Subject: 10th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (10AFAF) in 2013: Expression of Interest (EOI) to host the forum

The triennial forum of the AFS has been one of the most important and successful events of the Society calendar. During the forum, members are able to meet and network with each other, exchange and update follow members the latest finding on fisheries and aquaculture sciences etc.  The triennial meeting is also an important fund raising event of the Society. Each forum is expected to earn at least US$30,000 in support of the Society and its activities for the subsequent three years before the next forum is held. Without the income from our triennial forum, it will not be possible for the Society to pay for a full-time Executive Officer at the AFS Secretariat, publish the AFS Science journal, maintain the current low level of membership fees (compared to other societies) and provide numerous services to members of the Society.

Since its founding in 1984, the AFS has successfully held its triennial forum in one of its member countries. Attendance at the previous triennial forum has gone as high as 850 and the coming 9AFAF is expected to bring in about 1,000 participants with two major symposia – the 9th International Symposium of Tilapia Aquaculture (9ISTA) and the 4th International Symposium on Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching (4ISSESR) – joining hands with AFS to present the forum in Shanghai between September and October 2010. The 9AFAF will be hosted by the Shanghai Ocean University (SHOU), China.

To provide certainty, and a clear and transparent process for selecting the country for hosting  the AFS forum, the 8th Council of the Society implemented an EOI process whereby member countries are encouraged to bid for the right to host the triennial forum. The first successful EOI was completed in 2006 and the SHOU was the successful host.

We are pleased to inform you that the 9th Council, in its 36th Council meeting held on 2 April 2009 at University Putra Malaysia (UPM), has announced the EOI for the 10th AFAF open to member countries.

The successful host country from the EOI is expected to sign an agreement with AFS to host the 10AFAF to be held between September and November 2013.

Organizations, government agencies and/or institutions interested in hosting the 10AFAF in 2013 need to fill in the EOI form and email it to Ms Mariati Tiansin, the Executive Officer of AFS, to register their interests. A copy of the EOI form is attached. The deadline for submission is the 31 October 2009 (Malaysian time). The successful organization will be informed by the end of 2009.