If you are an active member of the Latin American and Caribbean Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society, you can vote at the following link https://www.was.org/Ballot Voting will be open until February 5, 2021.

We have two announcements for this end of the year that are important activities for the Latin American and Caribbean Chapter. The first is related to the election of two new members for our Board of Directors. We are holding elections for one Director and the Chapter Secretary, to replace current Board members Karina Ribeiro of Brazil and Nelson Peña of Costa Rica, respectively.

The LACQUA20 Webinar will have one session in the morning and one in the afternoon, as well as a question and answer session with the experts. LACQUA20 also includes the new session format for the industry, where companies and media that can have an online place to make their presentations, research, products or services.

WAS as strategic partner of the Glofounding initiative, invites everyone interested in participating in the webinar: ‘Biofouling management in New Zealand salmon farms: challenges and directions more information here: https://www.glofouling.imo.org/webinar/14 The webinar will take place on 10 December at 7am (GMT).

In our last column we announced the postponement of the Latin American and Caribbean Aquaculture 2020 conference (LACQUA20) to the end of March 2021, organized and held jointly with the Ecuadorian Aquaculture Conference (CEA2020). We had hoped that by this time, it would be safe for all speakers, exhibitors and delegates to gather in Guayaquil, albeit with implementations of strict measures to avoid any health issues. However, it is still very difficult to predict what the situation will be in the coming months regarding COVID-19 and if restrictions for travelling and attending conferences will still be in place. Most organizers of international conferences, like the World Aquaculture Society itself, have been forced to reschedule their events for the second half of 2021. Others have decided to go virtual.

Registration for World Aquaculture 2021: WA2021 #AquacultureNow is now open. The World Aquaculture Society (WAS) invites all its members and the general public to participate from November 15 to 19 in the most important international aquaculture event to be held in Mérida, México.

The Board of the @WrldAquaculture has decided to support the effort of the @GloFouling implemented by @IMO by becoming a strategic partner of the program. We are looking forward to support the development of knowledge and solutions to manage biofouling. #biofouling #aquaculture

WAS has arranged for our members to receive complimentary membership in the Global Aquaculture Association. This is a benefit of your WAS membership. Please sign in to the website at www.was.org with your member credentials, scroll down and click on Other News tab then the GAA Logo and follow the link to setup your GAA membership

Today, September 16th, 2020, the nominations for secretary and director of the board of directors of the Latin American and Caribbean Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society are opened. These nominations will be open until October 16 and all active members of the Chapter can participate. Send your nominee to Carolina Amézquita's email, carolina@was.org

The global event of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) in 2021 will be held in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico from November 15 to 19 at the Yucatan International Congress Center (CIC). World Aquaculture (WA) is considered the most important aquaculture event at the international level for the exchange of information, technology; the number of participants, their countries of origin, the excellent link and cooperation between universities and institutions, producers, the business and government sector. During WA2021 there will be the participation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other international organizations. There will be multiple presentations, workshops, business meetings, trade exhibition, art gallery, technical visits to farms and process plants in the region, and various events dedicated to building professional networks.