FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Deborah Good 617.896.4820
September 27, 2001 Aimee Murdock Burke 617.896.4888
INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS SEEK COMMON GROUND
FOR EXPANSION OF SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE
Confronting the Facts and Fables of Water Farming
Oldways today released details of the international conference to launch its
innovative Water Farming Initiative, also known as WF2 (Water Farming,
World's Future).
Stepping into the arena of often-contentious debates about aquaculture's
future, a science-based meeting of international experts takes a bold and
original new tack to produce effective solutions.
"It's time to focus on solutions," said Dun Gifford, President of Oldways
Preservation & Exchange Trust, a Boston based nonprofit educational
organization, "It is more and more clear that 'clean water farming' is a
sound environmental partner for soil farming. With this conference we hope
to bridge differences by encouraging quiet negotiation and discouraging
divisive argument."
The meeting, "Water Farming and the World's Future: The Sustainable Route to
a Stable and Healthy Food Supply," will be held in Baltimore, Maryland,
November 4-6, 2001, at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel.
International experts from science, academia, government, and industry will
present front-edge research and knowledge on critical water farming issues
facing the world today, breaking new ground on controversies that chill the
growth of an industry that almost everyone believes can benefit human health
and the environment. Session topics include water farming's place in the
world food supply; food and feeds, farming and feeding; effluent, water
quality and availability, regulatory issues, siting, disease control; wild
and farmed fish interactions, and more.
· Leading academics and other experts will seek to reach consensus on
base-line data.
· Key leaders will present their visions for the future.
· Top journalists will discuss fact, fiction, attitudes and perceptions
about water farming.
· Chefs will prepare and discuss meals featuring harvests of water farms.
· Moderated question, answer and discussion sessions will identify obstacles
and areas of agreement.
"The idea of presenting reality in a scientific context is important, " said
Cliff Goudey, Director of the Center for Fisheries Engineering Research at
MIT Sea Grant. "Most of the information about aquaculture in the media seems
to come from vocal opponents, and industry's responses to these challenges
often doesn't get taken seriously. The Oldways approach has great potential
as they don't have a clear stake on either side, and they have a track
record in making progress in controversial areas."
This is the first public conference of the multi-year Water Farming
Initiative (WFI), developed and organized by Oldways. The National Fisheries
Institute and National Aquaculture Association are co-organizers of this
conference with Oldways.
The registration fee for all three days is $295 and includes three
breakfasts, three lunches, one dinner, six coffee breaks, and all conference
materials. Day registration is available. A special hotel rate of $185 a
night at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel, is available by calling the
hotel directly at 1-800-HOTELS1. Full program details and registration
online at www.oldwayspt.org <http://www.oldwayspt.org/> or call Annie Bonney
at 617-421-5500/ fax at 617-421-5511. For press information and arrangements
please contact at telephone numbers listed above or email Deborah Good
(deborah@oldwayspt.org <mailto:deborah@oldwayspt.org>) or Aimee Murdock
Burke (aimee@oldwayspt.org) <mailto:aimee@oldwayspt.org)>.
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