30/6/2014: Aquaculture Europe 2014 extends registration

AE2014 has decided to extend the deadline of its "Early Bird Registration" rate. The initial deadline was June 30 which has now been extended to August 8, 2014.

AE2014 have received a record number of abstracts and the rate extension will allow presenting authors the chance to register at the preferential rate. (Note: For even lower rates, please consider joining EAS when you register online.)

AE2014 is organising a special one-day event to address the production performance of the sea bass and sea bream sector by providing a forum for discussion of some of the important technical challenges that underlie production performance.

This forum will bring together our scientific and production knowledge to help better explain and understand the issues that may contribute to this position, so as to facilitate cooperation and actions to solve them. The event will take place within the AE2014 meeting at the Kursaal in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain on Thursday, October 16, 2014.

The event targets industry leaders, production, hatchery, technical and health managers, feed manufacturers and other suppliers, scientists and those that follow developments in the sector.

For more information and the provisional programme see HERE.

AE2014 delegates have free access to this event. For those that only wish to attend this event, registration is €50 and can be paid online or onsite.

Special update on AE2014 Plenary speakers

Day 1: Wednesday 15th: 09h15 to 10h00

“Adding societal value – from aquaculture to Gastronomy” –

by Mikel Gallo, Ni neu

The Basque Country and Donostia-San Sebastián are a well-known international reference in the gastronomy sector. In this context, the opening plenary session will highlight the excellence of farmed fish and shellfish products in simple, innovative dishes that can be

prepared by all.

Mikel Gallo, a renowned chef from Donostia-San Sebastián will prepare some special dishes based on different aquaculture species, such as: Smoked mussels with a bourbon and cheese cream; Fried baby flounder with a grilled garlic cream interspersed with interesting information related to the aquaculture of species used.

Day 2: Thursday 16th 09h00 to 09h25

“The Future of Fish Protein: Beyond Sustainability” 
by Michael T. Morrissey, Director, Oregon State University Food Innovation Center

The world population has been growing at an unprecedented rate and it is estimated that by the year 2050 the total population will be between 9-10 billion people. There have been numerous articles about the grand challenge of increasing the production of food protein to

meet increasing population demands. It is estimated that this increment will require a doubling of the world food production especially in high quality animal protein. One of the reasons for the escalation in protein demand is the rapidly growing middle class sector in developing countries such as India and China. 

While much of the debate has focused on the energy costs, green-house gas emissions

and environmental damage of animal protein production versus plant protein production, there has been little discussion of the role of fish protein production in this debate. This paper will review the current situation in fish protein availability for human consumption

and its future role in meeting growing demand. In most cases fish protein production, provides environmentally sound and sustainable systems, especially when compared to land-based animal protein production sectors, such as livestock. Opportunities exist for

expanding fish production systems as part of the solution for meeting increased demands for protein foods over the next three decades.

*Day2: Thursday 16th.09h25 to 09h45

“R&D Marketing in fish products: a success case” 
by Carlos Luna, Managing Director Angulas Aguinaga

Compared to the major product innovation development that has taken place in other sectors, such as the meat or dairy industries, the consumption of fish products remains very traditional. In this situation, ANGULAS AGUINAGA sees great potential based on the launch

of fish products that meet the demands of a new type of consumer – people who do not have much time to go shopping or cook, but who are increasingly aware of the importance of fish in their diet. 

New products are therefore required, which are easy to use, pre-cooked, fresh-cut, in individual portions, with a use-by date, sustainable, in environmentally-friendly packs, etc. That is, a range of "convenience" products that meet new needs. In this new scenario we must increase cooperation between the primary, transformation and distribution sectors, in order to address this challenge successfully. Over the last few years, ANGULAS AGUINAGA has extended its range of products.

Although surimi-based products are its main market today, in the last five years it has included more products using prawns, salmon, octopus, mussels, etc. while promoting quality and innovation. Information on AA: Turnover €90 million. 300 employees.

*Day 3: Friday 17th: 09h00 to 09h45

“Climate change, the environment and sustainable aquaculture

developments”
by Professor Anil Markandya, Executive Director, the Basque Climate Change Research Centre.

This presentation will look at the opportunities and challenges of climate change scenarios on primary food production, with a focus on European aquaculture. Production activity of aquatic species (aquaculture) depends on factors such as water temperature and currents, energy consumption, carbon footprint, regulating prices and ultimately the competitiveness of each sector and country. This presentation will look to contextualize these issues within

internationally accepted climate change scenarios.

