AquaFarm 2025 joins NovelFarm & AlgaeFarm

October 15, 2024 - AquaFarm, the International conference & trade show on aquaculture and sustainable fishing industry announced the dates for the eighth edition and joins forces with NovelFarm & AlgaeFarm, the exhibitions dedicated to controlled environment agriculture and cultivation of algae and other microorganisms. The events are scheduled February 12-13, at Pordenone Exhibition Centre.

The decision to bring together the three events dedicated to innovation in sustainable food production comes from the increasingly strong synergy between the three sectors. Aquaculture and hydroponics are closely intertwined in aquaponics, the cultivation and breeding in the same controlled environment of fish and plants, but also molluscs, algae and mushrooms, building artificial ecosystems where the waste of one species constitutes the nourishment of another, with high food productivity. Fish farming and algaculture are also increasingly becoming synergetic, just consider the importance of microalgae in the production of fish feed with zero impact on ocean resources.

The common thread linking the three events is environmental change. For aquaculture and shellfish farming, the leading players of AquaFarm, the modification of aquatic habitats due to climate, man-made pollution and the intrusion of new species brought in by sea trade have already had major impacts, such as the very serious losses in shellfish production, especially clams, due to the blue crab. Farmers, suppliers and research centres are engaged in a unanimous effort to find mitigations to these phenomena.

Controlled environment cultivation has one of its main raisons d'être and its main economic strength in its reduced impact on the natural system. It is not just a matter of saving water and nutrients and eliminating the use of agrochemicals. By disconnecting cultivation from the soil, a farm can be installed close to places of consumption, reducing the impact of the logistics chain, resulting in less pollution, energy consumption and congestion. It is also worth remembering that the stage of the food chain where there is the most loss and waste is transport. Less transport therefore equals less waste of food.

Cultivated algae are a virtuous response to environmental changes as well, as they allow proteins, fats (such as Omega-3) and active ingredients to be produced directly, without the need to obtain them from animal or plant sources higher up the trophic chain, with less impact and greater efficiency.

Not everything will turn out to be related to climate in the upcoming edition. Aquaculture and shellfish farming guarantee good, healthy, more controlled and short-chain food when produced in Italy. Products from vertical farms are better in every aspect than comparable from traditional techniques: no residues, constant and perfectly controlled organoleptic characteristics, no contaminants such as nickel and other heavy metals. Microalgae makes active ingredients such as antioxidants and useful materials for the pharmaceutical, food and fine chemicals industries available at lower costs than traditional sources.

Climate research and innovation will be discussed in Pordenone, but also self-production of energy in livestock farms including farms when controlled environment, animal welfare, technologies and animal/human nutrition, reducing the use of plastics. The packed conference program will flank an international exhibition area. Another important theme will be the use of artificial intelligence and autonomous robotics in numerous fields, from breeding and crop management to genetic improvement. Also confirmed the area dedicated to universities with the possibility of exhibiting scientific posters and the show cooking Arena, where national production excellence can be tasted.

For more information and to register, visit HERE.

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DNA modelling drives seabed sampling evolution

October 15, 2024 - A new environemental-DNA (e-DNA) approach for monitoring the seabed conditions around marine fish farms could significantly speed ip the assessment of sediment samples, enabling salmon producers and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to gather timely, accurate information to demonstrate environmental impact and recovery.

Marine benthic invertebrates are essential for maintaining the natural ecosystem, helping to process biomass and protect the health of farmed and wild fish. These sediment-dwelling animals can also act as bioindicators of the effects of human activity on seabed health. Because of this, they are monitored by SEPA and operators of marine fish farms to ensure that farms are operating sustainably.

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Previously, benthic monitoring relied on scientists painstakingly picked out all the invertebrate animals from samples of seabed sediments and then identifying each animal with the aid of microscopes. However, the process can take up to three days for a single sample and estimates suggest that it is costing the aquaculture sector up to £1 million per year.

