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Keynote speaker Dr. Barry
Costa-Pierce, director of the
Rhode Island Sea Grant Program,
opens the conference with a call to embrace an alternative
model of aquaculture R&D that brings ecological principles
and ecosystem thinking to aquaculture. In his discussion
Costa-Pierce will use principles and examples from existing
ecological aquaculture operations that are profitable and
producing healthy products for consumers.
Norway, the lead nation in
coldwater aquaculture, is also a leader in aquaculture
research on topics such as sea lice infection, consumer
choices driven by considerations for the welfare of fish,
and innovative technologies for coastal management to help
solve conflicts among marine fisheries, fish farming and
coastal communities. Dr. Pal Arne Bjørn and Dr.
Bjørn-Steinar Sæther, from the
Norwegian Institute of Fisheries and
Aquaculture Research, and Dr. Arne-Wilhelm
Theodorsen from
NORUT Information Technology Ltd
will lead the session about Norwegian aquaculture
experiences.
Ensuring that scientific
research results get effectively utilized is the focus of a
panel discussion on "Building bridges between the
aquaculture industry and the scientific community" with
panellists David Rideout, from the
Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance,
Stephen Stewart from the
PEI Cultured Mussel Growers'
Association and Ron Kilmury from
Marine Harvest Canada.
Are pre-commercial
aquaculture species worth the effort? Dr. Bari Howell, from
the
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and
Aquaculture Science in Weymouth, England will
share Europe's experiences in introducing new species for
aquaculture. Marcelo Miranda from the
Ocean Sciences Centre in
St. John's, Newfoundland and Dr. Shannon Balfry from the
University of British Columbia
provide a Canadian perspective.
Chemicals in farmed fish are
a contested topic, both from an animal welfare and a food
safety perspective. Theme Leader Dr. Scott McKinley, Dr.
James Powell of
Syndel International Inc.
and two AquaNet investigators will provide their
perspectives on pharmaceuticals in aquaculture.
Risk - how much is
acceptable, and who is responsible? Controversies arising
from regulatory and policy decision are often based on
differences in risk assessments. Dr. William Leiss of
Queens University and
Executive-in-Residence at the McLaughlin Centre for
Population Health Risk at the
University of Ottawa will
share his research findings into "Understanding
Controversies about Risk Issues".
Genomics and the new
biotechnologies are generally not well understood. Whether
they are useful tools for aquaculture or expensive
diversions is the underlying theme of the presentations by
Tim Jackson from the
National Research Council's
Industrial Research Assistance Program, and Dr. Harry Murray
from the
NRC Institute for Marine Biosciences.
By Tor-Eddie Fossbakk
FIS North America
Photo
courtesy of:-
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