Soft demand and El Niño to challenge aquaculture industry in second half of 2023

July 28, 2023 - With demand softening and El Niño driving fish meal prices higher, the second half of 2023 is expected to be the most challenging period for global aquaculture since the peak of the pandemic in 2020.

According to Rabobank's latest aquaculture report, salmon prices have largely returned to more normal levels after 2022's peak, but remain relatively high, soft demand driven by inflation in the US and Europe continues, with salmon appearing better placed than shrimp. The slump in shrimp demand may even get worse in the second half of 20
23 as Chinese demand moderates.

Salmon to remain highly profitable 

In the third quarter, salmon supply will return to growth after nearly two years of contraction. According to Gorjan Nikolik, Senior Global Seafood Specialist at Rabobank, "The salmon industry, in terms of profitability, had one of the best periods ever recorded in the first half of 2023, driven by record prices. The industry will remain highly profitable in the second half of 2023 despite more normalised prices, as salmon is currently competitively priced relative to alternatives."

Still, there are challenges. Unfortunately for Norwegian producers, a 25% resource tax was voted into law and will impact the industry until at least 2025, when an election could bring a new government coalition and policy.

"Another possible challenge for the industry in the second half of 2023 will be a shortage of sustainably certified fish meal and fish oil," Says Nikolik. "Increased use of vegetable oils and novel alternatives like algae oils could be a partial solution."

A tough year for the shrimp industry

The shrimp industry faced a very challenging first half of 2023. Prices continued to fall due to soft demand from the West and high supply from Ecuador. China imported record amounts of shrimp as importers anticipated pent up demand, but demand is not recovering from the pandemic as far as expected, resulting in low protein prices and high inventories.

"The Asian shrimp industry in particular is facing a challenging period of record-low prices due to oversupply caused by Ecuadorian growth," explains Nikolik. "Persistently low prices and high costs have made shrimp farming unprofitable. Weaker-than-expected Chinese demand and supply growth from Ecuador mean a sizeable supply correction in Asia is needed to balance the market."

Ecuadorian producers can also expect a difficult rest of the year, not only due to weaker Chinese demand expectations, but also at the risk of El Niño bringing heavy rains and possible flooding. This should temper the record supply growth Ecuador has had so far in 2023.

Fish meal and fish oil supply shortage ahead

Fish meal and especially fish oil producers enjoyed record prices due to good demand and the high prices of alternatives in the first half of the year, when supply was relatively good.

Aqua feed prices will continue to be supported through the end of the year due to a scarcity of fish meal and fish oil. Notably, El Niño conditions caused the cancellation of the first fishing season in Peru - key for fish meal and oil supply - creating the potential for an acute supply shortage. Nikolik also notes that, "Peruvian fish meal and oil have sustainability certifications. Buyers seeking alternatives will not be able to find them, impacting sustainability commitments of the entire aquaculture value chain."

In 2014, the last time a fishing season was canceled in Peru, the fishery recovered rapidly and the subsequent season had both a high quota and catch rate. The resulting supply recovery also normalised fish meal prices to levels seen before the cancellation.

Nikolik: "Fish meal and fish oil demand seem robust for now, but high prices as supply contracts will force rationing and substitution for many aquaculture producers."

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Phodé reinforces its Olpheel range with 3 new products

After launching last year its new Olpheel range dedicated to shrimp and fish farming, Phodé has presented three new aquaculture products since the beginning of the year, aiming to manage different issues

Olpheel Zen, is a sensory solution mainly composed of plant extracts allowing a state of well-being in fish. Olpheel Zen activate ingredients reinforce animal's resilience during acute and chronic stressful situations lie transport, handling, or sampling for example.

Olpheel Anti-Ox is an antioxidant of a 100% natural origin made from grape extracts. It is a powerful antioxidant that can support antioxidant status and improve aquafeed life span, pigmentation strategy, and animal performance during oxidative stress.

Olpheel Eat is a neurosensory solution composed of selected attractive and botanical compounds to stimulate feed intake. Olpheel Eat improves consumption of feed including low palpability feeds, resulting in better feed intake, biomass, and size homogeneity in shrimp ponds.

The Olpheel range, developed to support animal welfare and performance in aquaculture, is aiming challenges like stimulating appetite and feed intake, the management of stress impacts, supporting the animals' natural defences and metabolism.

