World Feeds Earns Awards Recognition for VAF's Impact on Aquaculture Industry

June 28 2023 - We're delighted to announce that World Feeds Ltd have been awarded Judges Special Recognition at this year's Aquaculture Awards, held in Inverness. 

Following the launch of our innovative feeding systems - designed specifically for cleaner fish used in the global aquaculture industry - in 2019, we've become well-established and trusted within the sector. Our unique VAF Feed Blocks have had a hugely positive effect on fish husbandry, cleaner fish health and welfare bolstering their effectiveness on combatting sea lice. Being recognised for the impact we've made in the industry is an honour

VAF has now been embraced across Scotland, with all major salmon producers including Mowi, Bakkafrost, Loch Duart and Scottish Sea Farms now converted to our diets and feeding strategies as part of their cleaner fish care. We are currently undergoing extensive trials in Norway with Mowi and Lerøy with major new opportunities developing in the region, as well as Canada. We are committed to playing our key part in the continued development of the industry, improving fish nutrition and welfare.

We continue to develop new innovative feeds and delivery methods as has always been the World Feeds way. Next on the agenda, we're bringing our unique approach to animal welfare in hatcheries with larval and broomstick diets on the horizon

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Garware Technical Fibres Lts. ranked 79th best companies to work for in India and CEO recognised among 28 most trusted leaders by GPTW

Garware Technical Fibres - a leading player in the global technical textile sector and leading global supplier of nets and ropes to the aquaculture industry - was recently recognised as one of the 100 best companies to work for in India - ranked 79 - according to the latest report of Great Place to Work (GPTW) 2023. This award, obtained for a second time in a row, confirms the company's unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive and attractive work environment for its employees; it is thus a testimony of its dedication to the satisfaction of employees, professional growth and general well-being.

Also, it's CEO, Mr. Shujaul Rehman, is recognised as one of "India's 28 Most Trustworthy Leaders" by Great Place to Work. This award reflects Mr. Rehman's steadfast commitment to fostering a culture of trust, innovation and excellence within Garware Technical Fibres Ltd., who as a leader, demonstrates outstanding qualities, which propel the company to new challenges. 

"I am honoured to be recognised among the most trusted leaders in India. This distinction is a reflection of the dedication and commitment of our team; together we develop a corporate culture in their workplace, which values trust, empowers our employees and fosters innovation. it is precisely through their hard work and unwavering dedication that we have achieved this remarkable success," Rehman said.

In this way, Garware Technical Fibres Ltd. continues to revolutionise the technical textiles industry with its innovative solutions, unwavering commitment to quality and global reach.

It should be noted that Great Place to Work helps companies become an excellent place to work, providing leaders and organisations with the recognition and tools to create a consistent and positive employee experience, fostering cultures that have been shown to drive business and improve lives. Since 1992, its Certification, Best Workplaces Lists and global benchmarks have become the industry standard, based on data from more than 100 million employees in 150 countries around the world.

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Guolian Aquaculture makes significant changes to become world's first ASC certified crayfish farm.

June 27 - Guolian (Yiyang) Crayfish Breeding Biotechnology Co., Ltd. recently became the first crayfish farm in the world to earn ASC certification for responsible seafood farming.

Guolian's ASC certified crayfish farm is located on the Guolian (Yiyang) Crayfish Breeding Scientific Research Base in the city of Yiyang in Hunan Province, China. The 850-hectare (2,100-acre) research base is an industry, academia and research collaboration between Guolian and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. The farm's annual capacity is 2,000 tonnes od Red Swamp Crawfish (Procambarus clarkii).

"We're proud to be the first ASC certified crayfish farm in the world," said Mr. Chen Han, President of Guolian Aquaculture Group. "ASC certification is an internationally renowned and highly recognised gold standard in the aquaculture industry, obtaining it is a full validation of Guolian's active efforts to transform and improve crayfish farming."

Major transformations to achieve ASC certification

"In order to achieve ASC certification, we changed our farming practices in several ways," said Dr. Li Changbin, Technical Director of Guolian's Crayfish Breeding Scientific Research Base. "To meet the requirements of the ASC standard, we faced major technical challenges - for instance, in the selection of seeds and with escape management. At the same time we've met the other requirements, such as for water quality, disease prevention and control, and feed."

The ASC Shrimp Standard which also includes crayfish - or more specifically, species under the genera Macrobrachium, Cherax, Procambarus, Astacus and Penaeus - requires traceability of seeds, or young crayfish, to ensure those used on the farm come from high-quality stock. If the quality of seed crayfish is poor and the survival rate is too low, it cannot meet the ASC requirements. When the quality of seeds is good, the survival rate, spawning rate and hatching rate are high, which ensures that ecological resources for the farm have been utilised sustainably.

ASC certification also requires robust escape management practices. Although crayfish have been farmed in China for nearly 100 years, they are still an exotic species, and unregulated growth of crayfish in the wild is strictly restricted by Chinese law.

The most suitable habitats for crayfish in China are in the Yangtze River Basin, where rice paddy farmers have historically struggles economically. In recent years seasonal farming crayfish in rice paddies has become an important industry and alleviates poverty in agricultural communities in the region. Rice paddy crayfish farming can increase the income of local farmers by 200 to 300 percent, greatly improving the living standards of local communities. To achieve balance between the economic benefits of crayfish farming and the ecological need to manage an exotic species, escape preservation is a core requirement to achieve ASC certification.

Along with other efforts, Guolian has installed protective fencing along the edges of the rice field and isolation nets at the entrance of the waterway to meet the ASC requirements for escaping management.

