Gael Force Group moves ahead with SeaQureFarm™ development and prototyping

Gael Force Group has taken a substantial step forward in its plans to deliver its integrated SeaQureFarm™ by announcing an exclusive partnership for the prototyping and production of their ground-breaking semi-closed containment solution for the aquaculture sector, SeaQureWell™, in 2024.

SeaQureFarm™ has the potential to unlock global ambition for a greener, carbon-friendly, and more efficient way of producing healthy nutritious food protein through improving the sustainability of farming of the seas. It is designed to deliver improved fish health, reduced predation, prevent seabed depositions and reduce egg-to-plate emissions while enabling on-farm circular economies and turning a waste problem into an energy solution.

As an integral part of SeaQureFarm™, the SeaQureWell™ is an arrangement where seawater is pumped and pushed into a floating enclosed “well” with its floating collar at the sea surface. The collar supports the Well and its pumping arrangements which lifts deeper coastal water into the well creating an in-well temperature profile that is warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

The SeaQureWell™ will be constructed of engineered high-quality composite membrane material, cut, and welded to form the ‘Well, with structural floatation at the surface and a rigid sub-surface service and support structure. It aims to provide and maintain a secure controlled environment to safeguard healthy growing fish against external environmental threats to the fish from sea lice, gill amoeba, jellyfish and algae bloom as well as protect against sea mammal predation. Additionally, faecal depositions along with any uneaten food will also be captured in the ‘Well’ for on-site recovery and reduction for reuse.

The Scottish technology and equipment manufacturer has been researching and developing its unique integrated SeaQureFarm™ concept for several years. Last year it commissioned aquaculture expert, Knut Senstad, to deliver a highly detailed business case for the concept, revealing key economic, health, and environmental savings in a range of farming scenarios.

Partnering with Gael Force on the production of the prototype is Northern Ireland based Cunningham Covers, known for their expertise and large factory capacity in the manufacturing of clever protective covers and containment products from high-tech, high-strength flexible materials. 

Their experience in creating durable and customised solutions spans more than 50 years, and today they produce and supply a range of specialised cover products for aerospace, offshore, and aquaculture applications, including fresh-water treatment bags, fresh-water storage bags, lice skirts, and other custom tarpaulin textile products.

For this partnership, Gael Force and Cunningham Covers have also entered a supply partner agreement with Serge Ferrari, a global leader in flexible composite materials. They will provide cutting-edge fabric technology to enhance the performance and durability of the SeaQureWell™ system. The use of innovative materials will contribute to the system’s robustness, flexibility, and resistance to environmental factors.

Gael Force Group Managing Director, Stewart Graham, comments, “By announcing this next major step forward in the development of SeaQureFarm™ we continue to demonstrate our commitment to the continual improvement of a greener, carbon-friendly way to sustainably produce a healthy, nutritious food protein. We share the sector’s ambition of minimising environmental footprint and moving closer to a goal of achieving net zero. In partnership with Cunningham Covers, supported by Serge Ferrari as our specialised material supply partner, I am extremely confident that our collective experience and expertise will enable us to move the dial considerably towards that target.”

Cunningham Covers Managing Director, David Cunningham, comments, “We are delighted to be a long-term partner with Gael Force in this project. Our two companies share core values and ethos, as well as a long-term ambition to grow our presence together in the semi-closed containment fish farming sector, combining the considerable and complementary strengths of both companies.”

Gael Force is aiming to produce a working prototype of SeaQureWell™ in 2024. They have stated that it is immediately open to partnering with finfish producers in Scotland to trial a project next year and is welcoming approaches from customers.

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Burges Salmon boosts Construction and Engineering team with director appointment

Independent UK law firm Burges Salmon is pleased to announce the appointment of Katy Wall as a new director in its Construction and Engineering team.

Ms Wall joins Burges Salmon from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, where she was a senior associate in the firm’s Commercial Construction & Engineering team.

Ms Wall specialises in commercial construction and engineering law, providing advice on procurement strategy and negotiation of standard form and bespoke construction and engineering contracts, service and supply agreements and associated development, funding and third party arrangements.

Having worked as an in-house solicitor for Siemens plc, Ms Wall has acted for both contractors and developers on major international infrastructure projects.

Ms Wall comments, “Burges Salmon has a very well-regarded Construction and Engineering team, with both an impressive roster of clients and a wide range of highly experienced lawyers. I’m excited to be joining the team and am very much looking forward to working with our clients on a variety of nationally significant and complex construction projects.”

