WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2025 9 CHAPTER REPORTS About 40 people, including officials and experts from the NIFS and the Indonesian government, attended this workshop to discuss the achievements of the first phase of the project (modernization of Napoleonfish (Humphead wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus) seed production facilities and aquaculture technology development) and the direction of the second phase (support for Eucheuma drying facilities and eco-friendly aquaculture equipment) scheduled from 2025 to 2027. Eucheuma is utilized as a raw material in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of Eucheuma, accounting for 98% of global production (9.8 million tons annually). The NIFS presented the results of modernizing the Napoleon fish seed production facility and the physiological and ecological research for stable artificial seed production at the Batam Marine Aquaculture Center in Indonesia. The Indonesian side also introduced the development status of the Euceuma variety, a seaweed variety unique to the country, along with the policy direction of the Coordinating Ministry for Food Control, which was newly launched from the previous Coordinating Ministry for Marine Investment Control following the reorganization of the Indonesian Cabinet in October of last year. Napoleonfish (Humphead wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus) belongs to the Labridae Family, which takes over five years to reach market size and is a high-value-added variety worth KRW 200,000 to 400,000 per kilogram. This technical support project is being implemented over five years with a budget of approximately 70 billion won, based on an implementation agreement signed in October 2023 between the NIFS and Indonesia’s Marine Investment Control (now Food Control). South Korea aims to enhance the aquaculture production and quality of Napoleonfish and Eucheuma, which are key species for Indonesia’s aquaculture industry, by transferring aquaculture technologies such as water quality automation monitoring systems, automatic feed supply devices, and smart seaweed drying facilities while also supporting the establishment of stable aquaculture systems. In particular, the support for Napoleonfish aquaculture technology marks a turning point in the sustainable and stable development of the aquaculture industry, establishing a foundation for artificial seed production and moving away from the previous reliance on wild catches. Mr. Lee Jeong-Yong, head of the Aquaculture Industry Research Department (NIFS), said, “Based on close cooperation and mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries, I hope that the second phase of the project will proceed without a hitch.” He added, “I hope that this cooperation will substantially contribute to strengthening the national competitiveness of Indonesia’s fish and seaweed aquaculture industry.” Pulmuone was selected! Who is the winner of the heated ‘Land-Based Gim (Laver) Farming War’? Pulmuone has been selected as the final operator for a significant government R&D project aimed at developing land-based Gim (laver, Pyropia) cultivation technology, recognized for its innovative food technology and practical implementation strategies (see World Aquaculture Magazine, March 2025). The company is leading a consortium that includes universities and industry partners to commercialize eco-friendly seaweed farming year-round at a demonstration center in Saemangeum. This initiative aims to strengthen the national food industry through cooperation among public, private, and academic sectors. Pulmuone is advancing landbased aquaculture with proprietary technology, patent applications, and strategic partnerships, targeting both domestic and global markets for sustainable innovation in the seaweed industry. — Han-kyu Lim, President USAS Chapter, continued from page 7 Abdulmalik Oladipupo (Auburn University) still serve as our Student Liaison and Student Liaison Apprentice, respectively. New Board recruits include incoming Secretary/Treasurer Bradley “Kai” Fox, an Aquaculture Extension Specialist at Hawai’i Sea Grant; Anoushka Concepcion, a long-time extension educator turned Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Rhode Island; and Timothy “TJ” Bruce, an Assistant Professor in the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture & Aquatic Sciences at Auburn University. This current WAS Magazine issue includes a detailed feature on the 2025 USAS Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award winners: Michael Rubino, David Straus, and Yonathan Zohar. The Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have made contributions and broad impacts throughout their career to aquaculture in the United States through research, education, extension, and/or industry development. The award recognizes a long-time commitment of service to aquaculture that is deemed highly significant and enduring. Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge our students, who make up 36% of our membership. Thirty+ student award winners from the Triennial AQUACULTURE 2025 conference are honored in a photo-packed spread with names, affiliations, and titles of their award-winning works in subsequent pages of this issue. During the Triennial, the USAS again hosted groups of local middle and high school students who were guided through the trade show, engaged in a special session led by the USAS Subunits, and invited to a catered lunch with specially-arranged guest speakers. Through these initiatives, we foster and invest in the next generation of aquaculture professionals (and USAS members)! — Michelle L. “Mick” Walsh, President The Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have made contributions and broad impacts throughout their career to aquaculture in the United States through research, education, extension, and/or industry development.
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