Board of Directors Meeting

August 10, 2010

(10:00 am to 5:00 pm)

California Farm Bureau

2300 River Plaza Drive

Sacramento, CA 95833

Board Agenda - preliminary

1.    Review and Approval of Agenda** 

2.    Review and Approval of previous Minutes**                       

3.    Review and Approval of March 3 Minutes**

4.    AGENCY AND “AFFILIATE” REPORTS

A.   Legislative Report -

B.   Acting Aquaculture Coordinator

5.    COMMITTEE REPORTS

A.   Executive Committee - Treasurer’s report

B.   Conference Committee - upcoming San Diego Conference

C.   Member Services Committee

D.   Government Affairs Committee

6.    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

A.   Cal-Aqua News

B.   Progress Report on Website Update

C.   State Fair Pavilion

7.    OLD BUSINESS

A.   DFG Stocking and Hatchery EIR

B.   Other Old Business

8.    NEW BUSINESS

9.    EXECUTIVE SESSION - Board Members and Invited Guests Only

10. ANNOUNCE NEXT MEETING / ADJOURNMENT

*Action Item from Previous Meeting

**Board Action through Motion and Vote is Needed

ALL CAA MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS ARE WELCOME TO

ATTEND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Matthew Berger
As farmed fish consumption catches up on wild, a search for sustainable aquaculture picks up steam.

Some experts are predicting this is the year in which humans, globally, will begin to consume more farmed seafood than wild-caught. Whether the milestone is reached this year or not, though, it is clear the trend is here to stay and that - with wild fish stocks continuing to dwindle - aquaculture, or fish farming, has a major role to play in ensuring global food security. With that in mind, work is being done to address the serious questions about aquaculture’s negative impacts.

Over the past several decades, wild-caught fish landings have widely stagnated or declined, yet global seafood demand has continued to rise - as has, due to aquaculture, global seafood supply. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has predicted that, due to population growth, by 2030 we will need an additional 37 million tonnes of farmed fish per year to maintain the current levels of per capita seafood consumption.

In response to this demand, aquaculture has already emerged as the fastest growing food sector industry. An industry that produced one million tons of fish in 1950 has since emerged as a sprawling, 80 billion dollar-industry producing over five times that amount of fish with operations around the world.

But its rapid growth has resulted in myriad environmental problems being largely overlooked.

“What happens when you see that type of accelerated growth and when the majority of that is coming from the developing world… sometimes you see a greater emphasis on expansion and technology development as opposed to conservation and sustainability and managing environmental and social impacts,” said Jose Villalon, director of the World Wildlife Fund, based in the U.S.

The negative impacts are well documented. Salmon farming, in which the fish are usually raised in pens in the ocean, requires vast amounts of wild fish as feed - about three pounds of feed fish for every pound of salmon produced. The salmon waste, as well as antibiotics and additives used to make salmon flesh pink can leak out and damage the surrounding environment. Finally, when farmed salmon escape, they can spread disease and contaminate the gene pool of wild salmon.

Other species can be farmed more sustainably, but even operations like shrimp farming sometimes have impacts - like the removal of mangrove habitat in order to set up farms. This type of impact has hurt nearby communities and the environment, especially in aquaculture hotspots in Southeast Asia and in Chile.

Still, the degree, as well as the type, of impact can vary widely depending on the species and the methods used.

“When we’re talking about eating more aquaculture fish than wild-caught fish we’re talking about all types of fish, including molluscs like mussels and oysters. Those are not as bad as raising carnivorous salmon in an open-net pen,” noted Andrea Kavanagh, manager of the Pew Environment Group’s marine aquaculture campaign.

For now, the growth of the industry still seems to be largely outpacing the development of more sustainable aquaculture methods, and regulations and technical advances to mitigate those problems have so far been unable to keep up. But there is confidence that this gap can be overcome.

Villalon, himself a 26-year veteran of the shrimp-farming industry, points to a number of technical advances that have occurred in recent decades. While about a third of wild fish caught still go toward the fish meal and fish oil needed to feed farmed fish, he says salmon aquaculture has seen almost a halving of the feed-conversion ratios - the number of pounds of food needed to produce one pound of farmed fish. There has been a similar improvement in the farming of shrimp, he says.

Kavanagh pointed to advances in raising some freshwater salmon species in closed-system inland pens in Washington State.

“I would hope that eventually there is going to be a more sustainable way to raise salmon, given its popularity. And I do think we are moving towards that - I think we have to. It’s not feasible for it to continue going the way it is,” she told IPS.