An alternative, faster and more cost-effective process is now available, drawing upon DNA techniques first used in human forensics to identify the organisms preset in sediment samples. Scientists have used metabarcoding - a technique that cross references samples against a sequence database to identify different species - to identify thousands of bacterial species simultaneously.

After gathering a sample, the bacteria present in the sediment is first characterised using DNA, with a machine learning model then applied to predict the health of invertebrate community based on the bacteria. The Infaunal Quality Index (IQI) - a well established ecological quality benchmark - is then used to classify the health of the invertebrate community.

Following an extensive six-year project, samples analysed using the new method are now being presented to SEPA for validation, with an open-source toolkit and standard operating procedures also being created for anyone in the sector to use.

The research was supported by the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), Institute of Biodiversity and Freshwater Conservation at UHI Inverness, Mowi (Scotland), SEPA, University of Kaiserslautern in Germany, Scottish Sea Farms, Salmon Scotland and lead research partner, the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).

Stephen Macintyre, Head of Environment at Mowi Scotland, said: "Demonstrating good environmental performance at our sites is critical, both for our customers and for compliance reasons. At the moment, we sample the seabed followed by sieving and sorting sediment to identify species, but it is a time-consuming, labour-intensive process that hasn't been updated for 30 years or so.

"As an alternative, the DNA-based approach will enable us to understand our environmental performance much quicker, almost in real time, and take action where required to improve the environmental picture. Environmental DNA is already widely used elsewhere for nature-based assessments and also has the potential to be applied to assess the wider marine biodiversity that exists around our fish farms. The practical outputs from this project are very promising, and we are now in talks with SEPA about integrating DNA-based compliance assessments into our site monitoring programme."

Technical components of the research, including DNA sequencing, data analysis and statistics, and the development of a machine-learning algorithm to predict the IQI of samples based on their bacterial characterisation, were independently reviewed by Biostatistics Scotland.

Sarah Riddle, Director of Innovation and Engagement at SAIC, added: "This project has been years in the making and it is great to see the results of a long-term collaboration between the sector, academia and regulators having the potential to transform a key aspect of aquaculture monitoring. E-DNA sampling could provide widespread benefits to both the aquaculture sector and its regulators, with potential for this approach to be adopted across the global by seafood producing nations. Armed with data, producers can be better informed to make decisions around key environmental and fish health factors influenced by the seabed."

Peter Pollard, Head of Ecology at SEPA, said: "The MeioMetBar Project has been an important and successful collaboration. It is truly the beginning of a step change in our ability and that of fish farm operators to cost-effectively assess, manage and regulate the effects on seabed life of fish farm discharges and so help protect the health and biodiversity of Scotland's seas.

"The research is an example of the rapid innovation now taking place in more efficient and effective ways of monitoring the environment. Work is already underway to expand and enhance the capabilities of the method developed by the project, with the next-generation method expected to be available in 2025."

For more information, visit HERE.

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Stolt Sea Farm begins construction of a new RAS facility in Portugal

October 14, 2024 - Stolt Sea Farm (SSF) held a groundbreaking ceremony in Tocha, Portugal this month to officially mark the start of construction of its new recirculation facility, RAS II, for sole production.

As one of the world's most advanced high-tech aquaculture companies, SSF is renowned for developing pioneering land-based techniques. This includes its recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technology, which offers high levels of biological safety, energy optimisation and resource conservation. RAS II will allow for up to 95 percent of the water used for its operations to be recirculated, reinforcing SSF's commitment to environmentally responsible aquaculture practices.

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The new facility will be similar to the RAS operations SSF already has in Cervo, Spain, and on the same site in Tocha, both of which have exceeded expectations in terms of performance and return on investment.

The Tocha project is the last step in SSF's ongoing expansion programme. Earlier this year, the company expanded its sole broodstock facility in Merexo, Spain and it is also halfway through an extension to its sole hatchery in Cervo, Spain. Both are key milestones on its journey to achieving its 12,000 tonne sole production target by 2035.

Jordi Trias, President of SSF, said of the groundbreaking ceremony: "Everyone at SSF is excited to see this project beginning at Tocha. So much talent, effort and collaboration has been put into it by our amazing teams; it makes me immensely proud to see it finally break ground. It was a joyful event, and sets a landmark for our company, as we continue to execute our growth plan.

"Growing in aquaculture is not an easy task, and SSF continues to be an exception in many ways. This new RAS sole facility will take us one step further towards achieving our long-term ambition and delivering on our company purpose to ensure that future generations continue to enjoy wonderful seafood."

For more information, visit HERE.

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Ittinsect rebrands to Ocean Twist Biotechnology

October 14, 2024 - Ittinsect, a pioneer in sustainable aquaculture feed, has officially rebranded as Ocean Twist Biotechnology to reflect its expanded operations and innovative technology. The company now produces high-performance protein concentrates through advanced biotech processes, sourcing circular materials such as plant-based presscakes and insects.

The company aims to introduce its protein concentrates as a novel macro-ingredient that can replace traditional, resource-intensive ingredients like fishmeal and soy in animal and aquaculture feed.

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• Ittinsect secures public funding for pilot production facility

"We identified a large gap in the market: fishmeal demand is rising very fast, but its availability is limited. Most novel proteins have technical limits that prevent large-scale inclusion in livestock and fish feed, meaning they can't fully replace fishmeal" said Alessandro Romano, CEO of Ocean Twist Biotechnology.

The rebranding emphasises Ocean Twist's mission to reduce pressure on marine ecosystems by offering sustainable, scalable alternatives to ocean-derived resources.

The company is led by a team of nine experts in food technology, fish nutrition, biotechnology, business and finance. Over the past three years the team has delivered outstanding technical results, with presence in three European countries, and is poised to drive innovation in the protein industry.

For more information, visit HERE.

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£770K project will tackle antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture

October 9, 2024 - Scientists at the University of Stirling have been awarded more than £770,000 to support the roll out of a new vaccine that could deliver major benefits to the aquaculture industry.

Professor Margaret Crumlish at the University of Stirling. Credit: University of Stirling.

The new project - led by the University's world-leading Institute of Aquaculture - will build on a previous study that developed an innovative vaccine to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Vietnamese catfish and provided insight into the barriers to vaccine use amongst farmers.

The multidisciplinary team - which includes psychologists and behavioural economists from the University of Stirling - will use the latest funding to support the commercial development of the new vaccine and encourage uptake amongst aquaculture farmers in Vietnam. Ultimately, the project is seeking to reduce damaging antibiotic use which leads to rapid antimicrobial resistance within freshwater farming systems.

Professor Margaret Crumlish, of the Institute of Aquaculture, is leading the new project, which is funded by £774,239 from Canada's International Development Research Centre and the UK Department of Health and Social Care, under the Innovative Veterinary Solutions for Antimicrobial Resistance (InnoVet-AMR) initiative. This is in collaboration with Dr Le Hong Phuoc and his team from the Research Institute of Aquaculture Number two (RIA two), located in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam.

Professor Crumlish said: "Vaccine hesitancy in the Vietnamese Pangasius catfish sector remains high and combined with poor antibiotic stewardship, the sector has reached an AMR crisis. The novelty of this project, is not only the new immersion-based vaccine, but the integration of behavioural sciences to directly address vaccine hesitancy and promote vaccination strategies to reduce the threat of AMR."

Vietnam is one of the largest producers of aquaculture in the world and, over the past 25 years, is the global leader of the farmed freshwater catfish (Pangasius) sector - with the produce sold in more than 160 countries. 

