Thursday, March 28, 2019

NOBA company profile

  
Image credit: Noba


Noba Vital Lipids is a leading Dutch manufacturer and supplier of  high energy fatproducts  for the animal feed  industries, servicing greater Europe.  Our strengths are rooted in more than 60 years of experience alongside our high standards of quality, which are fulfilled at every step of the production process.

NOBA is deeply committed to ensuring meticulous care and product safety during raw-material selection and processing, as well as in the final product. The result is the unbeatable quality found in each and every NOBA product.


Visit the website HERE.



The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Bühler company profile




There are plenty of good reasons for Bühler’s success: Personal commitment, clever entrepreneurial decision-making, a high level of sensitivity to the changing needs of the market, and a core business that has become a byword for quality and consistency, founded on the distinct power to innovate.

Tackling the challenges of the period and of the market have always played a role in shaping the direction of the company. This is simply something that Buhler has always done, and when it comes to generating benefits and added value for our customers, we have always been a step ahead.

Bühler is a specialist and technology partner for plant and equipment and related services for processing basic foods and manufacturing high-grade materials. The Group is a global market leader in the supply of flour production plants, pasta and chocolate production lines, fish and animal feed manufacturing installations, and aluminium die casting systems.

The core technologies of the Group are in the field of mechanical and thermal process engineering. With its expertise and over 150 years of experience, Bühler time and again rolls out unique and innovative solutions for its customers, helping them achieve success in the marketplace.

Over the decades Bühler has come to be acknowledged as a reliable partner thanks to its distinct commitment to quality and its global presence.

Bühler Group operates in over 140 countries, has a global payroll of 7860, and generated sales revenues of CHF1907 million in fiscal 2010.


Visit the website HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by 
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Deep Trekker launches innovative underwater robot at Ocean Business 2019

Deep Trekker will take the stage at Ocean Business, April 9th-11th in Southampton, UK with the launch of an all-new underwater robotic system. The latest innovation will deliver dramatic power, enhanced capabilities, and high-end performance at a breakthrough price.
 


With the freedom to move with direct sonar integration, work in just about any underwater condition with an automatic station hold and inspect to greater depths with hybrid power and 12-hour battery life, Deep Trekker's new robot will serve a range of military, commercial and scientific needs.

'Deep Trekker continues to provide new innovations for a growing range of uses in various industries,' says Sam Macdonald, President, Deep Trekker. 'Today, we take a big leap forward with an all-new product, coming soon. We are so excited to be launching at Ocean Business and showcasing the major upgrades, features and performance of our latest innovation. Stay tuned!'

For more information visit the Deep Trekker website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Steven Rafferty appointed Managing Director of Cermaq Chile

Steven Rafferty brings broad global industry experience to Cermaq Chile, the second largest farming company in Chile.

'I am very pleased to announce that Steven Rafferty will be the new MD for Cermaq Chile. He is definitely the right person for this task, bringing with him broad knowledge from the industry and is business savvy. He also knows Chilean culture and business well, which is important for building our operations in Chile,' says Cermaq CEO Geir Molvik.
 
Steven Rafferty takes up the position as
MD for Cermaq Chile at 1 June, 2019

Image credit: Cermaq

Steven Rafferty knows Cermaq from before, being CFO and COO farming in 2008-2010. He has also lived and worked in Chile for six years. He takes up the position at 1 June 2019 and relocates to Puerto Montt.

'I very much look forward to lead Cermaq's operations in Chile. Cermaq has changed significantly since I left in 2010 and I am delighted and excited to lead the Chilean operations and be part of the global management that will take the company into its next phase. Today, the company is more advanced and with a much stronger profile and market presence, which was most recently seen in the launch of True Arctic Salmon. I look forward to be a part of the team and build our organization and operations in Chile,' says Steven Rafferty.

