<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
</head>
<body>
<div class="" style="word-wrap:break-word; line-break:after-white-space">Aquaculture and Aquaponic Community,
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class="">Yesterday I mentioned a letter in the works. Please see below and attached what was generated. </div>
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class="">Regards,</div>
<br class="">
<div class="">
<div style="font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; orphans:auto; text-align:start; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; widows:auto; word-spacing:0px; text-decoration:none; color:rgb(0,0,0)">
<font color="#bb2600" class="">Matt</font></div>
<div class="" style="font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; orphans:auto; text-align:start; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; widows:auto; word-spacing:0px; text-decoration:none; color:rgb(0,0,0)">
<br class="">
</div>
<span style="font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; orphans:auto; text-align:start; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; widows:auto; word-spacing:0px; text-decoration:none; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span><span><span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span><span><span><br class="x_Apple-interchange-newline">
<span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; orphans:auto; text-align:start; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; widows:auto; word-spacing:0px; text-decoration:none; color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; orphans:auto; text-align:start; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; widows:auto; word-spacing:0px; text-decoration:none; color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; orphans:auto; text-align:start; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; widows:auto; word-spacing:0px; text-decoration:none"></span><span></span></div>
</div>
<div><img src="cid:b9f9c1ca-16c0-4c83-a470-5900d8f63c36@prod.exchangelabs.com"> </div>
<div style="word-wrap:break-word; line-break:after-white-space">
<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<div id="x_AppleMailSignature"><span></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; orphans:auto; text-align:start; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; widows:auto; word-spacing:0px; text-decoration:none; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span><span><span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span>
<div class="" style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; text-align:start; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px; text-decoration:none">
<font color="#bb0000" class=""><br class="x_Apple-interchange-newline">
<br class="x_Apple-interchange-newline">
</font><span class="" style="color:rgb(187,0,0)">Matthew A. Smith</span></div>
<div class="" style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; text-align:start; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px; text-decoration:none">
Program Director, Aquaculture Extension</div>
<div class="" style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; text-align:start; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px; text-decoration:none">
Ph.D. student<br class="">
<font color="#bb0000" class="">College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences</font></div>
<div class="" style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; text-align:start; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px; text-decoration:none">
<br class="">
Madison County Extension Office</div>
<div class="" style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; text-align:start; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px; text-decoration:none">
217 Elm Street, London, OH 43140<br class="">
740.956.5049 Office<br class="">
<a href="http://go.osu.edu/aqua" class="">go.osu.edu/aqua</a> </div>
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
<div class="" style="font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; orphans:auto; text-align:start; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; widows:auto; word-spacing:0px; text-decoration:none; color:rgb(0,0,0)">
<br class="">
</div>
_____________________________________________________________ <br class="x_Apple-interchange-newline" style="font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; orphans:auto; text-align:start; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; widows:auto; word-spacing:0px; text-decoration:none; color:rgb(0,0,0)">
<p class="" style="margin:12pt 0in"><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">18 March 2020 </span><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
<p class="" style="margin:12pt 0in"><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> Dear USAS Members,</span><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
<p class="" style="margin:12pt 0in"><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I’m sure you have been inundated with messages about how companies are responding to the COVID-19 issues in our country. Many states have closed
bars and restaurants, along with discouraging large gatherings of people. Our friends at the National Shellfisheries Association have cancelled their annual meeting for 2020. The World Aquaculture Society, our parent society, has also postponed World Aquaculture
2020 in Singapore until December 2020. In addition to meeting cancellations and mandatory telework for many in our industry, I have also started to see reports on seafood news websites about how COVID-19 is beginning to affect seafood demand and sales. While
farms are still producing seafood products, most of the aquaculture products in the US are primarily consumed in restaurants and less often prepared at home. There is no doubt our members all along the supply chain are starting to feel the impact of the ongoing
pandemic. </span><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
<p class="" style="margin:12pt 0in"><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The USAS Board wants to make you aware of several helpful resources available to the US Aquaculture Industry, to help you keep life and business as
normal as possible over the next few weeks and months.</span><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
<p class="" style="margin:12pt 0in"><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The US Small Business Administration (SBA) has a program through the states that provides targeted, small business loans to businesses and non-profits
that have been severely impacted by COVID-19. You can learn more about this program on the SBA website here:</span><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://thenaa.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2fd6b049df111d21175a95a39&id=cf87bbd635&e=1c3abb9920__;!!KGKeukY!junalHeC18j7l3abdAKE0Zcp3duVZV8n0sHR92R6aNcQFtK8eUf1JKc7JrrHDZsxOIaWLA$" class=""><span class="" style="color:black"> </span><span class="" style="color:rgb(20,107,166)">https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance</span></a></span></p>
