Features
From the editor: It’s finally time to meet!

Happy New Year to our RAStech readers! As we embrace 2022 and begin to plan and work toward our goals for the months to come, I can’t help but feel an air of excitement, especially knowing I will soon have the opportunity to hopefully meet most of you in person at the RASTECH 2022 Conference & Trade Fair on March 30 and 31 at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, USA.

After almost two years of limiting our events and interactions to Zoom meetings, phone calls, and emails, it is almost difficult to remember the anticipation one feels when preparing to attend an in-person industry event.

As someone who has had more experience organizing and running events, as opposed to actually attending and networking, my favourite part about industry conferences and trade fairs is seeing long-time peers, colleagues, and friends reconnect and discuss not only the industry, but their lives. 

It shows that while we are all professionals working toward a common goal, we are still only human and crave a level of camaraderie and higher connection.

If COVID-19 has taught me anything, it’s that while you can certainly stay connected through Zoom calls and virtual events, you simply can’t replace that need for face-to-face human interaction. The 2022 RASTECH Conference & Trade Fair will give attendees that face-to-face interaction and more.

With the event welcoming all RAS fish farmers, operators and producers; RAS investors; fish hatchery professionals; engineers, contractors and consultants; and research and university professionals, there will be something for everyone.

Those who are interested in learning about the industry’s latest technologies, solutions, services, and products are welcome to walk the sold-out trade show floor and speak to knowledgeable company representatives.

For those looking to expand and freshen up their industry knowledge are welcome to attend one of the many conference sessions that will be available throughout the two-day conference. 

The conference will open on the morning of March 30 with a keynote from Megan Sorby, operations manager at Kingfish Maine. 

With the company’s latest RAS facility project, Sorby will give audience insight to the technical plan for the Kingfish Maine operation, discuss the technologies to be utilized throughout the operation, the family lines of fish Kingfish Maine will have, and more. 

Following Sorby’s keynote, attendees will have the opportunity to attend break-out sessions that will focus on some of the industry’s most relevant topics, including project updates, fish health and welfare, RAS feed and nutrition management, engineering innovations, and more. 

For those who will be unable to join us for the 2022 RASTECH Conference & Trade Fair, be sure to save the date of Oct. 5, and join us for the RAS Virtual Summit 2022. 

Be sure to visit our Events page to stay up-to-date with the event’s latest information.

With that, I leave you to read, learn, and enjoy this issue of RAStech magazine. 

Happy reading.