Steven James, Head of Construction and Engineering at Burges Salmon, adds, “It’s great to be able to announce Katy’s appointment at the firm. Katy is a hugely experienced construction sector lawyer and we’re all excited about adding her expertise to our offering, which will enable us to continue providing our clients with an excellent UK-wide service.”

Burges Salmon has one of the largest construction and engineering teams in the country, with over 35 specialist construction lawyers. The team works with clients at every level of their development and delivery of complex infrastructure including all forms of construction dispute resolution. The team spans the UK, with lawyers qualified in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland and it also advises on international projects including projects in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia.

For more information about Burges Salmon visit the website, HERE.

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Eddy Ketels will step down as CEO of Orffa – Haiko Zuidhoff appointed as successor

Eddy Ketels will step down as CEO of Orffa at the end of 2023. He will be succeeded by Haiko Zuidhoff, who will start in his new role as of 1 October 2023.

Eddy Ketels has been working for 35 years at Orffa. He became CEO in 2001. Under his leadership Orffa has developed from a local player, mainly focused on ingredients in Belgium and the Netherlands, into a global innovative value-adding company having presence in the main feed producing countries, offering a balanced portfolio of feed additives. 

Haiko Zuidhoff has worked in Asia for 25 years and moved back to The Netherlands in 2022. He most recently served IMCD as President for the Asia region, overseeing IMCD’s vision, strategy and accelerated growth through both organic growth and M&A. Prior to IMCD he served in various senior leadership roles at Trouw Nutrition Nutreco and Corbion. His knowledge and expertise will contribute to Orffa’s strategy and vision to be a value-adding partner to the global animal production of today and tomorrow.  

Haiko Zuidhoff will be based at Orffa’s headquarter in Breda, the Netherlands.

For more information, please reach out to info@orffa.com.


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Innovasea helps Petros secure approval for Aruba’s first ocean-based fish farm

Innovasea, a global leader in technologically advanced aquatic solutions for aquaculture and fish tracking, announced that it has successfully helped Petros secure government approval for a 3,000 tonne open ocean fish farm eight kilometres off the southwest coast of Aruba.

Image credit: Aqua Mechanical on flickr
(CC BY 2.0)

Innovasea performed extensive consulting and site selection work for Petros, which plans to use Innovasea’s submersible SeaStations and other technologies to raise Northern Red Snapper.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Petros to create Aruba’s first ocean-based fish farm,” says Langley Gace, Innovasea’s senior vice president of business development. “This is an important project for the country and the region and we’re confident that our open ocean expertise and our proven egg-to-harvest approach to fish farming will help ensure its success.”

Built over three phases, the farm will produce its fish in a sustainable, secure and traceable manner. Once complete, it will feature 16 SeaStations and a land-based hatchery and employ close to 100 local team members. Future growth will target 9,000 metric tons of biomass with goals to diversify species and expand into seaweed cultivation.

“We are fortunate to have a strong partner in Innovasea, an industry leader in open ocean farming with proven experience with warm water species such as Red Snapper” says Gunnar Bracelly, Petros’ founder and president. “Being able to rely on Innovasea’s full-service capabilities enables our team to focus on implementing the bold vision of diversifying the Aruban economy and becoming the catalyst for an aquaculture revolution throughout the Caribbean region.”

Northern Red Snapper is a high value species with strong demand in the United States – but a limited and seasonal supply that comes entirely from the fishing industry.

Creating a vibrant aquaculture industry will help Aruba diversify its economy, which relies heavily on tourism, and strengthen its food security profile. The submersible SeaStation is ideal because it is invisible to tourists when submerged.

“SeaStations spend most of their time fully submerged, so they’re a great fit for a place like Aruba where it’s important to preserve beautiful views for vacationers,” says Gace.

Petros will also market its fish to the many cruise ships that dock in Aruba. This will support the cruise industry’s effort to reduce its carbon footprint by sourcing fresh seafood from local sources.

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Ole Christian Willumsen to join Proximar as new CFO

“Proximar is very pleased that Mr Willumsen will join as our new CFO. He brings important and highly relevant competence to Proximar, including experience from working in Japan and with Japanese multinational corporations. I am confident that he will be a valuable member to our team and in the further development of the company, and look forward to working closely together with him,” says Joachim Nielsen, CEO of Proximar. 

Mr Willumsen joins Proximar from the position as country manager for Equinor in Japan and is currently living in Tokyo. He has more than 20 years of extensive experience in leadership positions, from both start-up companies and large corporations, covering commercial and operational roles. He has a strong international background and has previously been working in London, Dubai and Beijing.

“I am excited to be joining Proximar and getting to know the company’s highly skilled people. I look forward to taking an active role in developing Proximar to the next stage including complete farming operations and funding of further growth plans. I am confident that Proximar will become a leading player within sustainable land-based fish farming in Japan and Asia,” says Ole Christian Willumsen.  

Mr Willumsen will start the position as CFO on August 1, 2023. He holds a MSc. in Business and a CEMS-master from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH)and Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien.

For more information about Proximar visit the website, HERE.

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VDS and Aller Aqua collaborate to provide high-quality RAS shrimp feed

As the aquaculture industry continues to grow, there is an increasing need for sustainable feed production and supply.  

Shrimp farming, in particular, has become increasingly popular due to the high demand for this species both domestically and internationally.  

Aller Aqua are committed to providing high-quality feed to their partners and take pride in their role in supporting the aquaculture industry’s growth. 

In partnership with VDS, a premix specialist, Aller Aqua has developed a range of feed products that are specifically designed for use in shrimp RAS systems. These systems are becoming increasingly popular in Europe as they allow to produce high-quality, fresh shrimp products with short distances to market.  
 
The new feed products developed by Aller Aqua and VDS are designed to provide rapid feed availability and high feed performance, addressing key concerns of shrimp producers. 

“We look back at a long cooperation with VDS as experienced partner in shrimp feed production. Together, we noticed the same shrimp producer demands about feed availability and performance as well as physical quality. With the growing demand, we found it was time to get together and develop an optimal feed for shrimp farmed in RAS,” says Hanno Slawski, Group R&D Director of Aller Aqua.    

“Feeds have been tested in our own RAS system, where we found faster growth and remarkably even size distribution of shrimp with the now market-ready products. Shrimp farmed in RAS is a growing market and our feed concentrate solution in combination with Aller Aqua’s experience in feed manufacturing, raw material selection, and high standard for physical pellet quality, have led to a range of products that have already gained customer attention,” says Koen Blanchaert, CEO of VDS. 

The success of the on-farm trials conducted using the new feed products has generated significant interest among shrimp producers and the aquaculture industry. The new feed has proved to deliver faster growth and a more even size distribution of shrimp, improving the efficiency and profitability of shrimp farming operations. 

Aller Aqua use the highest quality raw materials in their aquafeed formulations. This ensures that their feeds not only supply the nutrition required for healthy growth and development but are also safe and environmentally sustainable, fostering responsible aquaculture practices. 

Aller Aqua and VDS will continue to play a leading role in the development of new and innovative aquafeeds that support the expansion of the aquaculture industry as demand for high-quality, sustainable seafood grows. 

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Benchmark Genetics disease-free compartment in Chile opens for export of genetics to the global salmon market

On May 19th, 2023, Benchmark Genetics Chile received the Disease-Free Compartment Certification from the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca). Thus, it has become the first genetic company in Chile to achieve this distinction, which recognises the high biosecurity standards by which the company operates. The certification also opens opportunities to export genetic material from Chile to salmon producers across the globe. 

The Disease-Free Compartment Certification defined by the World Organisation for Animal Health, WOAH, is only given to aquaculture farms that can demonstrate an active surveillance system, with strict biosecurity measures enforced where the animals are free of certain listed diseases. The farms must have firm management practices to keep the  animals healthy and safe from diseases to get the certification. The independent compartment of Benchmark Genetics  Chile will in practice open for export and the disease status of our farms is independent of other activities in the country.  

The CEO of Benchmark Holdings, Trond Williksen, expresses, “We are very proud to celebrate this milestone reached by Benchmark Genetics Chile. This is the most demanding standard in the world regarding biosecurity and demonstrates the unparalleled sanitary condition of our facilities in the country”.  

Jan-Emil Johannessen, Head of Benchmark Genetics, is also delighted with the achievement and says, “This certification is very relevant as we now have the same health and biosecurity standards in Chile as in Iceland. Biosecure operations are an important differentiation factor for Benchmark and reduce the risk related to egg supply for our customers. Additionally, our Chilean production can now be considered a source of biosecure eggs for salmon farmers worldwide”.  

Until today, there have only been four certified salmonid compartments in the world: two in Canada, one in Iceland  (also belonging to Benchmark Genetics) and one in Chile (AquaChile). Benchmark Genetics Chile is adding two certified fish farms (Curacalco and Ensenada) to this exclusive list of biosecure operations with the new certification.  

The national director of Sernapesca, María Soledad Tapia, says, “For the national authority and the country, it is positive to be part of this process where companies achieve this level of certification. Compartmentalisation, in very simple words, means that fish farms take extraordinary biosecurity measures to grow disease-free fish. This sounds so simple, but in practice, it is not. A large epidemiological surveillance program is required to ensure that there are no pathogens. It is a high standard, and as a government, we aim precisely to raise all standards, with an important focus on the operation of the aquaculture industry.”

For more information about Benchmark Genetics visit the website, HERE.

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International Aquafeed attends World Aquaculture 2023

On May 29 to June 1, 2023, World Aquaculture 2023 (WA2023) will be held in Darwin, Australia. It’s the first time since 2014 that Darwin has held WA2023 and the annual event will incorporate the Australasian Aquaculture industry. 

It is a large opportunity for the international aquaculture community – academics, industry researchers, market and industry analysts, government officials, policy makers and industry representatives to present their work and exchange ideas and develop a vision for the future of the aquaculture industry as we focus on the theme of ‘Supporting Strength in Aquaculture’.

There will be contributions to developing new and existing ideas to stimulate this vital industry at the event. With almost half of the world’s consumption of seafood coming from farms, aquaculture is playing an increasingly important role in meeting the challenge of global food security.

International Aquafeed magazine will be attending World Aquaculture 2023. You can meet our representatives, CEO Roger Gilbert and Events and Sales manager Tuti Tan, at our booth number 25. Here you can grab a complimentary magazine or a promotional code for a year’s free online subscription to any of our magazines. If you would like to schedule a meeting with our team, then please email shannonp@perendale.co.uk. 

For more information on the event go HERE.

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Visit to Wenger’s Technical Center in Sabetha, Ks

This well attended Wenger Aquafeed Seminar took place April 25-27, with attendees from world over in the renovated Wenger Technical Center in Sabetha, Ks. was complete with lectures in a state-of-the-art presentation room coupled with demonstrations on the available extrusion, drying equipment and ancillary gear. 

This 3-day seminar started with introductions followed presentations and demonstrations on all of the three days. The host of the event was Jesse Mitchell and the lecturers included Dr Anders Haubjerg who covered many topics as well as Ed de Souza, Robert Sunderland, Keith Erdley, Andrew McClaskey and Will Eisenbise.  

Topics discussed in detail included Ingredients and how they related to aquafeed extrusion, Principles of Aquafeed Production, Preconditioning, Extrusion of various styles, singles twins, conical co-rotating extruders and other possibilities.  Dies designs with comparisons, Salmon and Mediterranean feed production, Drying and Cooling of all types of aquafeeds, Coating, Control processes as well as Energy usages advancements and RAS feed production.     

The demonstrations included making a stable sinking shrimp feed, salmon feed and floating aquatic feed with control changes making the feed sink. Having been around the block a few times what impressed me was the cleanliness of the demonstrations. The feed transportation system to the extruders, the conveying system the lack of steam escaping let alone no fines in site were a testimony to the advancements in the details needed in a major industry, the petfood industry.  This has been seen many times over the years, how advancements in extrusion mingle among industries.  The computer control system with its uncanny abilities allows for the precision to make such a sanitary demonstration. I do believe this is the future of what an aquatic feed plant should look like in a pilot plant form. It was clean and tidy but the point is there was nothing escaping to dirty the place up and the products were perfect.

Congratulations to the Wenger team for a fantastic Seminar on Aquafeed Production and sharing the advancements made in this arena.

By Joe Kearns, International Aquafeed contributor

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Innovasea acquires aquaculture software firm Aquanetix and opens new office in Greece

Innovasea, a global leader in technologically advanced aquatic solutions for aquaculture and fish tracking, has announced that it has purchased Aquanetix, a UK-based aquaculture software company, and moved its operations to a new office in Greece.

Image credit: Artur Rydzewski on flickr
(CC BY 2.0)

Founded in 2015, Aquanetix’s cloud-based aquaculture management software provides customers with deep insights into farm operations.

“Acquiring a company of Aquanetix’s caliber presents an exciting opportunity for us,” says Innovasea CEO David Kelly. “By adding its powerful farm management capabilities to our suite of real-time aquaculture intelligence solutions, we’ll be rounding out our precision aquaculture platform and further helping our customers make data-driven decisions to improve operations, run more efficiently and sustainably and become more profitable.”

Aquanetix co-founder and CEO Diogo Thomaz and his team have been retained by Innovasea and the company will be hiring additional personnel to staff the new office in Corinth, Greece.

“We’re thrilled to become part of the Innovasea family and add our farm management software to its strong portfolio of egg-to-harvest aquaculture solutions,” says Mr Thomaz. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to make additional investment into our business to enhance our existing tools and better serve our customers.”

Terms of the deal, which closed earlier this year, were not disclosed.

Aquanetix’s farm management software is in use at more than 200 farms in 31 countries and is currently being used to grow more than 30 species of fish and shrimp. By offering it alongside Realfish Pro, Innovasea now has a complete suite of precision aquaculture tools that can handle all aspects of running a fish farm – from real-time environmental monitoring and control capabilities to powerful analytics that improve operations and decision-making.

Innovasea’s move into Greece is its second major expansion in the last three years. In 2020 it opened a full service office in Puerto Varas, Chile.

Headquartered in the United States, Innovasea also has offices in Canada, Norway and Australia.

Mr Kelly says Innovasea’s footprint in Greece will help it execute on its growth strategy in key markets like the Mediterranean and Middle East while better serving existing customers in those areas.

“Those regions have demonstrated a strong appetite for aquaculture and really seem to recognize the potential of fish farming to feed the planet’s growing population, so we want to continue helping companies establish and broaden the industry in those markets,” says Mr Kelly.

For more information about Innovasea visit the website, HERE.

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Sustainable alternative to antibiotics to fight diseases in trout farming

A new research project will use bacteria’s natural enemies, bacteriophages, to control bacterial diseases in aquaculture. The Innovation Fund has invested DKK 13.5 million in the project.

Image credit: Carlos Scheidegger on flickr
(CC BY-SA 2.0)

Aquaculture is the fastest growing industry in animal food production in the world and supports an increasing global demand for healthy food. Fish farming has a significantly lower climate footprint than other animal production, but disease in the larval and brood stages of fish constitutes a significant bottleneck in fish production and causes large economic losses in the industry. Fish fry cannot be vaccinated and antibiotics are therefore often used in the treatment of diseases. This entails a risk of the development and transfer of antibiotic resistance, which partly reduces the effectiveness of the treatment and partly increases the risk of the spread of antibiotic resistance to food and the environment.

In a project coordinated by Professor Mathias Middelboe, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, researchers from two universities in Denmark are collaborating with aquaculture and biotech companies in Denmark, England and Scotland to develop a new environmentally friendly technology for the treatment of bacterial diseases in trout farming. The starting point for the project is to use the bacteria’s natural enemies, the bacteriophages, in the fight against pathogenic bacteria in aquaculture.

“Our research into bacteriophage-based control of fish diseases has shown promising results in recent years,” says Professor Mathias Middelboe, “and now the Innovation Fund – together with Carus Animal Health and a number of other Danish and British companies – have invested just over 20 million DKK in taking the next step in the development of antimicrobial products that can reduce disease outbreaks in trout rearing.”

The products are thought to be used preventively as feed supplements or applied to biological filters in recirculated breeding facilities. As the diseases in question are globally widespread and have major negative consequences for the industry throughout the world, products that reduce fish mortality and support sustainable production have great commercial potential.

The goal is therefore that the project’s results can contribute to phasing out the use of antibiotics in the aquaculture industry and contribute to a sustainable development and restructuring of the sector.

The project is a collaboration between the University of Copenhagen, the Technical University of Denmark, the Danish Technological Institute, DanAqua, KSK Aqua, Aller Aqua, Carus Animal Health and Fixed Phage and will run for 3 years.

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ASC expands presence in South Korea

In line with the growing supply and demand of responsible aquaculture in Asia, the most productive region in the world for farmed seafood, Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has stepped up its presence in South Korea.

ASC’s work in the country is already well established and is gaining strength steadily. There are now 73 ASC certified farm sites in South Korea—28 seaweed, 44 abalone and 1 shrimp, with overall annual ASC certified volumes of more than 11,000 tonnes. The largest number of ASC labelled seaweed and abalone products globally are farmed in South Korea.

“The uptake of responsible seafood farming practices in South Korea is a boon for responsible aquaculture in Asia and around the world,” says Esther Luiten, ASC’s Global Market Development Director. “South Korean distributors and brands like CJ Freshway, IKEA, Lottemart and Olga have made commitments to ASC certification that are creating real change in the retail market.”

ASC Firsts in South Korea
Late last year, ASC brought onboard a general manager to head operations in South Korea—Martin Lee, who came to ASC with robust experience in market development in sustainability sectors in Asia, including sustainability certifications.

“I’m very pleased to see how ASC certification is making South Korean aquaculture products more competitive within the global market,” says Martin Lee. “South Korea is a major producer of seaweed, and ASC certification is giving Korean farms a way to meet international market demands for seaweed that is responsibly produced.”

Industry interest in ASC certification was apparent at the first Korea Sustainable Aquaculture Seminar, held on 28 April 2023 in Seoul and co-hosted by ASC and Aquainfo Co., Ltd., a major South Korean aquaculture magazine. Sponsors of the event included the Korea Fisheries Association, Wando County, Lloyd’s Certification Agency, Pulmuone, DNV Business Assurance Korea, Morning Garden, Control Union Korea and SGS Korea Co., Ltd.