"We're very pleased that Guolian has earned ASC certification and to see the increase overall of ASC certified responsible seafood farms in China," said Chris Ninnes, CEO of ASC. "The robust requirements of the ASC standard are improving ecological protection of cropland-aquaculture in China, improving quality at the seafood farms and contributing to improved livelihoods for local communities. We hope ASC continues to help set the standard for the sustainable development of China's aquaculture industry."

China's annual production of crayfish farming reached 2.5 million tonnes in 2022, making it the world's largest crayfish producer. Global markets for crayfish include the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and more, where demand for ASC certified responsibly farmed crayfish can now begin to meet.

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Aquaculture research alliance leverages capability to support industry research

To help accelerate innovation, research, and development in aquatic food production, and to understand the full potential of the sector, CIEL (Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock) has been the driving-force behind an aquaculture seed funding initiative.

Martin Sutcliffe, CIEL's aquaculture specialist explains that the projects supported through the initiative were selected based on their potential to move the industry forward.

"CIEL works with organisations across the agri-food sector, encouraging knowledge exchange and best practice while tapping into academic expertise," he says.

"Bringing agri-food and aquaculture sectors together was one of the main goals of this work."

"We've supported a variety of projects including one looking specifically at reducing carbon emissions. This involved assessing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Pangasius (Basa) production in Vietnam, where the majority of aquaculture takes place in open pond systems."

"Little is known about direct GHG emissions from production ponds, and this research could potentially be replicated in other forms of aquaculture production."

"There are also synergies and lessons which relate to reducing emissions from livestock manure," explains Mr Sutcliffe.

He adds that other projects looked at the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of cleaner fish as a sustainable tool for sea lice management, with improvements that could have positive impacts on the salmon industry in Scotland.

"Another project which demonstrates this is the seaweed protein biomass cultivation system project which was run by seaweed farmers, Seaweed Generation Ltd. Their research has shown how seaweed has significant potential as a feed source for the poultry industry."

"The projects have all worked well so far, and the results are promising."

Phil Bicknell, director of CIEL adds: "We are delighted to support these projects as they not only show the strength of the aquaculture industry in the UK, but they have also sparked further ideas for many in the industry as to how agriculture and aquaculture can be brought together to benefit each other. 

"R&D across aquaculture is vital. As an industry, we need to continue to seek investment opportunities to ensure the UK aquaculture industry can be globally competitive and resilient.

"This has been underlined by these seed funding projects, by CIEL's recent regional roadshows with the sector, and is again emphasised in our latest net zero work."

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BIOMAR FURTHER INVESTS IN LARVIVA HATCHERY FEED SUCCESS

BioMar Group announced the expansion of the marine hatchery trial facilities at their Aquaculture Technology Centre (ATC) Hirtshals in Denmark. The investment will allow for an expansion into a new, larger facility with the capability of performing trials in semi-industrial conditions.

The investment in this state-of-the-art facility follows the continued success of the LARVIVA hatchery feeds across the main hatchery markets, together with the two capacity expansions at the production facility in France to cover the market demand. The decision further reinforces BioMar’s commitment to driving innovation and meeting the evolving needs of hatcheries across the globe.

Henrik Aarestrup, VP LATAM, Shrimp & Hatchery at BioMar said, “We believe that this investment will unlock potential for growth in new markets and new species. This will bring innovations, further solidifying our position as a leading provider of premium-quality hatchery feeds. The expansion of the ATC Hirtshals facility aligns with BioMar’s strategic plan for the hatchery segment, which is a key pillar for the development of marine fish and shrimp feeds.”

The hatchery trial facilities will serve as a hub for research and development activities, with the addition of six multinational R&D staff to the team of experts in marine hatchery operations. It will include units dedicated to larval rearing as well as live feed production, allowing for extensive research and testing of hatchery feeds for several marine species.

Simon Wadsworth, Global R&D Director at BioMar said, “We are commissioning advanced larval research facilities, to ensure the continued high performance of LARVIVA, as well as developing further products for this highly specialized global market. The core research team has also been strengthened by leading larval rearing expertise from the Mediterranean region. The new facility will significantly strengthen our research capacity in this dynamic segment.” 

The inauguration of the expanded ATC Hirtshals facility is expected to take place in September.

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Raisioaqua, Finland's only fish feed factory, is now operating as Alltech Fennoaqua Oy

Alltech Fennoaqua Oy ensures Finnish domestic aquaculture production

[RAISIO, Finland] – Domestic fish production in Finland is thriving, as Finland's only fish feed factory operates under a new name reflecting its new ownership. The company formerly known as Raisioaqua is now operating as Alltech Fennoaqua Oy. 

The company, which was previously owned by the Raisio Group, was recently acquired by Finnforel Oy and Alltech, an animal nutrition company headquartered in Nicholasville, Kentucky, USA. The new name, Alltech Fennoaqua Oy, is a reference to the company’s home country of Finland and the region around the Baltic Sea. 

Alltech Fennoaqua ensures Finnish domestic aquaculture production as a result of its domestic feed production in Raisio, Finland. Before the acquisition by Alltech and Finnforel, fish feed production in Finland was under threat. If the factory had shut down, Finland’s rainbow trout would have been entirely dependent on foreign feed.

"Fish feed production could have stopped in Finland without this change of ownership,” said Tomi Kantola, CEO of Alltech Fennoaqua. “After that, one could have questioned whether fish raised in Finland could actually be called Finnish in the end. Now, Alltech Fennoaqua will continue to provide Finnish feed for fish raised by Finns."