WWF has also spearheaded a joint effort by NGOs and producer groups to form consensus on what sustainable aquaculture looks like for different species. The standards resulting from these Aquaculture Dialogues will be used by a new group, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, to certify certain fish farming operations as sustainable and thus pressure ones that are not to improve their practices.

The results of the tilapia dialogue were released in December and the salmon dialogue draft is expected to come out Jul. 28. Villalon, who oversees the dialogue project, told IPS the salmon standards will have seven principles that farms will need to fulfil, dealing with everything from compliance with laws, to conserving local biodiversity, to abiding by international labour standards.

Setting out a list of standards like these is not a particularly new undertaking, but Villalon says this effort is unique because of the broad group of stakeholders involved and the measurability of operations’ compliance.

He says there will be a clear threshold: “You’re either compliant or you’re not.”

And with many humans becoming increasingly dependent on farmed fish for their protein, environmental NGOs are not the only ones concerned about the way these fish are farmed.

The Canadian government released new rules for fish farms in the province of British Colombia this week following a court case that found fish farming off the B.C. coast impacted the ocean and thus was under federal jurisdiction.

In Washington, D.C., the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is in the process of developing an aquaculture policy that “will provide a foundation for sustainable aquaculture.” Of the 47 percent of U.S. seafood consumption that comes from aquaculture, however, 42 percent is imported.

International certifying organisations like the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) may therefore have a key role to play. The ASC is expected to begin its work in mid-2010, though certification of tilapia farms on an interim basis will start sooner. ]]> http://www.caaquaculture.org/2010/07/27/sustainable-aquaculture-picks-up-steam/feed/ http://www.caaquaculture.org/2010/07/15/important-news-for-catfish-farmers/ http://www.caaquaculture.org/2010/07/15/important-news-for-catfish-farmers/#comments Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:38:36 +0000 Michael http://www.caaquaculture.org/?p=730 Important News for Catfish Farmers

USDA Grants Assistance to U.S. Catfish Producers Under Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Farmers Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) recently announced that it has certified a petition for catfish under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Farmers Program.  Beginning June 25, U.S. catfish producers nationwide have 90 days to apply for training and benefits.

The TAA for Farmers Program provides technical training and cash benefits to eligible U.S. producers and fishermen of raw agricultural commodities whose crops or catch have been adversely affected by imports of like or directly competitive commodities.

After reviewing a petition submitted in April 2010 by the Catfish Farmers of America, FAS determined that increased imports of catfish during January-December 2009 contributed importantly to a greater than 15-percent decline in the value of production in 2009, compared to the average of the three preceding marketing years.  This conforms to the eligibility requirements stipulated in Subtitle C of Title I of the Trade Act of 2002 (Pub. L.107-210).

Individual catfish producers nationwide, interested in applying for technical training and cash benefits, must complete and submit a written application to their local Farm Service Agency Service Center within the 90 calendar day period.  Applications (form FSA 229-1) are available on the FAS Web site at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/itp/taa/taaforms.asp.  All TAA for Farmers Federal Register notices can be found on the FAS Web site at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/info/fr/notices.asp.

Program benefits include cash payments and free technical training designed to help producers develop and implement business adjustment plans.  Producers that develop an approved initial business plan will receive up to $4,000 as payment toward implementing the plan or developing a long-term business adjustment plan.  Producers who subsequently develop approved long-term business adjustment plans are entitled to receive an additional cash payment of up to $8,000 to be applied toward implementing the plan.  A producer may not receive more than $12,000 or benefit from any other TAA program during the 36-month period following certification of a group petition.  Travel and subsistence expenses related to attending training sessions may also be reimbursable.

General information about the TAA for Farmers Program can be found on the FAS Web site at www.fas.usda.gov/itp/taa or by contacting the TAA for Farmers Program staff in the Office of Trade Programs at telephone (202) 720-0638,   or (202) 690-0633 or by e-mail at tradeadjustment@fas.usda.gov.

Aquaculture Disease Committee

May 13, 2010

Yolo Wildlife Area

At the discretion of the Aquaculture Disease Committee, all items appearing on this agenda may be deliberated upon and may be subject to action.  The agenda order is subject to change.