Professor Markandya is a resource economist who has worked in this field for over thirty years and is acknowledged as one of the leading authorities. He graduated from the London School of Economics with a Master of Science in Econometrics in 1968 and was awarded his PhD on the Economics of the Environment in 1975.

More information on Aquaculture Europe 2014 HERE  For the exhibition and sponsorship, please contact: mario@marevent.com

30/6/2014: IFFO welcomes FAO’s GLOBEFISH as a new member

IFFO welcomes GLOBEFISH as a on-producer member. As a unit of the United Nations Fisheries and Aquaculture Department (FAO), GLOBEFISH is responsible for information on international fish trade and recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.  

 
"With three decades of experience in gathering, assessing, analysing and disseminating up-to-date marketing and trade information worldwide, GLOBEFISH’s works with partners such as IFFO and we look forward to continuing to work closely together in the future," says FAO spokesperson.  

IFFO’s relationship with FAO has grown over the past few years. IFFO is an accredited observer to FAO but recently it has begun participated as an observing body in the OECD-FAO agri-commodities working group meeting.

This group produces an annual update on the Agricultural Outlook for the following 10 years, a report that is becoming an important reference point for both the public and private sector worldwide. 

IFFO is playing a key role as the only industry organisation called to contribute to the fish and seafood section. 

"We are  also collaborating in a joint project with FAO and the China Society of Fishery (CSF) on improving the statistics on China production of fishmeal and fish oil," says the IFFO.

About GLOBEFISH

The core of GLOBEFISH is its databank and the group also produces a number of publications including fish price reports (European Fish Price Report), market studies (GLOBEFISH Research Programme), market trend analysis (GLOBEFISH Highlights) and online market reports. News, statistics and prices are collected worldwide and disseminated through the GLOBEFISH publications and the web site. GLOBEFISH provides up-to-date coverage of global seafood market developments thanks to its close contact with the fishery industry and its statistical information sources.

GLOBEFISH also coordinates the FISHINFO Network (FIN) which consists seven independent inter-governmental and governmental organisations. Created to assist the fishery sector in developing countries and countries in transition, the FIN provides services to private industry and to governments.

30/06/2014: Creating and nurturing growth through 'Aquaculture without Frontiers'

by Roy Palmer, IAF Contributor

"We have had an exciting couple of months at Aquaculture without Frontiers (AwF).

"A focus was our great program of presentations at our session, 'Development, Welfare and Poverty Alleviation (AwF)', at World Aquaculture Adelaide 2014 (WAA14) on June 11, 2014. 

"We have had the whole session recorded and the video will soon be on the website. The session, was sponsored by World Aquaculture Society (WAS) Premier Sponsor, Tyson Foods Inc, one of the world’s largest food suppliers as well as a leader in hunger and disaster relief.

"The session had speakers from Nigeria, India, Brazil, Seychelles, USA, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Australia and covered a myriad of issues and case studies across the continents.

"Of course Brazil has been very much in the spotlight lately so it was good to see that we had four presentations covering small scale fish farming, the development of producers co-ops, production of Native Oysters and an overview of aquatic solutions to hunger and malnutrition in that country.

"Solutions to poverty alleviation do not necessarily have to focus on creating food but can be about jobs, livelihoods and hope and the Indian presentation especially took us down this path.

"As usual this was a fascinating session, as AwF sessions tend to be, highlighting how many good people there are trying to solve these monumental problems.

"I gave an update on the latest information on AwF, including the promotion of the new Corporate Social Responsibility platform, the planned Memorandum of Understanding with the African Association of Agricultural Economists and the opportunities that will bring and invited people to stay to have a general meeting to discuss other future directions of AwF. One stand out was the prospect of the prospect of Aquaculture Learning Centres in Sri Lanka.

Silent Auction & Photo Competition

"At the Trade Show of WAA14 we held a ‘Silent Auction,’ which was our main focus for promotion and fund raising during the event. We are very grateful for the AwF volunteers who were encouraging people and companies to bid on a range of 11 items we had to auction, which included:

  

• 3 framed photographs which were prize winners of the photograph competition run by International Aquafeed – thanks to the sponsors of the activity for their generosity in enabling us to have the photos.
• Diploma in Aquaculture (Training to be provided) 
• Books
• Adelaide Crows indigenous football jumper and Conference polo shirts

"We have acknowledged the generous item donors on the website and thank them and the purchasers for their great contribution to the total amount raised – Aus$2420. Thank you also to the many people who helped set up and run the auction. There was some frantic last minute bids as many people entered into the spirit of the activity.

