The Twenty-Fifth Joint Meeting of the UJNR Aquaculture Panel was held on October 16-17, 1996 at the National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Yokohama, Japan. A business meeting was held on the morning of October 16, followed by a symposium. The theme of the symposium was "Biodiversity and Aquaculture for Sustainable Development."
First, Dr. Nagahisa Uki, Secretary General of the UJNR Aquaculture Panel, declared the opening of this Joint Meeting. Dr. Masanori Azeta, Chair of the Japanese Delegation and Director of the National Research Institute of Aquaculture, first stressed thanks to the 24th UJNR Panel for its large attendance at Corpus Christi, Texas. He expressed appreciation to Dr. James P. McVey, Chair fo the U.S. Delegation, for organizing the conference and field trips.
Sustainable food supply and conservation of the environment are urgent global issues in recent years. The theme adopted to be carried out at the 25th UJNR meeting has attracted a lot of Japanese scientists and administrators, and more than one hundred people will attend the meeting. Dr. Azeta emphasized that discussion by scientists of both countries which have different natural features, should promote a comprehensive and universal understanding of the relationships between sustainable development of aquaculture and biodiversity. He also stated that this meeting will promote the cooperative flounder research by both countries' scientists and will bear significant fruit in the next joint 5-year plan for the UJNR Aquaculture Panel. Field trips are mainly focused on flounder research. He commented that the exchange of opinions with the U.S. Delegation and the staff of the National Research Institute of Fisheries Engineering Japan Marine Science & Technology Center, Kanagawa Prefectureal Fisheries Experimental Station, Ibaraki Prefectural Sea farming Center and Ibaraki Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station is important for stock enhancement and effective utilization of coastal waters. He concluded by expressing his wish that the meeting and field trips will be successful and memorable.
Dr. McVey expressed extreme pleasure that we are visiting our colleagues of UJNR in Japan. He thanked Dr. Azeta and his staff at NRIA for their preparations of the field trips and their cooperation. He also expressed thanks to Dr. Takeshi Hara, Director of the National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, for arrangements made on our behalf. Dr. McVey stated that there are seven panels under Marine Resources, and aquaculture is the most active of the panels. The Aquaculture Panel has met each year, alternating between the cooperating countries, for the past 25 years. He stated that the theme this year and the terms "biodiversity" and "sustainability" go hand in hand. If we lose biodiversity, then we lose sustainability. These important concepts of biodiversity and sustainability are being brought into the official policy for the future of our countries. In the United States, fears of environmental impacts of aquaculture and loss of biodiversity are limiting aquaculture development. In Japan, these same issues are being addressed to allow wise development and expansion of current production. The UJNR Aquaculture Panel has operated under a series of 5-year plans. We are beginning the firth 5-year plan with the overall theme of sustainable aquaculture, and this meeting will determine the course of our actions during the next 5 years. The relationship between man and the biotic environment and development of sustainable technologies is the key to aquaculture development in both counties. We have a common interest in exploring biodiversity and sustainability as it pertains to aquaculture. We need:
Dr. McVey concluded by stating that the next 5 years are critical for preserving biodiversity and establishing sustainable aquaculture technology. He looks forward to the next 25 years of collaboration and scientific exchange with our Japanese colleagues.
Dr. Azeta introduced members of the Japanese Panel: Drs. Nagahisa Uki (Secretary General), Tohru Suzuki (Literature Exchange), Kazuhiro Nakajima (Collaboration), Mitsuru Ototake (Scientist Exchange), Secretaries of NRIA: Drs. Junya Higano of NRIFE, Tadashi Ando of Hokkaido NRI, Yoo Yamashita of Tohoku NRI, Kazumi Hosoya of NRIFS, Tesuo Fujii of Japan Sea NRI, Goro Yoshida of Nansei NRI, Marcy N. Wilder of Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences. He also introduced Dr. Atsushi Furukawa, member of the Advisory Board.
Dr. McVey introduced members of the U.S. Panel: Dr. W. Heard, NMFS Auke Bay Laboratory; Dr. J. Sullivan, California Sea Grant College System, San Diego (Scientific Exchange); Dr. C. Mahnken, Director of the NMFS Manchester Laboratory (Vice Chair); Ms. J. Keller, NMFS, Oxford, MD (Publications); Dr. H. Bern, University of California at Berkeley; Dr. R. Stickney, Director of the Sea Grant College Program, Texas A&M University; Dr. C. Helsley, Hawaii Sea Grant College Program; Dr. A.J. Paul, Univerity of Alaska; Dr. M. Schwiewe, NMFS, Seattle, WA; Dr. T. Smith, South Carolina DNR; Dr. R. Barnaby, Sea Grant College Program, University of New Hampshire; Dr. C.S. Lee, The Oceanic Institute.
