World Aquaculture September 2018

8 SEP TEMBER 2018 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WA S.ORG C H A P T E R R E P O R T S I n my last column I mentioned that LACC elec- tions were on the way. Well, now the whole process has been finalized and I would like to thank those of you who dedicated your time to nominate candidates and to vote. I especially would like to thank those who were willing to run for Secretary and Director. It is true that elections must have winners and losers but, if you didn’t get selected this time, consider the election as an opportunity to show your name to the membership, become better known, and perhaps join the ballot again next year to run for a position on the LACC Board one more time. I have the pleasure to announce that Nelson Peña Navarro fromCosta Rica was elected Secretary and Karina Ribeiro from Brazil will join LACC Board as Director. Next year LACC will hold elections again and positions available for the 2019 ballot will be for Director, Treasurer and President-elect. Please start thinking about it now and, if you would like to run for these important positions or if you know a good candidate, don’t leave it to the last moment, begin campaigning now. I would like to remind you that experience as Director is important for those intending to run for President. Nominations for LACC Awards have also been received and are under consideration by the Awards Committee. Again I would like to thank those who took the time to nominate candidates and this year winners will be presented during the opening ceremony of LACQUA 2018 in Bogotá. Speaking of LACQUA, it is almost time for our conference in Colombia. It has been carefully planned and will certainly please all of you planning to attend the event at the Ágora Center this October 23-26. I hope by the time you read this, you have already bought your ticket to Bogotá. Otherwise go ahead and book your flights to join us and help to make a great conference. We are expecting presentations that will cover freshwater and saltwater aquaculture, tropical and coldwater species; well, you name it, we should have it. Next year WAS accomplishes 50 years of service to aquaculture around the world. LACC is half way to that milestone and so we celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2019. It’s just another year of hard work for all of us. Nevertheless we have decided to make a small but significant celebration during Aquaculture 2019, the annual WAS confer- ence that will take place in NewOrleans next March. A special session on Latin American and Caribbean aquaculture will be coordinated by the LACC Board. The purpose of this special session, for now called LACC - 25 Years, is to receive contributions to show LACC aquaculture to the world. We expect a full day of presentations, when speakers will present the most recent data on LACC aquaculture production, the status of education within our area, new policies regulating aquaculture in this beautiful part of the world. It will be a miscellaneous session, so if you feel you have important information to share with us, submit your abstract on- line and come to NewOrleans to celebrate LACC 25th anniversary. I don’t know if they will allow us to light candles in the session room but, if you wish, you are most welcome to bring a cake. Moderators and the audience will certainly enjoy it. The celebration will continue towards the end of next year. Costa Rica will host LACQUA 2019 in November and you are already invited to visit this beautiful country with mountains and seascapes, home of amazing flora and fauna. LACQUA 2019 will not have only one special session to celebrate the 25th anniversary of LACC, actually it will be a full conference dedicated to show off what aquaculture is all about within LACC area. Join us in Bogotá next October and plan ahead to be part of LACC 25th anniversary celebrations next year, attending Aquaculture 2019 in NewOrleans (USA) and LACQUA 2019 in Costa Rica. Thank you very much for being an active member of LACC and remember we want to hear from you. You can write an-mail (lacc@ was.org ) or reach us on Facebook (Latin American &Caribbean Chapter/World Aquaculture Society -WAS LACC-), Twitter (@Lacc_ was), and Linkedin (LACCWorld Aquaculture Society). —Luís André Sampaio, President Latin American and Caribbean Chapter