Plans for Giant Prawn 2011 already well advanced

Giant Prawn 2011 (GP2011) is a component of Asian Pacific Aquaculture 2011 (APA2011), which will be held in Kochi, Kerala, India. GP2011 will be a landmark opportunity to review the status of freshwater prawn farming worldwide and discuss the future of this $2 billion/year industry. The dates of GP2011 are 17-20 January 2011. In addition, field trips to freshwater prawn farming sites are being planned for 21 and 22 January 2011.

The brochure for APA2011 (incorporating GP2011) will shortly be available from the World Aquaculture Society (WAS). This brochure will explain the procedures for registration and issue a call for papers for both events. The authors of all papers for GP2011, whether invited or unsolicited, will need to be sent to WAS by the abstract deadline, clearly marked “for Giant Prawn 2011”. Authors are also reminded that selected GP2011 papers will be considered for a special issue of the journal Aquaculture Research after the conference.

The scientific programme for Giant Prawn 2011 consists of a three-day invited paper session (18, 19 & 20 January 2011), plus a one-day parallel session for unsolicited (contributed papers) on freshwater prawn farming (date to be announced later). Many speakers for the main GP2011 session have already accepted our invitations. These include Nesar Ahmed (Bangladesh), Janet Brown (UK), Michael Frinsko (USA), Ilan Karplus (Israel), Spencer Malecha (Hawai’i), Peter Mather (Australia), C. Mohanakumuran Nair (India), M.C. Nandeesha (India), Uthairat Na-Nacorn (Thailand), Michael New (UK), Nguyen Thanh Phuong (Vietnam), K.R. Salin (India), Amir Sagi (Israel), James Tidwell (USA), Wagner Valenti (Brazil), Patricia Moraes-Valenti (Brazil), Md. Abdul Wahab (Bangladesh) and Miao Weimin (China). Discussions about the contributions of several further invited speakers are on-going. The topics to be presented in the invited session of GP2011 include biology, genetics, grow-out and hatchery rearing technology, health management, and post-harvest handling, marketing and economics.

The parent APA2011 meeting, which is being organised by the Asian Pacific Chapter of WAS, will also provide the usual comprehensive rainbow of conference topics and social events, together with an important exhibition. Those who attended the last event organised by this chapter in Kuala Lumpur will already know how successful it was.

GP2011 will be a very important event for all those involved in freshwater prawn farming, research and marketing.

Mark your calendars and make your travel plans for January 2011 now!

We hope to see you in Kochi!

Michael New and C. Mohanakumuran Nair (GP2011 Co-Chairs)