Category Archives: Updates

AwF Directors use plenary sessions to get message out at Gran Canaria conference

Around 400 participants joined last week’s meeting held in Las Palmas to mark the first four decades of the journal Aquaculture which continues to be the mainstream journal of the sector. This period parallels the rise of modern aquaculture and gave an opportunity to reflect on progress and celebrate the future. The conference was marked by the high quality of both oral and poster presentations and was designed around only two parallel oral sessions giving choice but also stimulating cross disciplinary discussion. This indeed was the theme of AwF Director Dave Little’s plenary where he reflected on what the various types of integrated research were and how they have been used in the field – the challenges and the successes. As supporters of research’s increasing demands for evidence of impact, some level of integration becomes inevitable; simple mono-disciplinary work rarely solves complex real world issues. 

New AwF column by Roy Palmer in International Aquafeed Nov-Dec 2013

Our regular column in International Aquafeed magazine’s Nov-Dec 2013 issue contains an update about our first Aquaculture Learning Center (ALC) in Mexico written by AwF executive director Roy Palmer. To read it click here.

Aqua-Spark global investment fund launches new website

A new innovative investment fund that addresses the planet’s health and food security while generating a high economic return through investing in AQUACULTURE.

Aqua-Spark is a global investment fund based in Utrecht, the Netherlands that makes investments in sustainable aquaculture businesses that generate investment returns, while creating positive social and environmental impact. The fund invests everywhere (no regional focus) in small to medium enterprises that are working, toward the production of safe, accessible fish and other marine life in a way that does not harm the health of the planet. For more info visit the new website.

Aquaculture without Frontiers WAS Nashville session now online

The Aquaculture Communications Group (ACG) is pleased to announce that the multimedia proceedings of the Aquaculture without Frontiers (AwF) special session held during the World Aquaculture 2013 conference in Nashville, USA, are now available for viewing online; please click here.

The special session, containing 7 presentations by AwF Directors and Ambassadors, provides an overview of AwF activities past, present, and future with emphasis on the new business direction of developing a network of Aquaculture Learning Centers (ALCs).

AwF Executive Director Roy Palmer said, “Having the session presentations available on the Web for our sponsors and supporters to see and hear is fantastic! It provides us with a reach right round the world so that many more people can learn about the great work we are doing.” 

AwF Director Dave Conley attends McGill Conference on Global Food Security

McGill’s 6^th Conference on Global Food Security took place in Montreal, Canada on 8-9  October 2013 with about 300 participants from Canada, USA, UK, Ethopia, Kenya, Haiti and numerous other nations in both developed and developing regions of the world. The theme of the conference this year was Strategies against Food Security and Hunger and began with a public lecture by Marco Ferroni, executive director of Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture in Switzerland, on the topic of Government and other Obstacles to Food Security: A Tale of Leadership and Cooperation. 

Aquaculture hub to assist in fight against hunger

As we approach World Food Day (16 October), Aquaculture without Frontiers (AwF) is excited to announce that we have joined the Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition (AAHM).

AAHM Coordinator, Ms. Marie-Christine Laporte, said, “The Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition is a forward-thinking global initiative that links like-minded organizations and institutions that are involved in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. The Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition provides a unique middle ground – a multi-stakeholder platform and forum where those who run top-down and bottom-up development initiatives can meet in a neutral and open environment, share ideas, learn from each other’s successes and lessons, and establish networks for supportive communication within countries, across national borders or with countries in distant parts of the world. We are very pleased to have a dedicated non-governmental aquaculture organization (NGO) to assist our partners and through them a devoted and effective aquaculture ‘hub’.” 

Connecticut high school raises $500 for AwF

Marine Science Magnet High School (www.marinesciencemagnet.org) located in Groton, CT, USA organized a successful fundraising event that garnered $500 for AwF.

Eric Litvinoff, the Aquaculture teacher at the school, is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island. He learned about AwF from one of his professors, Dr. Barry Costa-Pierce, and that information came to mind when he took up his teaching position at Marine Science Magnet H.S. Students at the school are encouraged to do community service, which is the purpose of the Interact Club. AwF came up during discussions by the club members about possible fundraising projects they could do. Consequently, Eric contacted AwF Director Dave Conley to discuss how the students could become involved. 

Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition – World Food Day 2013

“Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition” will be the focus of World Food Day in 2013.

The official World Food Day theme – announced at the start of every year by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – gives focus to World Food Day observances and helps increase understanding of problems and solutions in the drive to end hunger.

For more info, please visit the FAO website.

McGill Conference on Global Food Security – October 8-9, 2013

Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in this exceptional event! Only a few days left…register now!

Sixth Annual McGill Conference on Global Food Security – “Strategies against Food Insecurity and Hunger”

Join speakers from Africa, Asia, the United Kingdom, USA and Canada as they gather at McGill University from October 8-9, 2013 for the Sixth McGill Conference on Global Food Security.  

Prompt action by AwF on UTMarT collaboration

New AwF Capacity Building Director,
Antonio Garza de Yta

Following the signing of a Cooperation Agreement between Aquaculture without Frontiers (AwF) and the Universidad Tecnológica Del Mar De Tamaulipas Bicentenario (UTMarT) on 15 September 2013, a number of activities have taken place highlighting the importance that both organisations have placed on the arrangements.

Roy Palmer, AwF Executive Director, said, “AwF has immediately appointed Antonio Garza de Yta as its Capacity Building Director with a specific role to manage the AwF Aquaculture Learning Centre at the International Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer for Aquaculture (CIITTA) project with UTMarT. We recognised the very important role that Antonio played in establishing the agreement and the high regard in which he is held. We note that Antonio has also just become the President of the Capítulo Latino Americano y del Caribe de la Sociedad Mundial de Acuacultura (LACC-WAS) and we are grateful to have him on our team.”