Page 61 - World Aquaculture Magazine - March 2011
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Aquaculture Association of Canada
The principal objective of the Aquaculture Association
of Canada is to foster a Canadian aquaculture industry
by promoting the study of aquaculture and related science,
by gathering and disseminating information relating to
aquaculture and by creating public awareness and under-
standing of aquaculture. AAC carries out these objectives
primarily through our annual conference (“Aquaculture
Canada”), where we hold workshops, seminars, contrib-
uted paper and poster sessions, and discussions. Aquacul-
ture Canada is Canada’s only annual national aquaculture
conference. Proceedings of our conferences are published
through the AAC Special Publications series. We also pub-
lish the Bulletin of the AAC and an electronic newsletter
(Watermark).
Our 2010 conference (“Aquaculture Canada – Cold
Harvest 2010: Successful Partnerships for a Sustainable
Future”) was held in St. John’s, Newfoundland (May 16-
19), in partnership with the Newfoundland Aquaculture
Industry Association. Our keynote speaker was Jose Vil-
lalon (Director of Aquaculture for the World Wildlife
Fund – US), who spoke on the Aquaculture Dialogues
initiative. A wide range of technical sessions drew 342 reg-
istrants to the conference. Session topics ranged from lo-
cally relevant themes, such as aquatic invasive species, to
broad issues such as aquaculture sustainability, and also
included the International Mussel Forum. Proceedings of
the conference will be published shortly. The 2011 confer-
ence (“Aquaculture Canada 2011: Culturing Diversity and
Success”) is being held in Québec City (May 8 to 11), to be
followed by Aquaculture Canada 2012 in Charlottetown,
Prince Edward Island, in May 2012.
The AAC gives out a number of awards every year. In
2010, the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Al Castle-
dine, recently retired as Director of Aquaculture Policy
with the British Columbia Ministry of Agricultural and
Lands. Al played an active role in the AAC, including a
term as President (1994-95). His interests in aquaculture
began when teaching English and Biology in Tanzania in
the 1970s, and this was followed by graduate studies in fish
nutrition and metabolism at the Universities of Guelph
(MSc) and Victoria (PhD). After a short stint working for
the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, he worked
for five years as an aquaculture extension biologist with the
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources before returning to
his native west coast to work as an aquaculture production
specialist with the British Columbia government. This was
succeeded by various roles, including both management and
Director positions in seafood and aquaculture development
in marine and fresh waters. In this capacity he co-chaired
the Canadian Council of Aquaculture Ministers Aquacul-
ture Task Group for a number of years. This Task Group
provided an opportunity for the Provinces to shape and sup-
port a number of key federal initiatives such as the National
Aquatic Animal Health Program, the Aquaculture Collab-
orative Research and Development Program, and the signifi-
cant resources currently deployed within the Department to
support industry. AAC is proud and honored to bestow the
Lifetime Achievement Award to Al, and we wish him well in
his retirement.
The AAC also gives out a number of student awards. Stu-
dent Scholarships are awarded based on scholastic record,
interest and involvement in aquaculture, and a short essay
on where the applicant sees him/herself contributing to sus-
tainable aquaculture development in Canada in the future.
Two of these were awarded in 2010, to Stefanie Colombo
(Dalhousie University) and Peter Sykes (University of Prince
Edward Island). The Conference Presentation Awards for
2010 went to Jessica Whitehead (University of New Bruns-
wick; Best Oral Presentation for her talk on “Gynogenesis
and the genetic basis of sex determination of Atlantic cod,
Gadus morhua
”) and Peng Zhao (Memorial University; Best
Poster Presentation for her talk on “Effect of finfish aqua-
culture operations on biochemical composition and growth
of algae”). In addition, Travel Awards went to 18 students
from across Canada to help cover their costs for attending
the 2010 conference.
Recent issues of our regular Bulletin series include “Scal-
lop Aquaculture – Proceedings from the 16th International
Pectinid Workshop” (no. 107-1,2), “Application of Genome
Science to Sustainable Aquaculture” (no. 107-3) and “Sea-
Urchin Aquaculture” (no. 108-1). In our Special Publication
series, the most recent publication is “Aquaculture Canada
2009 – Proceedings of Contributed Papers” (no. 15). In ad-
dition, we regularly publish our electronic newsletter, aptly
titled “Watermark.”
Aquaculture is an exciting and challenging undertaking
in Canada. We have vast aquatic resources and countless
dedicated and enthusiastic entrepreneurs, scientists, students
and government employees ensuring that aquaculture con-
tinues to grow in a sustainable fashion to meet the needs of
Canadians and the global community. On a national scale,
our industry is still driven by farmed salmon, but behind
this is a huge wave of interest and growth in mussel aqua-
culture as well as alternative fish and shellfish species. The
AAC plays a significant role in bringing people together to
keep Canada at the forefront of this wave. Whether you are
Canadian or not, I encourage you to learn more about our
association and consider becoming a member. For further
information on who we are and what we do, please visit our
website
/).
— Tillmann Benfey
President, Aquaculture Association of Canada
