31/10/12: Fisheries Innovation Fund; three star BAP status

Hello,

• The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has announced the third round of grants available from its Fisheries Innovation Fund. The fund fosters the design and implementation of new and inventive ideas to ensure sustainable fisheries in the US. Find out how fisheries managers, fishermen, nonprofit organisations, and other stakeholders can apply for additional resources to put innovative fishing practices into action.  More information...

• Northern Harvest Sea Farms has been certified as a 'three-star' salmon operation by the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) programme. The farm is the first salmon farm to gain 'three-star' status in North America. "Northern Harvest is moving ahead as a leader in salmon certification," Best Aquaculture Practices Vice President of Development Peter Redmond said. "From plant to farms and now feed, the company is working hard to operate in a responsible way. We look forward to more and more facilities -- both in North America and elsewhere -- following their path." More information...

Laksemadder (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Alltech announces strategic five-year research programmes with top Chinese universities

 Dr Karl Dawson, Alltech Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer and Dr Mark Lyons, Alltech Vice President (8th and 9th from left) at the press conference announcing the five year research programme with top Chinese universities   

Alltech, one of the leading animal health companies in the world, in conjunction with the top Chinese universities and academic research institutes has officially launched Alltech - Chinese University/Institute Research Alliances platform this October during a press conference held in Beijing and through series of onsite signing ceremonies at the Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agri-Products - Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang University, South China Agricultural University,  Northwest A&F University and Jiangnan University.

As part of a 2011 survey conducted by Alltech, in cooperation with other parties, it was shown that China is now the largest feed market in the world. Alltech is putting unprecedented resources into China, including transferring one of its senior vice presidents and the son of the founder, Dr. Mark Lyons, to China in January 2012. Another senior vice president, Aidan Connolly, has visited China ten times this year in order to support Alltech’s operations there.

“Issues such as mycotoxins, feed and food safety and the environmental impact of our industry are strongly present in China. Also, in times of the highest ever raw material prices in history, Chinese animal producers still need to be profitable by reducing feed costs and increasing animal performance. One of the biggest questions for China is how the country can improve the feed conversion rate and at the same time decrease the dependence on crop imports,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, adding that “Alltech’s investment of more than $2.5 million to the Chinese Research Alliances in the next five years clearly indicates our commitment to find sustainable solutions to these challenges together with some of the world’s best universities."

“These Research Alliance projects will help Alltech bring solutions to our most important markets, solving real problems for the benefit of society and the industry. The impact of this will go beyond the borders of China as China today impacts all parts of the food and feed industries around the world,” said Dr. Mark Lyons.

Alltech has been successfully collaborating with top academic institutions through research alliances in order to find long-term answers to the key issues facing the agricultural industry by using sound sciences and educating the next generation of scientist. “China is potentially the largest single market for Alltech and has attracted the best resources from the company. The Research Alliances platform thus becomes the first key program invested in by Alltech's Corporate Research Department to provide animal agriculture the combined resources of Alltech and the top academic research institutions in China,” said Dr. Karl Dawson, chief scientific officer at Alltech.

The Research Alliances at each university will focus on specific key areas aiming to address emerging challenges to animal agriculture in China, for example:

Alltech – IQSTAP Feed Toxicology Research Alliance: Mycotoxin testing methodology development and application
Alltech – ZJU Animal Nutrition and Feed Science Research Alliance: New feed additive evaluation and solution development
Alltech – NWAFU Animal Science Research Alliance: Application of animal metabolic chamber in the control of green house gas emission
Alltech – SCAU Animal Nutrition Control Research Alliance: Nutrigenomics in yellow feather chicken
Alltech – JNU Food Research Alliance: Programmed Nutrition on the regulation of meat quality
The Research Alliance will be run by the joint (Alltech/ University/Institute) Management Committee, responsible for the programmes preparation, justification, monitoring and outcome review. This strategic long-term partnership will be critical for the consistency of future scientific studies, and will be the basis for successful breakthrough in scientific research. These alliances will be the catalyst for future advances in agricultural technologies.