"We have kept a small amount of this money in Australia as hope to have AwF registered as a charity and this will be used to establish the bank account.

"At the moment the Silent Auction funds are just going into the general account but recently we were contacted by Prof. Gideon ‘Gidi’ Hulata, Dept. of Poultry and Aquaculture, Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center in Israel as he is retiring and was keen to ensure that his Aquaculture library went to a deserving cause.

"We have 15 new volunteers who have registered since May 18, 2014 and we continue to build and maintain our listings. Thank you to those who have made this commitment.

"Our Volunteer Coordinators, Cormack O’Sullivan (Canada) and Ignacio Llorente Garcia (Spain), are doing a great job and we have just announced that we are expecting a large number of opportunities for volunteers to contribute in the very near future.

"Kevin Fitzsimmons, previous AwF President, is currently in Bangladesh developing volunteer projects and in the following weeks he will be Myanmar and Nepal.

"The current thought is that we will be looking for 30 volunteers per year, 10 for each of Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal, for next five years. In this case there is a restriction that all volunteers will need to be US-based as funds are coming from USAID and we need to meet their specific criteria.  

"Anyone interested should be registered in AwF database so we can match expertise with specific requirements of the program.  

"For these roles the volunteer trips tend to be ten to twenty days in length, with a few shorter and some much longer. All expenses are covered by USAID in advance or reimbursed once the paperwork is organised.

"We will provide more details for the AwF website in coming weeks."

27/06/14: Oyster Zone Approved – Florida

The oyster farming area southeast of the town of Panacea will provide jobs for area residents, he says, adding it should help the wild oyster population rebound after years of overharvesting and adverse water conditions.

“Seventeen people that received permission to move forward today, instead of them being out there harvesting from the wild, now they’re going to be culturing a crop of their own,” he says.

The state has reserved 10 of the oyster plots for the inaugural graduating class of the Tallahassee Community College Wakulla Environmental Institute.

Institute Executive Director Bob Ballard says, “The first set of oysters are about to be put into the water.”

Ballard says the recently trained oyster farmers will grow 1 million oysters between them. And each oyster filters and cleans 14 gallons of water every day.

“That’s an amazing amount of water,” he says, “and as far as environmentally friendly, it doesn’t get any more environmentally friendly than this.”

See more at http://news.wfsu.org/post/florida-approves-70-acre-wakulla-county-oyster-farming-zone

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

27/06/14: 'Immediate protection' needed for Pitcairn's marine bounty

Is conservation the answer? How do you protect such zones? Who will pay to secure such zones and the maintenance required? Questions need to be asked about such ideas as reported here.

Researchers say that "immediate protection" is required for the waters around the remote Pitcairn Islands in the Pacific, home to one of the world's rarest and most valuable collections of marine species.

The waters have "unique global value that is irreplaceable" says the report, from an international team of scientists.

They've carried out the first underwater surveys of the deep and shallow waters around the islands, best known for their connection to the mutiny on the Royal Navy ship, Bounty, in the 18th century.

Some of the mutineers settled on Pitcairn and around 50 of their descendants still live there, governed as a British overseas territory.

See more at http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28022031

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

27/06/14: FDA to Increase Calls for More Fish Consumption

Waiting for other Governments to catch up??

Experts say they expect the guidelines will translate to more fish on the plates of young families. "This is the first time that the government is actually setting a minimum amount of fish that should be consumed," says Mary Harris, a professor of nutrition at Colorado State University whose research focuses on the effect of omega-3 fatty acids—found in many fish—on pregnancy outcomes.

Fish are packed with protein, vitamins and minerals. Among the types of omega-3 fatty acids in fish, DHA plays a major role in brain and eye development, and EPA is considered heart-protective. About 60% of the fatty acids in the retina and 40% in the brain are DHA, says Dr. Harris. Taking supplements doesn't convey the same health benefits because foods contain a complex array of vitamins and minerals that work with each other, she says.

See more at http://online.wsj.com/articles/fda-to-increase-calls-for-more-fish-consumption-1402966339

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

27/06/14: Fish or Egg Story!

Before researchers can raise mahi mahi (dolphin fish), for example, they've got to catch brood stock. And that's how aquaculture program head Dan Benetti and four colleagues spent a recent Tuesday: catching a dozen dolphin in a half-day outing aboard the charter boat Miss Britt II.

