International Aquafeed's December Nutrition Editor's Column

by Prof. Simon Davies, Nutrition Editor, International Aquafeed 

Although we now have 2020 almost behind us, there will be many of the 2020 events for aquaculture now rescheduled, delayed or even cancelled due to this exceptional year.

As a fish nutrition scientist, it was sad not to have been able to return to South Korea for the International Symposium on Fish Nutrition this year. This would have been a really important meeting of minds dedicated to our industry and where we could disseminate our findings, catch up with colleagues and friends to share ideas, discuss our plans and foster new collaborations.
 

This symposium is held every two years and is now out of sequence but hopefully, it will get back on track.

Likewise I was due to attend scientific conferences and exhibitions in China, Thailand and Europe that have now been kicked well into touch for the time being. I have realistically planned to resume my globetrotting activities in 2022 when things should settle down and the pandemic may be well and truly quenched.

Nonetheless, my other activities have been progressing thanks to the technology that exists to connect us together.

The fish farming industry has a capacity to recover and aquaculture has continued to provide its share of global seafood demand, with the feed sector continuing its quest to develop novel platforms of research and applications. It is still impressive to see investments in new avenues of aquaculture system design especially in land-based systems (RAS) and deeper offshore facilities.

In fact, I am currently associated with several consortia hoping to roll out aquaculture within my own region of SW England and Wales, who are also looking to engage with selected educational institutions for their experience in a consultancy capacity. Our focus will be to evaluate the potential for both established fish species and even exotic non-conventional types.

An endless challenge
With the growing list of emerging species being investigated for culture, it’s an endless challenge to obtain a detailed inventory of their biology, environmental preferences, breeding, early development, growth and feeding behaviour and nutritional requirements. In aquaculture, the multidisciplinary approach is paramount and together will lead to successful rearing of fish under captivity.

In this final month of 2020 we have seen many challenges, as I have stated throughout the spring and summer months. Like in fish farming, we see new technologies in disease control and scenarios we are all familiar with globally.

However, we can be optimistic with announcements of vaccines for COVID-19 and hopefully mass immunisation will protect us all, with a level of normality returning in 2021.

With the US Presidential election now over and a new President in office from January, we will see how the American policy for agriculture will develop and the Federal government’s commitments to aquaculture. I have previously been involved in advising the USDA on specific growth areas and investments in fish farming technology.

Read more, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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