KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
ALBERT TACON
President & Founder
AquaHana
USA
ALBERT TACON
Dr Albert G.J. Tacon is Owner & Founder of Aquahana LLC based on the Island of Oahu in Hawaii, and works as an international aquaculture consultant, specializing in aquatic feeds and nutrition. His expertise has taken him to working in over 49 countries and has over 250 scientific publications and one patent.
He holds a BSc in Botany & Zoology (1970-1973: University of London) and a PhD by research in Fish Nutrition (1973-1978: University of Wales).
Dr Tacon serves as Scientific Advisor in Aquatic Resources to the International Foundation for Science (Stockholm, Sweden: since 1998) and serves on the editorial board of numerous scientific journals, including Aquaculture Research, Fishes, Reviews in Fisheries & Aquaculture, and is Technical Editor of Aquafeed.com and Hatchery Feed & Management.
JOHN BUCHANAN
CEO
Center for Aquaculture Technologies
USA
JOHN BUCHANAN
John played a key role in the establishment of CAT in 2012, where he today leads the team to deliver customized genetic solutions that drive value and uphold sustainability in aquaculture. CAT specializes in genotyping, genomics, breeding, and genome editing for an extensive range of aquatic species.
Prior to this, Dr. Buchanan served for 5 years as the Director of Research and Development at AquaBounty Technologies, leading FDA approval of the AquaAdvantage® salmon. He has had an influential role in the adoption of advanced genetic improvement technologies in the aquaculture industry. John has also previously held a series of research leadership positions at Louisiana State University, the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, and Kent SeaTech Corporation.
Dr. Buchanan has led research on the application of genetic engineering to aquaculture, the use of selective breeding, hatchery technologies, and genomics for improved productivity in finfish and shrimp, the development of novel therapeutics for aquaculture, and the molecular and genetic basis for virulence in aquatic and human pathogens.
DOMINIQUE BUREAU
Professor
University of Guelph
CANADA
DOMINIQUE BUREAU
Dom Bureau has over 30 years of experience in academia and industry. He is a professor at the University of Guelph where he leads a dynamic research program on the nutrition of aquaculture species with focus on the efficiency of utilization of amino acids, phosphorus and energy and on feed ingredient evaluation. He works very closely with aquaculture operations, feed manufacturers and ingredient suppliers around the world.
He was a member of the US NRC Committee on Nutrient Requirements of Fish and Shrimp (2009-2011). Since 2014, he has been leading the development of the International Aquaculture Feed Formulation Database (www.iaffd.com), a free online resource with detailed data on the composition of over 800 feed ingredients and nutritional specifications for over 40 species at different life stages. The IAFFD was developed to be highly compatible with most least-cost feed formulation programs.
Dom is also co-founder of Wittaya Aqua International (wittaya-aqua.ca), a young and innovative Canadian company developing cutting-edge online tools for feed manufacturers, feed ingredient suppliers and aquaculture farms.
JORGE GALINDO-VILLEGAS
Professor
Nord University
NORWAY
JORGE GALINDO-VILLEGAS
Head of the Immuno-Reproduction Lab at Nord University, Norway, and Professor at Ningbo University, China, he specializes in developmental immunity in vertebrates, particularly fish, and their interactions with microorganisms.
Trained as a Marine Biologist (Metropolitan University, Mexico), he holds a Master’s in Aquaculture (Kochi University, Japan) and a PhD in Fish Immune-Nutrition (Ehime University, Japan). Postdoctoral training was conducted in the Philippines, Japan, and Spain.
With over 30 years of international experience across the Americas, Asia, and Europe, his expertise spans aquaculture, cell biology, host–microbe interactions, immunonutrition, and disease prevention. His current research explores novel frameworks for decoding fish immunity and hematopoiesis, generating valuable insights for comparative immunology and sustainable aquatic animal health.
Alongside his scientific contributions, he holds prominent leadership roles in the global immunology and aquaculture communities, serving as President of the International Society of Fish & Shellfish Immunology (ISFSI), Editor-in-Chief of Aquaculture (Elsevier), and Board Member of the IUIS Veterinary Immunology Committee (IUIS-VIC), European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (EATiP), and the European Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Organization (EFARO).