“Alltech’s University Research Alliances is a fantastic opportunity to promote research collaboration. I really think this will benefit both the universities and Alltech enormously. More importantly, it will provide an excellent opportunity for the education of future generations,” said Dr. Youling Xiong, Professor, University of Kentucky, Department of Animal and Food Sciences.
“I am delighted that we have such great alliance between the Northwest Agriculture University and Alltech as well as the other universities. From the Research Alliance, we will have access to advanced technology and research on nutrition and animal science, in order to promote animal production and the food industry. Also, through Alltech’s research programmes we will be able to educate students, both postgraduates and undergraduates in pursuing their future career,” said Dr. Jun Luo, professor of the College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University.

More information...

Norel

Norel makes a range of products for aquaculture species including pellet binders, organic acids, organic minerals and flavours.
Click on the image to visit the Norel website

30/10/12: Fish and duck farming; fish protein intake in Nigeria; Australian aquaculture proposals

Hello, 

• Plans are in the pipeline for the NSW Government, Australia to establish commercial aquaculture industry in Jervis Bay, on the NSW South Coast, boosting an already growing industry, Executive Director Fisheries NSW, Dr Geoff Allan has said. Dr Allan said a meeting with South Coast stakeholders, including government agencies, Shoalhaven City Councillors and staff and the University of Wollongong was held with Fisheries NSW last week to outline the proposal to gain approval for three aquaculture leases in Jervis Bay to culture Blue Mussels and other shellfish. The project would generate local seafood sales and employment opportunities. Read more...

• At the Aquaculturists, we are always interested in unusual aquaponics stories, so it was no surprise that this story from India caught our attention. Paddy farmers in the Allepey district, Kerala, have been advised to ditch rice in favour of fish and ducks. Scientists from CPCRI (Central Plantation crop research institute) believe and integrated model will double profits. Seven farmers took up the challenge.  Read the results here.

• Fish provides 35 percent of protein intake in Nigeria, says senior lecturer at the Department of Fisheries of Lagos State University. Speaking at Fishparty, a public enlightenment  programme  organised by Fisheries and Environment Services in Lagos recently, Dr. Prince Ndimele, said that fish is the cheapest source of animal protein consumed in Nigeria. In West African coastal countries, where fish plays a central role in the economy, the proportion of dietary protein that comes from fish is extremely high; 35 per cent in Nigeria, 47 per cent in Senegal, 62 per cent in Gambia and 63 per cent in Sierra Leone and Ghana. Read more...
  

English: Blenheim Beach in Vincentia at Jervis Bay, Australia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Staff, farm sites safe following British Columbia tsunami warning

With storm Sandy dominating weather reports across the world this week, news of a  7.7 magnitude earthquake near Haida-Gwaii on Saturday has been sidelined.  

English: Atlantic salmon. Salmo salar. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Preplanning, rapid communication and proactive measures protected farmers and fish this weekend as BC’s salmon farmers responded quickly to a tsunami warning for Vancouver Island’s west coast.

Following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake near Haida-Gwaii on Saturday, salmon farmers voluntarily rolled out emergency preparedness protocols and moved staff from approximately 20 salmon farm sites located in the waters off the coast of British Columbia to predetermined safe locations.

All staff members are safe and no damage has been reported on any farm sites.

“Ensuring that our staff and farms are safe is of critical importance to our farmers,” said Mary Ellen Walling, Executive Director, BC Salmon Farmers Association. “The proactive measures taken this weekend are an example of the high level of care we take to farm responsibly in the ocean.”

Removing staff from farms following this notification is part of our farmers’ emergency response protocol, which includes planned evacuation routes and procedures, tsunami kits and post-event farm checks.

BC’S salmon farms are engineered to a very high standard to ensure they can withstand significant weather events.

Following this weekend’s events, members of the BC Salmon Farmers Association will provide feedback on the notification process and review their own responses as part of their focus to continuously improve procedures.

The BCSFA represents salmon farm companies and those who supply services and supplies to the industry. Salmon-farming provides for 6,000 direct and indirect jobs while contributing $800-million to the provincial economy each year.

More information...

Event: Aquaculture 2013 - programme announced

We have just had a sneaky peek at the programme for Aquaculture 2013 in Nashville, USA, February 21-25,  2013.  Shrimp will play a huge role with a host of sessions including nutrition, production and disease and health.

