Monthly Archives: August 2011

Time proves accuracy of AwF founder’s vision

Michael New, OBE, founded Aquaculture without Frontiers (AwF) in 2004 and it was launched at the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. Recently, we had occasion to review the Keynote presentation given by Michael at the WAS meeting in Salvador, Brazil in 2003 wherein his original idea about forming AwF was voiced. In fact, this was the first time the name was mentioned.

We present the full paper arising from that Keynote presentation here (with permission of WAS Magazine editor, Dr. Robert Stickney) for all to read, and to consider how they may help us to achieve the vision presented 8 years ago. The Keynote PowerPoint presentation is available by clicking here.

AwF director Dr Kevin Fitzsimmons remarked in a recent email to Michael, “It was great to reread the paper. Your foresight is a bit amazing almost ten years later.”

Michael’s final words in the keynote after introducing the concept for AwF were a quotation from Oscar Wilde: “Nothing is worth doing except what the world says is impossible”. Obviously, it was and still is possible!

The original paper was published by WAS with the following reference:  New, M.B., 2003. Responsible aquaculture: is this a special challenge for developing countries? World Aquaculture, 34(3):26-30, 60-68, 72.

Chair M.C. Nandeesha shares celebration with AwF Patron M.S. Swaminathan

AwF Chair M.C. Nandeesha visited Chennai, India recently on the occasion of the 22nd foundation day of The M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and took the opportunity to meet with AwF Patron Prof. Swaminathan, who was only too pleased to catch up on our recent activities to assist the rural poor.

The MSSRF marked the day by releasing a report on its activities, something it has done for the 21 previous years.

Dignitaries in attendance included the Central Minister and the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), who announced that 30% of the core funding of the organization was to be provided by DST.

In a recent personal message to our Founder & Patron, Michael New, OBE, Professor M.S. Swaminathan, FRS wrote, “It has been an act of vision on your part to have started Aquaculture without Frontiers. We are indebted to you for this important initiative. With warm personal regards”.

AwF-Nepal project website launched

AwF-Nepal project manager, Dr Ram Bhujel, has created a website to provide donors, supporters, and interested members of the public with information on the project’s progress and achievements to date. Below is taken from the website’s homepage.

Welcome to AwF-Nepal

The AwF-Nepal project was initiated in March 2008 with the partial support of Aquaculture without Frontiers, UK. In the first phase (March 2008 – February 2010), the project was launched in Rainastar Village of Lamjung, which is the lowest part of the district adjacent to Gorkha. During the first phase, 70 women joined in two groups and constructed a pond each to grow fish in addition to traditionally growing vegetables and crops and raising livestock.