Dr. Uki introduced the designated Japan rapporteur, Dr. Suzuki. Dr. McVey introduced the designated U.S. rapporteur, Ms. Keller.
The agenda for the business meeting (Appendix 1), symposium program (Appendix 2), and abstracts (Appendix 3) are attached.
SCIENTIST EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Dr. Ototake passed out a list of 42 Japanese scientists who visited the United States (Appendix 4).
Dr. Sullivan indicated that 8 U.S. scientist visited Japan (Appendix 5). He commented that it would be beneficial to facilitate more exchange through UJNR for visits to Japan and that perhaps a subcommittee to work on such an exchange would maximize cooperation. To increase participation of the United States, Dr. Sullivan thanked Dr. McVey for changing the structure of the Panel. Dr. Mahnken stated that there were three other exchanges which may not be common knowledge to the Japanese members. He apologized for not making the Japanese delegation aware of these exchanges, but feels these three exchanges do qualify since they were arrange by him.
LITERATURE EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Dr. Suzuki indicated that 159 reprints were collected from 10 research institutes (Appendix 6).
Dr. McVey passed to Dr. Azeta a list of 48 reprints from the U.S. Panel (Appendix 7). He explained that the responsibility of the literature exchange program was shifted from the National Aquaculture Information Center to Carol Watts, Director of the NOAA Central Library. He told that a homepage on the UJNR Aquaculture Panel in the U.S., which shows the past proceedings and list of papers, has been opened world wide through the internet. Dr. Uki echoed that the Japanese side wishes to open the UJNR homepage on their side too.
COOPERATIVE STUDIES PROGRAM
Dr. Nakajima handed out a list of Researcher-Japan (Appendix 8) and a list of Research Subjects-Japan (Appendix 9). Fisheries Statistics of Japan were also handed out. He explained that cooperative work on flounder release is progressing to evaluate the impact of juvenile release into the natural environment. The chief investigators of this work are Dr. Masaru Tanaka, Kyoto University, and Dr. Miller, North Carolina State University. He also announced that an International Workshop on New Approaches of Viral Diseases of Aquatic Animals will be held in Kyoto from January 21-24, 1997, granted by the Japan Science and Technology Agency.
Dr. McVey passed to Dr. Uki four listes: Sea Grant's Guide to Coastal Science Experts; Fisheries of the United States, 1995; A draft plan on Sustainable Founder Culture and Fisheries; a Directory of State Aquaculture Coordinators and Contacts, 1996 (Appendix 10).
PUBLICATIONS PROGRAM
Dr. Uki explained, instead of Dr. Kazfumi Takayanagi, who is charged in bublication exchange, that the proceedings of the 1995 meeting are now being edited by the U.S. side, and the proceedings of this meeting will be published in April, 1997. Dr. Takayanagi had requested to all the speakers to bring the manuscripts to this meeting. Dr. Uki asked Dr. McVey if reprints from the proceedings published in the U.S. are available as the costs for reprints will be paid by the Japanese side. He proposed that we have uniform proceedings. Other issues will be discussed on the secretary's side later.
Ms. Keller expressed gratitude for the efforts of Dr. McVey, Dr. Paul K. Park, and especially to Dr. Azeta to allow her to attend this meeting and field trips in Japan. She reported that Dr. Takayanagi has been most helpful in returning Japanese manuscripts to here and that all manuscripts except one are at the publisher. Publication of the 24th Proceedings is expected in two months. Other concerns regarding the format will be addressed by Dr. Takayanagi. Dr. McVey commented that the availability of reprints on the U.S. side will be addressed.
GENERAL DISCUSSION
A. Next Five-Year Plan
Both panels agreed on the next 5-year plan as follows but need to discuss in more detail later.
B. Plans for next joint meeting
It was announced that the theme of the next joint meeting is "Technical Development of Aquaculture and Nutritional Metabolism". The meeting will be held at the University of New Hampshire from October 14-15, 1997, followed by a field trip from October 16-24. The host of the meeting is Dr. Ann Bucklin, Director of the Sea Grant College Program of the University of New Hampshire.
Dr. Sullivan remarked on Sea Grant expansion. Dr. McVey commented that much of the recent research and literature exchange is provided by the Sea Grant College programs and that this will be encouraged further.
Dr. Sullivan announced that the 3rd International Symposium on Abalone will be held in October, 1997 in Monterey, California. Dr. McVey told the audience that the 2nd International Conference on Open Ocean Aquaculture will be held in Hawaii in April, 1997.
Finally Dr. Azeta said that he hopes this meeting will be active, fruitful and successful.
Dr. Azeta and Dr. McVey announced that all business had been concluded. The Twenty-Fifth Joint Meeting of the UJNR Aquaculture Panel was then adjourned.
Yokohama, Japan
October 16, 1996
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