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A future for USA aquaculture with the NAA
It turns out that the ‘plenty more fish in the sea’ analogy we attribute so liberally to many situations might not be true after all. Approximately 88 percent of seafood consumed within the United States is imported and worryingly, much of this can come from other countries where aquaculture is not subject to such strict environmental and product safety standards. The topic is all over the news these days, whether it is Louisiana’s fisheries, which are under threat from the huge Gulf of Mexico oil slick, or the worldwide trend we are seeing for fisheries to attempt budgeting for aquaculture development. The National Aquaculture Association, NAA, knows more about this than most. Headquartered in Pine Bluff Arkansas, this association aims to establish national programs to best benefit its members, support industry growth, work alongside federal bodies to create a good environment for the industry, and to support economical environmental and sustainable practises.
One Industry, one voice
It’s a long and potentially tricky list to tackle, but the NAA remains both realistic and determined in its approach to industry issues. Its motto, “one industry, one voice,” in no way suggests that everyone sees eye to eye in the aquaculture game, but instead serves to represent the spectrum of opinions on a given issue.
“The NAA Board of Directors must at times make decisions regarding controversial issues. These decisions could have significant impact on the aquaculture industry’s the NAA represents or on individual aquaculture enterprises,” the NAA states as it explains its decision-making processes.
“Consensus and majority vote are most commonly used and each has advantages.”
The NAA explains that it continually strives for consensus, attempting to reach this by careful wording of resolutions or motions. A majority vote conclusion takes place only when consensus cannot be reached in time, with either sides views properly conveyed, and in the case of a seemingly split vote, the NAA board remains neutral. It is these kinds of cornerstone decision-making guidelines that allow the industry to correctly represent the many voices within.
On closer inspection of the association’s key areas of interest today, it is easy to understand why both a body is needed to represent the industry, and why such firm rules for decision-making are increasingly necessary in tackling the issues brought before it.
What’s on the agenda?
In short, aquaculture as an industry is focused on the “production of marine and freshwater organisms under controlled conditions,” as the NAA states. This ranges from edible seafood to sporting fishing ponds and repopulation of wild species, each of which alone can offer conflicting and perplexing issues. One of these is the sustainability and setting standards for the US aquaculture industry.
“Fish and shellfish can be farmed using methods that do not harm the environment and that help meet the growing demand for seafood by supplementing wild harvests,” the NAA says.
“Discharges from U.S. aquaculture facilities must meet the standards of the Environmental Protection Agency as well as stringent state and local regulations.”
From this, we begin to consider the vital sub-sectors that matter to sustaining a high-quality industry; water quality, food nutrition, product safety and beyond. The production of aquatic organisms in the US, for example, is regulated by a number of bodies; the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Each has its own agendas, goals and philosophies which may sometimes be conflicting, and each of these will likely commence dialogue with the NAA.
With so much on the table, staying focused on the task in hand is a vital piece of the NAA’s success.
A host of issues
From food safety, to drugs and therapeutic agents, to aquatic animal health, to every ocean and aquatic animal policy in general, there is always going to be a contentious issue facing the NAA. With such a diverse U.S. aquaculture industry, including but not limited to plants, trout, shellfish, salmon, catfish, marine shrimp, baitfish, hybrid striped bass, freshwater shrimp, tilapia, crawfish, alligators and ornamental fish, a thorough understanding of both market demand and member requirements is golden. It doesn’t matter whether a company approaches as a producer, supplier or otherwise because this association remains flexible enough to offer a voice to everyone. Within this, member direction does exist, for example categories such as State Organisation, Species Organisation and Industry Supplier/Manufacturer, but the NAA simultaneously provides one common forum within which all of these different sorts of companies can coexist and strengthen relations. This is a well-established, diverse yet united association with big goals and big promise.
The NAA will be attending a number of conferences this coming month, including Weeds Across Borders 2010 (WV), Savoring Sustainable Seafood (DC) and the International Symposium on Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Fish (MN). To hear from the source why this association is aiding in sustaining, improving and supporting its members within the aquaculture industry today, check out www.thenaa.net.