SPEAKERS
YAHIRA PIEDRAHITA
Executive Director
National Chamber of Aquaculture
ECUADOR
YAHIRA PIEDRAHITA
Aquaculture Engineer with a diploma in Fisheries Economics and a master’s degree in Bioaquatic Resources and Environment Management. She has more than 35 years of experience in shrimp aquaculture, in areas such as production, health management, water and soil management, food safety and quality control, etc.
She is a certified instructor for HACCP and SCP, with a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of EU, US, and Chinese legislation on food safety, seafood market access requirements, audit procedures, and related activities.
She has served in the government sector of Ecuador as General Director of Aquaculture and General Director of the National Fisheries Institute of Ecuador. Yahira has also been a university lecturer, worked as a consultant for several multinational companies, and acted as an expert in fishing and aquaculture for the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (CBI), the European Union, and the United Nations (UNIDO and FAO).
She is founding member of the International Center for Strategic Aquaculture Studies (CIDEEA), member of the Advisory Council of the Soy Excellence Center of the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), and board member of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) for the 2023-2026 term. Since 2011, she has been the Executive Director of the National Chamber of Aquaculture of Ecuador.
adel el-mowafi
Managing Director
Adel Invest AS
NORWAY
ADEL EL-MOWAFI
Dr. Adel El-Mowafi is a highly experienced aquaculture nutrition advisor with over three decades of expertise in the global aquaculture sector. After retiring from his role as Managing Director at Cargill Innovation Center in April, Dr. El-Mowafi now works as an independent consultant through his company, Adel Invest AS.
With graduate degrees in fish nutrition and a veterinary background, he has dedicated his career to advancing sustainable practices in aquaculture. His focus includes improving feed efficiency, integrating novel raw materials, and reducing the industry’s reliance on marine resources.
Dr. El-Mowafi has been instrumental in pioneering sustainable solutions for fish health, welfare, and overall productivity. He is a trusted advisor, speaker, and thought leader in aquaculture nutrition, regularly collaborating with industry leaders to drive innovation and sustainability in the sector.
LUKAS MANOMAITIS
Managing Director
Seafood Consulting Associates
THAILAND
LUKAS MANOMAITIS
Lukas Manomaitis is the Managing Director of Seafood Consulting Associates and has worked professionally in the aquaculture industry since 1995. His primary client is the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) where he has worked for over 20 years to promote the use of U.S. Soy products in aquaculture internationally. This includes working on the expansion of the USSEC Aquaculture Program from China to a global program in 2002, the expansion of the In-Pond Raceway System (IPRS) technology from China to a global program starting in 2015 and helping to conceptualize and create the International Aquaculture Feed Formulation Database (IAFFD).
He also serves on the USSEC Global Research Committee and helped update the USSEC IPRS Manual. He currently works with USSEC on a global basis as the Global Aquaculture Coordinator, and specifically in Southeast Asia as the Aquaculture Technical Director to direct USSEC activities regionally.
He is based in Thailand and travels often in the Southeast Asian region and internationally. He served as an officer in the World Aquaculture Society (as the Asia-Pacific Chapter President) and is on the Global Seafood Alliance’s Standards Oversight Committee.
He works closely with the global aquaculture industry to improve approaches across the aquaculture production chain. He holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and Auburn University.
DANIEL LEMOS
Professor
University of Sao Paulo
BRAZIL
DANIEL LEMOS
Professor of Aquaculture at University of São Paulo (USP) since 2001, carrying on research on feeding, nutrition and mariculture towards applied science, entrepreneurship, innovation and faculty development.
Leader for aquaculture development in USP, Head of department (Biological Oceanography, 2017-2021), member of the Editorial Board of Journal of Applied Aquaculture (Taylor Francis), Reviews in Aquaculture (Wiley) and Critical Insights in Aquaculture (Associate Editor, Taylor Francis).
Professional experience in more than fifteen countries including Chile, Mexico, Peru, United States, Spain, Germany, Norway and Sweden.
Coordinator of the Research Nucleus “Fish for Health” (https://pescadoparasaude.org/en/home-english/), network including universities, government and private companies aiming to promote applied research on the benefits of aquatic food for the consumer in Brazil.
