Woodland new president of NAIA
The meeting was attended by about two hundred people from industry, government and academia, according to an article by Clayton Hunt in The Coaster. The Executive Director of the organization- Miranda Pryor- said that part of the purpose of the annual meeting is to look at the industry experience during the past year, and to chart a course for the future, including how to address various issues of importance to the industry.
The conference is also used as an occasion for NAIA to elect its Board of Directors and Officers. New to the position of President is the Newfoundland native Mrs. Jennifer Woodland, who works for Cooke Aquaculture after stints in both British Columbia and Hawaii. Clayton Hunt;
One of the key events at the conference was that Jennifer Woodland was chosen to take on the important role of president of NAIA following the end of the post by Jennifer Caines who served in the position for two years. Jennifer Woodland completed a Biology Degree at Memorial University and earned an Advanced Degree in Aquaculture from the Marine Institute in 1998. After working with Heritage Salmon in British Columbia for 10 years she returned to her native province to work for Cooke Aquaculture in 2008.
Woodland said that she has several objectives she will work toward over the next two-year period. She said, “The proof is in the pudding of how the communities in the area are benefiting from aquaculture. My goal is to continue with that momentum to see more economic input into the rural communities and to see the towns benefit from the continued growth from all aquaculture companies in the area. “Another objective I have is to dedicate some time to the shellfish sector so that this sector can also share in what’s happening with the finfish sector on the south coast.
“I’d also like to ensure that we maintain the continued growth in the industry with the proper scientific research. Through the NAIA we can help facilitate even more research and development to make sure we are growing the industry in a sustainable manner and that we have the scientific knowledge to see that we’re doing it correctly. The NAIA has a strong board of directors and we just want to make sure we continue meeting with the appropriate government officials, all the stakeholders, all the fishers and scientists to make sure we’re getting the whole story.”
Woodland said that she is excited about her new role with the NAIA. “The aquaculture industry has helped bring back educated young people to Newfoundland and/ or to keep them here. For me personally, to be able to have this career, to come back to Newfoundland and raise my family in a rural part of the province is a dream come true,” Woodland said.