Steven Rafferty comes from the position of Aquaculture Director at Global Maritime AS. Before that, he was MD and CEO of Skretting, CFO of Morpol, CFO and COO farming in Cermaq, and before that, various key finance positions in Marine Harvest (located in Scotland, Chile, USA and the Netherlands).

Cermaq is one of the world's leading companies in farming of salmon and trout, with operations in Norway, Chile and Canada. Cermaq is a fully owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation with head office in Oslo, Norway.

For more information visit the Cermaq website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Aquafarm 2019, Italy

by Rebecca Sherratt, Production editor, International Aquafeed

Deep in the heart of Pordenone, Italy, the third rendition of the Aquafarm exhibition was held at Pordenone Exhibition Centre. Spanning two exhibition halls, alongside two conference rooms, the event has significantly grown compared to its 2018 edition.

President of Pordenone Fiere, Renato Pujatti tells us that this third rendition of the event has seen a 58 percent increase in attendees compared to the previous edition, and the growth is clear, with their broadening focus on all things aquaculture including sea food, fish farming technology, fish feed, boats, recirculating aquaculture systems, aquaponics and much more.
 

Aquafarm 2019 saw a record number of 2500 visitors coming from 41 countries across the world, including a significant number of attendees from Croatia, France, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Spain, Germany, the UK, Poland, Slovenia and Belgium, a clear sign that the event is becoming only more international.

The number of exhibitors also increased by 13 percent, with a total of 124 exhibitors, 65 percent of which were Italian and 35 percent non-Italian companies, a 17 percent increase in international companies participating.

The two-day event played host to a variety of exhibitors, as well as hosting conferences throughout the day in the Del Pesce room and the Della Regione Room. Conferences ran from 10:00-18:00 on February 13th, and from 9:30-17:00 on February 14th, covering a variety of exciting topics such as ‘Innovative technologies for farming equipment’, ‘Fish health and wellness’ and ‘Italian research into aquaculture’.

Plentiful exhibitions
One of Aquafarm’s many strengths is their remarkable variety of exhibitors- from fish farming technology, to the intricacies of fish feed, to regulatory organisations and societies; Aquafarm was brimming with variety.

Exhibitors include a variety of feed companies, such as Aller Aqua, Alltech Coppens, Biomar and Veronesi as well as innovators of the fish farming technology sector such as Xylem, Dive Systems, Fisa Nets, Mørenot and many more.

Nutriad becomes Adisseo
One of the many notable exhibitors was Dr Waldo Nuez, Lead Scientist of Aquaculture at Nutriad becomes Adisseo. During the conference sessions, Dr Nuez gave a fascinating talk on the benefits of organic selenium in the form of hydroxy-selenomethionine (which Nutriad call Selisseo®). This new way to formulate feed is especially safe and stable, which also enhances antioxidant status when compared to other selenium-based sources.

In their 50 years of feed manufacturing, Nutriad becomes Adisseo have created a broad variety of products for feed in the aquaculture sector and are working on some thrilling new projects.


Read more HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Liptosa company profile

  
LípidosToledo SA began in 1996 as a family business and under the guidance of a group of professionals with extensive experience in the Animal Nutrition field. 

From the outset, the company's mission has been to provide its clients with personalised service and efficient, natural products that are able to meet the demands of the sector.

In 2000 Lípidos Toledo SA moved its facilities, building a modern manufacturing plant in Talavera de la Reina (Toledo, Spain). In 2012 it acquired a new industrial warehouse in the vicinity of the main facilities where the manufacturing of the powder additives takes place and a third storage warehouse.

With these new facilities Lípidos Toledo SA is able to have separate manufacturing lines for the different products they manufacture, avoiding the risk of cross contamination.

Furthermore, the new facilities enable the company to manufacture products with fishmeal derivatives, allowing the company further expansion, mainly in the aquaculture range.

The facilities allow the manufacture of nutritional products, liquid and powder based phytobiotic additives, nutraceutical products and nutritional and specialty products without any risk of the products becoming cross contaminated.

