Greetings. I hope that 2025 is off to a good start for each of you. I was fortunate to be able to attend the Aquaculture 2025 meeting in New Orleans, LA recently and was impressed by the scope and scale of the event. Steering committee chairs Jay Parson, Sandra Shumway, Michelle Walsh, and Paul Zajicek did an amazing job organizing the event. I think it is one of the largest shows I have attended in relation to the number of scheduled presentations, workshops, posters etc. There were over 2500 attendees from 77 countries including 404 students. There were a staggering 120 sessions that included 1330 oral presentations and 183 posters. Many thanks to all our sponsors and trade show exhibitors who make the meetings possible. It was great to see so many friends and colleagues in attendance and I enjoyed meeting many newcomers as well.

While the meeting was a great success, there was concern among attendees about some of the U.S. political decisions to discontinue support for many federal workers involved in aquaculture. These individuals play a vital role in the coordination, management and promotion of U.S. aquaculture and are often the link to international counterparts. If we are to fulfill the promise of the blue revolution and provide food for the next 2 billion people, it will take all of us, including governmental support.

I was very pleased to see a full-day session dedicated to Aquaculture Education, Extension and information transfer. These activities are critical to not only workforce development but also improving aquaculture literacy in general. There is no doubt that aquaculture will play an increasingly important role in providing healthy, low environmental impact protein for the world's growing population. HOWEVER, there are still many misconceptions among the public related to aquaculture, its benefits, its potential and the associated risks. The aquaculture community has the science-based information necessary to dispel the myths and misinformation surrounding aquaculture and help people lead healthier lives.

Promoting aquaculture literacy, especially through education, has many benefits. Professional development for teachers improves teaching capacity and ultimately delivers a more competent workforce. Exposing youth to more career opportunities positively impacts the next generation of aquaculture professionals including scientists and practitioners. The big picture social benefits of educating people about sustainable aquaculture include environmental protection, economic growth, job creation, and better public health outcomes. Aquaculture literacy lays groundwork for a future where aquaculture contributes positively to food security and the health of our planet. The WAS membership is a deep well of knowledge and we need to make a concerted effort to use this knowledge to help others appreciate the diversity and potential of aquaculture. This publication is an excellent outlet for your knowledge, please consider contributing.

I look forward to the next big gathering at the World Aquaculture Safari at the Speke Resort Munyonyo, near Entebbe Uganda, June 24-27. I hope to see you there.
— David Cline, President, World Aquaculture Society