As well as species sessions there will also be contributed sessions dedicated to current trends and management.  I'm already looking forward learning more about urban aquaculture and harmful algal blooms.

I am also pretty excited about some of the more unusual topics such as zebrafish, frogs and eels.

You can view the programme online and download the brochure here.

Also, look out for our interview with event organisers in the November/December 2012 issue of International Aquafeed magazine.

shrimp-heads-dau-tom (Photo credit: Phú Thịnh Co)

Muyang

Since 1967, Muyang has grown into a prestigious group corporation, whose activities cover design, development, fabrication and installation of the machinery and engineering of the following industries such as feed manufacturing, grain milling, environment protection, food processing, bulk solids handling and storage, steel structure building as well as industrial automation. Click on the image for more information.

29/10/12: NZ aquaculture; sustainable hatchery plans for Australia; Linde announces profits

Hello,

• A balance has to be found between the needs of bach and boat owners and of marine farmers, says Aquaculture New Zealand chief executive Gary Hooper. Hooper's comments come ahead of the annual New Zealand Aquaculture Conference later this week. Read more...

• Plans to establish a new aquaculture research lease on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia to investigate sustainable seafood production, have gone on public exhibition. Dr Allan Executive Director Fisheries NSW, Dr Geoff Allan said the project to extend the successful marine hatchery work at Port Stephens Fisheries Institute to an offshore research lease is classified as a State Significant Infrastructure proposal. The plans will be exhibited by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure until November 29, 2012. Read more...
  

• The performance of the technology company The Linde Group has remained steady in the nine months ended 30 September 2012, with Group revenue and Group operating profit both increasing once again. "We are still on track, even though the economic situation has worsened in the past few months," said Professor Dr Wolfgang Reitzle, Chief Executive Officer of Linde AG. "Lincare has already had a positive impact. The acquisition of this business has made our position even more robust." In the first nine months of 2012, Group revenue rose by 8.4 percent to EUR 11.063 bn, compared with EUR 10.209 bn for the first nine months of 2011. After adjusting for exchange rate effects, the increase in revenue was 3.8 percent. More information...  

fish & chips (Photo credit: David Ascher)

Shark falls out of the sky

A shark has been rescued after it apparently fell out of the sky onto the 12th hole at a golf course in California, USA. A marshal at San Juan Hills Golf Course found the leopard shark writhing around on the course and brought it to the clubhouse.  Staff kept the shark in a bucket of salty water and then returned it to the ocean during a lunch break.

It is believed the shark had been snatched up by a large bird of prey, such as an osprey or peregrine falcon, which then lost its grip on its dinner. Two bleeding puncture marks were seen near the fish's dorsal fin. Read more...

English: Leopard shark Triakis semifasciata at the Embarcadero, San Francisco, California, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Event: Offshore mariculture industry looks to high seas opportunities

Some of the participants at Offshore Mariculture

The offshore aquaculture industry has requested that United Nations’ FAO conduct an assessment of the access and operational frameworks for open ocean mariculture in the High Seas, and make recommendations as to how to better encourage work towards mariculture in waters beyond any one nation’s EEZs. A Statement to this effect was drafted at The Offshore Mariculture Conference, held in Izmir, Turkey, over three days from 17-19 October 2012 and the Turkish government offered to formally convey the request to FAO.

The Statement adopted at the conclusion of the Conference drew from a number of preceding declarations – including the 2010 Global Conference on Aquaculture, the Phuket Consensus of 2010, and the Colombo Declaration of 2011, all of which have emphasized the critical role for aquaculture in feeding the world, stimulating economic development, providing employment and reducing existing negative impacts on the marine environment. Most recently, the Bremerhaven Declaration of 2012 spoke specifically of the need for increased research, development, investment and policy frameworks for open ocean aquaculture.

“There is growing interest from the private sector in exploring the potential for aquaculture in waters that are increasingly deeper, and further offshore” said Conference Chairman, Neil Anthony Sims, of Kampachi Farms, LLC. “Given that many nations – such as those in the Mediterranean – still only exert national authority as far as 12 miles offshore, then there is a looming question about what happens in the “Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction” (ABNJ). We need to start to address this in anticipation of, and in order to encourage these developments”.

The Conference heard Keynote presentations from Alessandro Lovatelli, FAO Aquaculture Officer; Paul Holthus of World Ocean Council; and Harald Rosenthal who had Chaired the Bremerhaven Conference. Each spoke of the opportunity and the imperative for aquaculture’s rights and responsibilities to be better defined in ABNJ. Mr Holthus described how many international conventions and agreements regarding ABNJ are either already established, or are under discussion, without any real consideration of the potential for aquaculture, and with minimal consultation with industry.

The Conference was officially opened by Dr Durali Kocak, the Director-General of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, who described how the Turkish government had prioritized aquaculture development. The industry in Turkey is expanding at a phenomenal rate, as it indeed must, to meet the growing demand, but care is being taken to ensure that such growth is within the sea’s ecological limits, he said.

 Other presentations explored a range of planning and management tools that are being set up around the world – the Philippines, Australia, the Basque country of Spain, and host country Turkey – to better integrate aquaculture into coastal planning initiatives. New species development, provision of seed (fish fingerlings or bivalve spat) and feed developments for offshore mariculture were also reviewed.

Michael Ebeling, of the Wegner Institute in Germany, and Dr Amir Neori of the Israeli Oceanographic institute (together with Gamze Turan of Ege University) spoke  on the potential to co-locate aquaculture and offshore energy projects such as wind farms, and the prospects and need for macroalgae culture in offshore locations. Economic analysis of the co-location plans suggests that mussels may prove profitable, but fin-fish and macroalgae culture require further engineering to achieve efficient scale and valued products.

On the second day of the Conference, a number of presentations highlighted engineering improvements to offshore net pen systems, including dramatic video footage of sharks trying in vain to break through Dyneema’s Pred-X (by Margot van Wunnick and Felipe Ramirez of DSM-Dyneema), and AKVA’s Econet / Kikkonet (Douglas Johnson of AKVA, with input on new mesh sizes from Massimo Branzanti of Maccaferri), along with data demonstrating the antifouling properties of brass alloy meshes (Dr Murat Yigit of Canakkale University, in conjunction with International Copper Association). The day also included reviews of new developments in single-point mooring systems for self-submerging surface pens (Mohamed Shainee of Norway’s NTNU) and for shrimp culture in Aquapods (Steve Page of Ocean Farms Technologies), tension leg cages (Darko Lisac of RefaMed) and testing of more robust surface pens and unanchored ‘drifter cages’ (Sims, of Kampachi Farms). New advances in net pens and service vessels for exposed Norwegian salmon farm sites were presented by Finn Willumsen of AquaCulture Engineering AS, and Mats Heide of SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture, respectively. Individual farm sites in Norway are now up to 12,000 T production capacity, using 160 m diameter net pens, and serviced with boats over 80 m in length.

On the last afternoon of sessions, Hayri Deniz of the Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock gave an overview of the government’s role in supporting industry expansion, including regulations intended to foster farm growth further offshore, as part of integrated coastal management plans. Turkey now has the 3rd fastest growth rate in aquaculture globally, he stated. This was then followed by two company presentations detailing the rapid expansion in seabass and sea bream production in Turkey. Oznur Yildiz of Kilic Sea Products described her company’s present rate of growth at over 40 percent per year. Ozlem Guzel of Camli Feed Products and Pinar Aquaculture outlined the vertically integrated approach of her company, and the broader Turkish industry.

On the final day, conference attendees were give a first-hand look at the booming Turkish aquaculture industry, as they were hosted on a tour of fish processing facilities; a boat trip out to exposed farm sites for seabass, seabream and tuna; and a walk-through of marine fish hatchery facilities in the Izmir area.

Attendees at the Conference included both experienced and aspiring investors and entrepreneurs; fish farm owners, managers and operators; makers and distributors of net pens and mesh materials; feedstuff suppliers and feed manufacturers; and researchers into new species, new farm technologies, genetics, and fish health. Over 25 nationalities were represented at the Conference, including attendees from Chile, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Norway, UK, USA, Australia, Israel and the Lebanon. The Conference Gala Dinner on the superyacht Lamia – hosted by the Turkish government – offered a superb sampling of Turkish seafood - mostly cultured, of course! – and Turkish olives, cheeses, wines and music. Many new friendships were forged on the aft deck of the SY Lamia that night. 