More than 85 attendees from South Korean farms, seafood suppliers, retailers, local governments and more gathered during the event to discuss the benefits of responsible aquaculture for the environment and local communities.

Milestones for South Korea in Responsible Aquaculture
Also at the event, a memorandum of understanding was signed by ASC and Wando-gun, a county on South Korea’s southern coast that has been an active supporter of responsible seafood farming. The MoU is an agreement for collaboration “with mutual efforts to develop responsible aquaculture industry” and “to promote understanding of responsible aquaculture to the market and consumers.”

“The signing of the MoU between ASC and Wando-gun is a significant event. Through this agreement both organisations will cooperate to develop sustainable aquaculture,” says Woo-cheol Shin, Mayor of Wando County. “We believe that ASC certification is important for the development of the aquaculture industry in Wando-gun and for the promotion of our farmed seafood products in South Korea and internationally.”

Two players in the South Korean aquaculture industry were given awards by ASC at the Korea Sustainable Aquaculture Seminar: Eunha Marine and Chungsanbada. Eunha Marine was awarded for its leadership in promoting ASC certified products to South Korean processors and distributors. In 2020, they also launched the first ASC labelled salmon product on the South Korean market.

Chungsanbada, or the Chungsan Fishermen’s Organization, is an abalone farm operation that was awarded for its commitment to responsible practices and becoming the first ASC certified producer in South Korea, back in 2018.

“Efforts by Chungsanbada corporations and fishermen to create a sustainable abalone industry have created awareness of responsible aquaculture in Korean society,” says Chungsanbada CEO Jiyeon Wi. “Thanks to the support and encouragement of WWF Korea, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Wando County Office, it was possible to achieve our successful ASC certification. We would like to express our gratitude to the distributors and consumers who choose seafood that is responsibly produced.”

For more information about the ASC visit the website, HERE.

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The May edition of International Aquafeed is now available!

The May edition of International Aquafeed magazine is now available online, in print, and on our app.

Our features this edition begin with an article from Kiranpreet Kaur, Director R&D, Fish Health & Nutrition, Aker BioMarine, as they discuss how choline from krill can help improve gut health with Atlantic salmon. 

Governance and aquaculture development is explored with Carlos Wurmann G, President of International Center for Strategic Studies for Aquaculture.

M. E. Esmaeili, aquaculture engineer and shrimp farmer, teaches how to measure large pump discharge in aquaculture engineering. 

We also explore the biology and aquaculture of sea urchins with Matt E. Bell, Marine Biology and Oceanography, University of Plymouth, Professor Simon J. Davies, International Aquafeed Nutrition Editor, and Dr Alex Wan, University of Galway. 

International Aquafeed contributor Kira Thomas discusses krill fishing in the Antarctic and how it is impacting predator population. 

In this edition we see highlights from the 7th Annual Aqua Feed Extrusion Conference at VIV Bangkok, with Dr M. Riaz, Texas A&M University, as well as a report about the Aquatic Asia conference in Bangkok with Professor Simon J. Davies, and coverage of the recent Aquafuture Spain 2023 event. 

Our interview this month is with José Antonio Camposano, Executive President, National Chamber of Aquaculture, discussing Ecuadorian shrimp and the sector.

Read all this and more in the May edition here: https://www.aquafeed.co.uk/magazine/

and on our Flickread library here: https://flickread.com/edition/html/643514984e541#1

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New tech partnership to boost seaweed farming in SE Asia

Oceanfarmr and Coast 4C, a social enterprise focused on regenerative seaweed farming, have announced a collaboration to develop mobile technologies to help improve the livelihoods of small-scale seaweed producers in Southeast Asia.

Image credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre on flickr
(CC BY 2.0)

The collaboration between tech startup Oceanfarmr, a provider of ocean farm operations management solutions, and Coast 4C will centre on developing mobile technologies to accelerate the development of improved farm operations performance, finance, and ESG monetisation for seaweed farmers. 

The first phase of this collaboration will involve capturing and verifying seaweed condition through the development of scoring methodologies based on photos and manager reviews. This will enable future AI scoring and allow more efficient and rapid collection of data on Coast 4C’s R&D program on seaweed strains and methods.

As part of the collaboration, Oceanfarmr will scope and develop a scoring methodology for encoding seaweed condition within a farmer app, which will be used as the basis of an AI algorithm to be incorporated in the Oceanfarmr automated farm management app in future phases. The company will also scope, develop, test, and maintain the customisation and configuration to enable the methodology and test sensor data to aid quantity and quality analysis.