Fish feed is a core business of the new owners of Alltech Fennoaqua, who are pioneers in nutrition for fish in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). The volume of production at the Alltech Fennoaqua factory will increase to accommodate additional production of RAS feeds. Alltech Coppens, Alltech’s aquaculture nutrition company, will also support the company through its RAS farming contacts and aid in developing new sales channels around the world for the feed produced within Finland.

"RAS farming is the future,” Kantola says. “Alltech Coppens has a research centre in the Netherlands, which we can now use in our own research activities. Thanks to the research centre and the available capacity, we can expand our production to include feeds used in RAS farming." 

Along with these ample resources for research and product development, the new ownership will also enable the expansion of the company’s operations abroad. Alltech Fennoaqua's primary focus is on increasing exports, and thanks to Alltech Coppens’ global distribution, the company will be able to begin exporting feed to a much broader market, with a focus on neighbouring countries and regions, including Sweden, Poland, the Baltic countries, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. 

Alltech Fennoaqua will continue to develop, manufacture and sell fish feed in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and the circular economy, which align with Alltech’s purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™. The company’s main focus is on producing feed that provides the highest level of nutrition, which benefits the fish and, as a result, the end consumer. 

“Nutrition is the most significant factor in the growth of fish,” said Kantola. 

The future is bright for the Finnish aquaculture industry, as Finns like eating fish — and are particularly interested in eating fish from Finland. Currently, one-third of the fish eaten by Finns is produced domestically. The average Finnish person eats 12.5 kilos of fish per year, with 4.2 kilos being domestic and 8.3 kilos being foreign. 

"Domestic fish is fresh, healthy and, of course, tasty,” said Kantola. “The production of domestic fish feed ensures that Finnish fish can be grown if the import of foreign fish or fish feed is interrupted."

With more than 80% of Finns reporting that they would like to increase their fish consumption, Alltech Fennoaqua is perfectly positioned to continue growing, both domestically and abroad.

For more information, visit alltech.com and alltechcoppens.com. 

AQUACULTURE AWARD 2023 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The winners of this year’s Aquaculture Awards were announced at a celebratory dinner in Inverness last night attended by leading figures from across the sector.

The event, held at the Macdonald Drumossie Hotel and hosted by comedian Jo Caulfield, saw a total of 13 prizes awarded to companies and individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to aquaculture over the past year.

In a category crowded with talent, the Rising Star award went to Mowi’s Eleanor Lawrie, who has blazed a trail as the company’s first female deckhand and hopes to inspire others into roles that aren’t traditionally for women.

The Collaboration prize was awarded to Rare Earth Global and the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling for their trial validating hemp seeds as a viable novel ingredient in the diets of farmed salmon.

In another competitive field, the Innovation award was given to Australia’s Aqua Clean Tas for its Tassie Devil Tracker 4000, the world's first hydraulically powered mechanical ROV net cleaning machine.

Winner of the Sustainability award was Selcoth Fisheries, a small family run business making big strides growing rainbow trout. The company has implemented a hydro-electric supply network, invested in humane stunning technology and a water filtration system, and delivered biodiversity and habitat improvement projects across its sites.

The hotly contested Community award went to Organic Sea Harvest (OSH) and aquafeed supplier Cargill for their joint From the Sea to the Land community initiative, which has brought tangible benefits to local causes on Skye since its launch two years ago.

Cameron Jones of Mowi beat off tough competition to scoop this year’s Farmer of the Year award. The judges decided he stood out as Mowi’s youngest ever manager and now its youngest area manager, showing leadership beyond his years, turning around some of Mowi’s most challenging farms and supporting his team in difficult times.

The coveted Animal Welfare prize was awarded to steelhead trout producer Kames Fish Farming for introducing a brood stock programme with genetics experts Xelect and cryopreservation specialists Cyrogenetics, resulting in a strain of trout tailored to its specific environment.

Tom Morrow Tarpaulins of Inverness was named Supplier of the Year. Serving the aquaculture sector industry for more than 25 years, the Tom Morrow team have provided sustainable and humane products to solve and manage the challenges faced by the sector, never missing a deadline and working round the clock to deliver for their clients.

The inaugural Best New Start Up award was won by WellFish Diagnostics, which has developed a potentially transformational service using blood biomarkers to monitor fish health, incorporating AI and achieving early commercial success.

Organic Sea Harvest, the first new, independently owned salmon farm in Scotland for decades, was named Best Aquaculture Company by the judging panel, singled out for its commitment to producing organic salmon on Skye, to growing the business and for making an impact in the communities in which it operates.

Dr Lesley McEvoy of UHI Shetland, described by colleagues as a quiet but active champion of aquaculture, was winner of the Unsung Hero award. As she retires, she is credited with inspiring many up and coming scientists, school pupils and husbandry staff in her role as an instructor, teacher, lecturer and supervisor of aquaculture and fisheries vocational, undergraduate, postgraduate and research students.

Another tireless advocate for aquaculture, Ronnie Soutar, head of veterinary services at Scottish Sea Farms, was the clear favourite to win the Outstanding Contribution award, having earned the respect of his peers across the sector for the range and depth of his work.

The Judges’ Special Recognition Award, created to acknowledge the efforts of a particular company or individual, went to World Feeds, which has made a significant difference to cleaner fish welfare and survival rates with its innovative feed blocks.