<p class="" style="margin:12pt 0in"><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) has developed a seafood and coronavirus website with talking points to help people understand that the virus
is not related to seafood, and encourage people to continue to order food from restaurants. </span><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://seafoodsafetycovid19.wordpress.com/__;!!KGKeukY!junalHeC18j7l3abdAKE0Zcp3duVZV8n0sHR92R6aNcQFtK8eUf1JKc7JrrHDZuJWppwsQ$" class=""><span class="" style="color:black"> </span><span class="" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">https://seafoodsafetycovid19.wordpress.com/</span></a></span></p>
<p class="" style="margin:12pt 0in"><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Caird Rexroad at USDA (via aquacontacts) shared the AquacultureHub foundation has changed the ATOLL (Aquaculture Training Online Learning) course
price to FREE. Please use the link below to learn how to grow your own food.</span><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.udemy.com/course/atoll-introduction-to-aquaculture/__;!!KGKeukY!junalHeC18j7l3abdAKE0Zcp3duVZV8n0sHR92R6aNcQFtK8eUf1JKc7JrrHDZtlFdtW3g$" class=""><span class="" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">https://www.udemy.com/course/atoll-introduction-to-aquaculture/</span></a></span></p>
<p class="" style="margin:12pt 0in"><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has a list of five things you should know about stress and you can find that valuable information here: </span><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/stress/index.shtml__;!!KGKeukY!junalHeC18j7l3abdAKE0Zcp3duVZV8n0sHR92R6aNcQFtK8eUf1JKc7JrrHDZtVh2HTMw$" class=""><span class="" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/stress/index.shtml</span></a>. </span></p>
<p class="" style="margin:12pt 0in"><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Crisis Text Line have trained counselors who are ready to listen. If you would like
to talk to someone related to COVID-19, call the National Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-8255, or text the word <b class="">SHARE</b> to 741741. Website links can be found here: </span><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/__;!!KGKeukY!junalHeC18j7l3abdAKE0Zcp3duVZV8n0sHR92R6aNcQFtK8eUf1JKc7JrrHDZsuj5dWUg$" class=""><span class="" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org</span></a> | <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/__;!!KGKeukY!junalHeC18j7l3abdAKE0Zcp3duVZV8n0sHR92R6aNcQFtK8eUf1JKc7JrrHDZsuj5dWUg$" class=""><span class="" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org</span></a></span></p>
<p class="" style="margin:12pt 0in"><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">One valuable resource many of you may already be aware of are the aquaculture extension professionals at Land Grant and/or Sea Grant institutions
in your state. You may have heard many universities have closed for students to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, but <b class="">extension employees are still working and available to assist you</b>. In unique situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic,
extension professionals try to keep up to date with any programs in our country and state that could benefit the aquaculture industry. These programs may be local disaster assistance programs similar to the SBA program, or could be informational assistance
such as the NFI website. Like you, many of us are trying to navigate how to do our jobs 100% remotely, while also ensuring the health and safety of our families. I encourage you to reach out to these professionals in your state if you need assistance of
any kind for your aquaculture operation. USAS members please share this letter with your fellow farmers and clients so they know there are resources available.</span><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
<p class="" style="margin:12pt 0in"><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">If you hear of any programs that can help US Aquaculture stakeholders navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, feel free to pass them along to me. I will
try to forward them out to USAS membership.</span><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
<p class="" style="margin:12pt 0in"><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
<p class="" style="margin:12pt 0in"><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> Sincerely,</span><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
<p class="" style="margin:12pt 0in"><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> Matt Parker</span><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
<p class=""><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">President USAS</span></p>
<div class=""><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span> <br class="x_webkit-block-placeholder">
</div>
<p class=""><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________</span></p>
<span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
<div class="" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri" class="">Matt Parker, PhD</font></div>
<div class="" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri" class="">Aquaculture Business Specialist</font></div>
<div class="" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri" class="">University of Maryland Extension</font></div>
<div class="" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri" class="">Prince George’s County Office</font></div>
<div class="" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri" class="">6707 Groveton Drive</font></div>
<div class="" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri" class="">Clinton, MD 20735 </font></div>
<div class="" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><a target="_blank" class=""><font face="Calibri" class=""></font></a><font face="Calibri" class=""><a href="mailto:mparke11@umd.edu" class="">mparke11@umd.edu</a></font> </div>
<div class="" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri" class="">301-868-8780 ext 428</font></div>
<div class="" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri" class="">(301) 599-6714 (fax)</font></div>
<div class="" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font color="#0000ff" face="Calibri" class=""><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://extension.umd.edu/aquaculture__;!!KGKeukY!junalHeC18j7l3abdAKE0Zcp3duVZV8n0sHR92R6aNcQFtK8eUf1JKc7JrrHDZtGvjL6tA$" target="_blank" class="">http://extension.umd.edu/aquaculture</a></font></div>
</span></div>
</div>
<div class="" style="word-wrap:break-word; line-break:after-white-space">
<div class=""><span class="" style="font-size:12pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
<div class="" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"></div>
</span></div>
<br class="">
</div>
</body>
</html>