfish, and aquatic plant culture. Its activities intersect with organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, World Wildlife Fund, and regional bodies including the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission and the European Commission.

History

The Society was established amid rising global interest in aquatic production following reports from institutions like the International Development Research Centre, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Early meetings attracted contributors associated with Louisiana State University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Stirling, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, and the Wageningen University & Research. Over the decades the organization has engaged researchers affiliated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the US Department of Agriculture, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Landmark developments coincided with major events such as the Stockholm Conference, the Earth Summit (1992), and the creation of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Organization and Governance

Governance has involved leaders drawn from universities and institutions like Clemson University, the University of Stirling, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Kasetsart University, and Cornell University. The Society has maintained ties with professional organizations such as the American Fisheries Society, the European Aquaculture Society, the Asian Fisheries Society, and the Aquaculture Association of India. Oversight historically included advisory input from agencies like the United States Agency for International Development, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank. Governance structures mirror models used by entities such as the National Research Council, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the Royal Society.

Publications and Conferences

WAS publishes scientific proceedings, technical manuals, and journals in coordination with publishers and institutes including Springer Science+Business Media, Wiley-Blackwell, Elsevier, Taylor & Francis, and university presses at Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press. Major conferences have been held alongside meetings of the European Aquaculture Society, the Asian-Pacific Aquaculture Conference, and national gatherings sponsored by associations like the Aquaculture Association of Canada and the National Aquaculture Association (USA). Contributors often include authors connected to the Journal of Fish Biology, the Aquaculture journal, and the ICES Journal of Marine Science. Proceedings have featured research from laboratories such as the Hatchery Laboratory, University of Stirling, the Institute of Aquaculture (UK), and the Laboratory of Aquatic Pathobiology at Louisiana State University.

Programs and Projects

Programmatic work has included capacity-building projects modeled on initiatives by the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Gates Foundation aimed at smallholder aquaculture in regions served by organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Collaborative projects have linked to the WorldFish Center, the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management, and national research institutes like the National Institute of Oceanography (India), the Institute of Marine Research (Norway), and the National Institute of Aquaculture (Japan). The Society has supported training aligned with curricula at institutions such as Texas A&M University, Auburn University, James Cook University, University of the Philippines, and Universidad Austral de Chile.

Membership and Chapters

Members have included faculty and staff from University of California, Davis, University of Stirling, Shanghai Ocean University, Bangor University, University of Gothenburg, and professionals from corporations like Cargill, Nutreco, BASF, and DSM-Firmenich. Regional chapters mirror those of the European Aquaculture Society and Asian-Pacific Aquaculture Network, with local sections active in countries including India, Vietnam, Nigeria, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Egypt, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.

Impact and Contributions

The Society has influenced policy and practice in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Its conferences and publications have contributed to advances in selective breeding programs associated with AquaBounty Technologies research partners, improvements in biosecurity informed by the World Organisation for Animal Health, and ecosystem approaches advocated alongside the Ramsar Convention and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Training initiatives have strengthened capacity at national bodies such as the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Ministry of Agriculture (Brazil), and the Department of Fisheries (Thailand).

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques have paralleled debates involving Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and the Blue Planet Society regarding environmental impacts similar to controversies seen with salmon farming operations and companies such as Cermaq and Marine Harvest. Concerns raised in policy circles including the European Commission and advocacy groups like Seafood Watch have addressed issues around disease transmission noted by the World Organisation for Animal Health, habitat conversion highlighted by Wetlands International, and feed sustainability debated in forums alongside Feed the Future and the Global Aquaculture Alliance. Debates have also intersected with regulatory responses from agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration, the European Food Safety Authority, and national ministries.

Category:Aquaculture organizations