Aquaculture Awards organiser Diversified Communications paid tribute to all the award entries, and to the sponsors, including SAIC, Fish Farmer, MSD Animal Health, Ocean Kinetics, M&S Food, DSM, BioMar, Poseidon, Hendrix Genetics, Solvtrans, Cargill, Stingray, the Institute of Aquaculture, Skills Development Scotland, Crown Estate Scotland and Marine Scotland.

Event Director Cheri Arvonio said: ‘The Aquaculture Awards celebrate the incredible talent, initiative and sheer hard work that make the sector so successful and we are proud, once again, to be able to honour the achievements of those who have made such a difference this year.

‘The judges’ decisions were difficult, given the select line-up, and congratulations must go to all those who were nominated, the high calibre shortlists and to the amazing award winners.’

For the full list of winners, visit the website HERE.

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Scientists farm seaweed in the Solent to test water quality and commercial benefits

Scientists working on restoring areas of the Solent have begun growing seaweed in Langstone Harbour for the first time ever to test its environmental and commercial benefits.

They want to see if sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) can be successfully farmed inshore, while also improving water quality. The species, commonly used in Japanese cooking or added to food and cosmetics because of its thickening and gelling qualities, is generally grown offshore as it’s easier for suppliers to find space.

But the University of Portsmouth team hopes their study will provide evidence of the environmental benefits in the harbours, as the seaweed removes excess nutrients.

Increased nutrient levels in coastal areas caused by fertilisers, wastewater and sewage discharges, results in the excessive growth of green algae on intertidal mudflats, saltmarshes and seagrass meadows covering thousands of hectares. The process, known as eutrophication, causes ecological, economic and human health issues.

The study is part of the Rapid Reduction of Nutrients in Transitional Waters (RaNTrans) project, which is exploring how nature-based approaches can improve and protect marine ecosystems.

Professor Gordon Watson from the University of Portsmouth and RaNTrans project leader, says, “The overall purpose of culturing the seaweed is to demonstrate how restorative aquaculture can not only be useful commercially, but also has an important role to play in improving our waters.

“So if this works, businesses could farm the kelp and sell the product while simultaneously improving water quality.”

The project team comprises nine partners from across the UK and France testing a variety of methods to improve water quality from culturing oysters to mechanically removing the green algal mat.

The Solent team will now examine whether the kelp absorbs nutrients and as it grows in dense groupings much like a forest on land, could even provide food and shelter for many species.

Kelp farmed inshore as part of the project at Langstone Harbour © University of Portsmouth
As part of the analysis, the team will also look at how much carbon kelp could store. The team believes much of the Solent’s potential to capture greenhouse gases remains untapped.

An estimated 11 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent is captured each year in UK marine ecosystems and the Solent is one of Europe’s largest blue carbon sites; the term used for coastal marine environments which capture and store carbon.

The University is a founding member of the UK Blue Carbon Forum, formed in 2021 to address the important role of blue carbon in mitigating the current ecological and climate emergency.

Dr Joanne Preston, Reader in Marine Ecology and Evolution based in the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Portsmouth, says, “Kelp can capture and store carbon rapidly, so it makes sense to explore ways in which we can utilise these species in our fight against climate change.

“We’re really interested to see how kelp stores carbon, and we will do comparisons of the species and oysters using the data from our earlier deployments.”

By developing the business potential of these sustainably-produced outputs, the team aims to show how these nature-based approaches could also underpin regional job creation.

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ASC Shrimp Summit takes place June 12-14

Following a successful inaugural of the Shrimp Summit in July 2022, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) are hosting another ASC Shrimp Summit on June 12-14, 2023. In 2022, ASC buyers and seafood suppliers from the United States and Canada such as Sysco, Alberton’s, Disney, Ahold Delhaize USA, Metro, and Loblaws joined the event. This year, shrimp buyers from all three major and promising export markets of Ecuador – North America, Europe, and Japan – have confirmed their participation. 

“Connecting the marketplace to the producers is a vital part of our work at ASC in promoting ASC certified shrimp and demonstrating how responsible aquaculture production works. We are very excited to bring major retailers from Japan to Ecuador, which is an important supplier to this market for high-quality shrimp,” Koji Yamamoto, ASC General Manager in Japan, says.

“In the previous edition of the ASC Shrimp Summit, our esteemed North American guests explored the world of Ecuadorian shrimp. They experienced the commitments of SSP producers that embrace the best practices with the highest quality and social and environmental responsibility, complying with ASC label requirements, and with a special focus on zero use of antibiotics, neutral impact on water and full traceability. Their findings confirmed why Ecuador is the leading producer and exporter of shrimp in the world. This year, we are excited to expand this encounter to Europe and Asia, enabling more representatives from our three main markets to witness firsthand the exceptional efforts of our industry,” Pamela Nath, Director of the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership says.

Close-up insights into Ecuador’s Shrimp Production
Ecuador is the world’s leading shrimp producer and exporter of Pacific white shrimp (P. Vannamei),supplying all major shrimp markets such as Europe, China and the US. In 2022, Ecuador exported more than 1 million MT of shrimp, reaching 66 countries, and adding $6.7 billion in exports. Ecuador also accounts for approximately 40% of available ASC certified shrimp in the world.

A packed and exciting agenda await the participants of the ASC Shrimp Summit in Guayaquil. During the visit, participants will tour ASC certified farms and processing plants to see firsthand what responsible aquaculture production looks like. The tour also includes a visit to a feed mill, an important aspect of responsible seafood farming, which is now covered by the ASC Feed Standard.

