ISTA10 Feedbacks
Will Leschen (Stirling U, UK):
There was strong representation of Africans at the Symposium including from: Swaziland , Nigeria, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Kenya; and including larger party from Ghana composing of Minister, Fish Farmers from the Volta, Researchers (WRI Akosombo), Dept of Fisheries, and Raanan Feeds supported their attendance.
Hillary Egna (OSU, USA):
Thank you for the excellent conference. It was the best ISTA I have been to. The local organizing team was all great with logistics and it showed!
M. Gulam Hussain (BFRI, Bangladesh):
ISTA-10 Symposium this year in Jerusalem has been tremendously organized. You and your colleagues of the organizing committee have the right to get all the credits of the success of ISTA10.
Zvi Yaron (Israel):
Congratulations on a professionally organized symposium, and thanks for giving me the honor award.
Dan Mires (The Israeli Journal of aquaculture – Bamidgeh).
I began culturing tilapias in 1958 when they were still considered as trash fish. In those early times, the invasion of these fish in the fish ponds and their wild spawns stunted all other populations in culture. Gradually we mastered the all-male population culture systems and contributed to the diffusion of this system to other farms in Israel. The outstanding development and the actual world status of tilapia in culture gives me a deep sense of satisfaction for having participated in this success. I thank the organizing committee for the award that was extended to me.
Tetsuzan Benny Ron (UH, USA): Thank you for a wonderful symposium!!!
Nontawith Areechon (Kasetsart University, Thailand): We thank you very much for the wonderful arrangement of ISTA10. We have had a great time in the symposium and sensational scenery of Jerusalem.
Randall Brummett (World Bank, USA): I thought the ISTA came off pretty well. Congrats! It was great to see you and so many other people, and get caught up. I hope that you got what you were looking for.
David Little (Striling U, UK):
ISTA 10 was my long overdue first visit to Israel and a great opportunity to see first-hand the 'Israeli tilapia experience'. The meeting gave a good opportunity to meet many of the pioneers of the global tilapia industry and to better understand how a small arid country has been so influential on its development. Of course over the years I have met and worked with many of you outside of Israel but many pieces fell into place during my visit.
The meeting was superbly organised with the right blend of structure but informality, scientific focus but cultural and social context. The cultural tours and scientific excursion were highly informative and your attention to detail made them memorable and very valuable from personal and professional perspectives. In general the hospitality shown by you and your team was fantastic. In short a very, very good week and I hope I can return sooner than later.
Alejandro Tola Alvarez (Genomar):
Congratulations for a well-organized and very informative Symposium. I particularly enjoyed the energy of Jerusalem.
Israel Snir (recipient of 2013 Heine award): We will always remember our last week in Jerusalem, unforgettable days. We didn’t expect, nor were prepared, for such an experience, both intellectual and emotional. First of course the professional encountering with so many scientist which enriched us profoundly, and secondly, equally important, the social, direct intimate meetings with so many colleagues and old friends from around the world.
For so many years I made my living, engaged with Tilapia, outside Israel. All these years, I was partially aware of the difficulties of the Israeli fish farming community. However, I wasn’t aware for yours continued efforts in undertaking so much research on Tilapia, despite of budgets constrains and always administrational cuts. The presentations, mainly by the young researchers, were very impressive, exciting, although must admit great part of them I couldn’t understand… I saw in them a very promising new generation to carry on the Tilapia legacy. They made me very proud.
I still don’t know who suggested me for the award. Whoever they were, I am sure in front of them wasn’t me personally but all those who are directly and indirectly benefiting from the Tilapia success in their day to day life. It is hard to describe, but it is a story that needs to be told, to be revealed, to put the Tilapia in prospective to all other aquaculture activities. Not here and now the place and the occasion, but definitely slowly slowly Tilapia is making the change, gaining its recognition, fulfilling the promise, realizing the hope. For this and other reasons, in my behalf, my family, in the name of all the children, families, communities, I want to say thank you and let you know how much appreciative we all are.
I must congratulate you all for the excellent organization, for the personal care to each and every single participant, for the very detailed attention to all. Gidi, Sara and all the other members of your team made this event so much unique. My memories from ISTA 1 are still fresh – so I hope this wasn’t just closing the circle but just one more link in more to come. I can foresee Tilapia reaching 10 million ton a year in less the next 10 years.
Felix Attipoe (CSIR-Water Research Institute, Ghana):
It is our belief that the hard work andeffort you and your team put in the organization of ISTA 10 resulted in its tremendous success. We wish you and your team God's blessings. It is our belief that your numerous contributions have helped in no small way to put tilapia culture on the global map!
Olivier Decamp (INVE Aquaculture, Thailand):
I would like to thank you for the organization of the ISTA10 congress. It was my first tilapia congress and I found the congress very interesting, with a range of collaborations being discussed.
Jacques Magnée (Raanan Fish Feed West Africa Ltd.):
It was a great symposium for its content, and all the moments we shared together.