Phodé Laboratories, French company dedicated to animal well-being and performance and known for their neurosensorial solutions, are experts in plant extracts and olfaction - brain - gut interactions.

More information available HERE.

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Ace Aquatec transforms operations for Australian Murray Cod producer with trailer-mounted humane stunner

Ace Aquatec, the award-winning aquaculture technology company which specialises in welfare-first outcomes, as transformed welfare and efficiency standards for Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, having successfully installed its first trailer mounted in-water stunner, overseen by Australian distributor Fresh by Design.

As one of the few Murray Cod fisheries in the region, Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod supplies premium, pond-grown produce for the iconic Australian fish which has increased in popularity in recent years. Situated in remote and challenging landscape, Aquna were looking for a solution that enabled them to harvest these unique fish in a more efficient and ethical manner and opted for Ace Aquatec's in-water stunning technology, which has a demonstrable track record of reducing stress to fish at the point of harvest.

Since installing the stunner in April, Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod have seen a vast improvement in welfare of the fish during their harvesting process and have made huge strides in reducing the environmental impact of their harvesting practices.

The in-water nature of Ace Aquatec's humane stunner solution no longer requires Aquna to use percussion stunning techniques, which can be stressful for fish and the staff who handle them. The bespoke solution also means that live fish are no longer transported over long distances which was stressful to fish and required use of large vehicles. The trailer mounted stunner is integrated to Aquna's pumping system, a bespoke modification meaning there's a seamless transformation from water to ice, resulting in safer and more humane processing of fish, safer staff, and greater efficiency across the harvest.

The growing popularity of Murray Cod among the high-end restaurant market, along with interest from domestic and international markets including the USA, Spain and Japan, means that efficiency was also a key consideration in developing the stunner system. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod has growth ambitions of producing 10,000 tonnes by 2030 and having produced 4-500 tonnes of fish already this year, the installation of this technology will support this growth as the popularity of the fish continues to grow.

Matt Ryan, Managing Director of Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, said: "Our sites are spread across 200Km so the tailored solution offered Ace Aquatec has allowed us to integrate with a mobile trailer to harvest on site at a time that works for us which has made a huge difference to us in terms of welfare and fish quality, not to mention the vast reduction in on road transport and consequent environmental impact. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod has big growth plans, but only if this is done in a high-welfare, high-quality way, which the installation of the stunner allows us to do in so many respects. We want to lead the way in fish welfare in a commercial setting and this has helped us be at the forefront of high-welfare production of this iconic Australian fish."

Tara McGregor-Woodhams, CSMO of Ace Aquatec, said: "Aquna came to Ace Aquatec because they wanted to be the first producer in Australia to stun their Murray Codhumanely, using our in-water electric technology. By working so closely with the team at Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, we have developed a unique stunner system that not only improves the welfare of the fish, but greatly improves the efficiency of the whole process, provides safer conditions for staff, and minimises the environmental impact of the harvesting process. Mat and the team and Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod have shown strong leadership in the way Australian fisheries approach high welfare fish production, enhancing their quality and welfare first promise to their customers."

Fresh by Design General Manager, Lachlan Bassett said: "We love a challenge and is exactly what we faced with Aquna. The nature of their location and product meant that a bespoke solution was needed and we were delighted to work with them to design and install this humane stunner system, specifically for the Murray Cod species. As awareness of fish welfare grows, both among consumers and investors, we are excited to see Mat and the team at Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod lead the way as the welfare gold standard."

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Revolutionising Shrimp Breeding: CAT Unveils Shrimp Genetics Innovation Center

The global growth of the shrimp industry is placing significant pressure on producers to enhance efficiency and reduce mortality, presenting them with ongoing challenges. To facilitate research aimed at delivering impactful solutions, The Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) is delighted to announce the opening of the Shrimp Genetics Innovation Center.

This state-of-the-art facility features a cutting-edge genome editing lab and tank space, effectively quadrupling CAT's shrimp research capacity. The facility's opening sets the stage for revolutionising shrimp genetic performance and accelerating next-generation breeding through the application of innovative genome editing techniques.

Genome editing represents the next frontier in genetic improvement; it allows for the precise and rapid recreation of changes that would occur in nature. CAT is committed to helping shrimp producers do more with less through the development and application of genome editing technology and methodology, which can solve problems that conventional breeding methods are unable to address and substantially accelerate the pace of genetic improvement.