ASC’s global shrimp standard requires that all ASC labelled shrimp are free from antibiotics, aligning with Ecuador’s movement away from antibiotics in the production of responsibly farmed shrimp in order to preserve the country’s delicate natural ecology. Driving this change toward the wider market to ensure safe, transparent practices and a healthy final product requires the efforts of multiple stakeholders, underlining the importance of ASC’s ongoing work.

For more information about the event visit the website, HERE.

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Skretting’s latest shrimp feed enables clean, simplified operation and better growth for hatcheries

Elevia is a new, innovative feed from Skretting, engineered to offer superior nutrition and water quality in shrimp hatcheries and nurseries. The precisely produced, stable micro diet improves larval performance while simplifying feed management and ensuring a cleaner system.

Image credit: William Warby on flickr
(CC BY 2.0)

Formulated to mimic the natural feeding approach of shrimp larvae, Elevia is a next generation solution that surpasses conventional feeding methods and traditional aquafeed ingredients, setting a new standard for hatchery performance. Incorporating new sustainable raw materials such as essential long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, algae-derived DHA and hydrolysed marine proteins, it enables shrimp to develop into strong and healthy post larvae with increased capacity to thrive in nursery environments.

“Elevia reduces the production cycles in hatcheries and provides shrimp with the necessary energetic reserve to improve resilience for the transport to the farm and acclimatation,” says Marita Montserrate, Technical Director at Skretting Ecuador. “In addition, Elevia ensures better performance in nursery, reduces the cost of the post larvae and promotes increased survival and growth throughout the entire production cycle.”

Elevia improves the ability of shrimp to handle challenges by providing them with nutrients that improve their immune system and overall resilience. This enables the shrimp to cope more effectively with stressful environmental changes. As a result, shrimp production becomes more reliable and successful, reducing the risks associated with variations in water conditions and other factors.

Through Elevia’s advanced formulation, physical properties and colour, the need for multiple diets and flakes is significantly reduced, resulting in simplified operations and feed management. Another key feature that contributes to streamlining operations is the diet’s ability to maintain water stability. Thanks to its unique composition and encapsulation of omega-3 fatty acids, the leaching of lipids into the production system is prevented, ensuring cleaner and uncompromised water quality. Consequently, intact feed particles remain stable for extended periods, minimising the necessity for frequent replacements. This not only promotes optimal water conditions but also facilitates essential system maintenance, all while alleviating the strain on bio- and mechanical-filters.

Elevia is produced in Skretting’s state-of-the-art LifeStart facility in France, and is currently available in Ecuador, with other markets to follow.

For more information about Skretting visit the website, HERE.

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SAIC consortium membership grows two-fold since doubling down on sustainability

The Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) has seen its membership double since rebranding in 2021 to reflect its increased focus on sustainability and the aquaculture sector’s global reach. 

The innovation centre now has 300 members with two new organisations, Pennsylvania-based Life Diagnostics and Ayrshire College, taking it over the milestone figure. SAIC’s consortium is designed to connect all areas of the aquaculture sector and encourage collaboration across seafood producers, retailers, supply chain businesses, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) colleges and universities.

The network’s reach spans beyond Scotland to include other major seafood-producing nations, as well as organisations with related expertise such as regulation, subsea technology, data and communications, and animal health. One-fifth (21%) of its members are based overseas, while one-quarter (25%) are located in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Of the 169 Scottish businesses that are part of the consortium, 60 are in the Highlands and Islands and the majority are SMEs.

SAIC reaches its 300-member milestone just weeks after its sold-out Sustainable Aquaculture Summit in Glasgow, which brought together industry leaders and emerging talent to help shape the sector’s future.

Heather Jones, CEO of SAIC, says, “Successful innovation is fuelled by collaboration, and the fact we now have over 300 partners in our network shows that organisations are seeing the value of working together towards a common goal.

“Our membership base has doubled since 2021 and from that point on we have increased our focus on the sector’s sustainability both in Scotland and worldwide. Global demand for nutritious protein sources continues to rise, and we recognise the important role aquaculture will play in feeding the world’s growing population in the years to come.

“We must grow sustainably, however, in ways that reduce the environmental footprint of aquaculture while increasing its economic impact. SAIC’s role, through the consortium, is to connect leading researchers with the sector to help develop new processes and technologies, as well as tackling some of the ongoing challenges we face.”

Many of SAIC’s members operating in Scottish aquaculture have been supported, through the consortium, to secure third-party funding for research and innovation. A total of £19.6 million has been invested into research initiatives, with significant industry contributions on top of that. For every £1 of investment from SAIC, a further £35 of funding has been secured from other sources.

Among those now benefiting from such support is new member Life Diagnostics, which produces specialist testing equipment and immunoassays for diagnosing a range of fish health conditions.

Chris Chadwick, president of Life Diagnostics, says, “We first connected with SAIC through a project looking into salmon cardiomyopathies, and since then we have become involved with two initiatives co-funded by the Seafood Innovation Fund and SAIC– one looking at modelling gill damage caused by micro-jellyfish and another at salmon immunology. Joining the consortium is a great opportunity for increasing our engagement with fish health specialists across the UK. We hope that it will lead to further collaborative research projects, supporting fish health across the sector.”

Strong relationships with higher and further education providers are also core to SAIC’s role in promoting careers in aquaculture, bridging the talent pipeline, and matching up world-leading academic research with current sector needs. 

In the coming months, SAIC will be working with new member Ayrshire College to highlight the range of skills and employment opportunities the sector has for students. Seafood producer Bakkafrost Scotland recently submitted plans for a new recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) at the Hunterston Port and Resource Centre (PARC), bringing of the opportunity for a number of aquaculture jobs and supply chain development to the region.

