Welcome to the International Working Group on Larviculture

A new working group, the International Working group on Larviculture (IWGL), has been formed with the support of the European Aquaculture Society (EAS) at the occasion of the Larvi'95 Symposium (Ghent University, Belgium, september 1995).

The objectives of the Working Group are :

To improve communication among larviculturists. In this regard, a Larviculture Newsletter will be distributed (from the Ghent University) by electronic mail to Working Group members and memebers will also be able to interact via the Larvi-BB bulletin board (can be reached at : e-mail: larvi@rug.ac.b).
To sponsor symposia or special sessions at aquaculture conferences. Several possibilies for this exist in the coming years.
To improve international education in aquaculture. Through the use of modern technology, lectures can be given in one country to students in another country (even another continent), with two-way interaction, including questions, discussions, etc.
To improve ties between industry, academia and government. The Working Group should serve as a forum in which industry can identify its research needs to academia and government, academia can inform industry and government about new results in fundamental research, so that possibilities for application can be identified, etc.
To facilitate conduct of interlaboratory exercises. Some members participate in these exercises within an ICES Working Group, but that organization is limited to countries that border the North Atlantic. The EAS-IWGL could extend those exercises worldwide and/or could initiate its own exercises.

It should be emphasized that the EAS-IWGL is not just a European Group. Attendance at the organizational meeting included participants from every continent except Antartica. Those who have agreed to serve as provisional officers to get the Working Group up and running come from three continents: Chairman - David Bengtson (USA), Vice-Chair - Daniel Fegan (Thailand), Newsletter Editor - Gilbert Van Stappen (Belgium), Secretary/Treasurer - Patrick Sorgeloos (Belgium). The officers will be working during the first year to establish bylaws and working protocols, and to develop the necessary networks (e.g. an industry council, identification of 'country' representatives to distribute information to members who may not have e-mail yet, etc.).

Membership in the Working Group costs BEF 500 per year (plus financial transaction charges) and simultaneous membership in EAS is not required, although it is certainly encouraged.

For more information, please contact :

David Bengtson
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI02881, USA
e-mail : dbengtson@narvax.nar.epa.gov

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