Matt Stone, Facility Manager, looks forward to benefiting clients, stating, "The increase in rearing and research capacity means we are even better prepared to deliver innovations to boost efficiency in the shrimp industry through genome editing. Our team is excited to be working in this new space and looks forward to helping clients achieve their goals."

Dr. John Buchanan, CEO, touched on the broader impacts of this move, stating, "With this investment, we have further solidified our position as a leader in delivery of impactful genetic solutions to help shrimp producers feed the world more efficiently."

By opening this facility at their San Diego location, the staff of the Shrimp Genetics Innovation Center can benefit from a synergistic relationship with CAT Finfish Genetics Innovation Center.

The new facility is dedicated to the memory of Dr Richard H. Towner, as exceptional researcher in the field of genetics who served as a trusted advisor to CAT. Dr Towner's invaluable contributions to the aquaculture industry and his mentorship of numerous researchers have greatly propelled advancements in the field.

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IFFO releases Marine ingredients market trends report

A taste of the many statistics and analyses that can be found in the Market of intelligence reports that IFFO dedicates to its members is reported below, covering IFFO's analysis on marine ingredient market trends until May 2023.

Peru's reduced FMFO production drives global output down

For the regions for which IFFO regularly tracks production of marine ingredients, roughly worth 50% of the global output, IFFO reports cumulative total fishmeal production during the first five months of 2023 down by more than 10% compared to the cumulative production reported through May 2022. The primary factor driving such decline is the production drop of approximately 50% reported in Peru, where the first fishing season has not been authorised yet. At the time of issuing this report there is still no clarity on whether the first fishing season in the North-Centre might be authorised.

As for fish oil, total cumulative output in the first 5 months of 2023 was 22% down YoY. The only countries that registered a positive change YoY were Chile and the USA.

Domestic FMFO production remains poor in China

This year farmers are facing additional risks of economic losses due to escalating costs of aqua feed and stagnating farm-gate prices. Should this trend continue, farmers could be soon exposed to even greater financial risks, similarly, the pig sector continues to face challenges due to weak demand during hot summertime. Pig prices have been on a decline since last October, which has resulted in a continuous although insufficient reduction of the sow stock. The pig sector remains in fact affected by overcapacity and unprofitable farm-gate prices.

Following the implementation of the fishing ban on May 1st on all fishing grounds, to allow the biomass to reproduce, domestic fishmeal and fish oil production remains poor and dependent on little frozen fish caught in the last season and by-products from fish and shrimp processing plants. This situation is expected to persist until the fishing ban is lifted in September. Considering the lower-than-average domestic production both in the second part of the year 2022 and in the first half of 2023, China has continued to increase its fishmeal imports.

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Morrisons to transfer over £100,000 Apprenticeship Levy fund to the fishing sector.

Morrisons is transferring an Apprenticeship Levy fund of over £100,000 to Supplytrain to help train ten new sea fishers for the South Western Fish Producer Organisation (SWFPO).

The money will support the first fisher apprenticeship programme in England. The 18 month apprenticeship allows students to get a hands-on experience and learn about the whole fishing operation from sea to sale.

As an apprentice, students will be employed by Supplytrain, but get to work across different boats within the SWFPO membership, catching different fish and learning from experienced crew while also studying seamanship, gear construction and how to care for the catch at South Devon College.

The life of a commercial fisher is physically demanding but immensely rewarding providing the skills and opportunities to become an experienced deckhand, a skipper, a marine engineer or even a future vessel owner.

The Government Apprenticeship Levy is paid by employers to help fund apprenticeship programmes and Morrisons has agreed to transfer £100,000 of its funds to pay for the SWFPO's first cohort of ten apprentices. The deadline for applications is the 31st July and the first cohort will start their programme this September.

Morrisons has supported craft apprenticeships in its stores including Fishmongers, Butchers and Bakery roles. Over 2,500 colleagues in-store have completed the programme to date with a further 200 apprentices planned to enrol in September.

Morrisons Sustainable Sourcing and Fisheries Manager, Sophie Jenkinson said: 
"The fishing industry is an important and integral part of Morrisons and that is why we're pleased to be supporting Supplytrain and SWFPO by transferring some of our Apprenticeship Levy to help recruit and train the sector."

