Cefas showcases facilities to South Dorset MP

January 16, 2025 - South Dorset MP, Lloyd Hatton visited the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) laboratory in Weymouth on Friday, exploring the organisation's cutting-edge research facilities and meeting with leading scientists.

Rachel Hartnell, Cefas Science Director; Lloyd Hatton, MP; Neil Hornby, Cefas Chief Executive and Grant Stentiford, Cefas Chief Scientist

Cefas, an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), conducts vital research in fish health, aquaculture, sustainable seafood production and seafood safety at its Weymouth laboratory on The Nothe. Cefas' headquarters is in Lowestoft, Suffolk.

A highlight of the visit included hearing about Cefas' specialist aquarium facilities, where scientists study diseases affecting fish, crustacea and shellfish. This unique research helps protect aquatic animal health and welfare, supporting both wild and farmed species.

During the visit, Mr Hatton toured the laboratories and heard from scientists about how Cefas' work supports the UK government and international commitments to the important issues of food safety, sustainable aquaculture, fish health and antimicrobial resistance. Mr Hatton had the opportunity to see first-hand the advanced research capabilities that make Cefas a world-renowned centre of excellence in aquatic sciences. The MP also heard about how the Fish Health Inspectorate, based at the lab, helps to maintain the high aquatic animal health status in England and Wales, working closely with fish farmers to support healthy and productive fish farms.

Cefas' Chief Executive, Neil Hornby, said: "As one of the larger employers in the area and with our roots in Weymouth dating back to the 1960s, engaging with local stakeholders, community groups and our neighbours is important to us.

"It has been a pleasure to welcome Lloyd Hatton MP to our Weymouth laboratory. His visit was an opportunity to showcase the science expertise that we use to support a sustainable future for our rivers, seas and the ocean, in the UK and internationally; as well as sharing our ambition to engage the next and future generations of aquatic scientists."

Mr Hatton said: "It was excellent to tour the Cefas facility and get a glimpse of their cutting-edge studies and research. The pioneering team at Cefas are doing so much to protect our changing environment and support the fishing and shellfish industry - we're fortunate to have them based here in Weymouth."

For more information, visit HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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EABA and DLG Benelux sign agreement to strengthen collaboration

January 14, 2025 - During the AlgaEurope 2024 conference, taking place in Athens from December 10-13, the organisers; the European Algae Biomass Association (EABA) and DLG Benelux have signed an agreement to strengthen collaboration for the Seagriculture EU Conference, taking place annually in rotating locations in Europe.

Both companies have been successfully organising the AlgaEurope Conference together since 2015, attracting some 425 delegates.

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The general objective of the European Algae Biomass Association (EABA) is to promote mutual interchange and cooperation in the field of algae biomass production and uses in all thinkable applications.

EABA aims at creating, developing and maintaining solidarity and links between its members and at defending their interest at European and international level. Its main target is to act as a catalyst for fostering synergies among scientists, industrialists and decision makers in order to promote the development of research, technology and industrial capacities in the field of Algae.

DLG Benelux has been organising Seagriculture for over 14 years and each year the conference gathers top speakers, sharing their know-how within seaweed for feed, food, offshore cultivation, biorefinery of seaweed and much more. 

The Seagriculture conference has built up a solid reputation as the leading conference for the seaweed industry, the Seagriculture conference in Europe has been successfully organised since 2012.

Carlos Unamunzaga, President of EABA, states: "As the leading association for algae in Europe, EABA is dedicated to supporting its members in both the macroalgae and microalgae sectors. Signing the agreement with DLG Benelux to foster closer collaboration around the Seagriculture Conference will undoubtedly contribute to this mission and further enhance the association's efforts to advance the algae industry."

Kuno Jacobs, Managing Director of DLG Benelux, states: "For many years, we have enjoyed a successful collaboration with EABA. Partnering with EABA for the Seagriculture Conference will create an even stronger platform, enabling us to further develop the conference and connect with an even broader network of industry players. Furthermore, I believe it's a great example of collaboration which is so much needed in the sector."

The next edition is scheduled for June 17-29, 2025, and will take place in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

For more information, visit HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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Cargill (EWOS) Canada and Mowi Feed round off strong year of ASC Feed Certification

January 13, 2025 - Cargill (EWOS) Canada became the first ASC certified feed company in Canada. Their feed mill, operating out of Surrey, British Columbia, produces feed for a variety of species, including trout, salmon, seabass, seabream and meagre, seriola, cobia and tilapia. Cargill Canada's ASC feed certification is a key step forward for the supply of responsible feed to farms across North America and the Pacific Rim.

Feed being distributed at an ASC certified trout farm in North America

Mowi Feed has also achieved ASC feed certification for both its facilities in Scotland and Norway. Operating our of Kyleakin on the east coast of the Isle of Skye, Scotland, and Valsneset in central-western Norway, respectively, their state-of-the-art feed mills produce feed for salmon. Both ASC feed certifications for Mowi Feed reflect further progress for responsible salmon farming in the UK and Norway.

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ASC drives farmed seafood transformation by leveraging expertise, fostering innovation and partnering with the supply chain to amplify impact. These recent certifications, alongside all other certifications and commitments achieved since the launch of the ASC Feed Standard, play a pivotal role in this mission of transforming the industry towards greater environmental and social responsibility.

There are now 16 Units of Certification in the ASC Feed programme (comprising 22 individual certified feed mill sites) across numerous countries including Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Norway, Thailand, Vietnam and the UK, displaying the strong global uptake of the ASC feed certification programme.

A diverse mix of multinational and regional companies have achieved ASC Feed certification showing that complying with its robust requirements is accessible and achievable. With numerous further feed companies in the initial audit phase, 2025 is already shaping up to be another strong year of ASC Feed Certification uptake.

ASC certified farms have until October 31, 2025, to ensure their feed supply is ASC-conforming - in other words, feed produced by mills that are certified against the ASC Feed Standard. The use of ASC-conforming feed is necessary for ASC certified farms to continue meeting the ASC Farm Standard and retain their certification.

For more information, visit HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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