9:00    Welcome and Introductions

9:05    Agenda review and approval

9:10    Review and approval of minutes from April 1^st meeting

9:15    Review of action items from April 1^st meeting

9:20    Hatchery EIR Amphibian Protocols Continued

Ranavirus Update - Ron Hedrick, UCD

BD Update - Tresa Veek, Fish Health Lab

Saprolegenia Update - Garry Kelley, Fish Health Lab

10:25  Sub Committee Updates: Letter to the Director

10:45  Sub Committee Updates: Disease Risk Assessment

11:05  Bylaw Discussion and Updates - Dennis Faria

11: 25 New Business

11:40  Review of New Action Items

11:50 Next Meeting

12:00  Adjourn

If you have any questions, please contact Heather McIntire at (916) 539-2028 or hmcintire@dfg.ca.gov

Aquaculture Development Committee

July 15, 2010

1416 Ninth Street, Room 1206

Sacramento, CA 95814

Call-in line (916) 274-5714

At the discretion of the Aquaculture Disease Committee, all items appearing on this agenda may be deliberated upon and may be subject to action.  The agenda order is subject to change.

9:00    Welcome and Introductions

9:10    Agenda changes or additions

9:20    Review and approval of December 1, 2009 meeting summary

9:40    Hatchery EIR implementation…………………………….Curtis Milliron, DFG

10:40  Marine Aquaculture in California PEIR………………………..Mike Rushton, ICF Jones and Stokes

11:20  Aquaculture Disease Committee Update……………Ken Beer, The Fishery

11:50  671 Regulation Changes Update …………………. Heather McIntire, DFG

12:15 -1:30    Lunch Break (on your own)

1:30    Marine Life Protection Act Update…………………… Melissa Miller-Henson

2:00    Nationwide Permit 48…………………………….Jeffery Fisher, Environcorp

2:40    Election of a Committee Chairperson……………………..Group Discussion

2:50    Announcements

NAA / CAA sustainability workshop in San Diego……..Mark Drawbridge, Hubbs Seaworld

3:00    Next Meeting

3:15    Adjourn

If you have any questions, please contact Heather McIntire at (916) 539-2028 or hmcintire@dfg.ca.gov

More information about CAFRF can be found on their website:  www.savecalfishing.org

Benefits of Eating Fish Need to be Better Communicated

says World Health Organization

Report highlights danger of not eating enough seafood

May 19, 2010 Washington, DC – A joint report published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization says governments need to do a better job emphasizing the benefits of eating seafood to heart and brain health.

Seventeen nutrition and toxicology experts met at FAO Headquarters in January to create a report designed to help governments give scientifically-sound advice about the overall effects of eating fish. For the general population, they concluded eating fish lowers the risk of death from heart disease. For women of childbearing age, they concluded eating fish during pregnancy and breastfeeding lowers the risk of poor brain development in babies.

To “more effectively communicate with their citizens,” governments should “emphasize CHD [coronary heart disease] mortality rates of not eating fish” and “neurodevelopmental risks to offspring of such women [women of childbearing age, particularly pregnant women and nursing mothers] not consuming fish,” according to the Executive Summary of the report that was released by the FAO/WHO this week.

Fish provide only about seven percent of animal protein found in an average American diet, while in Asian countries that portion is more than 25 percent. An April 2009 study published in the Public Library of Science ranked low seafood intake as the second largest cause of diet-related deaths in America, just behind high salt consumption. The study estimated 84,000 deaths in the U.S. are linked to omega-3 deficiency caused by Americans not eating enough fish.

“The report spotlights an incredibly healthy food that Americans seem to underestimate,” said Jennifer McGuire, a registered dietitian with the National Fisheries Institute. “What I’m hearing from the scientists behind this publication is that not eating enough protein- and omega-3-packed fish has consequences on public health, and governments need to adjust their communications to reflect that reality.”

The report comes at a time when federal nutrition experts are preparing to update the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Largely overlooked in the past, the importance of eating seafood is expected to be addressed. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is under pressure to update its six-year-old seafood consumption advice.

“Any questions about the safety and healthfulness of seafood are silenced by a report of this caliber,” said McGuire. “We’re at the point where people can replace emotion-based misinformation with science-based advice that will help reverse the health problems associated with a typical low-seafood American diet.”

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]]> http://www.caaquaculture.org/2010/05/27/whofao-urge-more-seafood-consumption/feed/ http://www.caaquaculture.org/2010/04/23/usda-extends-sign-up-for-assistance-for-producers-of-farm-raised-fish/ http://www.caaquaculture.org/2010/04/23/usda-extends-sign-up-for-assistance-for-producers-of-farm-raised-fish/#comments Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:27:16 +0000 Michael http://www.caaquaculture.org/?p=676 USDA Extends Sign-Up for Emergency Assistance

to Eligible Producers of Livestock,

Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish

The USDA has announced that it will accept applications for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) for losses that took place in calendar years 2008 and 2009.  ELAP sign-up ended on Dec.10, 2009, for 2008 losses and on Feb. 1, 2010, for 2009 losses.  However, because of changes to program eligibility provisions, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting late-filed applications for 2008 and 2009 livestock, honeybees, and/or farm-raised fish losses through May 5, 2010.