JUAN MANUEL AFONSO
Professor
University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
SPAIN
JUAN MANUEL AFONSO
Information will be available soon
TIAGO HORI
Director of Aquaculture innovation
Atlantic Aqua Farms
CANADA
TIAGO HORI
Dr. Tiago Hori is Director of Innovation at Atlantic Aqua Farms (Charlottetown, PEI), where he leads cutting-edge aquaculture R&D.Trained as a geneticist, he heads Atlantic Aqua Farms’ genomics-based selective-breeding programs and sustainable shellfish initiatives (mussels and oysters). For example, he co-leads the Genome Canada/Genome Atlantic–funded Triploid Mussel Genomics Program to enhance PEI mussel production. He also applies automation and big-data analytics alongside genomic tools to improve yield and efficiency.
His work is widely published, with dozens of peer-reviewed articles bridging genomics and aquaculture.Previously, Dr. Hori served as Associate Director of Genomics at UPEI’s Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CATC), developing SNP platforms and genomic selection methods.
Under his leadership, Atlantic Aqua Farms partners with Genome Canada, Genome Atlantic and universities to bring R&D innovations into practice. Dr. Hori continues to drive innovation in sustainable aquaculture, envisioning expanded genomics-driven breeding and technology integration to breed climate-resilient shellfish and support future seafood production.
He holds a Ph.D. from Memorial University of Newfoundland, which he applied in postdoctoral salmon genomics research.
SUNIL KADRI
Professor
Charles Darwin University
AUSTRALIA
SUNIL KADRI
Professor Sunil Kadri completed a PhD in fish behaviour and welfare in aquaculture at the University of Glasgow in 1995; and has spent the 30 years since, working within teams that have successfully commercialised innovations for sustainable growth of aquaculture.
These technologies have all served to improve animal welfare, and have included feed control systems for fish and prawns; feed-mediated biotechnology, novel feed ingredients, and most recently, a welfare monitoring system using machine learning which integrates fish behaviour and environmental parameters to provide farmers with insights on the welfare status of their stock.
Alongside his commercial interests, Sunil has remained active in research, and was recently appointed Professor of Tropical Aquaculture at Charles Darwin University, Australia; where he continues to pursue his interests in sustainable growth of aquaculture, animal welfare, and supporting Indigenous aquaculture ambitions.
He is also currently Chairman of Arvela, an Australian insect egg supplier, Director of Te Arawa Fisheries Ltd., a New Zealand Maori (i.e. Indigenous) fisheries and aquaculture company and Advisor to both CageEye, a Norwegian aquatech company, and Dalan Animal Health, a US developer of novel animal vaccines.
JAVIER ROO
Project Manager for R&D&I
Government of the Canary Islands
SPAIN
JAVIER ROO
Dr. Javier Roo Filgueira is an expert in Aquaculture and Blue Economy. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Sciences from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, an International Master’s in Marine Aquaculture from ULPGC, and a postgraduate degree from the Polytechnic University of Valencia. His Ph.D. in Marine Sciences was pursued at the Department of Biology at ULPGC, with research stints at international institutions such as the Institute of Marine Biology in Crete and the Aquaculture Research Center at Skreting-ARC in Norway.
Throughout his career, he has held roles in various leadership positions within the Government of the Canary Islands, including the Canary Islands Marine Science Institute (ICCM), the Directorate General for Security and Emergencies (DGSE), and the Canary Islands Agency of Research, Innovation, and Information Society (ACIISI), where he leads international R&D projects. He is an associate professor in the Department of Biology and Senior Scientist in the Aquaculture Research Group (GIA) at the Institute of Aquaculture and Sustainable Ecosystems (IU-ECOAQUA).
With over 25 years of experience, he has participated in 50 R&D projects, leading 10 projects funded through competitive calls. He currently coordinates the European project AQUAWIND, promoting the development of a multi-use platform for offshore wind energy production and aquaculture, and is the principal investigator of the National Aquaculture Plan for the Consolidation of Seriola Cultivation (PLANASER 2.0).
