The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) has named Jim Heerin as a new special advisor, the GAA said in a statement this week.
Heerin has worked to integrate the Aquaculture Certification Council with the GAA to manage the GAA’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification program, and also helped transfer certification management and administrative activities from the GAA’s Crystal River, Fla. office to its new office in Lynnwood, Wash.
Heerin will act as advisor to GAA Executive Director Wally Stevens, GAA President George Chamberlain and GAA Chief Financial Officer Jeff Fort on matters related to GAA's growth initiatives.
In other GAA news, the GAA announced the passing of Dr. Mudnakudu Nandeesha this week. A member of the GAA’s BAP Standards Oversight Committee, Nandeesha suffered a massive heart attack in late November, and passed away on 26 December at a hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
In addition to his work on the committee, Nandeesha also was a special officer at Tamil Nadu Fisheries University. He conducted three decades of research in India, Cambodia and Bangladesh.
“His passion for aquaculture was unparalleled, especially as it pertained to alleviating hunger and improving social conditions in India and throughout Asia,” the GAA said in a statement.
A fund has been established to assist Nandeesha's family, and monetary donations are encouraged.
