World Aquatic Animal Day (WAAD), on April 3, raises awareness about the plight of aquatic animals to advocate for better policies, laws, education, and outreach to protect these animals. WAAD was created by the Aquatic Animal Law Initiative in 2020.
This year’s WAAD theme, “Disentangling the Sustainability Myth in Fishing and Aquaculture” will bring together academics, lawyers, advocates, and entrepreneurs to raise awareness about the threats aquatic animals face and empower attendees to take action for them. The virtual webinar portion of the day will be held from 8:30am-1:50pm, and the in-person event at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon takes place from 4-5pm (Pacific Time, USA). Registration and further information about WAAD can be found here.
Kathy Hessler, the Director of the Animal Law Clinic and the Aquatic Animal Law Initiative at Lewis & Clark Law School, and Amy P. Wilson ’18, the Founder and Executive Director of Animal Law Reform South Africa welcome speakers and attendees at 8:30 a.m.
The first webinar at 9:00 a.m. explores the science behind the unsustainable practices in industrial aquaculture and fisheries. The panel features Jennifer Jacquet, Professor of Environmental Studies at New York University and Lynee Sneddon, Director of Biological & Environmental Sciences at the University of Gothenburg.
The 10:00 a.m. panel surveys the current legal landscape surrounding aquatic animal industries and highlights the need for further regulation. This panel features alums Amy van Saun ’11, Senior Attorney at the Center for Food Safety, and Diego Plaza ’20, the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Animal Law Studies, CEDA Chile.
At 11:00 a.m., Miranda Eisen ’22, an Animal Law Clinic student at Lewis & Clark Law School, describes different modes of advocacy available to create a better world for aquatic animals. Andrew Crump, PhD, at the London School of Economics & Political Science provides a real life example of one such mode of advocacy that is paving the way for a more sustainable and desirable future.
From 12:00-12:30 p.m., a virtual plant-based seafood tasting features Chelsea V Davis of Animal Rights Collective Portland and MacKenzie DeVito, CEO of No Bones Beach Club.
The last virtual event of the day, at 1:00 p.m., features speakers Ashley Kirk, Founder of Planted Foods Co., and Matthew de Gruyter, Ceo-Founder of Next Level Burger, who examine the power of alternative seafood to combat the harmful effects of industries that exploit aquatic animals.
An in-person action hour at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, OR is slated for 4:00 p.m. Katie Cantrell of the Better Food Foundation, Elle Neal of Multnomah County Health Department, and Lewis & Clark animal law students share stories of their advocacy and lead a discussion about how we can harness our power to make plant-based seafood institutionally accessible. Complimentary plant-based seafood will be served, and advocacy resources will be provided.