"Recruitment is a real issue across the entire fishing industry right now, with an ageing demographic and shortage of skilled crew." Said Juliette Hatchman, CEO at SWFPO, "A lack of skilled crew has a significant impact on the entire seafood supply chain. The catching sector is the start of the supply chain, so without boats going to sea, there is no supply chain. SWFPO members are not alone in facing challenges with attracting the right personnel. This apprenticeship is a great way to grow new talent within our industry by developing a motivated, skilled and qualified resource that the whole industry will ultimately benefit from. Not only does it improve the attractiveness of the sector as a professional and valuable career pathway, but improves safety within the sector - all of which make it a much needed and worthwhile investment."

Phil Golding, Managing Director at Supplytrain said: "It's fantastic to have Morrisons as a partner supporting the first ever Fisher Apprenticeship in the country. As a flexi-job apprenticeship agency, we're excited to be able to employ and support fresh talent to start a career in this rewarding industry, and hope this is the first of many cohorts in the years ahead."

In 2021 Morrisons acquired Falfish, a sustainably sourced seafood wholesaler based in Cornwall. To date, Falfish supply the majority of Morrisons fish and shellfish that is then freshly prepared by Morrisons fishmongers based in-store.

Find out more HERE.

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ProFuture Announces Final Conference: "Microalgae for the Foods and Feeds of the Future" – Insights into microalgae value chain & alternative proteins

The Aquaculturists

Brussels, [17 July] - ProFuture, an EU-funded project belonging to the Horizon 2020 program, focused on advancing the potential of microalgae proteins in Europe, is delighted to announce its final conference titled "Microalgae for the Foods and Feeds of the Future." The event will take place in Brussels on September 13th and 14th, 2023, and will be open for both in-person and online participation. Both in-person and online participation are free of charge.

Since its inception in 2019, the ProFuture project has been dedicated to revolutionizing the role of microalgae in creating sustainable, nutritious, and healthy solutions for resilient food systems. Over the past four years, the project consortium has achieved significant milestones, and is now thrilled to present our findings and foster collaboration with experts from diverse stakeholder groups, including industry, regulation, policy, and academia.

The ProFuture final conference will provide attendees with exclusive insights into key project outcomes, the latest advancements in microalgae research, and the future directions for innovation in this field. Participants will also have the opportunity to explore other groundbreaking research projects and engage in a policy discussion about the future of alternative proteins in Europe on the second day of the event. To facilitate meaningful interactions, the conference will include networking sessions and interactive panel discussions.

A poster session will also take place, where students and researchers will showcase their studies. This presents a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, connect with like-minded experts, and contribute to the collective advancement of microalgae research.

Further details can be found on the registration page: https://rb.gy/md0fo

Key Event Information:

Event: ProFuture Final Conference: Microalgae for the Foods and Feeds of the Future Date: September 13th and 14th, 2023 Location: Brussels (Comet Meetings - Louise, 20 Place Stéphanie 1050, Brussels) or online. More information and registration: https://rb.gy/md0fo

About ProFuture: ProFuture is an EU-funded project launched in 2019, committed to shaping the future of microalgae proteins in Europe. Through extensive research, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, ProFuture aims to unlock the potential of microalgae as a sustainable, nutritious, and healthy solution for more resilient food systems. For more information, please visit https://www.pro-future.eu/ or follow ProFuture on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/profuture-project/.

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Krucial space tech solution enables fish farmers to feed remotely from anywhere on earth

Satellite-enabled communication specialist Krucial has announced its cutting-edge new technology which will make it possible for operators to remotely obtain mission-critical feeding and environmental information they need from anywhere on earth.

• Satellite communications specialist Krucial offers the ability to feed remotely (away from site/shore) by communicating low-latency video and feed controls via satellite, in a service that could save the aquaculture industry millions while improving fish welfare and reducing waste
• Capability will be an add-on to Krucial’s Connected Seafarm product, and will allow farmers to monitor fish remotely, get in-situ environmental data, and feed at several farms from one central system anywhere on earth – the ultimate all round remote monitoring & control package
• Krucial, which works with several aquaculture clients including a recent deployment of Connected Seafarm with MOWI, will be joining the Scotland Pavilion at AquaNor and is also now looking for operators that would like to pilot the new technology
  
  Using the new solution, fish farmers can get a continuous video stream from pens in areas even with no cellular connectivity or power and feed individual pens remotely using their desktop or mobile based on the insights received. Using the latest satellite technology, with auto adjusting flat panel antennas, means that barge movement does not impact the technology’s usability, offering an advantage over ‘line of sight’ solutions. If a farm is off the west coast of Scotland or Ireland, for example, and the operator is onshore or even thousands of miles away, they’ll be able to monitor fish behaviour continuously and feed with the click of a button.
  
  The latest addition to Connected Seafarm provides the final piece of what is now a complete solution that incorporates remote feeding enablement, algae detection, environmental monitoring, barge telemetry and asset condition management.  Krucial is now looking to work with partners to pilot the new technology in the field.
  
  Currently, poor connectivity on many fish farms makes remotely understanding fish behaviour challenging. This can impact decisions around exactly how much feed to distribute to sustain fish and maximise their welfare while minimising waste. Krucial’s solution will enable farmers to feed remotely from anywhere on earth – meaning during extreme weather or when other tasks come up, staff resource can be optimised. Given the significant cost of feed to the sector, the ability to optimise feeding can contribute to cost savings as well as the management of ocean impact.
  
  Kevin Quillien, Co-founder and CTO of Krucial, said:
  “This is a huge step forward for Krucial and our offering to the aquaculture industry. We are confident that with our new capabilities we are providing fish farmers with the ultimate tool in understanding what’s happening at their farms – ranging from fish behaviour to water quality to equipment conditions.
  “Farmers can now sit at home or in the office, with all the information they need at their fingertips to take quick action that boosts efficiency and sustainability and reduces risk - even at their most remote and inaccessible sites.
  “Aquaculture is on a mission to feed the world sustainably and this tool makes that job much easier, saving the industry time and money while benefitting the environment. We are looking forward to working with early adopters in the coming months.”
  
  The new solution will transmit high bandwidth video data over cellular or satellite, whichever is available. If the primary satellite fails, a secondary satellite kicks in to maximise resilience. This means that even in extreme weather or further offshore, where connectivity has traditionally been an obstacle, farmers still have an overview of their operations and can still feed remotely.
  
  Krucial is actively engaging with a number of aquaculture operators about a series of pilots over the next few months – to find out more about this opportunity, get in touch at contact@krucial.com.

The Aquaculturists

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30th Annual Practical Short Course on Aquaculture Feed Extrusion, Nutrition and Feed Management

A one-week Practical Short Course on Aquaculture Feed Extrusion, Nutrition and Feed Management will be presented on August 14-18, 2023, at Texas A&M University in Hybrid format (face to face as well as virtually -LIVE- ONLINE). 

This program will cover information on designing new feed mills and selecting conveying, drying, grinding, conditioning and feed mixing equipment. Current practices for preparing full-fat soy meal processing; recycling fisheries by-products, raw material, extrusion of floating, sinking, and high fat feeds; spraying and coating fats, digests and preservatives; use of encapsulated ingredients and preparation of premixes, nutritional requirements of warn water fish and shrimp and feed managements are reviewed.

For more information email Dr Mian N. Riaz at mnriaz@tamu.edu.

Please Register HERE.

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De Heus holds groundbreaking ceremony for first Ugandan aquafeed plant

July 7, 2023 - De Heus Animal Nutrition has successfully held the groundbreaking ceremony for their new plant in Njeru. this state-of-the-art facility will be the first dedicated aquafeed plant in Uganda and marks an important milestone for them.

At full capacity, the plant will have the capability to produce approximately 50 thousand metric tons of fish feed per year, catering to the growing demand in the East African market. De Heus says that they are proud to contribute to the nutrition and food security of Uganda, as fish plays a vital role in the country's diet. With the wild catch stagnating or decreasing and the population rapidly growing, farmed fish has become crucial to meet the increasing demand. 

Uganda possesses immense potential for aquaculture, given its large lakes and favourable water temperatures that support year-round fish farming. By launching this plant, we aim to provide a positive boost to the aquaculture industry in Uganda and the surrounding countries. Although the industry has shown promising growth in recent years, it requires affordable and reliable quality feeds for further development. Currently, most feeds are imported, but the local factory will offer a shorter, more flexible supply chain

"At De Heus we believe in the potential of Africa and that is why we are investing in expanding our footprint: in South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, and recently with modern factories in Ghana and Ivory Coast. And now in Uganda." Said Theo Smalbraak, Business Group Director Africa & Middle East.