"These are perfect-sized fish," research assistant John Stieglitz said happily of the 22- to 24-inch mahis that included three junior bulls and nine junior cows. "These will spawn tonight."

The marine lab rats were caught around a large patch of sargassum weed in about 800 feet of water off Miami Beach. They ate live pilchards cast by the scientists and crew members Ryan Preston and Ryan Peters. None went into the fish box but instead were placed in a round, 300-gallon aerated plastic tank in Miss Britt's cockpit. The scientists pumped in pure oxygen and raw sea water to keep the fish lively for the trip back to the hatchery.

The three-year-old dolphin-raising program has a two-fold purpose: to develop a technology package for food production and, just recently, to test the effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster in the Gulf on pelagic fish.

"Without the aquaculture, we wouldn't be able to do the research on the toxicology," Steiglitz said. "Everybody thinks aquaculture is just about food production, but it's about allowing us to work with these challenging pelagics in captivity."

See more at http://www.sacbee.com/2014/06/18/6492318/to-farm-fish-first-you-have-to.html

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

27/06/14: Aquaculture and it’s Challenges ..

The June 2014 issue of National Geographic includes a feature story on fish farming. The article is rich with information about the challenges of aquaculture, and is part of their “Future of Food” Series.

See more at http://www.bigpictureagriculture.com/2014/06/533-june-2014-national-geographic-

features-aquaculture.html

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

27/06/14: Lidl Supermarkets to expand in UK

Lidl wants to expand from 600 stores to as many as 1,500, UK managing director Ronny Gottschlich told the Sunday Telegraph.

Lidl is planning to open at least 30 new stores a year, he said.

The retailer's sales have been increasing, in contrast to big supermarkets such as Tesco.

"We really see ourselves these days more of a supermarket than the hard discounter of the past," Mr Gottschlich said. "Those times are over."

See more at http://www.bbc.com/news/business-25175188

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

27/06/14: First Trout Harvest

In 2005, Bell Aquaculture was founded as a solution to a problem - the fish in Lake Michigan were contaminated. 

Bell has invested $20+ million in an aquaculture research and development center and built a state-of-the-aquaculture facility located in rural Indiana, USA to provide a toxin-free supply of fish to meet the demand. Bell offers Rainbow Trout, Coho Salmon, Yellow Perch, Nutritionally Profiled Aqua Feeds and Organic Fertilizers that are derived from fish to contribute to the life cycle of humans and fish - part of their broader philosophy to use all that is available to us to benefit humanity and our planet.

Bell Farms, situated on family owned farmland in rural Indiana, originally used to harvest corn, is now home to the largest land-based indoor containment aquaculture farm in the USA, announced the initial release of its farm-raised trout into the market with availability through local and national distributors, retail grocery and restaurants.

See more at http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1980227

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

26/06/14: Atlanto-Scandian herring fisheries join forces for MSC assessment

An international group of Atlanto-Scandian herring fisheries has come together to take their fisheries through the MSC re-certification process. The fisheries from the UK, Denmark and The Netherlands are already MSC certified, they will be joined in the assessment process by Swedish and Irish fisheries. In total the group catches over 40,000 tonnes of herring each year.

Camiel Derichs, Director Europe of the MSC, says: “This is a really smart move by the Atlanto-Scandian herring fisheries. By working together and combining their resources into one assessment, they will see significant cost savings over working separately. This is a model that could be followed by many other fisheries where fishers use similar fishing gear to target a shared stock.”

The fisheries involved are:

• SPSG (Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group)
• DPPO (Danish Pelagic Producers Organization)
•  PFA (Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association – Netherlands)
• SPFPO  (Swedish Pelagic Federation Producers Organisation)
• KFO  (Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation – Ireland)

Esben Sverdrup-Jensen, from the DPPO, explains: “All of our fishers’ organizations share a common interest in the sustainability of the Atlanto Scandian herring fishery. By working together on this assessment, our fisheries will improve further the international cooperation that is so important for managing the fishery. We will also see cost savings which will benefit all of our member vessels. I hope that this way of working can be applied to other fishers’ organizations.”

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

26/06/14: Welcome Matt Carr, ABO’s New Executive Director!

Algae Biomass Organization welcomes Matt Carr, Ph.D. as the organization’s new executive director. As ABO accelerates the commercialization of fuels, feeds, chemicals and other products that can be sustainably made with algae, ABO is fortunate to have found an executive director who brings a strong foundation of sector knowledge, policy experience and organizational skills to the table.

