World Aquaculture Magazine - June 2020

WWW.WA S.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2020 9 C H A P T E R R E P O R T S ISFNF2020 Postponed to 10-15 January 2021 It has been a challenging year for all of us, includ- ing those who are organizing international events such as the International Symposium on Fish Nutrition and Feeding (ISFNF). Our previous decision to postpone the event to September 2020 was overly optimistic and im- practical as COVID-19 has spread around the world. In Korea, the number of new cases per day has significant- ly dropped now and we hope this will happen in the rest of the world soon. Therefore, as approved and supported by the Local Organizing Committee and the International Scientific Committee, the ISFNF2020 Busan ( www.isfnf2020busan.com ) has been rescheduled to 10-15 January 2021. The rescheduled deadline dates are as follows: early registration (October 15, 2020) and abstract submission (November 18, 2020). We will continue to observe the global spread of COVID-19 on a daily basis and make further deci- sions if necessary. In addition, the Local Organizing Committee is discussing the possibility of having an online version of ISFNF 2020 Busan with limited participants who cannot attend the event. Korea-USMarine Science and Technology Cooperation Project Sets Up a Framework for Joint Research in Aquaculture AMid- to Long-termRoadmapWorkshop for Aquaculture was held on 13-14 February in Hawaii after Aquaculture America 2020. Delegates from the National Institute of Fisheries Science (Korea) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Fisheries Division (US) have prepared a framework for joint research in aquaculture. Both institutions aimed to materialize the direction of future research cooperation in Korea and the USA, focusing on the keywords ‘future’ and ‘sustainability’ in the aquaculture sector. They agreed on a mid- to long-term roadmap to build future strategic partnerships for the development of sustainable aquaculture industries, to strengthen aquaculture industries and to fuse advanced technologies with aquaculture. The following were the main contents of the workshop: 1) joint research on sustainable aquaculture technology; 2) future-oriented advanced aquaculture technology development cooperation (smart aquaculture technology, genetic breeding research, and new aquaculture technologies); 3) aquaculture-related technology development cooperation (fish disease control and compound feed); 4) consumer-oriented aquaculture industry development plan; and 5) expansion of aquaculture technology support to developing countries. Since 2000, the Korea-USMarine Science and Technology Cooperation Project has held seminars in aquaculture technology development, conducted joint research, exchanged scientists, and supported professional training. FourteenWando Abalone Aquaculture Companies Have Obtained ASC Certification In 2018, an abalone aquaculture company led by Chungsan Fisherman’s Organization inWando County, South Jeolla Province, acquired ASC certification for the first time in Asia. In April 2020, 14 abalone aquaculture companies in theWando Fisheries and Aquaculture Association newly obtained ASC certification. There are now 30 abalone aquaculture companies in five countries including South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Korea that have achieved ASC certification. Korea has obtained ASC certification for 26 abalone aquaculture companies through two rounds of certification in 2018 and 2020 and has thus become the largest holder of ASC certifications of abalone aquaculture companies. Until now, Wando County and theWando Fisheries and Aquaculture Association have been making great efforts to collect, dispose of and certify marine waste to obtain ASC certification, including education on changing perception of the environment and society, and surveying sediments. Currently, Wando County is conducting education and consulting on the third tier of companies that will seek ASC certification for abalone. It is also pushing for ASC/MSC certification of seaweeds in preparation for the 2021Wando International Seaweed Exhibition (WISE 2021) that will be held fromApril 23 toMay 16 inWando. The government is encouraging the promotion of ASC- Chain of Custody (CoC) as well as fish farms with the aim of establishing an eco-friendly fisheries product system inWando County from the production of fish products to processing and distribution. Wando County plans to expand ASC certification for abalone, flatfish (flounder) and seaweeds. Rapid Detection of Toxins in Shellfish Using Genetic Analysis The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) is promoting the development of early forecasting technology for shellfish toxins by 2021. A genetic analysis technology has been developed that can quickly determine whether plankton, the causative organism of shellfish poisoning, has become toxic. Shellfish poisoning is a phenomenon where toxic substances accumulate inside shellfish that have ingested toxic plankton, which is usually found along the southern coast when water temperatures rise in spring. Clams with toxic plankton are not a problem in and of themselves, but people can get food poisoning if they eat shellfish with shellfish poisoning. A research team led by Professor Ki Jang-seo of Sangmyung University of the Marine Disturbance and Harmful Organisms Research Group organized by the Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, which was formed through the research and development project of the Ministry of Fisheries, found that plankton must have a specific gene to synthesize toxins, and succeeded in developing a rapid technique to detect toxin (saxitoxin – STX) in plankton. If the newly developed STX synthetic gene detection test is deployed, it is expected that the appearance of toxic plankton with STX and the time to diagnose shellfish poisoning will be greatly reduced. The results of the study were published in the March 2020 issue of Harmful Algae. As there are many types of toxins in harmful algae that cause shellfish poisoning, including gonyautoxin (GTX) in addition to STX, the MOF plans to conduct additional research by 2021 to develop technologies that can predict the entire array of shellfish toxins early using gene analysis methods and push for on-site verification. Korean Chapter ( C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 1 0 )