News & Views
Newfoundland to host major aquaculture conference in 2020

WAS North America 2020 will be held at the St. John’s Convention Centre in Newfoundland on Aug. 30 to Sept. 2, 2020.

“WAS has been trying for many years to have a joint meeting in Canada and we are excited to have the opportunity to help organize a major aquaculture conference and exposition in Canada,” said John Cooksey, WAS executive director. “We look forward to the world aquaculture community focusing on Canadian aquaculture innovation. Mark your calendars now.”

This will be the first collaborative meeting between AAC and WAS in many years, and the first for NAIA to get involved in such an undertaking.

Stefanie Colombo, president, Aquaculture Association of Canada welcomed the prospect of Canada hosting WAS North America 2020. “The partnership among WAS, NAIA and AAC will undoubtedly yield a productive and inspiring meeting. We look forward to welcoming the global aquaculture community to our country.”

St. John’s is an ideal location for this meeting because of the fast-growing aquaculture community in the province and as a world-class tourist destination, being the oldest city in North America, a statement from NAIA said.

“We are absolutely thrilled and honoured to be selected as the location for WAS North America 2020. To have Newfoundland and Labrador recognized for its potential as an aquaculture growth area globally is a milestone that we are proud of,” said Mark Lane, executive director at NAIA. “We look forward to sharing our success stories as an industry and our beautiful province as a world-class tourist destination with aquaculture enthusiasts spanning all areas of the globe in 2020.”

The combined international conference and exposition is expected to draw over 2,000 attendees from more than 100 countries and will feature 150 exhibits – the largest of its kind ever to be held in Canada.