Matt has more than a decade of experience in policy advocacy and technology development. Most previously he was Managing Director of the Industrial and Environmental section at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the world’s largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the US and more than 30 other nations.

This experience gives Matt a deep understanding of the challenges facing the biotechnology community, and what it takes to develop new products and technologies derived from renewable sources.

Matt’s appointment is a milestone in ABO’s effort to place a new focus on regulatory and market challenges at a time of rapid growth in the industry. Increasing numbers of companies are manufacturing an incredible range of sustainable products from algae. Technical breakthroughs are increasing in frequency, and the potential impact on economic and energy security is becoming more apparent.

You can read more about Matt in his bio, and in today’s press release.

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

26/06/14: Cellana Signs Letter of Intent with Galil Algae for the Commercialization of High-Value Algae Biomass for Aquaculture and Other High-Value Applications

Cellana, Inc. announced that it has entered into a letter of intent with Galil Algae Cooperative Agriculture Society Limited, with the objective of partnering for the production of high-value algae products for aquaculture applications.  Currently, Cellana produces industrial-scale quantities of ReNew™ Algae – high-value algae biomass rich in Omega-3 nutritional oils, proteins, fuel-grade oils, cosmetic-grade oils, acids, and polysaccharides, as well as other valuable micronutrients – at its Kona Demonstration Facility in Hawaii.  At its facility in northern Israel, Galil Algae currently produces a variety of whole-algae products that are rich in Omega-3s for aquaculture applications.

The main goal of the program contemplated by the letter of intent is to identify, cultivate, develop, and scale up algae strains with immediate commercial value, emphasizing the high-value components for existing aquaculture, mariculture, nutraceuticals, pharmaceutical, and/or cosmetic applications.  The starting points for the commercial venture are to include the existing high-Omega-3 algae strains of Cellana and Galil Algae, as well as (i) potential new and improved strains identified through non-GMO strain optimization techniques such as selective breeding and/or (ii) additional naturally occurring strains identified through bioprospecting.  In addition, the letter of intent contemplates Cellana and Galil Algae exploring the establishment of a new algae research and development center in northern Israel. This new R&D center, together with the R&D activities to be undertaken at Cellana’s facility in Hawaii, would be a focal point for the development and testing of new or optimized strains of high-value algae biomass.

“This newly-established relationship with Galil Algae is an extension and validation of Cellana’s core competencies in minimizing contamination in large-scale outdoor algae biomass production and in growing algae strains that naturally produce high-value Omega-3 oils,” stated Martin A. Sabarsky, Chief Executive Officer of Cellana.  “Many of the same strains that can be grown for aquaculture hatchery applications can also be good sources of crude oil for fuel applications, proteins for animal feed and food applications, and oils and polysaccharides for cosmetic applications,” continued Mr. Sabarsky.  “Galil Algae’s algae strains for aquaculture hatchery applications are qualitatively better than competing products based on their Omega-3 profile and other qualities.  We look forward to finalizing the definitive agreements with Galil Algae and working closely with Galil Algae to expand commercial-scale production of these high-value products.”

“Galil Algae looks forward to partnering with Cellana, which has a world-class demonstration facility and proven contamination control strategies that can advance Galil Algae’s R&D and commercial programs,” stated David Tsoran, CEO of Galil Algae.  “Galil Algae’s high-performing, high-Omega-3 algae strains fit very well with Cellana’s approach to commercial strain development and market focus within the nutraceutical and aquaculture sectors in particular.”

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

26/06/14: Worldwide Company E3 Services and Solutions Licenses OriginOil Technology

Worldwide Internet, Inc. (OTC Pink: WNTR) (PINKSHEETS: WNTR) announced today that OriginOil Inc. developer of Electro Water Separation™ (EWS), the high-speed, chemical-free process to clean up large quantities of water, announced today that E3 Services and Solutions, LLC (E3), an acquirer and integrator of industrial technologies in fuel, food and health sectors, has agreed to license EWS for integration in systems designed to reclaim water from hydraulic fracturing and industrial operations.

Memphis, Tennessee based E3 intends to develop and further commercialize key OriginOil technologies for oil and gas water reclamation, aquaculture and feed stock production. E3 also plans to partner with OriginOil on research and development projects to further refine the company's suite of technologies in the field.