In 2010, Lípidos Toledo SA acquired a large office space at C/ San Romualdo 12-14 in Madrid, Spain where all logistics work is carried out. This enables Lípidos Toledo SA to fulfil its objective of manufacturing products of the highest quality and providing its clients the best service.


Visit the Liptoaqua website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Monday, March 25, 2019

Expert topic: Eels

by Matt Holmes, Features editor, International Aquafeed

Eel farming is worth over US $1 billion dollars a year, with eel farms producing around 60 percent of all eel meat consumed.

European and Scandinavian countries along with China, Taiwan, Australia and Morocco all produce eels with the largest single producer being Japan.
 


Eels are fish known for their round, slender and elongated bodies. They are a carnivorous, long-living species that spend most of their life in fresh water but return to the sea to breed.

Eels live in the fresh waters of rivers and streams and only breeds once during their lives. On average, young eels live for up to 12 years for males and up to 18 years for the females with some species reaching greater ages.

Species of eels include:
• The Longfin eel (Anguilla reinhardtii) and the Shortfin eel (Anguilla australis) which are found in brackish and fresh waters of Australia and New Zealand. These are the most commonly farmed species in the countries
• European Eel (Anguilla Anguilla) is found in fresh and brackish water in the UK, Ireland, Mediterranean, Northern Africa the Baltic Sea, and Iceland up to mid-Norway
• American eel (Anguilla rostrata) is found in brackish and fresh water on the eastern side of the United States, the south- east of Canada and the Gulf of Mexico
• Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) is most common in the fresh and brackish waters of Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan.

As they reach sexual maturity the pigment in the skin of the eel becomes silvery, they put on weight and migrate miles out into the seas to find the spawning grounds to breed.

The fertilised eggs are carried by the ocean current as they change into larvae, after around 18 months they have developed into ‘glass eels’. These are juvenile eels that have an under-developed, transparent appearance. When the glass eels reach two-to-three years old, the ocean currents carry them towards the shores.


Read more HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Leiber company profile


Now with more than 140 employees, with each one a specialist in his or her domain, Leiber has a well-proven team in a company following a clear strategy for more than 50 years: working with values.

“What makes us unique? We focus on what we know best. Yeast. Production on the highest level of quality. Latest technology. New findings from science and research. The performance of a team of specialists. 

This is what defines Leiber´s strategic orientation. This is what makes us truly entrepreneurial”, as explained on the Leiber website.

“The markets´ requirements are changing - we are able to follow. This is how we became one of the leading manufacturers of specialised yeast products”.

Visit the website HERE.





 The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Blue Aqua International and Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients announce new distribution partnership

Blue Aqua International and Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients announced a new partnership that will see Blue Aqua's aquaculture and nutrition products distributed exclusively by Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients in Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Led by Dr Farshad Shishehchian, CEO & Founder of Blue Aqua International, and Mr Marc Deschamps, Regional Managing Director & CEO of Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients – the contract signing took place at the bi-annual VIV ASIA 2019, in BITEC Bangna, Bangkok, Thailand, on March 13, 2019.
 
Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients to serve as exclusive Blue Aqua distributor in Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Image credit: Blue Aqua International

This new partnership will leverage the combined strength of Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients' distribution service and Blue Aqua's product portfolio to bring outstanding products and solutions to the aquaculture and animal feed industry.

'Jebsen & Jessen Ingredient's deep expertise in specialty ingredients distribution and customer support is a perfect fit. We are excited to be moving forward with this new partnership to provide our customers better access to Blue Aqua's exclusive product lines,' said Dr Farshad Shishehchian, CEO & Founder of Blue Aqua International.

Mr Marc Deschamps, Regional Managing Director & CEO of Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients also commented on the partnership. 'We are very happy to share future successes with Blue Aqua International. Strong distribution experience paired with an even stronger technological partner is a good recipe for growth.'