The dates and venue for the 2014 Offshore Mariculture Conference will be released shortly.

More information...

LFA

As the “Animal health and nutrition” business unit of Lesaffre, Lesaffre Feed Additives (LFA) is a leading player in the animal feed market. LFA designs, develops and markets a range of products, all derived from fermentation processes.  It meets even the most demanding requirements of the mass consumption markets and actually works to promote the well being of animals. Look out for the next issue of International Aquafeed which will contain an article on using yeast by LFA. Click on the image to visit the LFA website.

26/10/12: Marine Harvest Q3 earnings; Fukushima fish; BioMarine Business Convention

Hello,

• The Marine Harvest Group achieved before tax and interest earnings of NOK 73 million in the third quarter of 2012, compared to NOK 457 million in the corresponding quarter of 2011. The results were impacted by weak market prices and a lower benefit from sales contracts compared to previous quarters. Cash flow from operations was NOK 237 million in the quarter compared to NOK 269 million in the same period in 2011. "The results for the third quarter were negatively impacted by low market prices and limited benefit from the sales contract portfolio compared to previous quarters. I am pleased by the organization's ability to deliver on costs, particularly in Norway. We are struggling in Chile and Canada due to the exceptional low market prices in the Americas. We are continuing to benefit from the cash flow measures implemented last year, and our balance sheet is therefore very strong," says Alf-Helge Aarskog, CEO. The company also reported a harvest volume increase of 12 percent to 93,229 tons from 83.076 tons in the third quarter of 2011. More information...

• More than 18 months after the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, fish in the area still contain traces of radioactivity.  A new study has found that fish near the plant are still being exposed to new sources of cesium, possibly from the seafloor or from contaminated groundwater that's flowing into the ocean. Fortunately, most fish sampled had levels of cesium below safe limits for consumption, though some contained surprisingly large amounts. Read more...

• Several of the International Aquafeed team were at the BioMarine Business Convention in London this week. They had an exciting and fruitful time and were proud to launch the the BioMarine Resources Directory. Look out for a full report soon.

  

  Norwegian krones (Photo credit: tripu)

Video: Velella Project

The Friday video this week is that rare combination of visually stunning, innovation and information.
The Velella Mariculture Research Project tested an unachored drifter pen in Federal waters (3-150 miles offshore) off the Big Island of Hawaii. This innovative form of mariculture - growing fish in the open ocean - uses cutting edge technology and leaves no environmental footprint. The Velella Project could revolutionise sustainable aquaculture.


Look out for the next International Aquafeed magazine photo shoot, which features gorgeous images from the Velella Project.

25/10/12: zebrafish; Scotland bags aquaculture funding; fish using tools

Hello, 

• A diver in Australia has captured the first photos of a wild fish using a tool. The shots show a  blackspot tuskfish - Choerodon schoenleinii - holding a clam in its mouth and hitting it against a rock to get at the bivalve inside.  See the images here. Have any of you aquaculturists seen fish behaving is a similar way?  Let us know.

• We think of fish as food first and foremost but aquatic species have many applications, including healthcare.  The first issue of International Aquafeed in 2013 will contain an feature on diets for zebrafish, which are routinely bred for health purposes.  With this in mind, this article on the LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Research Station, USA caught my attention. Researcher Terry Tiersch has two National Institutes of Health grants of over $1.5 million to investigate the potential application of fish in human healthcare. Tiersch's work involves freezing of sperm from zebrafish, swordtails and platyfish to look at preserving the genetic resources. Zebrafish are a useful biomedical model because they have the same basic genetics as humans, but are cheaper and easier to work with than mice or monkeys. Read more...

• Scotland’s aquaculture industry is set to benefit from the new European Maritime Fisheries Fund. The fund will help the sector adapt to new circumstances, expand and create new jobs and promote fisheries conservation. Read more...
  