"E3 is unique in that we are bringing together a number of technologies focused on the water matrix. Essential to this strategy is finding best-in-breed technologies, acquiring them and deploying services around those same technologies on a global basis," said Mark A. Skoda, CEO of E3. "Our initial markets include oil and gas drilling, mining, agriculture and aquaculture. We believe our business development process combined with our strong domain expertise allows E3 to rapidly launch these services together with our partners, such as OriginOil, quickly with world class technology. With our deep relationships in the oil services sector and our current business development efforts with a Fortune 50 oil producer, we believe we are well positioned to rapidly get these technologies into the market."

"E3 is a dynamic technology integrator and with a shared vision to advance innovative solutions commercially," said Riggs Eckelberry, OriginOil CEO. "We plan to partner with their team in every step of the process to roll out products and services in the frack and industrial water reclamation spaces, as well as in our clean tech business. We welcome them to the growing OriginOil team!"

OriginOil's breakthrough water cleanup technology, Electro Water Separation (EWS) extracts organic contaminants from large quantities of water for the oil and gas, industrial and agricultural sectors. The technology can be paired with downstream "polishing" technologies to deliver water at a range of purity levels specified by customers.

Skoda added, "It's also important to note that our extensive relationships in fish farming here in the South should allow us to produce and sell the output of algae feedstock production."

E3 recently announced its new Evolution Lubricants & Technologies division serving industrial, automotive, drilling and consumer clients, and reported having acquired more than 300 different lubricant technology formulations to serve these markets.

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

25/06/14: Fund Helps Belize Shrimp Farms in Bid to Meet ASC Standard

Thanks to funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), the Belize Shrimp Growers' Association is preparing member farms for Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) assessment. The IDB funding is through Compete Caribbean, a program to support private sector development and competitiveness in 15 Caribbean countries.

The Belize Shrimp Growers Association expects eight farms, representing 89 per cent of shrimp farms and more than 95 per cent of total farmed shrimp production in Belize, to enter assessment against the ASC Shrimp Standard later this year. Independent, third-party pre-assessment against the ASC standard for a number of the shrimp farms was carried out by the certification body SCS Global Services.

Support from World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

The Belize Shrimp Growers Association has been working with Mauricio Mejia, WWF Mesoamerican Reef program officer for aquaculture, to help the farm develop better management practices and reduce their environmental impact.

"Since 2007 the farms have been reducing their environmental impacts. There is still more to be done but they are on their way to be ready to enter assessment against the ASC standard," said Mauricio.

"For me the certification of eight shrimp farms means the sustainability of the Mesoamerican reef -- it will be a massive achievement and an example for other countries and industry."

Gaining a competitive edge

Alvin Henderson, secretary of the Belize Shrimp Growers Association, said: "As a group we have shared values and by working together we can drive our strategy forward and have a better story to tell in the long term.

"ASC certification will be the seal of approval for us, our focus is on quality and making sure we grow responsibly as a group, at the same time it will provide access to wider markets and help to secure solid relationships with buyers."

A measurable difference

Through ASC certification shrimp farms aim to measurably reduce adverse impacts on the environment and local communities by preserving wetlands and mangroves; addressing the transfer of viruses and reducing disease; bringing cleaner water and ensuring the sustainable use of water; ensuring the responsible use of feed; and addressing biodiversity issues.

The ASC standards were developed through a multi-stakeholder process over many years. As an independent certification programme ASC works with third party Certification Bodies, it is these independent certifiers who carry out the farm assessments and take the certification decision. ASC cannot influence this process.

About ASC

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is as an independent, not-for-profit organisation founded by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and The Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) in 2010 to manage the certification of responsible fish farming across the globe.

The ASC standards require farm performance to be measured against both environmental and social requirements. Certification is through an independent third party process and (draft) reports are uploaded to the public ASC website.

The on-pack ASC logo guarantees to consumers that the fish they purchase has been farmed with minimal impacts on the environment and on society.

The ASC standard addresses the following seven principles:

• Legal compliance (obeying the law, the legal right to be there)
• Preservation of the natural environment and biodiversity
• Preservation of the water resources and water quality
• Preservation of the diversity of species and wild populations (for example, minimising escapes that could become a threat to wild fish)
• Monitored and responsible use of animal feed and other resources
• Animal health (no unnecessary use of antibiotics and chemicals)
• Social responsibility (for example, no child labour, health and safety of employees, freedom of assembly, community relations).