Visit the Blue Aqua International website, HERE.
Visit the Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Les Poissons du Soleil: French RAS operation has its day in the sun

by Vaughn Entwistle, Managing Editor, International Aquafeed

Recycled Aquaculture Systems (RAS) have been around for more than twenty years. Mostly they are used in hatcheries, although the economics are changing and now many RAS systems are used in mainstream fish farms.

In 2018, our magazine visited Les Poissons du Soleil (fish of the sun) located at Balaruc Les Bains, France to see their state of the art RAS fish farm facility. We were given a thorough tour of the impressive facility by Mr Dolé Martin, the Production and Logistics Manager for Wellboat Expeditions.
 


Sur la mer
Upon arriving, one of the first things that struck us about Les Poissons du Soleil was its coastal, “sur la mer” location, as the two main RAS tank buildings are located right on the shore of the Mediterranean. Being located so close to the sea offers a fish farm facility a number of important advantages.

“We pump water directly from the Mediterranean,” Martin explained. “All the water is treated. We pump and treat approximately 100 cubic meters of water an hour. Each of our two buildings has its own filter system. The water is first run over the primary sand filters. It is also run through biofilters.

“UV filters, supplied by the Marseille company BioUV, and drum filters are supplied by Faivre. The biological filter takes the ammonia out of the water which is recycled and returned to the tanks. The big particles are taken out by the Faivre drum filters.”

The ability to have a free supply of water is invaluable, but there are complications, as Martin explained, “The water pumped from the Mediterranean varies in temperature according to the season. In the winter, the water must be heated to at least 18°C to ensure a good growth rate in the fish. We try to maintain a temperature of between 18°C and 25°C throughout the year.”

Martin explained that fish are more active in the warmer summer water, and consequently consume more fish feed. “We have to manage all these parameters in our growth predictions,” Martin added.


Read more HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Calitri Technology company profile




Specialised in detecting and counting for aquaculture, Calitri Technology design and manufacture equipment for aquaculture.

Exporting throughout the world, they have over 30 years of experience. Their product range is advantageous due to the companies advanced knowledge in micro controller programming.


Calitri Technology values
They are attentive and listen to their customer's needs, have a commitment to high quality products,  and continuous strive to innovate and adapt their technology to meet the current market.

For more information visit the Calitri Technology website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Thursday, March 21, 2019

The next generation of RAS aquaculture

by Neder Snir, CTO, AquaMaof Aquaculture Technologies

The increasing number of aquaculture facilities based on Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) technology, both already operating and under construction, is testament to the fact that this technology is proving to be highly advantageous.

Neder Snir, CTO of AquaMaof Aquaculture Technologies, explores the advanced RAS techniques and technologies that will be employed in the next generation of land-based aquaculture installations, discussing the company's unique, multidisciplinary approach to indoor fish production.
 

Much has been written about the rapid increase in the number of onshore aquaculture facilities. This is due to several factors, among them increased demand for seafood due to population growth and a greater understanding of the nutritional benefits of eating fish; increased pollution of seas and oceans and over-fishing, resulting in a decline in fish populations around the globe; and a growing awareness of the significant environmental advantages of closed-containment, RAS-based aquaculture technology. It is this last element that is the key to securing a sustainable future for aquaculture.

Advantages of RAS technology
RAS technology offers several significant advantages over other existing aquaculture methods. Growing fish in a land-based, closed and controlled environment reduces the risk of disease contamination; no antibiotics or disease treatments are involved in a normal production process, so the fish produced are healthier; and water motion in the rearing tanks allows the growers to exercise the fish, which in some fish species results in a more natural fat and tissue composition.

Since RAS technology is not entirely dependent on proximity to a specific water source, the facility can be built close to market, resulting in a shorter time from water to plate, and reduced transportation costs. Another advantage is that the advanced filtering capabilities of RAS significantly reduce water pollution from feed, faeces and chemical waste, making it a much more sustainable alternative to other aquaculture methods.

