Grieg Seafood BC's latest commitment to delousing

Grieg Seafood BC, a salmon farming company based in Vancouver Island, announced its commitment towards reducing sea lice populations while at the same time reducing its chemical and medication use. 

"Grieg has entered into a three-year contract with Njord Marine Service Ltd. for the service of the Coastal Server, a 24-metre all-purpose vessel which has also been fitted with a SkaMik 1.5 mechanical delousing system," Grieg Seafood BC said in a press release dated 21^st December.  

The vessel and equipped delousing system will be used by Grieg at its farms along the east and west coasts of Vancouver Island, where the company operates, and the Sunshine Coast for sea lice management.  

The delousing system consists of soft, rotating brushing and low-pressure water nozzles as a means of removing sea lice, ensuring no chemical or medication use. The vessel will also be able to provide regular maintenance support in addition to delousing treatments.

The SkaMik system

"As an organisation, we are committed to reducing the overall impact from our operations. Sea lice remains one of the biggest issues, and the new vessel and SkaMik 1.5 system are a welcome addition to our toolbox as not only does the system remove over 97 per cent of sea lice, in all lifecycle stages, it uses no medication or chemicals," Rocky Boschman, the Managing Director for Grieg Seafood BC, said. "It captures the removed lice for disposal on land – reducing the overall lice population in the region." 

The vessel and delousing system is capable of being used at all Grieg farms, due to being self-contained and able to travel easily between sites. The system can be used on fish of all sizes and able to treat up to 150 metric tonnes of fish per hour. The treatment time per fish is about 1.5 seconds. 

"The new mechanical delouser will be our first choice for sea lice treatment and will be a valuable addition to our fleet. The SkaMik 1.5 system uses ambient temperature ocean water and soft bristled brushes to loosen and remove lice, which are then filtered out of the treatment water for later disposal or composting on land," explained Dean Trethewey, Seawater Production, Certifications and Regulatory Director. "The process itself is incredibly quick – with each fish only spending about 1.5 seconds in the delousing system. This helps to reduce stress for the fish and enables us to treat entire farms within a matter of days with an immediate reduction of lice in the region." 

When the Coastal Server and SkaMik 1.5 are available, Grieg is going to test and commission the vessel and delouser with the intention of having the system in use at all of the company's operations. Further plans are to arrange for tours of the vessel and celebrations next year, when pandemic restrictions are permitting. 

For more information on Grieg Seafood BC visit their website, HERE. 

For more information on Njord Marine Service visit their website, HERE.

Image credit: Grieg Seafood BC

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KelpRing receives £125,000 funding package to explore the use of natural kelp hides on fish farms

KelpRing – the company behind a tool that mimics wild seaweed habitats – has received a £125,000 funding package from the Seafood Innovation Fund (SIF) to explore the benefits of using natural kelp hides on fish farms, supporting the wellbeing of cleaner fish and helping them to thrive in their work.

Supported by the SIF programme, with additional input from the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), salmon producer Loch Duart, and the University of Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture, the new research will see KelpRings – also the name of the company's kelp system – deployed at one of Loch Duart's salmon farms for the next 18 months.

Designed as an alternative to artificial seaweed hides typically used on fish farms, KelpRing is designed to be as close as possible to the type of environment ballan wrasse and lumpfish – the most common cleaner fish species – would experience in the wild.

A previous feasibility study with Scottish Sea Farms, combined with international research, showed that the introduction of natural kelp on salmon farms can have medicinal properties and a calming effect on cleaner fish, boosting their ability to treat sea lice.

This latest trial will see Institute of Aquaculture researchers evaluate the impact of KelpRing against current standard conditions, assessing the preference of cleaner fish and mapping behavioural and physiological changes in the cleaner fish population related to their welfare. They will be also looking at cleaner fish efficiency by means of sea lice counts and the health and welfare state of salmon.

Martin Welch, founder of KelpRing, says, 'Cleaner fish are naturally drawn to seaweed forests and by adding kelp hides to salmon pens, it allows the fish to act as they would in the wild, in their natural habitat. Wrasse and lumpfish can live a long and healthy life of up to 25 years if the conditions are right, and measures to enhance their wellbeing can only support their ability to treat sea lice.

'The KelpRing is a lightweight system which can be deployed in various sizes from one to nine meters in diameter, using a mix of naturally seeded and lab-grown kelp. So far, the aquaculture sector has been incredibly positive about the prospects of using the system and we're hopeful that the results from this latest trial will prove our hypothesis, with the kelp having a positive impact on Loch Duart's cleaner fish population and a reduction in sea lice numbers.'

As well as enhancing cleaner fish wellbeing, using kelp to improve their delousing capabilities could have a range of benefits for salmon producers and the environment. The wider deployment of KelpRings could lead to less reliance on expensive current treatment methods for sea lice, such as the use of pharmaceuticals and techniques that involve handling salmon.

Eliminating the need for additional treatment, including the production processes and boats used, could also reduce the overall carbon footprint of farms.

Sarah Riddle, director of innovation & engagement at SAIC, says, 'Fish health and wellbeing is one of the top priorities for the sector as it continues to target sustainable growth. Tools that mimic natural habitats are known to improve the health, welfare, and productivity of cleaner fish. For that reason, it is great to see techniques being trialled to bring the environment of salmon farms closer to what would be found in the wild.

'Aquaculture's focus on cleaner fish continues to gain momentum, with valuable research developments helping to transform the wider approach to sea lice management. Ballan wrasse and lumpfish are crucial to future-proofing the sector, with collaborative research continuing to find new ways of helping them to thrive.'

Lewis Bennett, cleanerfish manager at Loch Duart Ltd, adds, 'The use of cleanerfish, in my view, is the biggest innovation at Loch Duart. They play a vital and valuable role in the business, where they contribute to the fish health strategy. They are also a form of multitrophic farming incorporated into our salmon operations, where they keep our salmon free of sea lice, and we work to meet all of their requirements.

'Being able to express their natural grazing behaviour requires a range of factors to be met, such as having a habitat or structure in close proximity. We currently use artificial kelp for this, but being able to provide our wrasse with a more appropriate habitat should create a happier fish population and would reduce the need for artificial products. I am very keen to see the results on fish behaviour but also the operational benefits of a habitat that doesn't need cleaning or regular removal from the pen. As we have seen at Loch Duart across a range of factors, a natural option is always superior.'

For more information about KelpRing visit their website, HERE.
Find out more about the Seafood Innovation Fund, HERE.
You can also visit the SAIC website, HERE.
Or visit the Loch Duart website, HERE.

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IFFO’s latest on fishmeal and fish oil market trends

Total cumulative productions of the countries considered in IFFO's reports during the first 10 months of 2021 were higher year on year: fishmeal up by five percent, fish oil up by eight percent.

Image credit: Marco Verch on Flickr
(CC BY 2.0)

In terms of fishmeal, Peru, Chile and India continue to be the only countries to report a higher cumulative production in 2021 with respect to the same period in 2020.

Similarly, in terms of fish oil, Peru, Chile, India are the regions that so far have managed to improve their cumulative production during the first 10 months of this year.

China: Robust demand for feed from the pig farming sector, aquafeed output rises
The cumulative pig feed output through October confirms robust demand from the pig-farming sector in view of the forthcoming New Year´s celebrations around China. The pig sector is struggling to slash over-capacity.

Aquaculture is now in off-season, but aquafeed output rose, year on year, in October 2021.

The average price of aquatic products rose year on year, supported by fine trading volumes. Shrimp prices remain generally stable in the main farming areas.

For more information about the IFFO visit their website, HERE.

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Green power agreement between salmon farming company and energy supplier

Salmon Evolution, a Norwegian land-based salmon farming company, has entered into a green power supply agreement with Statkraft, the largest generator of renewable energy in Europe and is owned by the Norwegian state.

The agreement ensures 100 percent renewable energy at Salmon Evolution's farming facility at Indre Harøy, expected to be operational from March 2022. Additionally, the electricity will be set at a fixed price and cover the salmon farming company's needs for 2022 and 2023.

The electricity due to supply Salmon Evolution's farm is going to come from Statkraft's hydropower plant in the Rauma Municipality, which is only 37 miles from Indre Harøy.

Image credit: Salmon Evolution

The CEO of Salmon Evolution, Mr Trond Håkon Schaug-Pettersen, said of the project: 'The execution of a green power purchase agreement directly with Statkraft's Nordic Origination team is yet another strong testament to Salmon Evolution's credibility in the market.'

He added, 'Furthermore, this agreement is a great example of delivering on our vision, Extending the Ocean Potential, where we continuously push for an acceleration of new circular blue economies. Also, as our company now approach commercial operations, our customers can be 100% certain that our salmon is produced with the lowest possible environmental footprint, setting a new benchmark for sustainably produced salmon.'

Salmon Evolution's first production facility is currently in construction, with its location on the west coast of Norway being a strategic choice, owing to the access to fresh seawater, renewable energy and the infrastructure for salmon farming. The facility is designed for a maximum annual capacity of 31,000 tonnes. Its aim is to utilise the ocean whilst farming fish on land by using hybrid flow-through technology (HFS).

Statkraft is a leading provider in renewable energy, with hydropower, wind power, solar power, and gas-fired power all in its repertoire.

For more information on Salmon Evolution click, HERE.

For more information on Statkraft click, HERE.

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Lallemands Animal Nutritions’ TITAN® protection technology offers probiotic yeast optimal resistance against harsh pelleting processes

A new stability trial conducted by an independent institute, the International Research Association of Feed Technology (IFF) in Germany, confirms that TITAN, Lallemand Animal Nutrition's unique patented yeast protection technology remains at the top of the game when it comes to withstanding stringent pelleting conditions. The new trial used more drastic conditions compared to previous studies, which also demonstrated better survival of the live yeast compared to competitive products. These findings indicate that TITAN-protected yeast are adapted to ever-changing feedmill constraints.

The new data complement many other pelleting trials conducted under different conditions, either in laboratories or in industrial feedmills, showing consistent stability results (Figure 1).

Why does probiotic yeast need protection?
The viability of a probiotic is a key parameter to ensure its metabolic activity once ingested by the animal. Many experts insist that probiotics must be alive and viable to exert an effect on the microflora within the digestive system.

Indeed, several national authorities will only authorise a claim for performance (such as improved milk production or feed efficiency) when the probiotic microorganism is viable. For example, the European Commission considers microorganisms as probiotic feed additives only in their live form. Today, the increased demand for pelleted feed, coupled with increasingly stringent feed mill processes, could limit the inclusion of probiotic yeast in this form of feed. This is why Lallemand continues to invest in process development to ensure that TITAN, its unique patented yeast protection technology, remains at the top of the game when it comes to withstanding stringent pelleting conditions.

The stress of pelleting
When selecting a probiotic yeast, it is crucial to ensure the live yeast will: survive feed or premix processing; tolerate the combination of other ingredients; and endure storage prior to reaching the animal. Feed manufacturing processes are constantly evolving to answer market needs and safety challenges. Feed pelleting processes represent many stress factors for live yeast, such as temperature, pressure and/or moisture. For example, yeast stability depends on the die temperature during the pelleting process, but also on the die compression, conditioner temperature and process duration.

Data on TITAN stability
An analysis was conducted in 2017 by the IFF to compare the stability and the resistance of a TITAN live yeast form to other commercial yeast sources under different pelleting conditions. This study showed that only TITAN yeast remains stable throughout the various pelleting processes (at least 85°C). In 2021, the same institute conducted a new stability study using even more stringent conditions and comparing the stability of TITAN yeast to non-coated forms of other live yeast products marketed for use in pelleted feed.

In this new trial, pelleting conditions were more challenging than in the 2017 trial with a higher conditioner temperature and increased die compression (5/80 die in 2021 vs. 5/50 die in 2017).

What is TITAN?

TITAN is a live yeast protection technology adapted for pelleted feed applications that has been developed by by Lallemand Animal Nutrition. TITAN includes a unique and patented yeast microencapsulation technology. In addition to this unique coating, the production process of TITAN includes specific adaptation of the live yeast fermentation and drying conditions, as well as downstream processing steps up to packaging to ensure optimal resistance and viability of the live yeast in customer applications. As a result, TITAN offers a consistent and optimal stability to Lallemand Animal Nutrition live yeast probiotics during industrial feed processing steps and through feed storage.

Lallemand technical services
Lallemand Animal Nutrition has an international process development platform as part of its R&D department, dedicated to continuous process optimisation as well as the applications of TITAN.

Under a large variety of feed processing conditions, the feed industry can benefit from on-site support to assist in feed process monitoring and sampling. The company's feed industry partners have access to dedicated services such as sample analysis and compatibility studies. All this helps ensure optimal viability and efficacy of Lallemand's probiotic yeast to end-users.

For more information about Lallemand Animal Nutrition visit their website, HERE.

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Bühler to build a large-scale insect plant for Agronutris in France

French insect producer Agronutris has chosen Bühler Group as its process solution provider for its first commercial scale black soldier fly plant. Bühler will deliver a full-scope solution for the facility, which will be built in Rethel, France.

This collaboration is a major milestone for both organisations. It reinforces Bühler's commitment to ambitious targets that will help mitigate climate change and build a more sustainable food system and supports Agronutris' goal to establish itself as a world leader for sustainable nutrition. The plant is planned to go into operation in 2023.

The 16,000 square meter insect plant in Rethel, France, when operating at full capacity, will process up to 70,000 tons of organic residues and produce high-quality protein for the aquaculture and pet food markets every year. 'With the launch of this new site, Agronutris is entering its industrial deployment stage. The facility of Rethel will be our springboard for the further industrial development of our activity,' says Mehdi Berrada, CEO of Agronutris. 'Bühler is a world-leading company with a tremendous experience in the food and feed sector. We trust in their capabilities to support us in the insect industry. This allows our teams to focus on our core activities: insect biology and operational management of our production flow. Our research and development activities make for our competitive advantage.'

Bühler's solutions for Agronutris will cover the entire supply chain. This includes feedstock preparation to provide safe, palatable, and nourishing feed to the larvae and a fully automated larvae growth system with sophisticated climate control. Bühler will also deliver the processing line to efficiently transform the grown larvae into protein meal and lipids with consistent quality, as well as the frass (excrement) handling system for a secure offtake of the rearing residues.

In addition, Bühler will be responsible for the entire automation and the timely project execution. The latter encompasses engineering, procurement, manufacturing, supply, installation, and commissioning. 'The new project with Agronutris is a milestone for us. It confirms our goal of establishing ourselves as a key solution provider for the insect industry and to increase the inclusion of insect proteins in animal feed. Our solutions contribute to more sustainable feed supply chains,' says Andreas Baumann, Head of Market Segment Insect Technology at Bühler.

Growing demand

To feed 10 billion people who are expected to live on our planet by 2050, about 250 million metric tons of additional protein will be necessary every year. This is an increase of 50 percent compared to today. The industry must address this challenge with a more sustainable production of existing sources of protein as well as alternative sources for direct human and animal consumption. Edible insects can play a unique role in upcycling food waste streams to high-quality proteins, which makes them an increasingly important source of protein while being environmentally friendly.

The market of insect proteins as feed is expected to significantly grow in the next ten years. The total turnover of insect feed operators is expected to achieve EUR 2.2 billion per year by the end of the decade. This growth will be led by two main sectors: the aquaculture sector, which will make up for 30 percent of sales volumes of insect producers by 2030, and the petfood sector, which will account for 40 percent of the insect protein sales volumes by 2030.

Agronutris aims to contribute to the emergence of this industry and to become one of the global leaders of the sector. The growth of its team (joined by entomologists and agro-industry experts), its recent fundraising of EUR 100 million, and the collaboration with major companies such as Bühler, are some of the factors that will allow the company to live up to this ambition.

Bühler is committed to reduce water, energy, and waste by 50 percent in its customers' value chains by 2025. This will help mitigate climate change and be the foundation of a more sustainable food system. Insects offer a unique opportunity. They are not only a healthy source of protein for food and feed, but they can be fed on waste, therefore converting food waste into protein. And their frass can be used as a fertiliser. That is why they are an important pillar in Bühler's strategy to become the leader in sustainable proteins for food and feed.

For more information about Bühler visit their website, HERE.
Or, visit the Argonutris website, HERE.

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Skretting introduces Nutra Sprint and Celero to maximise trout performance

Built around Skretting's expertise, the latest offering provides farmers with solutions that can be better utilised than conventional feeds. Nutra Sprint is a new high performance starter feed that supports first-feeding trout fry, while Celero accelerates growth in the grow-out phase and enables farmers to produce premium quality fish with a high harvest yield.

Left to right: Dr Vibeke Vikeså, Team Lead Salmonid Nutrition, Sissel Susort, Global Business Developer Salmonids and Bernardo Sumares, Global Product Manager Freshwater
Image credit: Skretting

The best start in life
Early nutrition has a significant impact on later life stage performance. Nutra Sprint contains a unique combination of ingredients that set trout up for life. The building blocks for their future growth and development are provided in this innovative feed, while the immune system of the fish is supported.

'With Nutra Sprint, hatcheries can expect to produce faster-growing, healthy fry in the crucial first-feeding stage. In setting the fish up for life by giving them the best possible start, trout farmers can be confident that the juvenile trout that enter the next phase of on-growing are robust and ready to thrive,' says Bernardo Sumares, Global Product Manager Fresh Water at Skretting.

While significant emphasis was placed on optimising trout growth rates, equal attention was given to Nutra Sprint's physical properties and its stability in hatchery water systems. Nutra Sprint is produced in such a way that the micro-pellets maintain their form and behave in a stable way, which makes them highly accessible to the young fish, while supporting good water quality.

Optimising grow-out
With the market pull increasing, it's more important than ever to produce rainbow trout efficiently through the grow-out phase. Celero is a grower trout feed tailored to meet the physiological requirements of the fish and to support fast growth within the optimal production period. Initially targeted to fresh and brackish water environments, Celero enables trout farmers to maximise their production efficiencies and to deliver premium fillet quality. Validation trials have documented growth increases of up to eight percent, combined with a reduction in FCR of eight percent - clearly demonstrating value for Skretting customers.

'Celero contains the essential ingredients necessary for the growth and wellbeing of trout in the main part of the production,' says Dr Vibeke Vikeså, Team Lead Salmonid Nutrition at Skretting ARC. 'Thanks to this precise, cost-effective formulation that balances energy and protein, the nutrient uptake and utilisation is more efficient. In addition, a yield enhancer is incorporated into the formulation to improve the transport and utilisation of fat to achieve improved growth and premium fillet quality.'

'We are very excited about the long-term benefits that these two feed innovations will bring for trout farmers throughout the world,' concludes Sissel Susort, Global Business Developer Salmonids. 'With Nutra Sprint in the hatchery and then Celero in the grow-out, Skretting is providing a complete feed offering for trout that is focused on providing value for customers right through to harvest.'

For more information about Skretting visit their website, HERE.

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Aller Aqua and BioRefine test green protein made from grass

Aller Aqua will begin testing green protein from BioRefine in their search for new fish feed ingredients, the protein is an organic concentrate made from grass harvested from 3,000 ha land in Denmark. From this, BioRefine is able to produce 7,000 tonnes of green protein concentrate a year for use in animal nutrition.

"The green and organic protein concentrate has a similar nutrient profile to soybean meal and could therefore be a great replacement in Aller Aqua fish feed. For comparison, Denmark imports around 50.000 tonnes of organic soy annually.

"The company BioRefine has been launched by three agricultural companies DLG, Danish Agro and DLF with a strong intention to create a climate- and environment-efficient alternative protein source for animal feed. 'BioRefine has the ambition to continuously establish more biorefineries, and thereby increase the proportion of feed protein ingredients produced in Denmark. We are very happy about the cooperation with Aller Aqua and will closely follow the results conducted by Aller Aqua Research,' says Vagn Hundebøll, CEO at BioRefine.

"The functionality of BioRefine's green protein in fish feed will be evaluated in feeding trials conducted at Aller Aqua Research, Aller Aqua's trial station located in Büsum, Germany. In nutrient digestibility and growth trials the green protein will be tested in feed for rainbow trout, the main fish species in Danish aquaculture. Due to its regionality, grass protein could be a valuable raw material for reducing the carbon-footprint of fish feed.

"'New raw materials are seldom. And here we have an entirely new and locally produced raw material. It is a perfect match for us because this is the kind of raw material we are searching for. We are looking very much forward to be the first company testing and possibly later on including this raw material in our feed,' says Dr Hanno Slawski, Group Research & Development Director for Aller Aqua.

"Recently, Aller Aqua became the first fish feed company to label their feeds with their respective CO2 equivalent. This was greatly appreciated by the market and client feedback has shown that knowledge about fish feeds carbon footprint is of great interest for all stakeholders along the value chain."

For more information visit the Aller Aqua website, HERE.

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£5m investment in Scottish Salmon Company's post-smolt project

The Scottish Salmon Company's (SSC) post-smolt project has just been awarded up to GBP £5 million in public sector funding. Highlands and Islands Enterprise approved a £3m investment, while Marine Scotland confirmed their £3m investment in the project.  

"A central aim is to increase smolt size from around 100g to 500g in an ecologically sustainable way using innovative Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) technology. It will include innovative husbandry and enhancing smolt testing and vaccination methods to improve fish welfare while increasing production," SSC said in a press release from the 8^th December. 

By having greater control over the freshwater rearing environment, the length of time smolts spend in the freshwater phase of production can be increased. The fish are most at risk to environmental and biological challenges such as predation and disease whilst in the marine phase, which will be shortened. In doing so, this reduces biological risk and ensures greater production. 

Scottish Salmon Company's Applecross site

The project will create around 30 rural jobs and advance salmon farming in Scotland. Ian Laister, the Managing Director of SSC commented on this: 

"We are committed to investing in the remote and rural communities in which we live and work. Our investment in recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) is part of our commitment to become the leading and most sustainable salmon producer in Scotland. 

"Our RAS facility at Applecross will be fully operational by 2023 and will be the largest of its kind in Scotland, with plans for an additional two RAS facilities. 

"This is fundamental to our overall sustainable growth strategy and investment programme over the next five years, which will transform the business." 

In her announcement of the funding, the Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon explained: "The project will deliver on improved fish and welfare, applies innovation to address key challenges and contributes towards sustainability. It also supports the creation of new jobs which will boost the wider economy. 

"It is an essential part of our green recovery, Scotland's largest food export and a huge part of our food and drink success story." 

The Scottish Salmon Company currently employs 600 people across 60 sites, in economically fragile parts of Scotland's coast and islands. It is owned by Bakkafrost Group, one of the world's largest salmon producers. It is committed to incorporating RAS into all freshwater production and strengthening farming operations in the marine environment.

 For more information visit Scottish Salmon Company's website, HERE.

Image credit: Scottish Salmon Company

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ADM joins GFLI as their newest member, strengthening its sustainability commitment

ADM has entered a new partnership with the Global Feed LCA Institute (GFLI), an independent animal nutrition and food industry institute. Together, the two organisations will help to monitor and stimulate environmental performance in the animal nutrition industry, contributing to the creation of a more resilient and sustainable global food system.

Image credit: Daniela on Flickr
(CC BY-SA 2.0)

GFLI was established with the purpose of developing a publicly available Animal Nutrition Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) database to support meaningful environmental assessment of animal nutrition products.

The collaboration represents a significant step forward to further grow ADM's animal nutrition business. Christophe Blondet, Vice President Product Development & Applications – Animal Nutrition at ADM comments, 'As a member of GFLI, we look forward to embarking on this collaborative and fruitful partnership. Together, we will contribute to the development of publicly available databases to better understand the environmental impact of feed materials and, ultimately, help shape a more sustainable animal nutrition industry.'

Ana Yaluff, EMEAI Sustainability Manager adds, 'It is an exciting time to be part of the animal nutrition industry, which is constantly innovating and changing. Our partnership with the GFLI will help us to improve the environmental impact of the feed industry and we look forward to working together to contribute to a more robust and sustainable global food system.'

With partners, the GFLI is developing an LCA database, which together with the underlying UN FAO LEAP-based methodology aims to be the reference for assessing and benchmarking feed industry impact and improvement in LCA calculations.

ADM's collaboration with GFLI is one of many ways the company is focused on enhancing sustainability, including renewable product and process innovations, supply chain commitments and enhancing operational efficiency. Additionally, ADM is a member of the Cool Farm Alliance, the Responsible Meat Initiative of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and the Global Roundtable of Sustainable Beef.

For more information about ADM visit their website, HERE.

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New study sheds new light on Bangladeshi prawn and shrimp industry

The results of a large-scale study into prawn and shrimp production in southwest Bangladesh suggest that the industry is crucial to public health and prosperity, as well as being climate-resilient, despite its reputation.

Image credit: pulaw on Flickr
(CC BY-ND 2.0)

"The University of Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture and partners conducted the study over four years, collecting quantitative and qualitative data from 240 households and 160 shrimp-prawn farms in four different communities.

"Contrary to criticism in recent years of the impact of export-driven prawn and shrimp farming on communities and the environment in Bangladesh, the study found that a relatively small amount was exported, providing important income for communities, and other fish production had a low impact on the environment, whilst providing crucial nutrition.

"The researchers found that only 20-40 percent of all the fish produced – the shrimp and prawn - was destined for export, with a high diversity of other fish being produced, sold and consumed locally in mainly small-scale enterprises.

"PhD researcher Abdullah-Al Mamun, lead author of a paper presenting the findings says, 'There has been very little research into the detail of what's happening on the ground in Bangladesh, to counterbalance global discourse about food security and trade liberalisation. There has been criticism of the effect of prawn and shrimp export on communities and the environment.

"'This study is important, because it shows that the family-driven, polyculture system currently in operation in southwest Bangladesh actually safeguards household nutrition and income, whilst requiring far fewer inputs than the intensive systems in operation in other places, making it better for the environment.'

"The researchers used an interdisciplinary approach to gather data at household level. Four areas of gher dikes (where rice, fish and vegetables are grown together) were studied: high saline (coastal), medium saline, low saline, and freshwater (inland). Forty households farming fish from each area were chosen at random, and underwater biodiversity was measured.

"Dr Mamun says, 'As well as prawn and shrimp, we found 52 other fish species growing in the water across the four areas, which is surprisingly diverse, as well as a range of vegetables.

"'The prawn and shrimp for export brought in the highest price for households. The other 52 fish species and the vegetables were consumed and sold locally.

"'We found 60 percent of households were farming fish and the other 40 percent were indirectly linked – either employed by farms or along the supply chain - so aquaculture is incredibly important to people in southwest Bangladesh.'

"The study also found that very few inputs were needed to grow the fish, making the impact on the environment low.

"'Ninety percent of these farms were extensive, i.e. with a low stocking density and relying on food produced naturally in the pond rather than on artificial feed, irrigation, energy or electricity,' says Dr Mamun. 'In the freshwater area, hatcheries were being used to produce finfish, but in the saline areas, the finfish grew naturally.'

"The researchers studied 60 households from each of the four areas, asking local leaders to place families on a scale from rich to ultra-poor. Better off and poorer households that had at least one adolescent girl present were then sampled.

"Dr Mamun says, 'Women, adolescent girls and infants are the most vulnerable in terms of getting their proper share of food. We measured how much food each family member got from the pot, in terms of protein, energy and food group. We calculated how much food each should receive, depending on their energy expenditure, and found that adolescent girls were still receiving ten percent less food than they should be.

"'We also mapped the nutritional profile of what they ate, analysing biomarkers from a finger prick test. Interestingly, the girls in the high saline areas showed a higher level of a crucial fatty acid – EPA and DHA – showing that the coastal fish that they could access is more nutritious.

"'While the prawns and shrimp were exported, they actually had lower nutritional value than the finfish retained for local consumption. But the exported catch gave financial strength to households.'

"The study was overseen by Professor Dave Little at the Institute of Aquaculture. He says, 'The data-set in this study was of an extremely high quality.

"'The results send a clear message that consumers can safely eat Bangladeshi shrimp, knowing they are also supporting local people being able to eat more nutritionally valuable seafood.'

"The study involved two nutritionists – Professor Baukje de Roos from the Rowett Institute at the University of Aberdeen and Nanna Roos, associate professor at the Department of Nutrition Exercise and Sports (NEXS) at the University of Copenhagen.

"It was funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Council, UK, and the EU Sustaining Ethical Aquaculture Trade (SEAT) research project, supported by UK Aid's Innovative Methods and Metrics for Agriculture and Nutrition Actions (IMMANA) programme.

"Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth, Lord Ahmad says, 'The UK Government is pleased to be supporting this Scottish research, bringing new insights into how prawn and shrimp fishing benefits communities and can combat climate change.

"'This high-quality study will have a major impact in how we approach future development work by challenging long-held assumptions about smallholder fish farming, as opposed to more intensive commercial farming.

"'University of Stirling's work will enable us to look at ways to protect a vital part of Bangladesh's economy, which offers climate-resistant livelihoods and highly nutritious food security to more than 38million people.'

"The paper 'Export-Driven, Extensive Coastal Aquaculture Can Benefit Nutritionally Vulnerable People' is published in the journal, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems."

For more information visit the University of Stirling website, HERE.

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Andfjord Salmon verifies water flow technology

Andfjord Salmon announced the verification of its laminar water flow technology after a period of testing, at its first pool in Andøya. The company has developed its sustainable aquaculture concept for the purposes of land-based Atlantic salmon farming. 

Following weeks of testing, it increased the intensity of flow-through technology tests. The tests included the complete water inlet and outlet infrastructure, filling of the pool, activation of power adaptors, gradual increase of the laminar water flow and measurements of the water flow. Other results recorded analyses of the pool infrastructure and how it reacted to the laminar water flow.

"In practice, this confirms that we have been able to recreate wild salmon's natural habitat on land. In the wild, salmon swims in laminar water flows in the ocean, similar to what we now have in our pool at Andøya. Never have I been more certain that we will meet our ambition of building the world's most sustainable aquaculture facility of its kind," said Martin Rasmussen the CEO of Andfjord Salmon in a press release from today.

Andfjord Salmon's flow-through technology with a laminar water flow facilitates a natural environment in which farmed salmon can thrive and enables the company to produce fish at a low energy cost of 1kWh per kilogram.

A flow-through system with a laminar water flow reduces energy consumption and its associated costs by removing the need to lift, filter or heat the seawater, thanks to being sourced directly from the nearby Andfjorden. It also holds a perfect temperature.

"This is a major technological milestone for Andfjord Salmon and a really nice Christmas present to our shareholders, utilising our own technology. We were always confident in the technological capabilities, but humble to the fact demonstrating it in practice is what matters. As such, the successful verification of the laminar water flow helps to de-risk our business case substantially," Martin Rasmussen explained.

Fine tuning the laminar water flow technology will happen over the coming months. It aims to release its first smolt in the last half of 2021. 

For more information on Andfjord Salmon click, HERE.

Image credit: Andfjord Salmon

The Aquaculturists

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2022 will be the International Year of Artisanal Fishing and Aquaculture

The UN General Assembly has declared 2022 the International Year of Artisanal Fishing and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022), an opportunity to give visibility and support to a key sector in the process of reaching several of the objectives under the Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030). The reasons of that choice highlight how small-scale artisanal fishers, fish farmers and fish workers contribute to human well-being, healthy agri-food systems and poverty eradication through the responsible and sustainable use of fisheries and aquaculture resources.

A vision of the small-scale fisheries sector which, in the words of Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Director-General QU Dongyu, underpins how the Year is aligned with FAO's '4 Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all – leaving no one behind.' A recent FAO WorldFish study indicates that the small-scale sector may account for the bulk of production considering that about 80 percent of the world's aquaculture production comes from developing countries, with the number of artisanal farmers being much higher than those employed at farm level in medium- and large-scale aquaculture.

"Pordenone Fiere with Aquafarm, International conference & trade show on aquaculture, algaculture and fishing industry, is proud to be a supporter of the International Year of Artisanal Fishing and Aquaculture 2022 (IYAFA 2022 Supporters)' - declares Renato Pujatti, president of Pordenone Fiere together with Pier Antonio Salvador, president of API Associazione Piscicoltori Italiani (Italian Fish Farmers Association) – 'and we are committed to communicating the importance of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture for the sustainable development of food systems and environmental protection.' This is precisely one of the key themes of AquaFarm, one of the most important events on the Pordenone Fiere calendar and an essential event for operators in the aquaculture supply chain; the fifth edition will be held on February 16 and 17, 2022 with a day entirely dedicated to a conference program, on February 18 (Special Conference Day).

This is a fast-growing event that in the last edition has reached numbers that make it one of the leading European trade shows in the sector: 122 exhibitors (35% from abroad), over 2,500 visitors from 43 countries around the world and a calendar of meetings of highest scientific value that will reach its peak in the 2022 edition with the seminar dedicated to IYAFA 2022 scheduled for February 18, 2022. There will be speeches by members of FAO, international experts in the sector and the testimony of entrepreneurs of micro and small aquaculture companies in Italy and abroad. Precisely in order to give the widest communication and enhancement to the themes of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture, AquaFarm 2022 presents its first out-of-show 'Aquafarm In The City': an intense program of workshops, show-cooking, tastings, cooking classes dedicated to children, live streaming directly from the fair. During five days, the world of AquaFarm will involve the entire city of Pordenone to promote knowledge of aquaculture products and food education with a view to environmental sustainability.

For more information about the event visit the Aqua Farm website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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Preventative action against mycotoxins in feed

Extreme weather is becoming a more common occurrence. Droughts and heavy rain continue to show us the impact of climate change, which in turn impacts agriculture. Rising feed prices and poorer feed hygiene are just a couple of examples of the impact to global food production. Serious losses will also come about due to higher levels of mycotoxin contamination too.

"Timely preventive action is critical to successfully overcoming the challenges. Preventive strategies optimise productivity while reducing the impact of mycotoxins on animal performance, health and welfare, making animal production much more sustainable. Anta®Ferm MT80 was specifically developed to protect livestock from the adverse effects of mycotoxins. Its impressive efficiency is due to its special composition.

"Mycotoxins: Compensate for nutrient loss; feed sustainably
"In 2021, prices for feed grain and oilseed reached an all-time high: wheat and soya prices increased by up to 50 percent, while the price of maize even increased by 100 percent. This was mainly due to worldwide droughts such as those in the USA, Argentina and China. Additionally, the higher temperatures and CO2 concentrations, as well as a change in the distribution of precipitation, promote the spread of moulds. Mycotoxins, which are usually found in warmer regions, are becoming increasingly prolific, even in the European region (EFSA, 2017). Since mycotoxins contribute to poorer nutrient content and reduced feed conversion (Tables 1 and 2), this poses enormous challenges for the entire agricultural sector.

"In order to be proactive in addressing these challenges, it is important that producers and livestock farmers compensate for the poorer digestibility of the feed. This is where professional additives come into play. In a trial with broilers (Okolelova T.M., Merzlenko O.V., 2019), Anta®Ferm MT80 demonstrably improved protein and fat digestibility in contaminated feed (Fig. 1). Despite the higher level of contamination, the feed still provides the necessary nutrients, producing a beneficial effect on animal welfare and overall performance. In turn, the better feed conversion (Fig. 2) compensates for higher feed costs, since less feed is required. This clearly improves sustainability."

For more information visit the Dr Eckel website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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Economic impact of salmon farming in Scotland

Farming of salmon continues to make a major contribution to the Scottish economy, supporting hundreds of jobs and generating valuable income.

Figures produced by the sector's representative body, Salmon Scotland and broken down on a regional basis for the first time, show the value of salmon produced in the different farming areas. 

Salmon Scotland Chief Executive Tavish Scott
Image credit: Salmon Scotland

According to the statistics, the North Coast and West Highlands area produced the most fish – 26 percent of total, or 15,900 tonnes in Q3 2021. Argyll and Clyde is next with 14,000 tonnes in the quarter, 23 percent of production, followed by Shetland with 20 percent of production (12,400 tonnes), the Outer Hebrides with 19 per cent (11,700 tonnes) and Orkney next on 11 percent (6,700 tonnes).

Farmgate prices for Atlantic salmon experienced a seasonal decline during the initial stages of Q3 2021 before rallying at the end of the period. However, they remain some way behind the returns recorded pre-pandemic at the end of 2019.

In addition to benefiting communities financially, the salmon sector directly employs 2,500 people directly, paying them an average salary of about £38,000.

Salmon Scotland Chief Executive Tavish Scott says that the figures were 'excellent news' for Scotland, for rural communities and for the country as a whole.

'Sales of fresh and chilled Atlantic salmon to the EU have now reached record volumes, helping it to maintain its position as the UK's most valuable food export', says Mr Scott.

Almost £192 million worth of salmon was exported from Scotland in the third quarter of 2021, down slightly from £202 million in the second quarter. However, overall Q1-Q3 exports in 2021 have eclipsed the whole of 2020 during the pandemic.

This encouraging performance happened despite the challenge of many key outlets and routes to market for Scottish salmon remaining closed or below capacity during the period.

'Volumes of chilled salmon increased by two per cent in volume and value terms in the year to the end of October. This meant that we maintained growth experienced in retail during the initial stages of the pandemic as food service outlets were closed.'

'We are expecting to produce 217,000 tonnes in total this year, which will represent an increase of 9300 tonnes, or 4.5 per cent, on 2020.'

Mr Scott says that he was optimistic about the future of the sector. 'As more businesses return to full capacity, the outlook for domestic consumption in the restaurant and hospitality sector should remain positive.

'This is because consumers will take the opportunity to eat out more often while at the same time cooking and enjoying salmon in their own homes.'

He continued, 'the sector is proving just how robust and agile it is in challenging market conditions. This is clearly very good news for Scotland's rural and island communities and all who live and work in them.

'As a sector, we will remain a major employer as we consolidate our market position and grow and prosper in the future.'

Publication of the regional breakdown and detailed estimates by quarter for production and trade figures represents a new development for Salmon Scotland.

Mr Scott says the publication reinforced the sector's commitment to transparency and openness and would build on the sustainability and environmental reports published by the sector to coincide with COP26 in Glasgow in November.

For more information visit the Salmon Scotland website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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