In a first, India to host Global Aquaculture conference in Chennai in 2019

US-based Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), a non-profit organisation dedicated to advocacy, education, and leadership in responsible aquaculture is set to hold its conference ‘GOAL 2019’ in India in 2019 for the first time. The hosting of the conclave in India reflects that the country is emerging as a key player in global aquaculture industry.

Slated to be conducted from October 21-24 next year in Chennai, GOAL will be the 20th installment of the event, and will be marked as 10th 'GOAL 2019’ conference to be held in Asia.

GOAL 2018 edition was held in Ecuador and was wrapped up in September this year.

Interestingly, GAA administers the best aquaculture practices and third-party aquaculture certification programme which asks stakeholders to be compliant with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP) and Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI).

India exported seafood worth $7.08 billion during 2017-18 (FY18) with frozen shrimp and frozen fish continuing to be the flagship export items. US, South East Asia, European Union (EU), Japan and China are the major import markets for Indian seafood exporters.

“A major accomplishment of GOAL 2018 was recognition of an anticipated surge in shrimp production over the next three years and its impact on already low shrimp prices. This led to insightful discussions about the need for more accurate, reliable and frequent shrimp production data and the need to create a unified shrimp marketing program. Allan Cooper of Marinasol presented the Hass Avocado marketing program as a compelling model for the shrimp industry to consider,” said GAA President George Chamberlain. 

Now, the challenge for GOAL 2019 in Chennai will be to build upon these ideas, organise a structure and develop effective programmes crucial to the future of this sector, added Chamberlain.

“There is growth happening in India in the aquaculture sector and the country has been able about to meet global requirements. With GOAL conference due in India next year, there will be techno-commercial-financial collaborations”, said an exporter.