ELAP, authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish that have losses due to disease, adverse weather or other conditions, including losses due to blizzards and wildfires.  ELAP assistance is for losses not covered under other Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance programs established by the 2008 Farm Bill, specifically the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, the Livestock Indemnity Program and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program.  ELAP is being implemented to fill in the gap and provide assistance under other conditions determined to be appropriate.

ELAP eligibility provisions have been amended for both honeybee and farm-raised fish producers.  The modifications include allowing honeybee and farm-raised fish producers who did not replace their honeybees or fish that were lost due to a natural disaster to be eligible for ELAP payments based on the fair market value of the honeybees or fish that were lost.  In addition, the requirements to document losses for honeybee producers who suffered losses due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) were modified to allow documentation by an independent third party for losses in 2010 through Sept. 31, 2011.  Producers can self certify losses due to CCD for 2008 and 2009.

For more information or to apply for ELAP and other USDA Farm Service Agency disaster assistance programs, please visit your FSA county office or www.fsa.usda.gov.
]]> http://www.caaquaculture.org/2010/04/23/usda-extends-sign-up-for-assistance-for-producers-of-farm-raised-fish/feed/ http://www.caaquaculture.org/2010/03/30/fresno-state-gets-aquaculture-grant/ http://www.caaquaculture.org/2010/03/30/fresno-state-gets-aquaculture-grant/#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:45:07 +0000 Michael http://www.caaquaculture.org/?p=667

Research at California State University, Fresno into the biology of tilapia, a fish species widely farmed for food, is getting a $349,000 boost with a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to the Department of Biology within the College of Science and Mathematics.

Larry Riley, assistant professor of biology, is researching the hormonal control of appetite and growth during stress in tilapia.

“This research has potential to greatly improve the rearing of tilapia, the second most cultured fish worldwide,” says Mr. Riley.

This is a three-year award and the research will be primarily conducted by Mr. Riley’s grad students.

In January, Mr. Riley and four of his graduate students traveled to Seattle to present their findings from National Science Foundation-funded research at the annual Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology meeting.

Oral presentations were made by Kelli Upton of Laton, Rosemary Luzania of Selma and Whitney Janzen of Clovis. Tara Clever of Bakersfield received an award at the meeting for best student poster in the Division of Comparative Endocrinology.

Students in Mr. Riley’s research program have contributed to seven peer-reviewed manuscripts and 21 presentations at regional, national and international conferences.

It gives me great pleasure to announce Eric Schwaab as the new assistant administrator for fisheries, starting February 16. We are excited to have someone with Eric’s experience and proven leadership to bring a fresh perspective to the management of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service. Eric will lead NOAA’s efforts to rebuild our fisheries and the jobs and livelihoods that depend on them. His immediate priorities include improving outreach and relationships with recreational and commercial fishermen, better aligning federal and regional fisheries priorities, restoring confidence in fisheries law enforcement, and promoting management approaches that will achieve both sustainable fisheries and vibrant coastal communities.

Eric brings more than 25 years of experience in local, state and federal natural resource management. He has spent the majority of his career at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, where he began as a natural resources police law enforcement officer in 1983. He eventually served as director of the Maryland Forest Service; director of the Maryland Forest, Wildlife and Heritage Service; and director of the Maryland Fisheries Service. In 2003, Eric left the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to serve as resource director for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies until 2007. He then returned to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as the deputy secretary. Eric has also served as a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee.

Eric is a creative and proven manager, consensus builder and leader. He has developed and implemented solutions to address challenges in regional habitat restoration, including Chesapeake Bay restoration issues, fish and wildlife conservation, public lands management, natural resources law enforcement, public agency administration, strategic planning and leadership development.

I am excited to welcome Eric to the NOAA family. He will work with NOAA leadership, the fisheries service, his fellow assistant administrators and our many constituents to further our efforts to protect and manage the nation’s fisheries, our other trust resources including marine mammals and sea turtles, and the ecosystems upon which they depend. Welcome Eric!

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to Dr. Jim Balsiger, the acting assistant administrator, for his superb and sustained leadership. Jim has led the fisheries service for over two years in this capacity, far from his home in Alaska, and done so with distinction. He was especially instrumental in engaging the fishery management councils in the process of developing the draft catch shares policy. Dr. Balsiger will soon return to his position as NOAA Fisheries’ regional administrator for Alaska, but before doing so will assist Eric with his transition into the fisheries service and NOAA. I’d also like to thank the entire team at NOAA Fisheries who have done an excellent job during this period.

Dr. Jane Lubchenco
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator