Alcan Prize for Sustainability

Alcan Prize for Sustainability ENTRY FORM

Please complete this form to submit your entry for the Alcan Prize for Sustainability

The Alcan Prize for Sustainability identifies and recognizes not-for-profit, civil society and non-governmental organizations for their contributions to economic, environmental and/or social sustainability.

The guiding principle of assessment will be the demonstration of a comprehensive approach to addressing, achieving and further advancing a minimum of two dimensions of sustainability (economic, environmental and / or social).

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES (MIDNIGHT GMT) 31ST MARCH 2005

Incoming entries to be submitted to the International Business Leaders Forum. Electronic entries are preferred; please submit online at www.alcanprizeforsustainability.com, or by email to .

Please ensure that only the ENTRY FORM and requested supporting documents are sent.

ALCAN PRIZE FOR SUSTAINABILITY ENTRY FORM

1. Contents

a. Entry Form: Please use this template to complete your entry. Chief Executive's Sign Off: Please ensure the Chief Executive (or equivalent) authorizes and provides an electronic signature for the entry before submitting.

b. Partner Verification and Referee Statements: An important element of your entry is to provide verification of the information and evidence supplied. The templates are included in this form. Please ensure a Partner and external Referee provide testimonial. Assessors and adjudicators will view the statements.

2. Notes on submitting your entry

a. Entries must not exceed the stated word count for each question. Please provide the actual word count for each question. In the interests of rigor and fairness this rule will be strictly enforced with assessors only considering entries within the word count.

b. The entry form should be submitted as a Microsoft Word document or PDF file.

c. The size of the finished entry should not exceed 2MB.

d. If you wish to include images in your entry, please optimize images for screen viewing (low resolution, 72 dpi).

3. Need help or advice? If you have any questions regarding this form or your entry, please contact Leesa Muirhead, Alcan Prize Manager on +44 (0) 20 8543 8524 or email

Alcan Prize for Sustainability ENTRY FORM

SECTION 1
ENTRANT INFORMATION

ORGANIZATION DETAILS

Organization name / World Aquaculture Society
Address / 143 J. M. Parker Coliseum
Louisiana State University
City / Baton Rouge
Postal code / 70803
State/Province / Louisiana
Country / USA
Telephone
(including country & area codes) / 1-225-578-3137
Fax
(including country & area codes) / 1-225-578-3493
Organization website / www.was.org
Registered charity number
(or equivalent) / Federal ID -58-1739990
How many (paid) employees / 5
How many volunteers / 500+ per year
Annual turnover (in US$) / $700,000

SUMMARY OF INCOME SOURCES FOR
YOUR MOST RECENT AUDITED FINANCIAL YEAR

INCOME SOURCE FOR YEAR / AMOUNT (in US$)
Charitable foundations
(national or international) / $0
Personal Donations / Included in other category
Government/Embassies/
Local Government / Include as Conference revenue, co-sponsor support
Multilateral Organizations
(e.g. UN, Inter-American
Development Bank) / Include as Conference revenue, co-sponsor support
Membership Fees / $ 154,002
Earned income (e.g. merchandise) / $ 211,459
Corporate Sponsorship / Included in Conference revenues
Others (please list):
Interest/Dividends / $ 46,529
Electronic networking / $ 17,816
Events / Conferences / $ 281,390
TOTAL / $ 711,196
How did you hear about the Alcan Prize for Sustainability?
Invited to apply
Data Protection
Information may be shared with relevant third parties. Please indicate if you DO NOT wish to make information available.

MAIN CONTACT FOR ENTRY CORRESPONDENCE

Name / Kevin Fitzsimmons
Job Title / President
Email address /
Direct Telephone
(including country & area codes) / 1-520-626-3322

SIGN OFF STATEMENT

I have read this entry for the Alcan Prize for Sustainability and confirm that it is a correct representation of our organization's work. I confirm I have read, understood and therefore agree to abide by the terms and conditions of entry stated for the Alcan Prize for Sustainability. (For conditions of entry, please see www.alcanprizeforsustainability.com)

Name / Kevin Fitzsimmons
Job Title (CEO or equivalent / President
Email address /
Date / March 24, 2005

SECTION 2
ORGANIZATION SUMMARY

QUESTION 1

Please provide details of your organization’s mission, purpose and major activities and explain how they contribute to achieving sustainability goals. (Maximum 500 words)
Aquaculture is the fastest growing food production sector of the global economy, driven by rising consumer demands and over-exploitation of wild fisheries. While aquaculture production is supplying much needed aquatic protein, particularly in developing countries, industry expansion brings increased risks of environmental impacts. While these shortcomings have been publicized by various environmental organizations, the World Aquaculture Society is the only NGO whose primary mission is to promote sustainable development of aquaculture on a global basis. WAS members are the primary source of science-based information and technology development for the aquaculture sector. The vision statement of its founding charter reads:
WAS, through its commitment to excellence in science, technology, education, and information exchange, contributes to progressive and sustainable development of aquaculture throughout the world.
MISSION
- WAS is organized for educational and scientific purposes to: Promote educational, scientific, and technological development and advancement of sustainable aquaculture throughout the world.
- Gather and disseminate technical and practical information on aquaculture worldwide.
- Hold meetings for presentation, exchange, and discussion of information, findings, and experiences on all subjects and techniques related to aquaculture.
- Encourage teaching of all phases of aquaculture and training of aquaculturists.
- Encourage aquaculture research, development and education activities by public and private sectors
WAS, founded in 1970, has grown to 3,000+ members in 84 countries. To meet the international nature of aquaculture and to address specific needs in various regions, members have created Chapters in the US, Japan, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. WAS links with other aquaculture groups including; Asian Fisheries Society, Aquaculture Association Canada, Korean Aquaculture Society, European Aquaculture Society, and other geographic and species associations globally. Through its diverse membership and international networks, WAS provides leadership for enhanced international communications, collaboration and information exchange. WAS is a dynamic organization capable of responding to change and is recognised for its professional credibility in aquaculture science, technology and education.
Aquaculture has an increasingly important role in meeting global demand for high quality proteins as world population expands and fisheries are depleted. Although world aquaculture production reached an all time high of 51.4 million mt in 2002, aquaculture production must triple to meet world demand for seafood products by 2025. Aquaculture plays a key role in economic and community development throughout the world as we move to a more global economy.
Forty thousand individuals in Indonesia, who had registered their livelihoods as dependant on aquaculture, were impacted by the tsunami, further demonstrating aquaculture’s importance in the developing world. Progressive development and expansion of aquaculture is dependent on generation, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge and technology consistent with broad societal, national and international goals. As aquaculture production expands, it is essential that efficient and environmentally, socially and economically sustainable production systems be developed and utilized.
Word count: 455

QUESTION 2

Summarize your organization’s accomplishments. (Maximum 500 words)
Since 1970, WAS members have produced, presented and published most of the leading research devoted to improving sustainability of aquaculture. Many WAS scientists are devoting their professional careers to mitigating and eventually solving environmental and social impacts associated with aquaculture.
More important are the seldom reported success stories where scientists have worked with farmers in developed and developing countries to build low impact or bioremediating aquaculture operations. Most bivalve and seaweed culture operations are credited with improving water quality. The incredible growth of global aquaculture has provided millions of jobs, and vastly improved overall supply, quality, and diversity of seafood products. Virtually all observers agree that the vast majority of aquaculture operations are ecologically and socially sustainable. Ecological footprints of almost all aquaculture operations are smaller than land-based animal husbandry.
Many WAS members have specialised in retraining displaced fishers to work in sustainable aquaculture operations. These include trawl fishers in Florida who now farm clams, dynamite fishers in the Philippines who now grow seaweeds, and reef fish collectors from Bahamas and Singapore who now sell domesticated fish for aquariums. Across Asia, fish is the primary source of animal protein. WAS members have led development of this critical food sector that has prevented starvation and improved household income for hundreds of millions. Their methods and results have been discussed, presented and published in WAS conferences and publications.
The Annual Meeting of WAS is recognized as the premier aquaculture conference/exhibition, bringing together a wide variety of aquaculturists from commercial, academic, government, and NGO sectors. In addition to the WAS Annual meeting, WAS organises and sponsors symposia to cover specific topics or needs, especially focussed on improving industry sustainability.
WAS publishes 1) Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, a quarterly scientific journal which contains high quality, peer-reviewed, scientific papers covering the range of aquaculture topics, 2) World Aquaculture Magazine, a source of articles on aquaculture and aquaculture products, 3) Books and technical manuals presenting state of the art techniques for sustainable development. These publications are critical to domesticating aquatic plants and animals and developing farming systems that protect the environment, farmers and consumers. Some of these titles include: Aquaculture and the Environment, Biosecurity in Aquaculture Systems: Exclusion of Pathogens and Other Undesirables, Sustainable Shrimp Farming, Microbial Approaches to Aquatic Nutrition in Environmentally Sound Aquaculture Production Systems, Manual de Histologia del Camaron Penaeido Normal.
WAS and its members play an important role in assuring progressive development of aquaculture world-wide by meeting global demands for science-based information and technology. Through its diverse membership and international networks, WAS provides leadership for enhanced international communication, collaboration and information exchange. WAS is a dynamic organization capable of responding to change and is recognized for its professional credibility in aquaculture science, technology, and education.
Word count: 458