In terms of efficiency and productivity, RAS enables continuous harvest all year round, and fish grow to commercial size faster when compared with other methods. Faster growth usually means better conversion of feed to fish mass, overall lower impact on the entire production chain and lower cost of production, thanks to the complete control of water temperature, and the ability of RAS to maintain optimum oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.


Read more HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Submit your abstracts for Aquaculture Europe 2019, Berlin

After several highly successful EAS events in Edinburgh, Dubrovnik and last year in Montpellier, we event organisers are pleased to be organising AE2019 in Berlin from October 7-10 this year.

The event is entitled "GROWING from WATER.' The aquaculture sector nourishes and stimulates life in water in all its ways, and thereby holds the potential to overcome many of the challenges our society faces. The future of healthy and sustainably-produced food and commodities lies in the diversity of aquaculture, from single-cell microalgae in bioreactors to fish teeming in sea pens or freshwater ponds.
 


You are invited to submit your abstract online by the deadline of May 1. The proposed parallel sessions cover many areas of aquaculture research and species that are not just related to cold water or inland aquaculture. Please note that your abstract must comply with the guidelines to be considered further. Abstracts submitted after the deadline will have a reduced chance for an oral presentation.

The trade show is also an important part of the Aquaculture Europe events and there will be industry forums and special sessions linked to the conference theme. A special this year is that NordicRAS will be held back to back with AE2019 that will itself have several RAS sessions. Those taking part in both events will have a discounted registration fee. More on this special, HERE.

To submit abstracts, register online, book your stand and reserve your hotel, visit the AE2019 page on the EAS website, HERE.

The page will be updated periodically with info on the plenary sessions, workshops, tours and other useful information.

Deadline for abstract submission is May 1st, and the Early Bird Registration deadline is July 15th

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Dibaq company profile


Dibaq a.s. has been a member of Dibaq Group of Spain since 2001, Dibaq Group deals with the development, research and production of pet food and feed for livestock, salt-water and fresh-water fish. In its 30 companies operating in 30 countries across four continents, the group has a workforce of over 1,100 employees.

One of the group's strengths is the cohesion among the individual companies, which enables Dibaq to offer top-level comprehensive services on all markets.

Headquartered in Helvíkovice, Dibaq a.s. currently has 134 employees to support a full range of services associated with supplying our customers with nutrition programmes and feed. This comprises research and development, production, distribution and comprehensive customer care including consulting.

Company mission
Be a top-quality professional producer and distributor in Central, Eastern and South-East Europe.

Company Vision
Ensure customer, employee and product user satisfaction by professionalism and approach.

Product Portfolio

Dibaq a.s. offers a wide range of products. It is based on the Fitmin nutrition programmes for dogs, cats and horses, which take a comprehensive approach to animal feed in that it not only considers what the animals like but mainly what they need based on their lifestyle. A major part in the product range of Dibaq a.s. is played by the brand Dibaq itself, which represents complete feed and supplements for pets and livestock.


Read more HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Bühler joins sustainable business council, driving long-term sustainable change

On Tuesday 19th March Bühler joined the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), a global network of nearly 200 forward-thinking companies. By connecting with WBCSD, Bühler can make a real impact on global corporate sustainability and on providing the growing world population with the nourishment and mobility solutions of the future.

'We are delighted to join WBCSD and to help contribute to their mission to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world via the realisation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We want our customers to be successful, we want everyone to have access to safe and healthy food, and we want to live in a climate that supports and sustains them and future generations. No one can manage the task of sustainable food production or sustainable mobility on their own,' Stefan Scheiber, Bühler CEO, said. 'Innovations are key to driving change, and these are sparked with broad, inclusive collaborative networks. We have been joining forces with conscientious market participants to scale innovations for years and the move to join WBCSD's innovative network is an important step to furthering our sustainable business goals, and most importantly, in developing new means to feed to world.'

