协会概况与历史定位
国际水生园艺者协会（Aquatic Gardeners Association，简称 AGA）成立于 1985 年，是美国依据国内税收法典第 501(c)(4) 条登记的非营利社会福利组织，也是全球范围内最早专门聚焦水族箱水草与水草造景（aquascaping）爱好者群体的专业协会。协会由一批水草爱好者发起，长期以中立、公益的姿态推动水草造景知识普及、物种保护与爱好者社群建设，会员与活动覆盖北美、欧洲与亚洲多个国家。
核心宗旨与主要活动
AGA 的使命是通过教育、物种保育与社群联谊，推动水草造景爱好持续发展。具体目标包括：增进公众对水草造景缸的了解、在本地与全球层面提升水草造景运动的可见度、维持协会会员基础与组织可持续发展。日常工作由董事会与各委员会负责，现任会长为 Cheryl Rogers，董事会成员包括 Bailin Shaw、Paula Hofmann、Jennifer Williams、Therese Neal、Chris Smith，书店事务由 Tom Jewell 负责。
期刊 The Aquatic Gardener 与出版物
协会出版的英文季刊 The Aquatic Gardener（缩写 TAG，国际标准刊号 ISSN 1073-6999）创刊于 1985 年，每期约 40 至 44 页全彩印刷，是目前英语世界唯一专门刊载水族箱水草与水草造景内容的纸质期刊。除纸质版外，协会自 2024 年起提供纯数字订阅，会员可免费访问自 1985 年以来的完整过刊电子档案以及历年大会视频。面向会员的月刊 Clippings 电子报则汇总业界动态、链接与会员优惠信息。
国际水草造景大赛与年度大会
AGA 自 2000 年起举办年度国际水草造景大赛（AGA International Aquascaping Contest，简称 AGAIAC），是同类赛事中历史最悠久的一项；2025 年第 25 届大赛收到来自 52 个国家 365 位造景师的 426 件作品，由 Seachem Laboratories、Oase Living Water、Aqua Naturals 与 Florida Aquatic Nurseries 等业界品牌赞助支持。协会大会 AGA Convention 自 2000 年起隔年举办，2026 年大会由萨克拉门托水族协会协办，于加州萨克拉门托 Wyndham Sacramento 酒店举行，邀请国际知名水草造景师带来专题演讲、工作坊与厂商展览。
会员体系与本地俱乐部支持
AGA 提供纸质与纯数字两种会员选择，会员可免费获得季刊 TAG、完整过刊数字档案、历届大会视频回看以及 Clippings 月刊电子报。协会长期支持全球各地的水草造景本地俱乐部：本地俱乐部可在 AGA 官网友情链接页获得免费展示、为活动申请免费 DVD 或礼品券、向会员赠送一年期 AGA 会员资格；组团订阅期刊还可享受团体折扣。日常事务联络与期刊投稿可通过官网公布的协会邮箱处理。
Association Profile and Historical Position
The Aquatic Gardeners Association (AGA) is a non-profit social welfare association organized in 1985 in accordance with Section 501(c)(4) of the US Internal Revenue Code. Founded by aquatic plant enthusiasts, it is recognized as one of the earliest dedicated organizations for planted-aquarium hobbyists worldwide, and serves a global membership spanning North America, Europe and Asia. The association operates on a neutral, non-commercial basis with a long-term focus on aquascaping education, aquatic plant conservation and community building.
Mission and Core Activities
AGA’s stated mission is to enable the growth of the aquatic plant hobby by educating hobbyists about aquatic plants and aquascaping, encouraging the conservation and preservation of aquatic plants in their habitats, and fostering fellowship among members and with the wider aquarium community. Day-to-day operations are run by the Board of Directors and committee chairs. The current president is Cheryl Rogers; board members include Bailin Shaw, Paula Hofmann, Jennifer Williams, Therese Neal and Chris Smith, with Tom Jewell overseeing the bookstore.
The Aquatic Gardener Journal and Publications
The Aquatic Gardener (TAG), ISSN 1073-6999, is AGA’s quarterly English-language journal founded together with the association in 1985. Each issue runs 40 to 44 full-color pages and is the only printed English-language periodical dedicated exclusively to aquarium plants and planted aquaria. Beginning in 2024, AGA also offers a lower-cost digital-only membership tier that grants the same benefits with online access to TAG. Members additionally receive the monthly Clippings e-newsletter, which aggregates hobby news, links, coupons and member giveaways.
International Aquascaping Contest and Convention
Since 2000, AGA has organized the AGA International Aquascaping Contest (AGAIAC), the longest-running competition of its kind. The 25th edition in 2025 attracted 426 aquascapes from 365 contestants in 52 countries, supported by Premier Sponsor Seachem Laboratories and Associate Sponsors Oase Living Water, Aqua Naturals and Florida Aquatic Nurseries, with the Chicago Aquatic Plant Society as Aquatic Club Sponsor. The AGA Convention, held mostly biennially since 2000, brings together internationally renowned aquascapers; the 2026 edition is co-hosted by the Sacramento Aquarium Society at the Wyndham Sacramento in California.
Membership and Local Club Support
AGA membership is offered in print and digital-only tiers. Members receive TAG in their chosen format, free access to the complete TAG digital archive back to 1985, on-demand video from every convention since 2000, and the monthly Clippings newsletter. The association actively supports local aquatic plant clubs worldwide with free link listings, prize donations, complimentary journal copies, one-year gift memberships and group-discount subscriptions for club journals. General inquiries and editorial submissions can be directed to the contact addresses listed on the official AGA website.
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