English: Lateral view of zebrafish body illustrating how chromatophores facilitate a chromatic response to 24 hour exposure to a dark background (top) and light background environment (bottom) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New! IAF column: Dom Bureau

I am delighted to introduce International Aquafeed's newest columnist Dom Bureau. 

Part of our editorial panel, Dom has a PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Guelph, Canada.

Today he teaches various undergraduate and graduate courses on animal nutrition and agriculture at the University of Guelph. Between 2007 and 2009, he coordinated the “Paris Semester”, a study abroad program for undergraduate students at the University of Guelph. He serves on a number of international committees, including the US National Research Council Committee on Nutrient Requirements of Fish and Shrimp which will publish its findings in 2011.

Read Dom's first column here.

Extru-Tech

Founded in 1985, Extru-Tech produces, markets and installs extrusion systems for the production of human food, pet food, aquatic feed and animal feed products.
Click on the image to visit the Extru-Tech website.

Course: Aquaponics, Canada

NOA Fisheries is hosting a 3 day Aquaponics course December 16-18, 2012 at the Double Tree by Hilton in Toronto, Canada.

Aquaponics is a sustainable farming method that helps fish farmers earn a second income by hydroponically growing vegetables and leafy greens with the nutrient rich water from their recirculating aquaculture system.

Speakers:
Dr. Nick Savidov AARD
Dr. Michael Timmons Cornell University
Dr. Kevin Fitzsimmons Arizona University
Charlie Shultz formerly of UVI
Donald Bailey UVI
Steve Naylor OMAFRA

Includes a hands on portion where you can learn how to sex tilapia, collect and rear eggs, plant seedlings, prepare harvest for specific markets.

Discounted room rates $99 per night for course participants.

There is a free shuttle bus from Pearson International Toronto Airport directly to the hotel. Classes located inside the hotel. Lunches, breaks and cocktail party included. Restaurants within walking distance for dinner dining. Complimentary bus to hands on portion.

Recirculating Aquaculture Textbook by Dr. Timmons and Ebling Discounted $99 for particpants.
Ontario farmers can qualify for course cost sharing through Ontario Soil and Crop.
http://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/en/bdfbapplications/default.htm
Register Early spaces are limited

For more information please call 416-546-6623 Email: info@noafisheries.ca

External Link for Online Registration

24/10/12: Thai shrimp boom; new SFP director; Baltic climate change

Hello,

• India's loss is Thailand's gain when it comes to shrimp exports. Japan has controversially blocked imports of the crustacean from India due to high levels and has turned to Thailand to fill the shrimp-shaped void. According to a report in the Nation, Thia shrimp exports to Japan have risen by 23 percent. Read more... 

• Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) has appointed its first Aquaculture Director, Anton Immink. The appointment represents a new phase in the expansion of SFP’s aquaculture work and reflects a focus on zonal management initiatives in Asia. Anton Immink was previously Senior Consultant at Stirling Aquaculture, University of Stirling, and has worked in Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as for the UK Department for International Development and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.  Congratulations to Anton, we wish you every success.

• Climate change will have a negative effect on Baltic Sea marine environments, say researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. A project modeled the impact of rising temperatures in the region and found that oxygen would drop and salt levels would rise, with potentially fatal impacts on sea life.  What effect do you think this will have on aquaculture?  Let us know by commenting below.

Baltic Sea. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New! IAF Article: Editor's Letter

Editor Simon Davies introduces the magazine and tells readers what he's been up to recently (hint, lots of air miles). Enjoy.  Read the text here.

International Aquafeed editor Simon Davies

Evonik

Evonik is a specialty chemical company with a focus on high-growth megatrends—especially health, nutrition, resource efficiency, and globalisation. Click on the image to visit the Evonik website.

23/10/12: sea lice in salmon; Cermaq profits; functional aquafeeds

Hello, 

• Last week, Canadian supermarket chain Sobeys voluntarily removed 84 whole-farmed salmon from its stores after anti-fish farming activist, Alexandra Morton, posted a photo of a lice-infested fish on Facebook.  Sobeys has confirmed that some of the fish had sea lice but has not revealed how many.
  

• The Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association has responded with a press release on its website which outlines the facts about sea lice.  Read more...
  