QUESTION 3

Describe how your organization incorporates and promotes sustainability principles into your own organization’s policies and practices. (Maximum 500 words)
Members of the WAS believe that aquaculture is the most sustainable form of food production yet devised. Seaweed and bivalve culture are widely considered beneficial to the environment. The vast majority of aquaculture occurs in Asia, where farmers have integrated fish farming into sustainable systems for centuries. These farms and the healthy fish-vegetable-seaweed diets produced are fundamental to the high human population levels (carrying capacity) and advanced civilizations that have developed in Asia. WAS (publications, scientists, extensionists, workshops and conferences) endeavours to spread this knowledge across the planet. We also strive to develop ecologically equivalent systems to be integrated into Western agriculture-aquaculture systems (fish production in irrigation systems, salmon-kelp, aquaculture-hydroponics, and shrimp-seaweed).
Virtually all aquatic animals have better feed conversion ratios than terrestrial animals. Many aquatic animals feed at the lowest trophic levels, producing high quality proteins from algae, bacteria and decaying organic matter. Many fish and bivalves are filter feeders, removing material from the water column, thereby improving certain water quality parameters. Aquatic plants and seaweeds, widely eaten in Asia, are even more efficient at removing nutrients from the water and improving water quality while producing high quality seafood. Again, WAS takes the global lead in developing and promoting these sustainable, even bio-remediating, techniques.
WAS scientists are working to improve the sustainability of industrial style aquaculture by conducting research to develop aquaculture feeds based on grains, distillery wastes, and seaweeds to minimize or eliminate the need for fish meal. Intensive studies are underway to develop techniques to rear salmon, shrimp and other aquatic animals in shore-based recirculating systems. WAS provides the constructive criticism and peer review science that is needed to advance the science that will address the environmental impacts of intensive aquaculture.
The Society devotes many of its resources to supporting scientists and farmers from developing countries. They often understand the art of aquaculture and traditional systems, but need assistance to deal with aquaculture’s place in a global economy and with the influx of new techniques and farm inputs (newly domesticated species, feeds, equipment, etc.).
We believe that domestication of aquatic plants and animals is critical to protection of natural populations. Most WAS members were trained as marine biologists, fisheries scientists or ecologists. We recognize that most of the world’s fisheries are fully- or over-exploited. International trade disputes are now arising as commercial fisheries try to compete with farm raised products. WAS believes that open and frank discussions and full disclosure and description of aquaculture systems will lead to equitable accommodations between competing seafood sectors and between critics and supporters of aquaculture practices.
Word count: 433

SECTION 3
ACHIEVEMENTS

Please use bullet points where possible

EXAMPLE 1

Name of activity / program / WAS International Symposia
Date started / 1970
Completed / or ongoing / Ongoing - Bali, Indonesia May 2005

QUESTION 1

Provide a summary of the aims and objectives, and the economic, environmental and / or social sustainability goals. (Maximum 300 words)
• WAS approaches its mission of supporting and promoting sustainable aquaculture using several major elements. The first of these are the global and regional conferences that bring together scientists, farmers, seafood buyers, vendors, regulators, other NGO’s, and students. These meetings are the primary venue for transferring knowledge to and within the industry. We strive to hold these international conferences in regions where the information presented will most benefit the expansion of environmentally-sustainable aquaculture, especially in developing countries.
• Minimize environmental impacts of aquaculture operations, by developing and publicizing sustainable techniques and practices
• Encourage social responsibility from aquaculture producers in developed and developing economies
• Achieve economic sustainability by improving efficiency, by educating producers, marketers and consumers, and by working with regulators to develop guidelines and practices that protect resources while allowing aquaculture producers to expand
• Organize conferences that encourage the free-flow of ideas between critics and defenders of various aquaculture practices
• Conferences are normally held with co-sponsorship from government agencies, producer organizations, and other NGO’s
• The themes of recent conferences reflect the emphasis that WAS places on sustainability (Realizing the Potential: Responsible Aquaculture for a Secure Future 2000, Responsible Aquaculture in the New Millennium 2001; Aquaculture-An Ecologically Sustainable and Profitable Venture 2004; Profiting from Sustainability 2004)
Word count: 210

QUESTION 2