Anne Campbell, vice principal – curriculum at Ayrshire College, adds, “Local developments mean that there will soon be a new opportunity for talented people to build aquaculture careers in Ayrshire. SAIC is well-placed to help shape and develop our curriculum accordingly and raise awareness among young people of the options available to them. Being part of the network also means we can form valuable connections with other experts in the sector.”

For more information about SAIC visit the website, HERE.

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Statement by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye “New production record in aquaculture”

Written by Mehmet Uğur Gürkaynak

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye informs that the fisheries production in 2022 increased by 6.2% and reached 859 thousand 808 tons, and announced that the most sea bream and trout were produced in this period, and the most Bonito was caught in the 2022-2023 fishing season.

In 2022, aquaculture exports increased by 5.4% compared to the previous year and reached 252 thousand tons and 1,652 billion dollars.

In the statement made, it was also shared that the production made by hunting was 335 thousand 3 tons and aquaculture production was 514 thousand 805 tons in 2022. Of the total aquaculture production, 39.4 percent was obtained from hunting products and 60.6 percent was obtained from aquaculture products.

While the 2022-2023 fishing season was especially productive in terms of bonito fishing, the most bonito fishing season was experienced in recent years. Anchovy, which could not be caught much from the beginning of the season until November, was caught intensively in November, December and January.

Following the decision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to partially stop anchovy fishing in previous years, an increase in anchovy lengths was observed in the inspections carried out by the General Directorate of Fisheries. During the period, 125 thousand 980 tons of anchovy were hunted. In addition, Bonito was caught as 49 thousand 982 tons, Horse mackerel 14 thousand 930 tons, Bluefish 5 thousand 495 tons and Sprat 1 thousand 162 tons.

Expressing that the aquaculture production continued to grow in 2022 and the production of Sea Bream, Sea Bass and Trout increased significantly in this period, the ministry said, Sea Bream production increased by 15% to 153,469 tons, Sea Bass production increased by 1% to 156 thousand 602 tons, Trout production increased significantly. shared the information that it reached 191,103 tons with an increase of 14%.

Expressing that the salmon production increased by 43% compared to the previous year and reached 45 thousand tons, the ministry stated that the demand for Turkish Salmon in the domestic and foreign markets continues to increase.

It was stated that there was an increase in exports in 2022, reaching 252 thousand tons with an increase of 5.4% compared to the previous year.

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The Kherson plant for breeding young fish is under threat of complete flooding

The Kherson production and experimental plant for breeding young fish, which is located in the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region, is under threat of complete flooding.

Image credit: prilfish on flickr
(CC BY 2.0)

In particular, at one of its production sites in Gola Prystan, the water has already risen to 2.5-3 meters. The fish breeding area, the ponds of the breeding area, the pumping station and other hydraulic structures were flooded. The Novokakhovsk site of the plant is also at risk of flooding.

Complete inundation can lead to the loss of the breeding population of fish and the exit of breeders and young people outside the territory.

The plant maintains valuable breeding stock of aquatic bioresources and grows carp, pike, zander, catfish, bream, walleye, white carp for stocking natural reservoirs of national importance. The modern commercial herd of these fish species in the lower Dnieper and the Dnipro-Buzka estuary consists almost entirely of individuals that are the products of the plant.

Annually, 13 million specimens of fish were introduced into the fishery water bodies of Ukraine by the plant.

As a reminder, as a result of the destruction of the Kakhovskaya HPP, losses to the fishing industry from the death of only adults can reach 95 thousand tons or about 4 billion UAH. In total, according to preliminary calculations, losses from the death of all biological resources will amount to UAH 10.5 billion.

The Aquaculturists

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Tracking tuna side-streams – steps towards a more circular tuna farming industry in Malta

The PROFIUS project and its Malta-based partner AquaBioTech Group (ABT) are making significant advancements towards valorising previously discarded tuna side-stream material and addressing logistic and technical challenges to transform these materials into valuable products. 

The farming of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is a significant contributor to the local economy in Malta. The Maltese tuna farming industry generated approximately 190 million euros in 2021, sustains nearly 1,000 local full time employment opportunities, and provides a high-end fresh or frozen product for markets in Japan and other regions across Asia. Although tuna aquaculture is a net positive for the community, there is room for the industry to embrace sustainability and circular economy approaches more fully, ultimately benefitting farmers and the environment. 

In Malta, adult and juvenile wild bluefin tuna are caught offshore in the summer and transferred to floating sea cages where they are intensively fed and grown to market size. Harvesting occurs from October to January in a process that generates by-product biomass. Whole fish are typically filleted on board purpose-built vessels where prime cuts are stored in freezers, and the product is then directly shipped to the appropriate market. Off-cuts including the head, tail, fins, viscera, and bone material have historically been discarded during the harvesting process.  

AquaBioTech Group, a private aquaculture, fisheries, biotechnology, and environmental consultancy company, is making headway into research that is necessary for tuna side-stream product development. Researchers of the company hosted interviews with local stakeholders to identify which operational factors could limit the capacity for implementing circular practices into daily harvesting activities. The interviews highlighted that a lack of space onboard harvesting vessels for the storage of side-streams is a major challenge. A similar side-stream storage challenge was also raised for a local tuna processing facility. Due to freezer space limitations, raw side-stream biomass at the facility must be processed into fish meal and fish oil within 24 hours. If these challenges are addressed, the tuna farming industry in Malta will be able to generate more opportunities for revenue, reduce waste, and reduce environmental impacts.  

