Thank you for your continued support for the California Aquaculture Association (CAA). With your membership, we have accomplished so much in 2021, and we want you to know that your membership with us is greatly appreciated and we hope that you will renew your membership this year. It is with members like you that we can continue to do the work we do. Below is a brief list of some of CAA’s recent accomplishments:
- Engaged state and national agencies and officials to provide COVID-19 relief to include:
- HR 748, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act): SBA COVID-19 disaster relief, EIDL Advance, and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
- Improving food security to depend more on domestic seafood.
- Streamlining regulations so that more seafood can be grown in California.
- Additional grants and low interest loans to survive COVID-19 conditions.
- Assisted CAA member, Ocean Rainforest with California Coastal Commission approval for Voluntary Consistency Certification.
- Requested USDA APHIS aquaculture program budget increase.
- Assisted in securing a three-state grant from USDA to conduct a feasibility study of a Pacific Aquaculture Innovation Center.
- Assisted in the introduction of the Cormorant Relief Act, legislation that would fully restore the ability of catfish farmers and other aquaculture producers to cull predatory double-crested cormorant populations.
- Supported the Restaurant Revitalization Fund to help ensure continued demand for seafood products in restaurants.
- Promoted California aquaculture to meet current and future demand.
- Advocated for enhanced stocking of warm water fish.
- CAA President, Tony Vaught’s appointment to the Ocean Resources Enhancement Advisory Panel (OREAP).
- Worked side by side with the National Aquaculture Association (NAA) to:
- Amend the Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture (AQUAA) Act to pave the way for a thriving marine aquaculture industry in the U.S.
- Provide catastrophic disaster assistance to all aquaculturists in the U.S. through the USDAEmergency Livestock, Honey-Bee and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP).
- Develop a National Aquaculture Economic Development Initiative, a joint federal agency effort (USDA and NOAA) to draft a National Aquaculture Economic Development Plan.
- Develop National Aquaculture Health Plan & Standards, which intends to address conflicting, costly duplication of regulatory authorities between state departments of agriculture and natural resources.
- Expand exemptions to Department of Transportation electronic logging device regulations to include an end-of-trip 150-mile radius.
- Support in representing U.S. aquaculture as members of the Commerce Secretary’s Marine Fishery Advisory Committee, AVMA Aquatic Medicine Veterinary Committee, American Fisheries Society’s Blue Book Review Committee, co-chair of the Aquatic Drug Approval Coalition and representing US aquaculture to the federal Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force.
Membership renewal invoices were emailed to all CAA members on January 10, 2022. If you did not receive your renewal invoice, please contact us.
We depleted our small reserve funds in 2020 and 2021 to cover costs and we are looking to rebuild those funds with increased memberships and increased member support. Please consider adding a small contribution over and above your dues to accomplish this. Encouraging others to join CAA will also help (farmers, suppliers, researchers).
As always, we thank you for your continued dedication to our work. We look forward to serving you and enhancing your opportunity to thrive – and we hope that you and your families are staying healthy and safe.
Sincerely,
Michael Lee, Executive Director
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