The General Assembly of Saudi Aquaculture Society held its third meeting on Wednesday 21^st October 2015 in the management headquarters of agriculture affairs in Makkah region in Jeddah.

The meeting was headed by Eng. Ahmed Bin Rashid Al-Balaa, Chairman of the Board of Directors who broke the ice through his welcoming speech to the assembly members and showed the most highlighted achievements during 2014 and the contributions made by Saudi Aquaculture Society to develop the aquaculture sector and motivates the partnership role between the private and public sectors.

In addition, he expressed, in his name and the name of members of the board of directors, the finest thanking and gratefulness for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, HRH Crown Prince, and the wise government for their support and care provided to the Saudi Aquaculture Society in general and aquaculture sector in particular. A few years ago, the cabinet approved establishing the national program to develop fisheries sector in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Previously, HRH Crown Prince approved the security conditions related to aquaculture projects related to floating cages. He assured that the support provided to this industry shall have a great positive effect on aquaculture sector development in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia so as to take part in achieving food security and economic development in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, he stressed the great role played by Ministry of Agriculture represented by Fisheries Agency and Fish Farms Management to support the society's plans and work. He also presented thanking and appreciation of the society's board of directors and members to HM Minister of Agriculture Eng. Abdurrahman Alfadli and Deputy of Fisheries and Director of Fisheries Management for their efforts and contagious support to the society.

In this occasion, Saudi Aquaculture Society honored Director General of Agriculture Affairs in Management in Makkah Eng. Khalid Bin Nasser Al-Ghamdi for his distinct efforts to support agriculture in the region in general and aquaculture particularly.

After that the board of directors' report about the society's activities and during 2014 was reviewed. The report was presented by Secretary General of Saudi Aquaculture Society Eng. Ibrahim Alsalem Almashari. Saudi Aquaculture Society (SAS) was founded in a resolution of the Saudi Cabinet No.73 dated 14/03/1434H corresponding to 06/02/2013 as a national society with legal personality and independent financial estate.

The society, in its work, emanates from its mission to enhance the role of aquaculture in sustainable development as a source of development in Saudi Arabia as well as being an effective participant in national economy, employment, and providing environmentally-friendly investment opportunities according to valid laws and regulations. Moreover, the society proceeds from its vision to develop an international competing sustainable industry of aquaculture in Saudi Arabia able to provide safe and high quality products in affordable competitive prices leading to a profitable investment revenues.

Consequently, Saudi Aquaculture Society practices its activities, it did a lot of efforts participating in developing and enhancing aquaculture sector and encouraging investment including its work with Ministry of Agriculture and the competent authorities to support biosecurity, sea food safety and health, assess insurance suitable means, develop vaccines, and develop the industry.

In addition, Chairman of the Board of Directors reviewed the closing accounts of 2014 and recommendations of the Board of Directors. 

After that, the General Assembly started voting to nominate 10 members to represent the Board of Directors in the second period. The committee supervising the general assembly's elections announced the members' names who were selected for the membership of the Board of Directors; Eng. Ahmed Al-Balaa, Nasser Al-Sharif, Mohammed Jaber Al-Sehli, Hattan Al-Sharif, Ziyad Al-Rahma, Khalid Al-Adali, Jaber Mohammed Al-Sehli, Hassan Al-Asmari, Mohammed Baghanim, and Mohammed Alhaji

The General Assembly approved the Board of Directors' recommendations.  board of directors elects Eng. Ahmed Al Bala' as chairman for the Society and Mr. Ziyad Al-Rahma as deputy chairman.