• Cermaq has reported a  satisfactory third quarter result despite a challenging salmon market. Cermaq reported an EBIT pre fair value and biomass write-down for third quarter 2012 of NOK 232 million (NOK 348 million). Solid results in EWOS, particularly due to high volume and capacity utilisation in Norway, compensated for low salmon prices and biological challenges in Mainstream. Third quarter 2012 EBIT pre fair value and biomass write-down was NOK 232 million compared to NOK 348 million for third quarter 2011.Following write-downs in Canada due to the IHN virus outbreak and in Norway from the PD outbreak, EBIT pre fair value for the quarter was NOK 180 million.  Read more... 

• I've been hearing quite a bit about functional aquafeeds recently so this article, published by Engormix, is a really good overview of what functional aquafeeds are and what they do.  Read more...

English: Male and female Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New! IAF Article: BioMarine Business Convention

The BioMarine Business Convention kicks off tomorrow so I thought I'd share this interview with chairman Pierre Erwes. Pierre gives us the lowdown on what promises to be a great event.  The article also features the convention's main sponsors. Click on the image to read the article or click here.

Click here to read the article

22/10/12: Samoa aquaculture grant; tilapia in Canadain high school; FDA approved drugs

Hello,

• The Redwood Region Economic Development Commission, Samoa is set to receive $70,000 from the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors to establish an aquaculture center in Samoa. The center will potentially grow both freshwater and saltwater species of plants and animals, including abalone, fish and vegetables. Read more...

• 'What are 300 tilapia doing in a Toronto high school?', asks the Globe and Mail.  I know it's only Monday but this has got be a contender for headline of the week.  Students at Bendale Business and Technical Institute, are raising the fish as part of a 'green industries' project.   The project is part of a move to 'reclaim' the school grounds after a shooting near the school in 2008.  Heart-warming stuff.  Read more...

• In an open letter, the FDA has reminded aquaculture professionals that not all drugs marketed for fish food are approved.  Even if a marketed product has the same established name (active ingredient) as an FDA-approved drug, that doesn’t mean it’s also FDA-approved. The letter also sets out which drugs are approved.  Read more...

Fda (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Buhler

Bühler extruders allow adjustment of the ideal density, sinking rate, size, water absorption rate and water stability of feeds.  Click on the image to find out more.

19/10/12: banned salmon sites in NZ; wrasse to rid salmon of lice; Kenyan fish consumption

Hello, 

• Best salmon sites in New Zealand are banned, says King Salmon New Zealand.  The company asked Marlborough District Council why cool, deep, fast-flowing water sites (which are great for raising salmon) were prohibited for aquacultural use.  The discussion was part of a council review of existing aquaculture plans.  Read more...

• Sea lice are nasty for salmon and costly for salmon farmers so any new way of of tackling the problem is of interest to the industry.  Staff at Memorial University’s Ocean Sciences Centre, Canada are researching the potential of wrasses (known as connors or cunners in Canada) as a cleaner fish for the salmon.  The fish are already used in commercial production cycles in Norway and Scotland for pest management.  However, more research needs to be conducted as little is know about wrasse cleaning ability from salmon or its adaptivity to captive culture conditions. Read more...

• Kenyans are not eating enough fish to sustain the fish farming industry.  Normally we report on the gulf between fish demand and supply but in Kenya the story is reversed.  The government has been pushing aquaculture development for some time, investing Sh5.7 billion over three years.  But this  persuaded Kenyans to serve up fish at home; the average fish consumption in the country is just 3.7 kg per person a year.  Read more...

English: Sea lice, L. salmonis, on farmed Atlantic salmon, New Brunswick, Canada (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Video: Closed containment pens

Closed containment.  Is it the answer to sustainability?  Agrimarine seems to think so.

Event: 6th International Algae Congress - Present and potential industrial applications

Microalgae have been of major interest for producing biofuels in the last decade. Recently, development and focus was changed towards the use of microalgae in the food, feed, materials and chemical sector as well. Microalgae contain high amounts of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates, which all can be used for different markets. For biofuels only microalgae production appears to be too costly but in a biorefinery concept where the different compounds are isolated, algal biofuels remain a feasible option.