 


Stefan Scheiber, Bühler CEO
Image credit: Bühler

Every day, two billion people enjoy foods produced on Bühler equipment; and one billion people travel in vehicles manufactured with parts produced with our machinery. Bühler technologies and solutions are used in the global production and processing of grains, corn, rice, pasta, pulses, cereal, chocolate, snacks, wafers, coffee, and feed for fish, pets, and livestock. They are also used for smart phones, solar panels, diapers, cosmetics, banknotes, energy-efficient buildings, eye glasses, and more. Having this global relevance, Bühler is in an ideal position to address some of the world's pressing challenges and transform them into sustainable business solutions.

WBCSD President and CEO Peter Bakker said, 'WBCSD is pleased to welcome Bühler as our newest member. We are dedicated to working towards a transformation of the key systems across society, and this can only be achieved in collaboration with companies across the full value chain. Bühler's focus on technology can be a real game-changer in sustainability terms. We are keen to begin working together.'

 


Peter Bakker, WBCSD President and CEO
Image credit: Bühler

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development is a CEO-led organisation of over 200 companies working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. The WBCSD galvanises the global business community to create a sustainable future for business, society, and the environment. Together with its members, who represent all business sectors, the council shares best practices on sustainable development issues and develops innovative tools that change the status quo.

Ian Roberts, Bühler CTO said, 'Industry must step up and take responsiblilty for reducing environmental impacts. We are already hitting planetary boundaries. Now – more than ever – it is time to take decisive action to ensure quality of life today and for future generations. In joining the world's most responsible business leaders in WBCSD, we are broadening our collaborative approach to bringing about the sustainable turnaround that we so urgently need.'

Find more information about the WBCSD, HERE.
Find out more about sustainability at Bühler, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

New AI feeding assistant from AKVA and Observe

by AKVA Group, Norway

AKVA group and Observe technologies have partnered to bring a new, intelligent feeding assistant with pellet recognition to the market.

AKVA and Observe are committed to giving farmers actionable insights to optimise their largest site cost, namely feeding. The result is a new software solution that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse in real time the onsite data and video streams on the site.

The software not only counts visible pellets, but also completes a detailed analysis of the fish behaviour that when used together identify risk situations and assist the operator in the optimisation of the feeding.
 


Keeps improving
The AKVA Observe software solution is easily integrated with existing hardware on the site. All alerts from the system are uploaded to the cloud for further machine learning and are used to update the site AI to further optimise the real time assistance specific to the pens on that particular site. The optimal growth rate for each pen is learned by comparing sensor, video, feed and external data feeds over time.

“This is a revolutionary breakthrough for the fish farming industry,” says Andrew Campbell, AKVA Group’s Regional President for the Americas and Australasia.

“The AI feeding assistant supports the moment to moment decision making process of the most critical and cost sensitive process of farming fish. It is always learning and providing the site staff with new insights to understand each pen’s feeding behaviour, something that as an industry we have simply not had the ability to do before,” Mr Campbell adds.

Gathering momentum
The solution was first installed on farms during 2017 and is currently in full commercial operation on farms in Scotland and Chile. During the course of 2019, AKVA Group is also planning on introducing the solution to the Nordic market.

The results from the pens and sites in operation are being collated and reported back through a separate web-based management tool, making it easy to monitor and benchmark sites and learn on a larger scale how different factors link into each other.

“Customer feedback has been very positive. The system is operating well at a number of sites and the development of the remote management tool and reporting has been very well received,” says Jason Cleaversmith, the General Manager for AKVA Group Scotland.

“This is a very promising solution that we are also looking forward to introducing to our Nordic clients. Simultaneously, we’re also working on establishing a new open-platform cloud solution which will enable easy integration between our AKVA connect process control software and related software like AKVA Observe,” says SVP Sales and Marketing Nordic, Hans Øyvind Sagen.


Read more HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Reed Mariculture company profile




Reed Mariculture is the world's largest producer of marine microalgae concentrates for larval fish, bivalves, crustaceans and other filter feeders.

Their Instant Algae® larviculture feeds are used by over 500 hatcheries, universities, and marine ornamental operations in more than 80 countries around the world.