It turns out that the ‘plenty more fish in the sea’ analogy we attribute so liberally to many situations might not be true after all. Approximately 88 percent of seafood consumed within the United States is imported and worryingly, much of this can come from other countries where aquaculture is not subject to such strict environmental and product safety standards. The topic is all over the news these days, whether it is Louisiana’s fisheries, which are under threat from the huge Gulf of Mexico oil slick, or the worldwide trend we are seeing for fisheries to attempt budgeting for aquaculture development. The National Aquaculture Association, NAA, knows more about this than most. Headquartered in Pine Bluff Arkansas, this association aims to establish national programs to best benefit its members, support industry growth, work alongside federal bodies to create a good environment for the industry, and to support economical environmental and sustainable practises.
One Industry, one voice
It’s a long and potentially tricky list to tackle, but the NAA remains both realistic and determined in its approach to industry issues. Its motto, “one industry, one voice,” in no way suggests that everyone sees eye to eye in the aquaculture game, but instead serves to represent the spectrum of opinions on a given issue.
“The NAA Board of Directors must at times make decisions regarding controversial issues. These decisions could have significant impact on the aquaculture industry’s the NAA represents or on individual aquaculture enterprises,” the NAA states as it explains its decision-making processes.
“Consensus and majority vote are most commonly used and each has advantages.”
The NAA explains that it continually strives for consensus, attempting to reach this by careful wording of resolutions or motions. A majority vote conclusion takes place only when consensus cannot be reached in time, with either sides views properly conveyed, and in the case of a seemingly split vote, the NAA board remains neutral. It is these kinds of cornerstone decision-making guidelines that allow the industry to correctly represent the many voices within.
On closer inspection of the association’s key areas of interest today, it is easy to understand why both a body is needed to represent the industry, and why such firm rules for decision-making are increasingly necessary in tackling the issues brought before it.
What’s on the agenda?
In short, aquaculture as an industry is focused on the “production of marine and freshwater organisms under controlled conditions,” as the NAA states. This ranges from edible seafood to sporting fishing ponds and repopulation of wild species, each of which alone can offer conflicting and perplexing issues. One of these is the sustainability and setting standards for the US aquaculture industry.
“Fish and shellfish can be farmed using methods that do not harm the environment and that help meet the growing demand for seafood by supplementing wild harvests,” the NAA says.
“Discharges from U.S. aquaculture facilities must meet the standards of the Environmental Protection Agency as well as stringent state and local regulations.”
From this, we begin to consider the vital sub-sectors that matter to sustaining a high-quality industry; water quality, food nutrition, product safety and beyond. The production of aquatic organisms in the US, for example, is regulated by a number of bodies; the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Each has its own agendas, goals and philosophies which may sometimes be conflicting, and each of these will likely commence dialogue with the NAA.
With so much on the table, staying focused on the task in hand is a vital piece of the NAA’s success.
A host of issues
From food safety, to drugs and therapeutic agents, to aquatic animal health, to every ocean and aquatic animal policy in general, there is always going to be a contentious issue facing the NAA. With such a diverse U.S. aquaculture industry, including but not limited to plants, trout, shellfish, salmon, catfish, marine shrimp, baitfish, hybrid striped bass, freshwater shrimp, tilapia, crawfish, alligators and ornamental fish, a thorough understanding of both market demand and member requirements is golden. It doesn’t matter whether a company approaches as a producer, supplier or otherwise because this association remains flexible enough to offer a voice to everyone. Within this, member direction does exist, for example categories such as State Organisation, Species Organisation and Industry Supplier/Manufacturer, but the NAA simultaneously provides one common forum within which all of these different sorts of companies can coexist and strengthen relations. This is a well-established, diverse yet united association with big goals and big promise.
The NAA will be attending a number of conferences this coming month, including Weeds Across Borders 2010 (WV), Savoring Sustainable Seafood (DC) and the International Symposium on Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Fish (MN). To hear from the source why this association is aiding in sustaining, improving and supporting its members within the aquaculture industry today, check out www.thenaa.net.
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