AQUA 2012: Aqua societies work as one to service a global industry

Mario Stael of the European Aquaculture Society (left) and John Cooksey of the World Aquaculture Society (centre) join Roger Gilbert of International Aquafeed magazine to report a successful outcome to Aqua 2012 on its penultimate day in Prague, Czech Republic

The two key individuals behind Aqua 2012, which is concluding its penultimate day in Prague Convention Centre, Czech Republic - John Cooksey executive director of the World Aquaculture Society and Mario Stael of the European Aquaculture Society - visited the International Aquafeed magazine stand to report on a most successful event.

"Prague proved to be a great choice! We have had a lot of positive feedback," says Mr Cooksey.

This was despite much work done to host this event in St Petersburg, Russia originally and then the choice taken to host it in Cairo, Egypt before settling for Prague, Czech Republic in the final analysis.

"We were one week away from signing contracts in Cairo when the revolution started. Prague was a last minute alternative - and one we were grateful to have," says Mr Stael.

In fact both organisations wanted to thank Prague city for its hospitality and for providing visitors with passes to travel on the city's public transport system.

Over 2,000 visitors attended the first three days of the event representing 83 countries - and split 50:50 between industry and institute attendees. There were 110 exhibitors.
Only once every six years do the two organisations come together to stage a joint event in Europe. However, both organisers say that they are working closer and closer together.

"We face similar concerns and often the same issues," says Mr Cooksey. "The only differences is that EAS is European focused and deals with multiple languages.

There were three dozen different groups that met here to discuss production through workshops and other forums such as the contribution made by the EU in using the meeting to report on its projects and results, he adds.

"This has become a central meeting place for our industry. We've made it as broad as possible and never tried to limit it's direction. The synergy of everyone coming together in one place helps the industry, the various interest groups and ultimately the species."

There were up to 12 concurrent sessions running at anyone time with over 150 people in some workshops.

"Meetings like this are very low cost for industry. The more we work together the better it gets," says Stael. "We are not seen as separate organisations but seen jointly as representing the aquaculture industry."

"WAS and EAS are working together to service the industry," concluded Mr Cooksey.