Coast 4C will manage and maintain nurseries and field sites, provide prompt input to develop seaweed condition scoring, and source seedstock of known haplotypes and farming equipment and methods. The enterprise will also provide training of nursery managers, oversee implementation, and report back learnings from field tests and perform basic carrageenan analysis and data analysis.

Both Coast 4C and Oceanfarmr will review the requirements for a farmer app moving towards improved farm operations performance, farm finance, and ESG monetisation at the completion of each phase. The parties may also review the planned and achieved outcomes of the previous phase and scope out the next steps between the parties, which may include an incorporated joint venture.

“We are excited to collaborate with Coast 4C to develop technologies that will help small-scale seaweed producers in Southeast Asia improve their crop yields, financial security, and sustainability,” says Ewan McAsh, CEO of Oceanfarmr. “This collaboration aligns with our mission to use technology to promote sustainable ocean farming and will help drive positive social and environmental impacts in the region.”

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Unveiling the vast potential of seaweed, highlighting latest developments and fostering collaboration in the industry

The Seagriculture EU 2023 conference, the leading conference for the seaweed industry, will be taking place from June 21 – 22, 2023 in Trondheim, Norway. This two-day event will explore the vast potential of seaweed in various applications such as feed, food, offshore cultivation, investment and business aspects, as well as biorefinery of seaweed and much more.

Image credit: Nadya Peek on flickr 
(CC BY 2.0)

The two-day program features a unique conference program with six plenary sessions and a panel discussion, providing attendees with a comprehensive overview of the latest developments and opportunities in the seaweed industry. Top speakers from the industry will share their know-how and insights, offering an opportunity to learn from experts in the field. Furthermore, Seagriculture EU 2023 will feature poster presentations where researchers will have the opportunity to present their latest findings to fellow conference delegates.  

In addition, the accompanying trade show will provide companies within the seaweed industry a platform to showcase their products and services to other industry professionals. This will facilitate networking and collaboration opportunities among attendees, while also allowing them to stay informed about the latest developments in the field. 

Another important part of the conference is the direct exchange between the conference delegates. Besides the networking coffee and lunch breaks, attendees will have the chance to participate in the Seaweed Happy Hour, where they can taste seaweed products and network with other professionals in the industry. Moreover the conference dinner provides a perfect opportunity to network and exchange with other delegates while enjoying a dinner together. 

“We are thrilled to welcome all seaweed enthusiasts in Trondheim. It is a unique opportunity for industry professionals to come together and learn about the latest developments in the seaweed industry,” says Silje Forbord from the event sponsor SINTEF. “Seagriculture EU 2023 offers a diverse range of sessions and networking opportunities, making it a must-attend event for anyone interested in the seaweed industry.” 

The conference brings together seaweed farmers, seaweed processors and distributors, equipment and technology providers, investment companies, academic and research as well as governmental institutions. The organisers of Seagriculture EU 2023 are excited to announce that over 150 delegates have already registered for the conference, a remarkable achievement considering it is still six weeks away. Having such a significant number of delegates will increase the diversity of perspectives and expertise represented at the conference. This will enrich discussions and debates, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. 

Registration for Seagriculture EU 2023 is open, and more information can be found on the conference website, HERE.

For more information on the conference, the organisers, pictures, contact details of speakers for interviews, applications for press passes and barter deals, refer to www.seagriculture.eu or contact info@dlg-benelux.com.

The Aquaculturists

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International Aquafeed attends Blue Food Innovation Summit

The Blue Food Innovation Summit will be held on May 23-24, 2023, in London, England. Hosted by Rethink Events and taking place at the Hilton London Tower Bridge, the two-day summits key theme in, ‘Investing in Sustainable Aquaculture to Replenish Our Oceans’. With our food system increasingly under stress from conflict and climate change, the summit aims to put blue food, sustainable aquaculture, and restorative ocean practices at the heart of the global convention.

With over 40+ countries participating, the event will have over 300 delegates and 90+ speakers in attendance. The summit brings together companies from around the globe to create solutions and share knowledge on approaches to aquatic food production, including sustainable aquafeed, seaweed, digitalisation, health and welfare. 

International Aquafeed will be attending the conference with Joy Nelloolichali, our Editorial Manager, as our representative. If you would like to set up a meeting with her then please email joyn@perendale.co.uk. 

We were also kindly given a 10 percent discount code on tickets for the Blue Food Innovation Summit. Please you the code AQUAFEED10 at checkout when purchasing the tickets for the discount code to be active. 

