GAA's GOAL Conference in Guangzhou was One of the Best in Years  For anyone who is participating in the Chinese Seafood Market and depends on Asian aquaculture, the recently concluded GOAL conference in Guangzhou was one of the best in years writes John Sackton. The conference was heavily integrated into the Chinese seafood industry. Altogether, there were 20 to 30 Chinese exporters at the conference Sackton reports. Additionally, what was improved over past years was the focus of many of the roundtable discussions, which were generally framed with a detailed presentation, and then reactions and observations. Another issue discussed very candidly at the conference was the conflicting certification schemes. Finally, there was also a good technical focus on disease, which continues year after year to be the most significant problem facing the aquaculture industry. "Overall, it was an amazingly substantive conference. Next year, GOAL 2017 will be held in Dublin the week of October 2nd," writes Sackton. "Put it on your calendar." Sen. Lisa Murkowski and others have introduced legislation that they hope might stop future presidents from using the Antiquities Act to carve out lands and waters for new environmental protections. The proposed legislation is an attempt to curb executive authority over establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPA) that undermine existing fishery management and environmental protection protocols under Magnuson. The Obama Administration has already used the Antiquities Act to expand a Marine Monument in Hawaii and establish the very first MPA in Atlantic waters all without the use of a scientific process. In other news, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and NOAA will develop an aquaculture management program for the Pacific Islands Region. The entities are preparing a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) analyzing the possible environmental impacts of the proposed management program and alternatives. “The purpose of it is to develop a management program to support sustainable, economically sound aquaculture in the Pacific Island Region,” said Joshua DeMello of the Western Pacific Council. Meanwhile, key players charged with relocating Japan's Tsukiji market fish to a new site are blaming a communications breakdown over structural changes at the site to deal with toxic ground soil. The famed seafood market was slated to relocate to a new site in Toyosu this November. However, the site's soil was contaminated since the area was home to a Tokyo Gas Co. factory. An expert panel issued several requirements to elevate the site with replacement dirt before the seafood market could be relocated, steps that never were fulfilled by the contractors. Finally, at least 24 percent of salmon processing workers in Chile were laid off by producers including AquaChile, Multiexport, Australis Seafoods and Camanchaca, according to public information submitted to Chile's Superintendency of Securities and Insurance (SVS). Since 2014, Chile’s salmon processing workforce has declined from 13,303 workers to 10,697 workers. The steep drop has been blamed on consolidation within the industry and because of the severe algae bloom at the beginning of 2016. One association representing Chile's salmon workforce said the job losses are even more severe when indirect jobs related to Chile's salmon industry are tallied. We've also uploaded a new Weekly News Recap video after taking a week off. Our latest show highlights some of last week's original market news among other topics. We welcome comments about the video series.