Dr. Roo has authored 155 research papers, with 75 published in internationally indexed journals within the top quartile (Q1), and an h-index of 26. He has presented over 150 papers at conferences and is a regular member of R&D project evaluation panels and a reviewer for international scientific journals. In education, he has been part of the teaching team for the International Master’s in Aquaculture at ULPGC since 2002, and has supervised doctoral theses and Master’s dissertations. In his professional trajectory, he has coordinated over 25 research and transfer agreements/contracts with private companies, showcasing his commitment to industry interaction and practical application of research.
SOFIA MORAIS
Aqua Innovation Team Leader
Lucta S.A.
SPAIN
SOFIA MORAIS
Dr. Sofia Morais is the Innovation AQUA Team Leader in Lucta, a global leader in feed additives founded in Barcelona in 1949, dedicated to enhancing palatability, efficiency and animal welfare.
She holds a Biology degree from the University of Lisbon, an MSc in Aquaculture from the University of Stirling, and a PhD in Aquaculture Nutrition from the University of Algarve.
With 27 years of experience in aquaculture research across academia and the feed additives sector, her expertise spans fish nutrition, lipid metabolism, digestive physiology, and feed intake regulation.
Sofia specializes in R&D, developing science-based solutions for the aquaculture industry.
KABIR CHOWDHURY
CEO & Founder
Maverick Innovation
CANADA
KABIR CHOWDHURY
Dr. Kabir Chowdhury, born and trained in Bangladesh, with further education in Thailand and Canada, brings over 30 years of expertise in aquaculture and aquaculture nutrition on a global scale. After earning PhD and completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Guelph, Canada, he joined a world-leading Canadian provider of non-medicated feed additives as Global Technical Director for aquaculture and later, as Sales Director for South Asia.
His extensive knowledge includes the evaluation of novel plant proteins and the impact of anti-nutrients on nutrient utilization in aquatic animals. Dr. Chowdhury has conducted comprehensive research on the effects of various functional feed additives in fish, crustaceans, and poultry.
He has an impressive publication record, with over 100 research articles, including 39 peer-reviewed papers, and has authored a book on Environmental Assessment Guidelines for Coastal Aquaculture. Dr. Chowdhury is also a prominent speaker, having presented at numerous industry-leading meetings and conferences.
In 2011, he founded Professional Aquaculture Nutritionists (PAN), a LinkedIn-based networking organization that has grown to more than 8,000 members from over 110 countries worldwide. As of January 2024, he has taken on the role of Senior Editor for the Taylor & Francis (UK) journal, Critical Insights in Aquaculture.
Dr. Chowdhury founded Maverick Innovation, a facility focused on sustainable technologies for farmed animal production. The organization has introduced projects like RAS-based Golda prawn farming to improve yields in Bangladesh by tackling water quality, biosecurity, and disease prevention. It also works on innovative solutions to enhance sustainability in terrestrial and aquatic animal industries.
SILVIA TORRECILLAS
Researcher in Fish Nutrition and Health
IRTA
SPAIN
SILVIA TORRECILLAS
Silvia Torrecillas is a fish nutritionist with a strong focus on novel raw materials and functional feeds, particularly on the valorisation of low-value biomass and agri-food by-products.
She holds a degree in Marine Biology from Fairleigh Dickinson University, as well as an MSc and PhD in Aquaculture from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
With extensive experience in the field and a long-standing collaboration between academia and the feed additives industry, she has led research on the effects of feed additives in fish—especially Mediterranean marine species—investigating their impact on fish nutrition, mucosal health, and disease resistance.
RACHID GANGA
Aquaculture Program Manager
Complexe Horticole d'Agadir
MOROCCO
RACHID GANGA
Dr. Rachid Ganga has over 25 years of experience in aquaculture, including more than a decade in the industry, spanning Europe, Canada, and the United States.
He holds an engineering degree from IAV Hassan (2002), an International Master’s in Aquaculture (2004) from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), and a joint EU Ph.D. in Aquaculture Nutrition from ULPGC and the University of Stirling (Scotland). Dr. Ganga worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain) in 2010 and as a senior scientist at AquaBounty (Canada) in 2011. He later served as Associate Director of Fish Nutrition at the Center for Aquaculture Technologies Canada (CATC) from 2012 to 2016.