Worldwide basic research, pilot and demonstration projects were developed. We are working on the basic aspects to make commercial production of microalgae possible. In this conference we will report on the developments in the field by presentations of the larger projects inside and outside Europe. We will discuss basic research questions as well as demonstration projects. We will look at scalability and sustainability of the process of algae production and refinery.

For more information contract Christie de Vrij, Christie.deVrij@dlg-benelux.com

English: Nannochloropsis sp. microalgae viewed under a light microscope (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The congress programme is now online here 

18/10/12: Scotland special

Hello,
Today we have a Scottish themed blog post.  Scotland has a thriving aquaculture industry with 
salmon and trout operations particularly successful.  The country is the key producer of farmed salmon in the EU with an estimated value of £585m.

• Scotland looks towards the long term when it comes to sustainable aquaculture.  Results from the public consultation on proposals for the introduction of an Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill have been published.  The Scottish Government consulted on how to achieve a sustainable future for aquaculture and freshwater fisheries and ensure the effective management of interactions between the two sectors. The consultation will inform the development of a new Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill, which is planned for introduction in autumn 2012.  Read more...

• The BBC reports that the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill will impose tougher regulation on the industry.  Plans will include greater scrutiny by Sepa inspectors and fines of up to £10,000.  Read more...

• A new world class salmon farm at Lochailort is set for completion in 2013.  The Marine Harvest site will house a smolt hatchery which will be one of the biggest facilities in the world.  Read more...

Scottish Government logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Andritz

 The ANDRITZ GROUP is involved in a number of activities including the supply of plants, equipment, and services for hydropower stations, the pulp and paper industry and for solid/liquid separation in the municipal and industrial sectors.The ANDRITZ FEED & BIOFUEL division is one of the world’s leading suppliers of technologies, systems and services for the feed and biofuel industries. The company is strongly committed to excellent performance and quality of the process solutions. Click on the image to find out more.

Event: 2012 New Zealand Aquaculture Conference

The 2012 New Zealand Aquaculture Conference will take place from November 1-2, 2012 in Nelson, New Zealand.

Aquaculture offers tremendous potential for New Zealand to sustainably produce world-class seafood, create regional jobs, and inject much needed export earnings into local communities and the economy.

The 2012 New Zealand Aquaculture Conference will explore the challenges and opportunities facing our specialist sector as we focus on unlocking long-term economic growth while upholding our commitment to environmentally sustainable practices.

The industry’s biggest off-water event brings together people from all corners of the sector including, farmers, processors, exporters, lawyers, council and government officials, marketing, finance, research, packaging, transport and education.

The 2012 programme features an impressive cast of international and local presenters examining:
• Environmental and economic sustainability
• Value added products & marketing
• The social licence to farm public water space (winning hearts and minds in support of aquaculture)
• Regional Coastal policies (incl views on marine farming charges)
• Smarter routes to innovation

 More information...

Nelson, New Zealand, as seen from the Centre of New Zealand. On the horizon lies Abel Tasman National Park. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

17/10/12: effect of antibiotics on the seabed; new staff at Nofima; Marine Harvest appeal defamation case

Hello, 

• Researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden are studying the potential effects of accumulating antibiotics in the seabed.  More than 10,000 tonnes of antibiotics are consumed in Europe each year, and 30-60 percent pass through animals and humans completely unchanged. The different substances then reach the ocean via hospitals, municipal sewage, fish farms and run-off from agriculture and landfills.  Read more...

• New division director at Nofima.  Magnar Pedersen will head up the Director of the Division Fisheries, Industry and Market at Norwegian research institute. Pedersen will take up his new position on January 1, 2013.  Read more...

• Marine Harvest is to file an appeal against a decision by the Supreme Court in British Columbia concerning defamatory remarks.  Earlier this year, the court ruled that libelous comments made by anti-salmon farming activist Don Staniford against Marine Harvest were allowed under a fair comment defence.  Read more...

English: Loch Ainort fish farm The salmon farm is operated by Marine Harvest. On the far shore of the loch, the community of Luib nestles beneath Glas Bheinn Mhòr (on the right) Beinn na Crò, Beinn Dearg Mhòr and Beinn na Caillich (on the left). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)