For more information on the conference visit the website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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SAIC supports 100th aquaculture project following latest funding call

The Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) has announced support for a further six innovation projects valued at £2.5 million, bringing the total number of research and development initiatives it has funded to 100.

The latest funding awards build on SAIC’s work to date which has seen £9.3 million of investment turned into sector-critical research with a combined value of nearly £71 million. Each project has supported its priority innovation areas of improving the sector’s environmental impact, enhancing fish health, and unlocking additional capacity in Scottish aquaculture.

The six funded projects have secured more than £580,000 from SAIC, with additional support from businesses and organisations across the sector, including The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Two new research initiatives have been selected for the most recent funding round, exploring ideas that aim to drive sustainable growth. The first aims to help farmers manage the threat of seal predation, without harming seals or other marine mammals. The second will explore upcycling aquaculture co-products, supporting the drive to net zero and involving species of different trophic levels. 

Meanwhile, four projects already underway will receive additional support to help take their ideas to the next stage and reach their full potential. These cover key areas relating to fish health and wellbeing, including harmful algal blooms (HABs), gill health and performance, freshwater salmonid production, and predictive modelling of fish farming’s impact on the benthic environment. 

Heather Jones, CEO of SAIC, says, “Reaching the 100-project milestone demonstrates our commitment to positioning Scotland as a world leader in sustainable aquaculture innovation. The work we have funded has delivered new products and processes, enhanced fish health and wellbeing and supported the development of new companies across Scotland and beyond.

“Continuing to support innovation projects that elevate the role of aquaculture in the circular economy while reducing its environmental footprint will be crucial for the future development of the sector. By connecting universities with sector needs, we will help to deliver economic value for Scotland and ensure aquaculture becomes a key contributor to achieving national Net Zero targets.”

For more information about SAIC visit the website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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IFFO’s analysis on marine ingredient market trends for Q1 2023

A taste of the many statistics and analyses that can be found in the market intelligence reports that IFFO dedicates to its members is reported below, covering IFFO’s analysis on marine ingredient market trends until April 2023. A specific and additional focus is made on China given that China is by far the main market for marine ingredients.

Image credit: Mal B on flickr
(CC BY-ND 2.0)

For the regions for which IFFO regularly tracks production of marine ingredients, roughly worth 45% of the global output, they found that cumulative total fishmeal production during the first three months of 2023 was up by more than 36% compared to the cumulative production reported through March 2022. Most regions have started the year with an improved availability of raw material. The larger production of fishmeal in Peru due to the late start of the second fishing season in the North-centre area of the country is the main driver of such an increase. 

As for fish oil, total cumulative output in the first three months of 2023 was 9% down year over year, mainly driven by the drop in the fish oil production reported in the Icelandic and North Atlantic area.

China’s marine ingredients and aquafeed production remains subdued 

In 2022, China’s domestic fishmeal output remained lower than in previous years. For 2023, China’s domestic fishmeal supply based on whole fish supply is not expected to see substantial growth due to the policy steering. However, the role played by fishery by-products is expected to increase in the future. 

The fast-growing ready-to-cook aquatic dish sector brings more aquaculture species from restaurants to processing plants, such as snakehead, golden pomfret and catfish. Although by-products thus generated are still out of scale now, they are expected to become important raw materials for fishmeal and fish oil production later. Pangasius farming is at initial stage in China now. It might be another key source of by-products for fishmeal production in the future.

For now, though, weak global market demand and extensive losses suffered by tilapia farmers in south China in 2022 might result in considerable drop in tilapia farming volume in 2023, hence a shorter supply of by-products for fishmeal production. 

Fishmeal imports are expected to continue to be important to fill the gap in domestic supply. In Q1 2023, Peru continued to lead supplies to China, while India and Vietnam both made obvious year-on-year growth.

In 2022, China’s domestic fish oil output was lower than in previous years. Small size and low-fat content of whole fish resulted in inferior oil yield although the oil rate of fishery by-products remained stable. In terms of fish oil imports, decreased fish oil output in traditional suppliers of Peru and Vietnam forced Chinese buyers to turn to other sources such as Chile, Morocco, and Malaysia. 

Aquaculture has generally been troubled by overstock in the first quarter of this year, which not only weighed on prices but also delayed the first round of restocking. 

Pig feed and aquafeed output in the first quarter of 2023 are expected to have moved down when compared to last year. Fishmeal and fish oil demand will therefore likely be lower in the short term. Economic recovery in the post pandemic era is slowly improving demand for aquatic and pig products. According to security markets analysis, consumer confidence is low at present in China, but expenditure on tourism is rebounding significantly, which in turn is expected to revive the food catering sector.

For more information about IFFO visit the website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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