To address these challenges, temperature and chemical profiles of tuna side-stream materials were monitored to determine their preservation status prior to processing. To accomplish this, ABT researchers collected tuna side-stream materials in Malta, placed temperature probes inside the materials at the moment of harvest, and logged the temperature of the samples as they travelled to the shore and were frozen at -20 degrees Celsius. From harvest boat to on-land freezer, this journey lasted between three to six hours. The resulting temperature profiles from the duration of the journey were used to evaluate potential histamine formation and spoilage through a predictive model developed by PROFIUS partner Technical University of Denmark (DTU).  

AquaBioTech Group also assessed the nutritional properties and preservation quality of the tuna side-stream materials to determine their suitability for the extraction of commercially relevant biochemicals. Collagen, enzymes, fish meal, and fish oil are all potential by-products of the tuna farming industry and can contribute to human health and the production of feed for other aquaculture species. General tuna side-stream preservation status was evaluated by the degree of oxidation, and compositional analysis was performed to investigate the nutritional properties of the side-streams. The results are promising, and tuna side-stream material has been verified as a potentially highly valuable product. 

As part of the PROFIUS project, ABT researchers are interested in the circular approach of extracting fish meal and fish oil from local tuna side streams to incorporate into sustainable and functional aquafeeds. As a natural next step of the project, ABT will conduct tuna-incorporated feed trials with shrimp and European sea bass at their on-site recirculating wet lab facilities. These feed trials will allow researchers to determine the suitability of tuna fish oil and tuna fish meal derived from side-streams as an alternative protein source for aquaculture production. Moreover, ABT scientists will also investigate the capacity to improve the preservation status of the side-stream materials using natural extracts. By doing so, the pre-processing time can potentially be extended under non-refrigerated conditions. Furthermore, ABT is also in the process of collaborating with scientists from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology to develop sustainable methodologies to extract valuable compounds from the side-stream biomass.  

PROFIUS is a three-year ERA-NET project unlocking the potential of aquatic bioresources. It is a cooperation between Denmark, Malta, Norway, Iceland, and Greenland to address challenges in the supply chain related to lumpfish and tuna side-streams by developing preservation solutions for maintaining quality and improving utilization of the entire biomass. The consortium involves different institutes such as Technical University of Denmark, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and the University of Akureyri working along with industries including Royal Greenland, AquaBioTech Group (Malta) and BioPol (Iceland).  

The PROFIUS project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement 817992.  

Project PROFIUS is funded by the Malta Council for Science and Technology through the BlueBio ERA-NET co-fund scheme. 

For more information on the PROFIUS project visit the website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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Ace Aquatec secures backing from Earth Capital and appoints Chair and Non-Executive Director

Ace Aquatec, the award-winning aquaculture technology company which specialises in welfare first outcomes, has secured an investment from cleantech investor, Earth Capital Limited (“ECL”) to grow its current portfolio of products and markets.

ECL joins existing investors Aqua-Spark, one of the biggest blue growth investment funds, with a shared mission to move the aquaculture industry towards more healthy, sustainable, and affordable production. The group will benefit from ECL’s experience and support with Senior Investment Manager, Bradley Jones, joining the Ace Aquatec Board.

Wider changes to the board see Chris van der Kuyl CBE appointed Chair and Nina Santi joining the board as a non-exec director. Chris van der Kuyl is Principal of existing investor, Chroma Ventures and Nina Santi is also a senior advisor at INAQ AS, a business strategy advisory firm specialising in the seafood industry.

Today, fish provide 17 percent of the world’s protein with the world population expected to reach 8.5 billion by 20302. The growing demand for fish through aquaculture has emphasised the importance of responsible farming and targeted investment needed in the sector. Sustainable production methods, traceability, and animal welfare are also important factors in consumers’ purchasing decisions. Ace Aquatec is a crucial technological link in a chain of improvement that can help make aquaculture more sustainable.

The Dundee-based supplier of global aquaculture solutions has raised over £10m since its series A investment with Aqua-Spark and Chroma Ventures. Ace Aquatec has already shown strong growth in key markets including the UK, Europe, Canada, South America, and South East Asia and will use part of this additional capital to expand its presence and distributor networks in these markets. It will also provide a recruitment boost, with 10 jobs expected to be created including Engineering, Software and Sales support roles in Dundee and Chile.

The investment will also enable the acceleration of the firm’s development in innovative aquaculture technology solutions, including its Biomass Camera which has recently started production following successful trials. This underwater camera is designed to detect and quantify fish biomass automatically. It uses machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to produce accurate, real-time data on a range of fish species populations and distributions.

Bradley Jones, Senior Investment Manager of Earth Capital Limited says, “We are excited to be partnering with Ace Aquatec, a key player in the aquaculture industry, on the next stage of its development journey. Championing sustainable practices and setting high welfare standards paves the way to ensuring that seafood farming becomes one of the biggest opportunities to responsibly feed a growing population. Sustainable farming aligns perfectly with Earth Capital Limited’s mission to advance technology within the energy, food, and water sectors while driving towards a net-zero future.”

Nathan Pyne-Carter, CEO of Ace Aquatec, says, “Earth Capital Limited shares our outlook and passions – namely, the critical importance of technology to drive sustainable food production. Together we can tackle one of the world’s most pressing issues by providing sustainable and responsible protein for a growing world population. The team’s support and expertise will help us scale the business and take another huge step forward in the development of high-welfare products for the global seafood industry. We are also excited to welcome Bradley Jones to our board, whose deep knowledge and strategic insights will be invaluable in guiding our future growth.”