For more information about ASC please visit www.asc-aqua.org

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

25/06/14: Detection of ISA virus at Langøyhovden sea site in Nordland, Norway

As a part of Cermaq's preventive fish health strategy, we have through regular testing detected ISA virus in fish in two pens at the farming site Langøyhovden in Nordland, Norway. The virus had been detected by Real Time PCR screening. The mortality at the site is low and there are no clinical signs of outbreak.

Cermaq Norway considers culling the fish in the two affected pens to prevent spread of infection to the remaining fish at the site.

Following ISA outbreak at other farming operators' sites in the region Cermaq has monitored its operations with regular testing. Cermaq has informed the Food Authority about the.

The Langøyfjord site contains approximately 660000 fish of an average live weight of 2.6 kg. Out of these 173 000 fish (average weight 2 kg) will be culled. The culling of 173 000 fish at the Langøyhovden site is expected to have only limited financial impact.

The control of the fish at the site will continue harvesting will be done in agreement with the Food Authority.

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

25/06/14: New supply of sustainable freshwater walleye and northern pike

First freshwater fishery in Western Hemisphere certified as sustainable

The Waterhen Lake walleye and northern pike gillnet commercial fishery in Manitoba, Canada, has achieved Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification becoming the first freshwater fishery in the Western Hemisphere to attain certification

as a sustainable, well-managed fishery against the global MSC standard. Following an independent assessment conducted by Intertek Fisheries Certification (IFC), walleye, also known as pickerel in Manitoba, and northern pike from this fishery are now eligible to carry the blue MSC ecolabel.

About the Waterhen Lake walleye and northern pike fishery

Located in Waterhen Lake in the central portion of Manitoba known as the ‘Interlake,’ the commercial gillnet fishery operates in winter from the beginning of November through the end of March. Waterhen Lake has been commercially fished since 1931. In order to participate in the commercial fishery, individuals are required to be a member of the Lake Waterhen Fishermen’s Association which consists of 22 members. The client for the certificate is the Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship Fisheries Branch of the provincial government on behalf of the Lake Waterhen Fishermen’s Association. The branch undertook this assessment with the objective that the certification will serve as a model for the management of commercial fisheries in the region and in support of the Manitoba government’s commitment to work toward certification of fisheries in the province.

“We are pleased to see the responsible approach to resource management that has been demonstrated by the Association,” said Gord Mackintosh, Manitoba’s Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister. “This fishery certification will show the world that Manitoba has carefully developed a sustainable fishery which is not only good for the environment but also good business.”

Essential to the government’s involvement with the certification was the strong leadership and commitment provided by the Lake Waterhen Fishermen’s Association, including continued support from the Chief and Council of Skownan First Nation.

“We believe that our nation is here to protect the natural state of our fish, wildlife and the environment for future generations,” said Chief Cameron Catcheway from the Skownan First Nation. “We backed this process 100 percent because we want our next generations to continue to live with a healthy and certified source of food for years to come and to be able to live off the lake just as our ancestors did who protected our livelihood.”

Waterhen Lake commercial fishers, working in cooperation with Conservation and Water Stewardship departmental officials, contributed specifically to the development and implementation of the Waterhen Lake Fishery Management Plan along with performance reference points and harvest control rules as part of monitoring fish stocks and managing the sustainability of the fishery; commercial fishing log books to monitor retained and discarded by-catch; voluntary closed areas around Lake Waterhen to protect spawning and rearing habitat; and a lost gear retrieval program.

Lorne Huhtala, President of Lake Waterhen Fishermen’s Association, said, “We are pleased to announce that Lake Waterhen is now MSC certified which means having a sustainable abundance of walleye and pike stocked in our lake. This is a great achievement as the first freshwater fishery to be certified in North America and the Western Hemisphere. With this comes a lot of hard work from many organizations including Manitoba Natural Resources, Manitoba Fisheries Branch and the Government of Manitoba along with all the dedicated fishermen in the surrounding areas such as Skownan, Mallard and Rockridge. This certification will now create greater sale opportunities within the international market and is a great success for Lake Waterhen, the Province of Manitoba and Canada.” 

In 2013, the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for commercially harvested walleye was 36,300 kg.  Northern pike catches are not managed through a TAC, but annual volumes are similar to walleye and have averaged 26,740 kg over the past five years. Fresh and frozen foodservice and retail outlets in the U.S. midwest and in Canada are the primary markets for walleye fillets.  Northern pike is predominantly sold as frozen fillets into markets in the European Union, primarily in France. 

