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CAA Members,

Thank you for your continued support for the California Aquaculture Association (CAA). With your membership, we have accomplished so much in 2022, 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 current activities and recent accomplishments:

• Assisting in the development of an aquaculture literacy and outreach session and networking event at Aquaculture America 2023 in New Orleans, along with the Maine Aquaculture Association (MAA) and other PR and outreach professionals.
• Assisting in the USDA grant project to plan and develop a Pacific Aquaculture Marketing & Innovation Center, along with the Oregon Aquaculture Association (OAA) and the Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA).
• Continuing outreach efforts to further public understanding of aquaculture and its need to meet future demand, increase consumption of farmed aquaculture products, and further develop the aquaculture industry in California and throughout the nation.
• Monitored California Ocean Protective Council’s (OPC) Microplastics Strategy and engaged with Secretary Crowfoot in its development.
• Joined the coalition to oppose Washington Department of Natural Resources ruling to ban net pen fish farming in Washington state waters.
• Hosted a full day session and farm tour at Aquaculture America 2022 in San Diego.
• Engaged NOAA processes relating to their Aquaculture Atlas, Aquaculture Opportunity Areas, and Southern California Bight Atlas.
• Reviewed Governor Newsom’s proposal to place $50 million in the 2022-2023 state budget, which would be made available for projects that protect or restore healthy ocean ecosystems including kelp and to build climate-ready fisheries.
• Monitored progress of permitting processes for Nordic Aquafarms and conveyed support for their RAS project in Eureka to state official and others.
• Supported Pacific Ocean Aquafarm’s project to pioneer a federal regulatory pathway for expanding the aquaculture industry into the U.S. EEZ.
• Engaged Senator McGuire to show support for SB 1392, which provides funding for further development of California’s aquaculture industry.
• Supported multiple grant projects aimed at furthering aquaculture research and growing aquaculture interest and fish consumption.
• Continued to represent California on the National Aquaculture Association (NAA) board of directors and outreach committee, and supported and worked with NAA on:
  • Catastrophic Disaster Assistance: To further integrate aquaculture into the USDA Emergency Livestock, Honey-Bee and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP).
  • Transportation: Reversed a USDA Export program decision to stop endorsing health certificates.
  • Research: Conducting a two-year programmatic review of the five USDA Regional Aquaculture Centers (RAC) to recommend improvements to USDA and support additional funds for applied research, answering farmer questions and solving on-farm challenges.
  • Regulation: Successfully challenged the use of environmental DNA sampling as a state regulatory tool and are challenging federal use of eDNA for surveillance, regulation, and public reporting.

We hope that you will renew your membership with CAA for another year. You can do so by submitting your dues via the membership invoice sent on January 10th or via our website. If you are not yet a member with CAA and wish to become one, please submit your application here. If you are a member and did not receive a membership invoice, please contact us.

•  Adding a small contribution over and above your dues ($200.00 to $500.00 per member would take care of it).
• Increase your membership category.
• Advertise in the CAA newsletter.
• Utilize the auction site to sell your products or unused equipment (0ne item per member is a start).
• And of course, encourage new memberships. Contact your suppliers for support.

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,
Tony Vaught, President