YELLOW SPRINGS, OH, Feb. 15, 2005 -- YSI Inc., in conjunction with the World Aquaculture Society, has announced the "Fund for Rebuilding Aquaculture in Tsunami-Affected Areas" in response to the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
"YSI's tag line 'Who's Minding the Planet?' means more than our products and services. It is also our commitment to help others in need and the tsunami crisis is an opportunity for us to do just that," the company stated.
"At this time, YSI is encouraging other companies and organizations to participate in this international fundraising effort. YSI has pledged $50,000 plus equipment to the Fund for Rebuilding Aquaculture."
All donations to the Fund will be channeled directly to Indonesia and other affected countries with the specific objective to help rebuild their damaged aquaculture communities. While there have been many donations to general aid agencies, YSI and WAS want to do something specifically for rural, small-scale aquaculture operations and aquaculture education facilities.
"I'd like the aquaculture and water monitoring industries to seriously consider joining us in helping Indonesian fish farmers regain their livelihood and restore a much needed protein source to the local population," states Gayle Rominger, senior vice president of YSI. "The fishing and aquaculture industries in tsunami-affected areas have been devastated."
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, 55% of the fishing ports in Indonesia were destroyed and 20% of the fisher folk were killed. Roughly half of the fisheries sector in this region has sustained direct damage. This is significant because the Indonesian fishing industry supplies two-thirds of the protein in the national diet as well as generates 6.5% of the GDP.
Soon after the natural disaster on Dec. 26, 2004, YSI approached WAS about raising funds and responding to the crisis. Together the two organizations are spearheading a large-scale project to help after the first wave of aid, as people continue to put their lives and their jobs back together. They will work with existing agencies, such as Aquaculture without Frontiers and Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA), to identify projects, disburse the funds, and follow-up.
You may make a tax-deductible donation to the YSI Foundation by mailing a check to 1700/1725 Brannum Lane, Yellow Springs, Ohio, 45387, Attn: Mary Alice Waggoner, YSI Foundation Treasurer. Contact her at [email protected]. Or you may make an online donation to WAS at www.was.org.
YSI Inc. (www.ysi.com), an employee-owned company, is a leading provider of technology solutions and services for data collection and analysis. It provides its customers with data integrity, a critical component in building an ecologically sustainable habitat. In business since 1948, YSI is comprised of three strategic business units -- Environmental, Temperature, and Life Sciences.
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