Milestone achievement as first MSC freshwater fishery in Western Hemisphere

Scott Wallace, Senior Research Scientist with the David Suzuki Foundation, commended the fishery and said, “Manitoba’s lakes are an important part of Canada’s sustainable fish production. The Waterhen Lake fishery is taking the lead in offering Canada’s first wild-capture MSC certified freshwater fish and we’re hopeful that other fresh water fisheries will follow suit.”

“The MSC congratulates the Government of Manitoba and the Lake Waterhen Fishermen’s Association on becoming the first MSC certified freshwater lake fishery in North America and the Western Hemisphere,” said Jay Lugar, fisheries outreach manager for MSC Americas. “This is a big achievement that supports the government’s commitment and efforts to bring certification to more Manitoba’s fisheries.  MSC and global markets would welcome more fisheries from the province into the program and we hope this milestone motivates others to enter the assessment process.”

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

24/06/14: Joint statement: responsibility in fish feed production

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) and GLOBALG.A.P. have been working together for the last year to help bring about environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture.

Current scope of the standards for aquaculture farms and compound feed manufacturers

Currently, the three standards rely on external certifications covering feed ingredients and feed raw material suppliers (e.g.: the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the Roundtable for Responsible Soy (RTRS) and the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)) and/or on compliance with the local legal requirements to verify that they meet the programmes’ requirements.

GLOBALG.A.P. has its own compound feed manufacturing (CFM) standard that covers all processes of the feed manufacturers. The scope of this CFM standard does not cover the feed ingredient suppliers and feed raw material production.

Certified aquaculture farms and GLOBALG.A.P. compound feed manufacturing certified companies must have statements from their feed supplier(s) that their products meet specific requirements, ensuring sustainability, traceability and transparency.

These requirements include: traceability to the species and country of origin; no use of material sourced from endangered species based on IUCN´s red list; avoidance of fish sourced from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU); and preference for feed manufacturers with publicly available evidence of responsible sourcing, such as sourcing of fishmeal and fish oil derived from third-party certified fisheries and aquaculture operations, including fishmeal and fish oil derived from fish by-products.

The BAP feed mill standards address the environmental sustainability of reduction fisheries by requiring that by 1 June 2015, a minimum of 50 per cent of the fishmeal and fish oil derived from reduction fisheries or fishery by-products must originate from certified sources.

ASC has similar criteria requiring seafood ingredients to be sourced from ISEAL compliant certified sources five years after publication of its standards.

Responsible Feed Dialogue

In their work towards the mutual goal of achieving efficiencies across the programmes to help accelerate progress, the partnership is working together to develop the ASC Feed Standard, including GLOBALG.A.P.’s long experience with its CFM standard.

Last year, ASC started a major project to develop a standard for feed mills producing feed for aquaculture, which will be applicable to farms seeking or holding ASC certification and could also be used by other certification programmes.

Both GAA and GLOBALG.A.P. are actively involved in the development of this feed standard, along with feed manufacturers, retailers, farmers, IFFO and other commodity certifiers including MSC, RTRS, RSPO. 

The Steering Committee for the Feed Dialogue is currently finalising the work plans of its technical working groups that will move detailed discussions forward around the key environmental and social issues identified.

The ASC Feed Standard will enable aquaculture operations to source certified feed and will allow producers who can demonstrate their environmentally and socially responsible feed production methods to gain recognition for their efforts. The ASC Feed Standard should be finalised by the end of 2015.

Collaborative working for social responsibility

The work of the three programmes is focussed on the environmentally and socially responsible production of the farmed product. Social rights are a fundamental aspect of all three of the programmes’ farm standards, setting out requirements covering the rights of aquaculture farm workers and local communities.

Requirements on the fishing vessels that supply to feed producers are beyond the scope of the programmes’ standards, as the standards do not cover the certification of wild capture fisheries. Working conditions on those fishing vessels are a very important issue. To start to address critical social issues like forced labour, the industry as a whole will have to work together along with specialists in the field.

This collaboration is essential to deliver the tools and links needed throughout the supply chain to provide the necessary assurances that purchasers need. It will take some time, but it is by working collaboratively that such abhorrent practices are eliminated.

ASC and GLOBALG.A.P. will be joining the discussion on social justice aboard fishing vessels for reduction fisheries at GAA’s GOAL 2014 conference in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from 7 to 10 October. A day-long workshop specifically on feed is being held on 7 October. For the workshop, GAA is bringing together many of the world’s leading seafood non-governmental organisations and industry representatives to discuss solutions to this difficult issue.

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