They also produce and distribute pathogen and ciliate free rotifers,Parvocalanus copepods, and Otohime and TDO weaning feeds.


Reed Mariculture's Instant Algae products are closer to nature than any other feed on the market. They produce whole-cell, whole-food microalgae feeds and enrichments from marine algae using proprietary processes.


Their
 products provide fish, bivalve and shrimp hatcheries with clean, convenient, long shelf-life feeds that are superior choices to replace or supplement live microalgae.

Their feeds ensure stable and rapidly-reproducing rotifer populations with superior rich nutritional value.


Learn more, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Growing ASC presence in China celebrated as Green Life Foods welcomed to programme at Seafood Expo

Seafood Expo North America (SENA) is the largest seafood trade event in North America, but on Monday afternoon the focus was on China, as Green Life Foods Co., Ltd. was welcomed to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) by CEO Chris Ninnes.

Green Life Foods achieved certification in 2018, becoming the first ASC certified mussel and oyster producer in China. The company made many adjustments to its production and processing practices to achieve ASC certification. One such improvement was the replacement of all Styrofoam floating rafts used over the 750 hectares of its production sites with sturdier and more durable ball rafts. These longer-lasting replacements will reduce an estimated two tons of plastic waste every year.
 
Chris Ninnes, CEO of ASC; Mr Chen Weijiang, General Manager of Green Line Foods;
Dr Cui He, President of China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance (CAPPMA)

Image credit: ASC

Green Life Foods is also focusing on employee safety and providing opportunity for its community, providing over 100 jobs for women from local villages, who work on the preliminary processing of its farmed shellfish.

'The efforts of Green Life Foods to reduce plastic waste pollution, support local communities and improve the work environment for their employees demonstrate a commitment to both environmental and social responsibility,' said Chris Ninnes. 'We are pleased to see growing demand for ASC certification in China, not only for exporters but also for the domestic market, where responsible practices are increasingly important to consumers.'

'Green Life Foods is a company focusing on the export of canned smoked shellfish. The ASC certificate will help us win customers recognition and expand the markets in North America, Australia and Japan,' said Chen Weijiang, General Manager of Green Life Foods.

Other ASC-certified products from China at SENA include the Chinese white shrimp of Zhanjiang Guolian Aquatic Products Co., Ltd., the tilapia of Guangdong Evergreen Conglomerate Co., Ltd., as well as tilapia products of many ASC-certified enterprises from Hainan Province of China.

At present 11 Chinese enterprises have received ASC certification for their responsibly managed farms, and every year they provide the consumers in China, Europe, America and the Asia-Pacific Region with nearly 60,000 tons of responsible and sustainable seafood, including tilapia, bivalves and shrimp.

For more information visit the ASC website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Nutreco partners to solve the global antibiotic challenge

by Nutreco, the Netherlands

The feed-to-food chain is currently facing a serious issue as the overuse of antibiotics in farming comes ever closer to a causing a global health crisis. Their improper use is leading to the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that is becoming a major threat to human health
.

“It’s an issue that every player in the food chain needs to take seriously — and we need to work together to solve,” said Rob Koremans, CEO of Nutreco, a global animal nutrition and aqua feed company.
 


“As a company, Nutreco is committed to finding new methods to grow healthy animals without the use of antibiotics, in partnership with our customers and others in the industry, and we are making strides every day.”

“If we don’t change our farming methods, the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is set to become a major human health crisis,” says Nutreco Corporate Sustainability Director José Villalón.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) is predicting that if no action is taken today, by the year 2050, more people are estimated to die of bacterial infections due to resistant bacteria than of cancer.

“The WHO anticipates that up to 10 million people will die each year because of AMR compared to eight million, due to cancer. This is the principle health risk that our children and grandchildren will be facing in their lifetimes”, Mr Villalón says.

Mr Villalón stressed that there is an urgent need for all players in the food chain to play their part in solving this issue — and it can be done if we work together.

