World Aquaculture December 2020

10 DECEMBER 2020 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WA S.ORG Aquaculture America 2021 has been postponed until August 2021. As a result, all abstract submission, registrations deadlines and award nominations have also been extended. I am hopeful that this postpone- ment will allow us to have a successful in-person meet- ing. Pending any further COVID-19 related issues, USAS is still planning to hold two pre-conference workshops. Although subject matter may change pend- ing the availability of instructors, we currently plan to hold the popular Statistics in Aquaculture and Recir- culating Aquaculture Systems workshops. Our Student Activities Committee is also trying to plan activities for students, should we be able to meet in person in San Antonio. Finalizing these activities will be dependent on whether planned student activities can be held in accordance with proper social distancing guidelines. Earlier this year, I appointed Dr. Eric Saillant, a faculty member at the University of Southern Mississippi, to lead an ad-hoc USAS Committee on Diversity. This committee plans to send a survey to USAS members so we can learn more about diversity in our Society. The committee also plans to organize a session on “Diversity in Aquaculture” at Aquaculture America 2021. I hope the information gathered with these actions will help our Society ensure a welcoming U.S. Aquaculture Society I had thought that, by this point in 2020, the US would be well on its way to minimizing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As you all know, the US appears to be experiencing a third peak in COVID-19 infections. I wish I had a crystal ball to look into, to knowwhen the pandemic will end and everyone’s lives (and businesses) can get back to a ‘new’ kind of normal. Keep on persevering, as there is light at the end of the tunnel! I hope that further impacts to our industry will be minimized as we go through winter and into spring 2021. Following up on the 2019 USAS-sponsored meeting inWash- ington DC (US Aquaculture: Our Sustainable Food Solution), USAS recently hosted a virtual meeting in this series entitled “US Aquaculture: Economic Recovery Through Aquaculture” that tar- geted US congressional staffers and others with federal aquaculture responsibilities. The virtual meeting featured an update on the US Aquaculture Development Plan, information about aquaculture devel- opment plans in Norway and Canada, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on US aquaculture and needs of the US aquaculture sector for continued growth. The virtual meeting was recorded and can be accessed on the USAS YouTube channel. A summary document is being prepared and will be available on the USAS website soon. C H A P T E R R E P O R T S ( C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 1 8 )