Josien Bakker, Investment Manager at Aqua-Spark says “Since our first investment in Ace Aquatec, we’ve known they had the vision to transform the sector by developing products that make fish farming more humane while protecting the environment. They have built a well-known brand, due to the company’s accessibility and scientific evidence. Its growth since then is proof that breakthrough technologies are being embraced by farmers, processors, and supermarkets  pushing for improved fish welfare across the entire industry. We’re looking forward to partnering with Earth Capital Limited, a fund committed to sustainable technology that will spotlight how much we can do to improve the welfare of fish across the industry.”

Chris van der Kuyl CBE, Chair says, “On behalf of the board, I am delighted to welcome Nina to Ace Aquatec. Nina is an accomplished and transformative executive with extensive experience in operations and technology management within the aquaculture sector. The board will also benefit from her strong scientific research capability and innovation experience.”

Nina Santi, Senior Advisor at INAQ AS, says “I am excited for the opportunity to join the board of Ace Aquatec. They are a great team dedicated to the support of the company. Ace Aquatec provides key solutions that the industry really needs and is well positioned for further growth.”

For more information about Ace Aquatec visit the website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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ASC pioneers digital traceability for shrimp through its key data elements project

Digital supply chain traceability of Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified shrimp products has become a reality, thanks to ASC’s Key Data Elements (KDE) project. By harnessing the power of technology to improve visibility of each product’s route to market, retailers will have a higher level of programme assurance through increased farm origin and supply chain data transparency.

Image credit: Cooking.etc on flickr
(CC BY 2.0)

The groundbreaking project has developed software to digitally capture and convey key data from ASC certified farms and feed sources, through processing, packaging, and transport to retailers. As product is moved, the data is transferred digitally along the supply chain, from one company to the next, using a unique code.

To achieve this goal, ASC has worked closely with supply chain company partners, stakeholders, and large-scale seafood traceability initiatives such as the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), to ensure that the project is aligned and has shared objectives and outcomes.

“We are very excited to pioneer digital traceability within the global seafood farming sector starting with our work on shrimp through the KDE Project. This is a huge part of ASC’s continuous efforts to increase integrity and assurance for ASC certified and labelled shrimp products as they move through the supply chain. The data transmitted digitally ensures not only transparency and traceability across the supply chain but the ability to also attach other product information of value to the end buyer. This tool gives all stages in the supply chain a better understanding of the origin of the products they are purchasing. We will also be exploring in the future how this tool can bring additional value to our customers,” says ASC CEO, Chris Ninnes.

Capturing Diverse Data Digitally
Relevant KDEs are captured, including a species’ scientific name, stock size and volume, source of broodstock, production method, country of origin and location of farm, movement and transportation documents, source and certification status of feed ingredients, processor type, date of freezing and sales documents. The data captured support traceability, which ultimately helps strengthen integrity and programme assurance.

Inclusion of hatchery name and stocking data means that tracking and verification measures begin prior to harvest, which is where ASC differs from some other schemes.

The project has already resulted in the building of an extensive database, and the list of captured elements will evolve as it develops further.

UK retailer Sainsbury’s and their supplier, Lyons Seafoods Ltd, are KDE project champions during this initial phase. They are working closely with ASC to offer valuable feedback from the supply chain to help continuously improve the project.

“Sainsbury’s are delighted to test ASC’s KDE project with our suppliers to help us digitalise our seafood supply chains, ensuring that we have the latest and most robust traceability systems in place as a foundation for our responsible sourcing policy. This helps us to build trust in seafood, deliver our customers’ expectations for 100 percent responsible fish and fully aligns with our plan for better: better for you, better for the planet and better for everyone,” says Sainsbury’s Head of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Dave Parker.

“Lyons Seafoods are proud and committed to certifying our products to the ASC standard. We recognise the standard to be the most stringent aquaculture sustainability certification globally which give us confidence that the farmed shrimp we supply to our customers are responsibly sourced. As part of our commitment to traceability and transparency, we were delighted to partner with the ASC as KDE champions. We have had the privilege of working with the supply chain to adopt ASC’s industry leading digital traceability platform which offers downstream visibility of the supply chain from farm to retailer,” says Labeyrie Fine Foods / Lyons Head of Sustainability, Estelle Brennan.

“Partners at every step of the chain are vital to the success of this project and we have been working closely with them in a supportive role. The positive feedback received from processors and retailers is very encouraging and validates our role in helping them to gain trust in the supply chain and provide transparent reassurance to their customers about the integrity of shrimp products,” says ASC Senior Director for Technical Operations, Ally Dingwall.

Continuous Improvement in ASC’s Programme Assurance and Integrity
The project’s initial focus has been on shrimp in Vietnam. To date, the majority of companies in Vietnam and India that label their shrimp products with the ASC label have signed up, and the roll-out has begun in Bangladesh. These products are exported around the globe, with the most significant purchasers being the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, and Germany. Products are also sold to many other countries in Europe and are traded as far afield as Canada, Singapore, the USA, Japan, Australia and Hong Kong.

The project aligns with other initiatives that help to re-enforce traceability and integrity and ASC is currently planning to run trials with tools such as farm management software.

Interoperability is crucial to the success of the wider project, and by working with partners and NGOs on protocols, ASC aims to achieve interoperable systems that will facilitate data exchange between different software providers and the ASC platforms.

Achieving full traceability for ASC shrimp products is just the beginning of this journey, and next steps in terms of additional species and geographical locations for the project are already being considered.

For more information about ASC visit the website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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