“The problem with antibiotic use on the farm is not one of use, it’s one of abuse,” said Otto Seijler, General Manager at Nutreco company Trouw Nutrition Hifeed.

“Antibiotics are useful tools for treating sick animals, but the problem comes in when they’re used prophylactically, something that is unfortunately still a common protocol in animal husbandry. When we see antibiotics used prophylactically on a farm, it’s often covering up poor farm management, that leads to increased stress and disease in farmed animals,” says Mr Seijler.

Antibiotics are also used to address poor nutrition and stimulate improved growth performance.

“All of this misuse can be significantly reduced or eliminated by a holistic approach to farm management combined with functional health diets and better animal nutrition.”


Read more HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Andritz company profile


ANDRITZ is a globally leading supplier of plants, equipment, and services for hydropower stations, the pulp and paper industry, the metalworking and steel industries, and for solid/liquid separation in the municipal and industrial sectors.

The publicly listed technology Group is headquartered in Graz, Austria, and has a staff of almost 25,000 employees. ANDRITZ operates over 250 sites worldwide.


Visit the website HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Aker BioMarine to build 168-metre vessel designed for minimal environmental impact

Aker BioMarine will build a new energy efficient vessel, which will be fitted out with a number of key efficiency improvements and environmentally focused technologies. To be constructed in China, at CIMC Raffles, Yantai yard, the 168-metre-long vessel will be specifically designed to have as minimal an impact on the environment as possible.

The vessel will comply with the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) Polar Code. The new support vessel with a price tag of 65 MUSD will replace Aker BioMarine's existing support vessel, La Manche.
 
Image credit: Aker BioMarine

'Protection of the environment is an absolute essential for us, and the design of this vessel has sustainability as a primary focus. It incorporates the latest energy saving and environmentally friendly technologies, such as the hybrid propulsion system, and an advanced heat recovery system that helps to reduce the carbon footprint even further,' says Eldar Vindvik, Director Fleet Renewal at Aker BioMarine.

The new support vessel will be powered by Wärtsilä's award-winning 31 engine. Offering unparalleled flexibility when it comes to fuel choices, the hybrid, 4-stroke diesel engine, sets a new benchmark for emissions performance and also holds a Guinness World Record for fuel efficiency.

'We are proud to have been selected to design and equip this vessel. It will be a customised vessel designed specifically to meet the owner's operational requirements in a challenging environment. It emphasises once again Wärtsilä's comprehensive strengths and capabilities, as well as our broad offering to the marine market,' says Lilli Chi, Managing Director Wärtsilä Ship Design.

Featuring frequency-controlled thrusters, to avoid zero pitch loss and reduce underwater noise, the vessel will also be equipped with Dynamic Positioning capabilities, which removes the need to drop anchor during transhipment, eliminating any impact on the ocean floor.

'We have extensive experience among other in building drilling platforms to the world's most demanding sea conditions. So the construction of the new transport vessel that will face equally challenging conditions in the Antarctica is a project we cannot wait to get started," said Wang Jianzhong, CEO and President of CIMC Raffles.

A vessel for tough operations
In addition to minimising its environmental impact, the vessel is specifically designed and constructed to be able to face the challenging Antarctic conditions head on.

Wärtsilä, in partnership with Aker BioMarine's project team are all too aware of the particular needs of the new vessel and are also keen to address many of the particular operational needs encountered with Aker BioMarine's existing support vessel La Manche.

The new vessel will also feature a custom cargo handling system from Norwegian supplier Aukra Maritime, which will halve the time it takes to load and unload the processed and packaged krill.

'The vessel will be constructed in China where there is unique competence for building such large-scale support vessels. The vessel will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology from a number of Norwegian suppliers, many of them who we have great working relationship during building our new krill vessel, Antarctic Endurance.'

The vessel is expected to be ready for the 2021 harvesting season.

For more information visit the Aker BioMarine website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news