AQD attends expert meetings in the US and Vietnam

Six AQD scientists participated in the World aquaculture conference 2010 held March 1-5 in San Diego, California, USA. The said conference was organized by a consortium headed by the World Aquaculture Society.

The papers presented by AQD include: (1) “Review of shellish R&D at SEAFDEC/AQD” by AQD Chief Dr. Joebert Toledo; (2) “Influence of net mesh size on the performance of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii cultured in lake-based cages” by scientist Dr. Ma. Lourdes Aralar; (3) “Effect of different feeding management schemes on the aquaculture production of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus in Lake Bato, Camarines Sur, Philippines” also by Dr. Aralar; and (4) “Protective immunity against viral nervous necrosis in brown-marbled grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus following vaccination with an inactivated betanodavirus” by scientist Dr. Rolando Pakingking.

Also present in the conference were RD Head Dr. Evelyn Grace de Jesus-Ayson, scientist Dr. Relicardo Coloso, and BFS Head Engr. Emiliano Aralar.

Prior to attending WAS, Dr. Coloso presented a paper on “Soy diet research for milkfish” during the Global soy in aquaculture planning meeting that was organized by the U.S. Soybean Export Council and the American Soybean Association International Marketing. The meeting was held February 27-28 at the same WAS venue. His trip was funded by the United Soybean Board.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mae Catacutan, AQD’s Nutrition and Feed Development Section head, attended the 9th Practical course on aquaculture feed extrusion, nutrition and feed formulation that was held January 25-26 at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Almost 100 participants came, mostly from Thailand. They listened to 30 topics that focused on feed ingredients, feed formulation, feed manufacturing technology, aquatic feed extrusion, plant design and quality assurance. She also noted that one of the speakers from Europe had cited two papers by AQD.

In addition, AQD Chief Dr. Joebert Toledo attended the Business summit of the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) held January 19-20 in Makati City. This was organized by the World Wildlife Fund in collaboration with DA and DENR with the aim of stimulating investment by public and private partnerships and securing sustainability and profitability of key sectors dependent on healthy marine resources in the coral triangle. Gracing the event was Philippine President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo.