Scenes from Boston: GAA’s Membership & Update Meeting at SENA 2016

The Global Aquaculture Alliance’s annual Membership & Update Meeting at Seafood Expo North America drew approximately 75 attendees.

Discussed at the meeting was the latest developments in the BAP certification program, the new iBAP program, GAA’s stance on social responsibility, the Responsible Aquaculture Foundation’s new online platform for disease management, and the new Global Aquaculture Advocate website. Also at the meeting the Saudi Aquaculture Society (SAS), Federación Colombiana De Acuicultores Fedeacua (FEDEACUA) and the U.S. Soybean Export Council were recognized for recent memorandums of understand with GAA.

The meeting took place in Room 205C of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center on March 7.

In an effort to grow the availability of four-star Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) shrimp, GAA recently inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with National Fish & Seafood and Minh Phu Seafood Corporation in which approximately 800 shrimp farms in Vietnam will be encouraged to attain BAP certification. Immediately before the GAA’s Membership & Update Meeting a signing ceremony was held in National Fish & Seafood’s exhibit. Pictured from left to right are James Baros, aquaculture and sustainability coordinator at National Fish & Seafood; Jeff Sedacca, president of National Fish & Seafood’s shrimp and aquaculture division; Peter Redmond, BAP’s VP of business development; and Minh Phu CEO Le Van Quang.

GAA President George Chamberlain showcased the Responsible Aquaculture Foundation’s four new online educational modules, or lessons, designed to help the global shrimp-farming industry better manage early mortality syndrome (EMS). He also gave an update on EMS and enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP).

Engr. Ahmad R. Alballaa, chairman of the Saudi Aquaculture Society (SAS) and managing director of the National Aquaculture Group, was honored for the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that SAs recently signed with GAA, in which the country’s aquaculture facilities will be required to earn Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification as a condition of licensing. Pictured from left to right are Marcos Moya, BAP market development manager-supply chain; GAA Executive Director Wally Stevens; Mr. Alballaa; Peter Redmond, BAP VP of market development; and GAA President George Chamberlain.

Sara Patricia Bonilla, executive director of Federación Colombiana De Acuicultores Fedeacua (FEDEACUA), was recognized for the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that FEDEACUA recently signed with GAA to ensure that Colombian farmers, processors, hatchery operators and feed manufacturers are able to pursue Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification. Pictured from left to right are Marcos Moya, BAP market development manager-supply chain, Ms. Bonilla and Peter Redmond, BAP VP of market development.

Jairo Amezquita, aquaculture consultant of the Americas region for the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), was recognized for USSEC’s support of the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) program in Colombia and contribution to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Federación Colombiana De Acuicultores (FEDEACUA). Picture from left to right are Marcos Moya, BAP market development manager-supply chain, Mr. Amezquita and Peter Redmond, BAP VP of market development.

The Colombian delegation at Seafood Expo North America celebrates after the recognition of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Federación Colombiana De Acuicultores (FEDEACUA) and GAA.

Jim Bugbee, VP of business development and global supply chain for Sunnyvale Seafood (a division of Zhanjiang Guolian Aquatic Products Co. Ltd.) wrapped up the meeting with a talk on China as a segue to GAA’s GOAL 2016 conference, which is being held at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou, China, from Sept, 19 to 22.

GAA recognizes Baiyang Investment Group, one of China’s leading tilapia exporters, for its commitment to the Best Aquaculture Practices third-party certification program. Baying is a four-star BAP tilapia group. Pictured is Charles Sun, assistant president and sales and marketing center director for the Nanning, China-based company, and GAA Executive Director Wally Stevens.