Furthermore, Dr. Ganga worked at the Tyson Foods Discovery Center (Springdale, USA), where he held roles as Associate Director of Product Development and Associate Director of R&D Sustainability. In these roles, he led projects focused on valorizing animal by-products into feed, food, and nutraceutical ingredients, as well as advancing sustainable food and feed production systems using insects, algae, and other single-cell proteins.
Dr. Ganga has contributed as a member of the aquaculture scientific committee for the NSERC (Canada) Strategic Partnership Grant (Environment and Agriculture) and has served on the aquaculture committee of the American Feed Industry Association.
Dr. Ganga is currently a professor at the Complexe Horticole d’Agadir (CHA), where he leads the aquaculture department.
CHALOR LIMSUWAN
Aquaculture Business Research Center
Kasetsart University
THAILAND
CHALOR LIMSUWAN
Dr. Chalor Limsuwan is a highly respected Thai shrimp culture specialist and researcher at the Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, and a member of the Aquaculture Business Research Centre (ABRC) in Bangkok.
He holds a B.Sc. in Fisheries from Kasetsart University, an M.Sc. in Zoology from Middle Tennessee State University (USA), and a Ph.D. in Fish Pathology from Auburn University (USA), where he also completed postdoctoral research in the same field.
Dr. Chalor is recognized globally as a leading expert in shrimp aquaculture, with extensive contributions in shrimp pathology, nutrition, and sustainable farming practices. He is renowned for his ability to translate complex research into practical, field-oriented guidance for shrimp farmers across Asia.
Since 2006, Dr. Chalor has also served as a committee member in Agriculture and Biological Sciences at the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT).
FELIX ACOSTA
Professor
University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
SPAIN
FELIX ACOSTA ARBELO
Dr. Félix Acosta Arbelo, born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 1969, completed his university studies at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where he graduated in Veterinary Medicine in 1997. He defended his undergraduate thesis in 1999 and his Doctoral Thesis in 2002.
From the beginning, he worked in the field of ichthyopathology research, publishing at both national and international levels. After completing his Doctoral Thesis, his work has focused on immunology, particularly the study of the non-specific immune response. He has undertaken training periods at leading research centers (FRS Marine Laboratory, Scotland) and has published in top-tier journals in the field, as well as worked on biotoxin detection.
He is currently a Full Professor in the Animal Health Department, specializing in Infectious Diseases and Ichthyopathology at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at ULPGC. He conducts his research at the University Institute of Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (IU-ECOAQUA) at ULPGC. He has participated in 26 publicly or privately funded projects at regional, national, or European levels, serving as principal investigator in 6 of them. He is co-author of 82 publications in international scientific journals and holds a patent (P201101353).
He has demonstrated strong teaching capabilities, participating since 2004 as a professor and currently as the director of the Master’s Program in Marine Aquaculture at ULPGC. He is also involved in the doctoral programs in Animal Health and Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems at ULPGC, all of which have received the Ministry’s Excellence distinction. His training experience includes supervising 9 doctoral theses, 3 master’s theses, and 12 master’s final projects.
ABDERRAHIM CHIAAR
Head of CSPAA
National Institute of Fisheries Research
MOROCCO
ABDERRAHIM CHIAAR
Abderrahim CHIAAR is the Head of the Specialized Center for Aquatic Animal Pathology (CSPAA) at the National Institute of Fisheries Research (INRH), Morocco.
A specialist in aquatic animal pathology, he coordinates the National Program for Aquatic Animal Health Surveillance.
His main research interests include histopathology and parasitology, with particular focus on the detection, characterization, and monitoring of emerging pathogens in aquaculture, as well as the assessment of parasite infestation levels in economically important fish species.
CARLOS PEREIRA DOPAZO
Head of Aquatic Health Research Center
University of Santiago de Compostela
SPAIN
CARLOS PEREIRA DOPAZO
Carlos P. Dopazo, PhD in Biology from the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain), is a leading expert in virology of aquatic animals.
He has served as coordinator of the Galician Network for Biotechnology in Aquaculture, the Galician Master’s Program in Aquaculture, and the International Network on Viruses of Lower Vertebrates.
Currently, he is the coordinator of the National Network for the Epidemiology of Risk Viruses in Aquaculture and Director of the Aquatic One Health Research Center, formerly known as the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Santiago de Compostela.