The impact of this plant goes beyond employment at the facility itself. The company anticipates a significant positive effect on employment among fish farmers and their suppliers, as they aim to replace imports and source raw materials such as maize, cassava, soy, and others locally as much as possible.

De Heus combines global experience and expertise with a rich background in Dutch agricultural innovation. We firmly believe in the potential of Africa, which is why we continue to invest in expanding our footprint across the continent. In addition to their presence in South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Ivory Coast, they say they are now proud to establish ourselves in Uganda.

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OSF Ballan Wrasse Trial proves success

An independent trial conducted at Otter Ferry Selfish in Scotland, showed the inclusion of Oregon-Stim Forte, a natural and sustainable feed addictive, to the commercial diets of juvenile ballan wrasse resulted in improved growth performance, survivability, lower feed conversion and higher specific growth rates.

Oregon-Stim Forte is a high-quality functional feed ingredient, manufactured by Anpario and specifically developed for aquaculture, containing 100% natural oregano essential oils and quillaja saponins.

Lawrence Brown, Senior Technical & Account Manager at Anpario commented,

"Ballan wrasse are increasingly utilised in salmon farming for sustainable sea lice management. By improving the performance and survivability of ballan wrasse using Orego-Stim Forte we're able to drive productivity, fish welfare and ultimately reduce the overall environmental footprint. We're excited to be working with cleaner fish producers and Aquafeed manufacturers to harness the benefits of our functional feed ingredients."

This research was part-funded by UK Agritech Centre CIEL as a successful recipient of aquaculture project seed funding.

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International Aquafeed at VIV Turkey 2023

Held on July 6 – 8, 2023, VIV Turkey will be hosted at the Istanbul Expo Center Hall for its 10^th International Trade Fair for Poultry Technologies. With exhibitors from around the world, the types of companies you can meet range from feed production and supplements, packaging and logistic
s, diagnostic laboratories and more.

VIV Turkey is a perfect opportunity to network, building relations with others from around the world and to showcase new products and innovations. With also visitors coming to view from feed mills, feed ingredients and additive companies and equipment suppliers, the chances to share knowledge, information and more is incredible.

Some of our team for International Aquafeed magazine will be in attendance at the event. You can meet International Sales Manager, Darren Parris, Events and Sales Manager, Tuti Tan, and our Turkish Sales Manager, Mehmet Uğur Gürkaynak. We will have many complimentary magazines that you can grab so be sure to find our team members and ask for one. If you would like to set up a meeting with any of our team members then please get in touch with Mehmet through his mobile at +90 537 364 64 57.

For more information on the event visit HERE. 

The Aquaculturists

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ADB Invests in Ocean-Based Aquaculture in Vietnam

July 4, 2023 - ADB's investment will fund the working capital to expand Australis' operations at Van Phong Bay in central Vietnam and support the development of a second regional production hub in southern Vietnam.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Australis Holdings, Inc. (Australis) signed a $15 million convertible note to promote climate-resilient, ocean-based barramundi and seaweed aquaculture in Vietnam.

The investment will fund working capital to expand Australis' operations at Van Phong Bay in central Vietnam and support the development of a second regional production hub in southern Vietnam. An additional $3 million grant will be provided by the Climate Innovation and Development Fund (CIDF), administered by ADB.

"Three billion people across the world depend on seafood for protein, even as global fish stocks fall due to overfishing and temperature rise," said ADB Director General for Private Sector Operations Suzanne Gaboury. "ADB's assistance will support the government's efforts to develop sustainable aquaculture, particularly large-scale farming of high value species for export. Aquaculture can support low-carbon protein production, while tropical ocean farming is more resilient to climate risks. This is our first aquaculture equity investment in Vietnam, and we are proud to partner with Australis."

Australis is the world's largest barramundi producer. Also known as Asian sea bass, the species is adaptable and resilient, well suited to aquaculture, with high export value. Australis pioneered the development of modern, large-scale marine aquaculture in Vietnam.

"ADB's financing will support the continued growth of our operations in central Vietnam as well as the development of a large new regional production hub where we've established a group of leases that will allow us to achieve 50,000 tons of annual barramundi production," says Australis Chief Executive Officer Josh Goldman.

The CIDF grant to Australis' subsidiary Greener Grazing LLC, will support research and development into the cultivation of asparagopsis taxiformis seaweed for commercial ocean farming. This species of seaweed has been demonstrated to significantly reduce enteric methane emissions when included in cattle feed. Seaweed farms can mitigate ocean acidification and enhance climate resilience of marine ecosystems and have carbon sequestration potential.

Launched in September 2021, CIDF is a blended finance facility managed by ADB, established with an initial $25 million philanthropic commitment from Bloomberg Philanthropies and Goldman Sachs. The fund has the potential to unlock up to $500 million in private sector and governmental investments in support of sustainable low-carbon economic development.

Established in 2006, Australis is vertically integrated with operations encompassing breeding, hatcheries, ocean farms, processing, packaging, and export. Australis' consumer-facing brand The Better Fish® focuses on quality, sustainability, and ease of use.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members - 49 from the region.

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WICKER, WHITEHOUSE, KING INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO SUPPORT AQUACULTURE FARMERS AND HARVESTERS

3 July, 2023 - US Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., joined senators Whitehouse, D-R.I., and senator Angus King, I-Maine, in introducing bipartisan, bicameral legalisation to uplift and support aquaculture and aquaculture farmers and harvesters. The Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems,  Livelihoods, and Local Seafood (SHELLS) Act will create a program office for aquaculture within the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to bolster shellfish harvesters and seaweed farmers, protect food security, and promote blue carbon ecosystems.

"Seafood is an important component of America's food supply chain and a major economic driver in communities like Mississippis Gulf Coast," Wicker said. "This legislation would give aquaculture farmers a more direct line to access USDA resources and programs so that they can better meet demand in this growing industry."

"Shellfish farming is a pillar of the Ocean State's economy and culture," said Whitehouse, co-founder of the Senate Oceans Caucus. "Our SHELLS Act will expand federal programs that provide Rhode Island aquaculture farmers the tools and resources to sustainably grow the industry, create new jobs, and continue farming the best oysters in America.

"For generations, Maine's ocean economy has supported communities along our coast-aquaculture presents an exciting new opportunity to expand on this long tradition and create more good-paying jobs in the 21st century,"King said. "From shellfish to seaweed, the bipartisan SHELLS Act would give aquaculture entrepreneurs and professionals a designated point person in the federal government who understands their needs and can best respond to them. This is a common sense way to invest in Maine's aquaculture farmers and harvesters, produce more world-class seafood products, and build on our state's legacy of sustainable maritime innovation. I am grateful for my colleagues' bipartisan support on this important effort to grow Maine's invaluable ocean economy."

The SHELLS Act also establishes an Aquaculture Advisory Committee to oversee program activities, support the development of best practices, provide technical assistance, and acknowledge the history, use, and preservation of Indigenous and traditional aquaculture practices and ecological knowledge.

Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by US Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., Ed Case, D-Hawaii, Rob Wittman, R-Va., Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Chellie Pingree, D-Maine.

Read more HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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Ocean Kinetics Installs Second Delousing System on Inverlussa's Hybrid Aquaculture Support Vessels

3 July, 2023 - Ocean Kinetics has recently completed the installation of a thermal delousing system on board Inverlussa Vessel, 'Eloise Eslea', for long-term hire to Scottish Sea Farms.

The project, which was delivered for main contractor, Scale Aquaculture AS, is the second installation of this kind for Inverlussa on their revolutionary new hybrid aquaculture support vessels, which utilise the latest battery hybrid technology to reduce emissions and resulting carbon footprint.

Paul Wilson, project manager for Ocean Kinetics said: "Ocean Kinetics was commissioned to install the delousing system on the multi-purpose service vessel, 'Eloise Eslea' for Inverlussa and its customer, Scottish Sea Farms. Despite the challenging nature of the project, we were very pleased to complete to a very high standard with a 200-tonne per hour treating capacity."

"The manufacturing team followed a bespoke design, manufacturing and installing dewatering tanks, treatment loop, chutes, cleaning, and suction equipment optimised to ensure gentle treatment of the fish while maximising throughput. The complete system is not only very efficient and operator friendly, it has been designed for minimal down time between salmon pen set ups, this ensures that fish are treated quickly with minimal stress."

The project follows the installation of a different system on Inverlussa's first hybrid vessel, 'Eloise Isaac', where the main components were supplied by Norwegian company, Smir, for client, Cooke Aquaculture.


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