The Aquaculturists: June 2015

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Tereos Syral company profile

Tereos Syral is the cereal division of Tereos, an agro-industrial cooperative specialising in the primary processing of sugar beet, sugar cane and cereal grains.

Tereos Syral processes maize, wheat, potato and cassava to manufacture a wide range of value added products (native and modified starches, glucose syrups, dextrose, maltodextrines, polyols and alcohols) in compliance with the current and future requirements of the food, pharmaceutical, green chemistry, animal nutrition, paper and corrugated board industries.

Tereos Syral has an annual turnover of €1.8 billion and processes 3.8 Mt of cereals in 12 plants. The company operates plants and sales offices in France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Brazil and China, and employs a staff of 1900 people around the world.

Tereos Syral offers a reliable and consistent supply to the market, through the backing of its secure shareholding with the international sugar group Tereos and its grain stockholder partners.

Visit the company site HERE.

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

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

BIOMIN company profile

BIOMIN are dedicated to finding innovative, trend-setting solutions that empower their customers to master existing and future challenges in animal nutrition– the natural way. The application of their scientific know-how and expertise, based on an in-depth understanding of their customer’s needs and concerns, enables them to deliver solutions that support animal health, optimize performance and production efficiency.

Research and development is one of the cornerstones of BIOMIN. Their strong in-house research and development, and global cooperation with leading institutions and organisations form the basis by which innovative solutions are developed for their customers. Through joint projects with renowned universities and research institutes, BIOMIN is constantly in touch with the latest scientific know-how, from which novel feed additives are developed and produced. Their global network of collaborating institutions has grown to over 100.

One of the cornerstones of BIOMIN’s success is the ongoing improvement of their inhouse quality standards. In 1997, BIOMIN introduced the international ISO 9001 standard. The HACCP system, introduced subsequently at BIOMIN’s production sites, provides the quality assurance our customers seek from them. In addition, the feed quality standards QS and GMP+ guarantee the utmost degree of control and quality for their products – from raw material inputs right through to the final product.

Concerns over climate change and the role of greenhouse gases continue to rise. In September 2011, BIOMIN was internationally recognised through the award of ISO 14040 ‘Life Cycle Assessment’ certification. By optimizing feed use and improving animal performance, it is possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock operations.

Through innovative production technologies and advanced, scientific know-how, BIOMIN has pioneered several trend-setting solutions for a range of animal nutrition products, all of which utilise fully natural processes and ingredients. An in-depth understanding of what the customer’s needs and concerns are has enabled BIOMIN to create and deliver solutions in-line with performance and efficiency goals.

Read more HERE.

30/06/2015: Vacancy announcement: Scientific Council Coordinator at NAFO Secretariat

The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) is the international fisheries management organisation responsible for the management of the Northwest Atlantic fishery in international waters. This is underpinned by a strong scientific basis in stock assessment and ecosystem monitoring. The Secretariat supports the organisation in its duties and functions.

The Scientific Council Coordinator, as a NAFO Secretariat member, works closely with the Scientific Council Chair and the Executive Secretary on a range of issues to support scientific meetings and develop scientific initiatives. The position is under the overall supervision of the Executive Secretary. The tasks include:

Advise the Executive Secretary on matters related to fisheries and marine science in the NAFO Area
Guide Scientific Council on Rules of Procedure and working protocols
Liaise with Scientific Council Chairs and Members
Prepare agendas, meeting reports and other documents
Act as rapporteur
Technical and copy editing of scientific texts
Manage scientific data
Write articles for website and media
Communicate and cooperate with other organisations and institutions

Image: Phil Roeder

Core requirements:

Advanced university degree in fisheries biology or related subject, or equivalent experience
Minimum of five years of relevant work experience
Knowledge of global and regional fisheries and fishery science issues
Strong organizational and administrative skills and expertise
Editorial experience and publications record
Excellent spoken and written command of the English language
Experience in coordinating, supporting and rapporteuring international meetings
Strong word processing, spreadsheet and database computer knowledge
Good communication skills
Capability of working with people of different national and cultural backgrounds
Willingness to travel abroad

NAFO offers a competitive salary (plus benefits) based upon qualifications and experience, with annual increments up to the post maximum. Appropriate relocation expenses also given.

Duration: Full-time permanent position

Applications, in English, are invited from citizens of NAFO member states, and should include:

Cover letter explaining your suitability for the position
Curriculum Vitae
List of publications

Short-listed candidates will be asked to provide copies of their degree certificates, proof of citizenship and the names of three references. The successful candidate will require a certificate of health. The position is to commence as soon as possible, preferably by the end of 2015.

Location:
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, 2 Morris Drive, Suite 100, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B3B 1K8, Canada.
Phone: +1 902 468 5590
Fax: +1 902 468 5538
Web: www.nafo.int

Please send your application to:
Mr Stan Goodick, Deputy Executive Secretary/Senior Finance and Staff Administrator
Email: recruit@nafo.int

Applications via email (as attachments) are encouraged. All applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted thereafter.

Deadline for Application: 10 August 2015

Visit the NAFO site HERE.

30/06/2015: ASC opens first round of public consultation on Responsible Feed Standard

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) today opens the first round of public consultation on the initial draft of its Responsible Feed Standard.

The consultation will close on Friday, 11 September 2015.

The feed standard is for feed mills producing feed for aquaculture. The standard will recognise producers who can demonstrate their environmentally and socially responsible feed sourcing methods and allows them to gain recognition for their efforts.

As well as being applicable to feed mills seeking ASC certification the standard could be used by other certification programmes as a reference point.

Invitation to review and comment on the new standard
During the 74 days of public consultation, stakeholders are invited to review and comment on the initial draft of the ASC Responsible Feed Standard and its requirements.

The ASC is committed to the guidelines laid out by the Food and Agriculture Organisations of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Social, Environment, Accreditation and Labelling Alliance (ISEAL) standard setting code. In line with their requirements this standard is being developed by a multi-stakeholder Steering Committee and through expert input from four Technical Working Groups.

Michiel Fransen, Secretary for the Responsible Feed Project, said: “This is the first opportunity for stakeholders to offer their expertise and help decide the final content of the ASC Feed Standard. We began working on the ASC Feed Standard at the end of October 2013. Over the last 18 months a diverse group of experts has helped shape the content of this initial draft of the standard. This review is important to thoroughly test and challenge the draft before we move forward, as well as consider the key issues on which the Steering Committee is particularly seeking feedback.”

How to take part in the consultation
The first round of consultation will run from 30 June to 11 September 2015. A next round of consultation will take place towards the end of 2015.

Anyone can view the draft Responsible Feed Standard and share their expertise and experience through the consultation.

In addition to the online consultation, four outreach workshops will be organised to present the draft standard and gather feedback. The workshops will be held in Guangzhou (China), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Bangkok (Thailand) and Santiago (Chile).

Please send any questions about the Responsible Feed Standard review to Michiel Fransen at: michiel.fransen@asc-aqua.org.

Visit the ASC site HERE.

30/06/2015: Recreational fish-catch data can help save money in monitoring invasive largemouth bass

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers are using data from fishing tournaments to gauge how non-native largemouth bass in Africa are invading lakes and preying on smaller, native fish, a huge cost-saving measure in fisheries management.

Image: Cliff

Largemouth bass are native to North America, but they have been distributed worldwide for recreational fishing. When they’re in waters outside North America, largemouth bass can cause declines in native fish abundance, disrupting the ecosystem.

UF fisheries and aquatic sciences Professor Micheal Allen and his colleagues at UF/IFAS and in South Africa used existing fish-catch data from bass tournaments in southern Africa, where largemouth bass are non-native and invasive.

Scientists examined data from 40 bass tournaments in lakes in Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. They compared that information with 41 bass tournaments in the U.S., where bass are native species, between 2011 and 2014.

They found that angler catch data were similar between southern Africa and the US. Their data proves that the number and weight of the fish caught by recreational fishermen can be used to monitor the spread of exotic fish that are commonly caught by anglers.

Armed with their finding, researchers now know they can use angler catch data to monitor invasive fish distributions, and this could save over US$1 million a year in monitoring costs in countries where lakes are widely dispersed and difficult to access, said Allen.

John Hargrove, a doctoral student in UF’s wildlife ecology and conservation department, is the lead author on the study, published online June 5 in the journal PLOS ONE.

Visit the UF/IFAS site HERE.

Monday, June 29, 2015

The Grand Opening Ceremony of the BIOMIN Aquaculture Center for Applied Nutrition

Roger Gilbert, head of the International Aquafeed team is currently in Vietnam for

The Grand Opening Ceremony of the
BIOMIN Aquaculture Center for Applied Nutrition (BIOMIN ACAN)
&
SANPHAR Animal Health Research Center

Tweets by @IAFmagazine

29/06/2015: Aller Aqua Seniorclub visits Aller Aqua Research

Aller Aqua Seniorclub took another trip together, this time to Büsum to visit Florian Nagel and Aller Aqua Research.

The group of 29 retired Aller Aqua employees got on a bus at Aller in the morning of Tuesday 2nd June. From here they drove to Dannewerk where they saw the museum and had lunch. The trip continued to Gottorp Castle in Schleswig where the group had 3 hours to explore the museum before continuing to the hotel in Büsum.

Wednesday morning De Go’e Gamle started at Eidersperrwerk before arriving at the mariCUBE and Aller Aqua Research (AAR). This visit started with a reception, followed by a presentation by Florian Nagel, Research Manager of AAR, about the issues and future goals of AAR. Participants were excited and fascinated. The group had a tour of the facilities, and participants were impressed by the place and felt pride in being connected to Aller Aqua and the progress that has happened in the previous years.

After lunch the group went to Friedrichstadt and had a guided tour by boat in the historical town. During dinner, the 50th anniversary for the production of fish feed was marked by a look back over old times by Asbjørn and Holger.

Thursday morning the group set off for Föhr, where a dedicated tour guide took them around the island by bus, extending the programme by more than an hour. Thereafter the participants returned to the mainland and got in the bus which took them back to Aller.

Visit the Aller Aqua site HERE.

Buhler Company Profile

There are plenty of good reasons for Bühler’s success: Personal commitment, clever entrepreneurial decision-making, a high level of sensitivity to the changing needs of the market, and a core business that has become a byword for quality and consistency, founded on the distinct power to innovate. Tackling the challenges of the period and of the market have always played a role in shaping the direction of the company. This is simply something that Buhler has always done, and when it comes to generating benefits and added value for our customers, we have always been a step ahead.

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

The core technologies of the Group are in the field of mechanical and thermal process engineering. With its expertise and over 150 years of experience, Bühler time and again rolls out unique and innovative solutions for its customers, helping them achieve success in the marketplace. Over the decades Bühler has come to be acknowledged as a reliable partner thanks to its distinct commitment to quality and its global presence.

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

29/06/2015: Biomin Aquaculture Days

http://issuu.com/international_aquafeed/docs/iaf1502_w1_e0f14eef749a20/40

First published in International Aquafeed, May-June 2015

Day One
Biomin research and development facilities, the BIOMIN Research Center, are integral in the research university campus at Tulln in Lower Austria, but which is some 50km north-west of Vienna on the Danube River. The first day saw the group visiting Biomin’s laboratories throughout the university, that were dedicated to plant biotechnology, mycotoxin strategies, disease challenges, phytogenics and pathogen control all centred on aquaculture and aquatic species.

It was clear from the facilities dedicated to this research into products to counter the impact of mycotoxin on fish species, in particular, that aquaculture nutrition and sustainability is at the forefront of this company’s developments when it comes to new products.

The day was rounded off with discussions and a visit to the Göttweig Abbey, a further 30km west along the Danube River, and near the town of Krems.

Day Two
The venue for a series of lectures was held at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna the following day. The half-day seminar was introduced by Professor Mansour El-Marbouti, who heads the Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health and who has published 137 papers on topics relating to this discipline and has expertise in fish diseases, fish bacteriology, fish virology and fish mycology.

Brief lectures covered topics from ‘Probiotics as modulators of the gastro intestinal tract’, delivered by invited PhD student Benedict Standen of Plymouth University in the UK: A presentation International Aquafeed will be reporting on in an upcoming edition.

Image: Loozrboy

Biomin researchers explored the research behind several of its aquatic products including the ‘Effective beneficial bacteria in aquaculture’ delivered through its product AquaStar and presented by Jutta Zwielehner. The ‘Importance of phytogenic supplementation in aquafeeds’, by Otavio Castro was another well-received presentation. And Pedro Encarnacao Biomin’s aquaculture technical director based in Singapore, summarised the morning session for delegates.

We should not overlook the presentation made by Jorge Dias on the ‘Trends in feed formulation and feed technology’ and the impact this will have on meeting the growing demand of a world struggling to feed itself adequately; another presentation International Aquafeed will be reporting in more details upon.

The afternoon was taken up with delegates and staff from Biomin touring the fish trials facilities at the University of Veterinary Medicine before the group has one final meeting at the restaurant Viennese Heurigen ‘Weingut am Reisenberg’ overlooking the city of Vienna.

Overview
This was a most valuable visit with a balance of research explained, industry issues addressed and a close look at the trials and tribulations that go into product development. It also gave visitors time to network among themselves and exchange knowledge and points-of-view, but overall it brought home the message that aquaculture needs companies to commit to research and development at this level if industry is to supply a cost-effective food protein at affordable prices and in a consistent, safe and efficient manner.

Many thanks to Biomin for its ongoing initiative to engage with the aquaculture industry at this level and in this depth.

Read the magazine HERE.

29/06/2015: EU funds floats for better ocean data

http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/index_en.htm

The European Commission last week awarded a grant of almost €4 million to the European research infrastructure for observing the oceans. The funds will be used to add 150 Argo floats to the project's portfolio in the next two years.

Argo floats measure and transmit data on ocean temperature and salinity. As such, they are the main tools for providing long-term high quality information on the ocean. They are named after the Greek mythical ship Argo.

The 150 new Argo floats will deliver critical data from depths of 2000 metres to shallow waters that will help scientists to understand the ocean's role in the earth's climate, predict the evolution of our weather and climate, and detect changes in ocean current patterns.

The EURO-ARGO European Research Infrastructure Consortium, launched last summer, is a cooperation between several EU member states and institutes. It has its headquarters at the Brest campus of IFREMER, the French institute for research for exploitation of the sea. The funds were provided by the EU's new Maritime and Fisheries Fund, via the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.

Visit the European Commission's fisheries site HERE.

29/06/2015: European Commission requests Greece to adopt effective fisheries management plan in the Mediterranean

Image: Arnaud Abadie

The European Commission has requested Greece to comply with the obligation, under the Mediterranean Regulation, to adopt national management plans for fisheries conducted by boat seines within their territorial waters.

Boat seines have surrounding nets, towed from the boat and may operate from the surface to the sea bottom depending on the target species. In view of the specific characteristics of many Mediterranean fisheries and as the quota-based fisheries management does not apply, the Regulation requires Member States to adopt national management plans combining management of the fishing effort with specific technical measures, to ensure sustainable exploitation of fish resources. National management plans should also ensure the effectiveness of the prohibition to fish with boat seines in protected habitats such as sea grass beds, Posidonia oceanica (pictured).

The Commission is now sending a reasoned opinion to Greece for not having a valid management plan in place. Greece now has two months to notify the Commission of measures taken to remedy this situation. Otherwise, the Commission may decide to refer Greece to the EU Court of Justice.

More info:

Full package: June infringements package: key decisions

Mediterranean Regulation

Friday, June 26, 2015

Feeding and fueling the world through sustainable aquaculture?

Roger Gilbert, head of the International Aquafeed team, has been invited to speak at the Monaco Blue Initiative Conference -

Feeding and fueling the world through sustainable aquaculture?

Below is our live feed from the event!

Tweets by @IAFmagazine

SPAROS company profile

SPAROS is a spin-off company of the Algarve Centre for Marine Sciences (CCMAR) / University of Algarve, devoted to the development of new products and processes for fish feeding and nutrition.

We offer the aquaculture sector the combination of a strong scientific background in fish nutrition with a flexible pilot-scale feed technology platform.

SPAROS is located in the South of Portugal (Algarve region) but aims to serve the whole European market.

Visit the company website HERE.

Reed Mariculture Inc company profile

Reed Mariculture is the world's largest producer of marine microalgae concentrates for larval fish, bivalves, crustaceans and other filter feeders. Their Instant Algae® larviculture feeds are used by over 500 hatcheries, universities, and marine ornamental operations in more than 80 countries around the world. They also produce and distribute pathogen and ciliate free rotifers, Parvocalanus copepods, and Otohime and TDO weaning feeds.

Reed Mariculture's Instant Algae products are closer to nature than any other feed on the market. They produce whole-cell, whole-food microalgae feeds and enrichments from marine algae using proprietary processes. Their products provide fish, bivalve and shrimp hatcheries with clean, convenient, long shelf-life feeds that are superior choices to replace or supplement live microalgae. Their feeds ensure stable and rapidly-reproducing rotifer populations with superior rich nutritional value.

Visit the website HERE.

26/06/2015: Sea bass - New monthly catch limits and closed area

Image: Graham Hill

The Council of Ministers has taken a decision to set monthly catch limits for commercial vessels catching sea bass, the European Union fisheries webpage reports.

The decision will come into force before the end of June and last until 31 December 2015. This decision marks an additional step in the package of measures the Commission has proposed for 2015 to halt the decline of this stock and prepare the way forward for further management measures in 2016.

More info:

Questions and answers

How is the EU protecting sea bass?

Visit the EU fisheries page HERE.

26/05/2015: Bluefin Tuna fishing campaign 2015 ends successfully

Image: Alexandre Dulaunoy

The Bluefin Tuna purse seine fishing season, lasting from 26 May to 24 June 2015, has finished with no major issues that may indicate systemic overfishing or illegal fishing activities of Bluefin Tuna by EU vessels, according to the EU fisheries webpage.

It was the first time in almost a decade that the EU fishermen benefited from an increased quota as BFT fishery has recovered significantly. Although scientists still need to assess the state of the stocks later this year, it is clear that the successful implementation of stricter control measures by the EU to fight IUU and overfishing has played a significant role in the recovery of the stock.

The European Commission control team - together with the team of the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) - is now focusing on the caging operations in Spain and Malta, in close co-operation with the competent national authorities in order to ensure that during the caging activities no Bluefin Tuna quota will be overshot.

More information:

Bluefin tuna - Conservation paying off

Bluefin tuna fishing season 2015: EU benefits from recovery of the stock

Visit the EU fisheries page HERE.

26/06/2015: Adifo and Tongwei confirm strategic partnership at signing ceremony during Belgian State visit to China

During the official state visit of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Belgium to the People’s Republic of China, Belgian software company Adifo and Chinese aquatic feed manufacturer Tongwei confirmed their business partnership with an official signing ceremony.

At the invitation of His Excellency President Xi Jinping, Their Majesties the King and Queen are making a state visit to the People’s Republic of China from 20 to 28 June 2015. During this ceremonial state visit, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde are accompanied by a business delegation, amongst whom Adifo’s CEO Adam Sneep. The visit focuses on exploring the production and innovation processes in China.

In the presence of Their Majesties, Adifo and Tongwei held an official signing ceremony on Wednesday, June 24th. China’s number one Tongwei has become the world’s largest aquatic feed manufacturer as well as major livestock and poultry feed producer since its establishment over 20 years ago. It has recently chosen to implement Adifo’s BESTMIX feed formulation software to optimize its aquafeed activities. This project will be the start of a strategic partnership to explore the possibilities of the entire BESTMIX product range to support the business activities of the Tongwei Group.

The contract was signed by Adam Sneep, CEO at Adifo and Yan Hu, President at Tongwei Group.

Visit the Adifo website HERE.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

25/06/2015: Roger Gilbert to speak at Monaco Blue Initiative

Roger Gilbert, CEO of International Aquafeed magazine (pictured), is to address the Monaco Blue Initiative tomorrow.

As the Initiative's own website will tell you, a quarter of the world's population now depends on seafood for sustenance and income. Aquaculture production has more than doubled globally since the turn of the century. Marine plant production has also increased significantly, especially in the East.

But how will this affect the environment and society? This is the question asked by the theme for this year's edition of the Monaco Blue Initiative: 'Feeding and fuelling the world through sustainable aquaculture?'

The Initiative, now in its 6th edition, will open tonight at the Yacht Club of Monaco with Mission Blue, a film by world-renowned marine biologist Dr Sylvia Earle.

The first session tomorrow morning will see Roy Palmer of the Association of International Seafood Professionals take part in a panel discussion titled 'Aquaculture to feed the world.'

Roger Gilbert will then be joined by Pierre Erwes of Biomarine, Vegar Johansen, President of SINTEF and Marc Metian, aquaculture research scientist at AIEA to consider 'New frontiers for aquaculture.'

Visit the Monaco Blue Initiative site HERE.

25/06/2015: Taiwan International Fisheries & Seafood Show 2015

http://www.taiwanfishery.com/en_US/index.html

Just a few months from now, top tech and seafood will be exhibited, demonstrated, explored and approved for production, all under one roof. The Taiwan International Fisheries & Seafood Show 2015 will set global trends in fishery equipment and aquaculture.

The Taiwan International Fisheries & Seafood Show 2015 will excel in presenting a one-stop top-to-bottom supply chain that is tightly focused on hi-tech innovations and eco-friendly features. All in one dedicated venue showcasing the latest fishery equipment tech, services and aquaculture innovations along with the latest designs and techniques.

This winter the expo is expecting more than 2300 visitors from various stores and outlets. Taiwan-made fishery equipment and aquacultured seafood is known to excel in quality, creativity, sophistication and competitive pricing.

Organised by TAITRA (Taiwan External Trade Development Council) and Wesexpo, the Taiwan International Fisheries & Seafood Show 2015 is a professional show that will feature fishery equipment, aquaculture, seafood & value-added seafood, and processing machinery equipment.

The Taiwan International Fisheries & Seafood Show 2015 will take place at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Centre from 19-21 November with 200 exhibitors, including a cross-strait and 3 international pavilions: Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

It will feature leading exhibitors like Chunghwa Telecom, Jong Shyn Shipbuilding, Shing Sheng Fa Boat Building, Toford Plastics, Anko Food Machine, and Sun Rise E&T, with products that cover endeavors to usher in a fresh wave of solutions to green concerns, innovations and hi-tech.

Show events will include a procurement day, seminar and workshops exploring the latest trends in ocean fishery technology & energy saving, electromechanical equipment, net cage experiences, food safety and sustainable development.

With over 1600km of coastline and 70 islands, Taiwan has 1/10 of the world's marine species represented in its waters. The production value of Taiwan’s fishery industry reaches US$3.3bn, in which ocean fishing ranks in the world's top 3. Furthermore, Taiwan has successfully bred 6 out of 7 of all artificially propagated groupers on earth. All of which demonstrates Taiwan’s cutting edge technology in fisheries and the aquaculture industry.

Save your time and skip the lines by pre-registering online HERE.

Or click HERE for more details on the show.

Approved visitors will receive hotel and travel incentives. For details and to apply, please contact your nearest TAITRA office.

About TAITRA
Founded in 1970 to help promote foreign trade, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) is the foremost non-profit trade promotion organisation in Taiwan. For more information, click HERE.

25/06/2015: Farming the reservoirs: Indigenous techniques for freshwater prawn catching in the reservoirs of Telangana, India

by B. Laxmappa, Fisheries Development Officer, Department of Fisheries, India

First publlished in International Aquafeed, May-June 2015

Reservoirs are the large water bodies and potential source for the development of fisheries in India. In many of the reservoirs, cultivable fishes are being stocked to enhance production. Culture of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium malcolmsonii along with carps has been carried out successfully in some reservoirs of Telangana since the start of the last decade in India. Ramanpad reservoir is one of them for freshwater prawn culture.

http://issuu.com/international_aquafeed/docs/iaf1502_w1_e0f14eef749a20/32

Ramanpad is one of the medium size irrigation projects in the Telangana area. It has 305 hectares water spread area and was constructed in 1972 across Peddavagu, which is the tributary of river Krishna. It is located at Ramanpad village, Kothakota Mandal of Mahabubnagar district in Telangana. It is about 145 Kilometres away from Hyderabad city. The main purpose of the construction of this reservoir was to protect the economically backward areas of the district and also to eliminate the scarcity of food grains and water problems. Though the Ramanpad Reservoir was constructed primarily for irrigation and later became the major supply of drinking water to Mahabubnagar town including many villages in the district, fishery has evolved as the secondary activity.

Every water body has its unique pattern of craft and gear. It also gives indication about the economic condition of the fishermen community where they use locally available, less costly materials to make substances of technological delight giving maximum return. In case of the reservoirs, details about gears used in prawn catching varies from reservoir to reservoir.

Freshwater prawn has become an important component of global aquaculture both in terms of quantity and value. The fishermen of Ramanpad reservoir made attempts and stocked freshwater prawn seed of natural collection from Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh during 2004. Seed grew well and good production of prawn ensued. This encouraged the fishermen, resulting in regular stocking of seed in July and August and allowed them to grow on natural feed in the reservoir up to February. This was the turning point for these reservoir fishermen to get additional income from prawn in addition to regular fish catching.

Catching of prawn from the reservoirs is difficult due to the vastness of the area and great depth. In the first year fishermen used gill nets for prawn catching and faced many difficulties while catching of prawn due to full water level and great depth of the reservoir. Later the fishermen learnt to use the rectangular framed box traps for prawn catching. Since 2005 onwards they have been using indigenous made box traps to catch prawn in the reservoir besides using gill nets and cast nets. The gear used for fish catching is gill nets and for prawn catching box traps along with small mesh size gill nets and cast nets.

Indigenous Gear: Box trap
Among different fishing gears, box trap was one of the major gears used in prawn fishery in Ramanpad reservoir. Box trap was a cube shaped trap made of bamboo sticks knitted with some durable creepers. A bicuspid non-returning uni-directional vertical valve along the height of the trap was made to be used as an entrance for the prawns. The sticks used to make this valve were thinner and knitted with nylon rope. The trap was kept in vertical position under the water. A float made of thermocol/cork was tied with the trap with rope to help in locating the place of the trap.

Benefits of Box traps
The rectangular framed box traps (length 1.75 by height 1.5 by width 1.5 feet size) are made of splinter sticks of bamboos. These traps consist of only one-way entrance slits from both opposite sides and there is no way from inner to outside. These entrance slits allow organisms to enter inside and closes sticks automatically. These traps are cheap and made with locally available materials. Each trap costs about 150 Rupees, which is roughly three US Dollars and durability is about three-four months for regular use in the water. About 80 percent of prawn catching is with the help of box traps only and the remaining 20 percent is carried out with cast nets and gill nets in the reservoir.

Indigenous Technology
Fishermen are engaging in prawn catching activity regularly in the reservoir with box traps. Each fisherman uses 50-60 traps every day to catch prawn in the reservoir. These traps are set in the reservoir with floaters for identification round the clock for prawn catch. Generally, dried coconut pieces’ hang to metal wire inside the trap, used as bait to lure the prawns. The prawn enters into these traps from both sides of one-way entrance slits and there is no way to escape from the trap after entering.

In general, one prawn was caught in unit effort but two to three prawns were also observed in the catch of a trap. The fishermen collect the trapped prawn from these traps daily in the early morning and evening. On average, each fisherman can catch about one to three kilograms per day. Though mostly prawns were being caught by it, sometimes other fishes like Notopterus, Etroplus, minor carps etc also enter into the traps.

The fishermen catch the grown prawn continually for three-five months i.e. from February to June every year along with fish catches. The peak prawn catch is from March to May and the minimum is in the months of February and June. But the fish catch continues round the year by fishermen from the vicinity villages except for a few days in the rainy season. The prawns caught from the reservoirs fetch a premium price and are in great demand because of its natural culture and because they are free from any fertilisers/chemicals. Every year, the fishermen will harvest about 12-14 tonnes of prawn from this reservoir.

Considering the high export potential, the fresh water prawn enjoys immense potential for culture in the reservoirs of Telangana. This achievement is only due to the management practices like good seed stocking, collective harvesting and control of poaching by the reservoir fishermen regularly. Moreover, the uses of indigenously made rectangular traps are more economical and cost effective in prawn catching in reservoirs.

Read the magazine HERE.

Leiber company profile

http://www.leibergmbh.de/index.php?sid=948

Leiber has more than 140 employees. Each is a specialist in his or her domain. A well-proven team in a company following a clear strategy for more than 50 years: Working with values.

What makes us unique? We focus on what we know best. Yeast. Production on the highest level of quality. Latest technology. New findings from science and research. The performance of a team of specialists. This is what defines Leiber´s strategic orientation. This is what makes us truly entrepreneurial.

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

Visit the website HERE.

25/06/2015: A tiny island nation is burning illegal fishing boats to prove a point

http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/06/16/tiny-island-nation-burning-illegal-fishing-boats-prove-point

Image: jurvetson

Palau, an island nation in the western Pacific, has decided to take protecting its marine resources into its own hands in fiery fashion, TakePart reports.

Palau’s president recently ordered its one police boat to tow four Vietnamese blue-hulled fishing boats out to sea and set them on fire.

The boats were found fishing in the nation’s waters, which were recently closed to all commercial fishing. Palau’s move in March 2014 to protect 230,000 square miles of ocean created one the world’s largest marine sanctuaries.

“We hope to send a very clear message to poachers, who are raping our marine environment,” Palau President Tommy E Remengesau Jr. said in a statement.

Read the rest of the story HERE.

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