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 The world’s largest aquaculture organization has chosen Dr. Kevan Main — a pioneer in sustainable aquaculture at Mote Marine Laboratory — as President-Elect.

The World Aquaculture Society (WAS), which advances progressive and sustainable aquaculture through members in about 100 countries, inaugurated Main during its annual meeting this month in Natal, Brazil.

Main’s election comes at a key time for the aquaculture industry, which now supplies half the seafood consumed in the U.S. and larger percentages in many other countries. To meet the world’s growing demand for seafood, aquaculture production will have to expand at least twofold by 2025, according to WAS.

“I’m excited to be President-Elect of WAS at a time when the organization can do so much good,” Main said. “Aquaculture is growing extremely rapidly around the globe and we’ve seen huge advances in the technology over the past 10 years. WAS has the important role of informing this growth and advancing sustainability.”

Main has pioneered sustainable aquaculture since 2001 as director of Mote’s Center for Aquaculture Research and Development. She oversees Mote Aquaculture Park (MAP), an environmentally-sound fish farm that raises aquatic species 17 miles inland using recirculated water. MAP raises saltwater sport fish with the goal of boosting wild populations and grows Siberian sturgeon for meat and caviar sold across the U.S. (Learn more at www.mote.org/aquaculture.)

Main’s career spans more than 25 years in aquaculture science and she has coordinated international aquaculture-focused teams including researchers, private industry and extension specialists. She previously served eight years on the WAS Board of Directors.

Main was voted President-Elect by WAS members from around the world. She will serve a three-year term that includes one year as President-Elect, one year as President and a final year as Past-President. As President-Elect, she will support the current President and serve on the Executive Committee.

“Kevan is an ideal leader for WAS because she excels at working with so many facets of aquaculture, from science and technology to education and economics,” said Dr. Jay Parsons, Past-President of WAS. “Kevan’s work at Mote shows her dedication to innovative aquaculture for the benefit of people and the environment.”

About the World Aquaculture Society:
The World Aquaculture Society was founded in 1969 as the World Mariculture Society.  Today, WAS has nearly 3,000 members around the globe. WAS has Chapters in the United States, Japan, Korea, Latin America and the Asian-Pacific region and is associated with other aquaculture organizations in multiple countries. Learn more at www.was.org.