However, catfish suffer from bacterial infections, which result in the widespread use of antibiotics - and previous research has suggested that 80 percent of farmers lacked a therapeutic approach and, instead, used a cocktail of antibiotics. As a result, the Vietnamese catfish sector is currently in an AMR crisis, which is affecting animal, human and environmental health within freshwater systems.

Although a commercial vaccine against bacterial diseases in catfish has been available since 2013, farmers in Vietnam appear reluctant to use this product.

The first stage of the study, which launched in 2019 and spanned four-and-a-half years, developed improved vaccines against two major bacterial diseases - Edwardsiella ictaluri and Aeromonas hydrophila - that adversely impact the aquaculture sector, and considered the feasibility of introducing them to farms in Vietnam.

The team successfully developed an effective vaccine that works by immersion - submerging fish in the vaccine for a short period of time, before returning them to the pond. Data from the first project showed the new vaccine gave 70 percent protection against both diseases.

To address vaccine hesitancy, Professor Ronan O'Carroll, a psychologist based in Stirling's Faculty of Natural Sciences, and economist Professor David Comerford, of Stirling Management School, integrated psychology and behavioural economics to identify the barriers and catalysts around vaccine hesitancy in the Vietnamese fish farming sector. They found a multitude of reasons as to why farmers chose not to effectively vaccinate their fish - including a lack of trust in the vaccine, concerns about future use, inconvenience and cost.

On cost, the team found that the price of the vaccine itself was not the primary deterrent for farmers - but the associated costs with the logistics of administering, such as the employing of vaccination teams and purchase of equipment.

Stage two will seek to move the novel vaccine along the production pipeline and explore interventions designed to encourage farmers away from antibiotic use and towards vaccine uptake. The team will also test whether attitudes to vaccines in general have changed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and whether this has reduced vaccine hesitancy among the fish farmers.

Stage two - which runs to October 2026 - involves Ronan O'Carroll, Professor of Psychology; Dr Till Stowasser, Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of Stirling; Professor Simon MacKenzie and Dr Chris Payne, of the Institute of Aquaculture; and the Research Institute for Aquaculture Number two in Vietnam.

Three papers have been published on the results from stage one of the study, with a fourth currently in review.

InnoVet-AMR is funded through the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund, which supports research and development around the world to reduce the threat of antimicrobial resistance in low- and middle-income countries.

For more information, visit HERE.

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BioMar Ecuador achieves ASC Feed certification

October 9, 2024 - Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has announced that BioMar's Ecuador site has achieved ASC Feed certification. This is another significant milestone in the journey towards ensuring more responsible production of feed, a key component of responsible seafood farming globally. The ASC Feed Certification helps Ecuadorian shrimp farms meet the growing demand for more responsible seafood.

Located in Guayaquil, BioMar's facility is dedicated to producing high-quality shrimp feed. Achieving ASC Feed certification is a key part of BioMar's broader strategy of sustainable innovation and strengthens their role as a trusted provider of ASC compliant feed. Ecuadorian shrimp farmers wanting to use ASC as a competitive edge in global markets - where transparency, responsibility and traceability are increasingly important - are now able to obtain ASC compliant feed from BioMar.

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Henrik Aarestrup, Vice President for Latin America, Shrimp & Hatchery at BioMar Group, commented, "Our goal is to provide shrimp farmers with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving industry. With this certification, our customers can be confident that they are using feed that meets the highest global standards for sustainability, helping them to secure their position in a fast-growing market."

ASC CEO Chris Ninnes said, "Our ASC Feed Standard establishes an essential and unique benchmark for feed production and BioMar's certification in Ecuador is a welcome development towards greater transparency, traceability and impact measurement in the feed industry. We congratulate them on this achievement and their ongoing commitment to more responsible feed.

"With the first feed mills celebrating ASC certification in January 2024, we started a journey to drive positive change in the feed industry. There is still much more progress to be made, but with the commitment of the seafood farming sector and the entire value chain we now have over 30 feed mills either certified or in assessment. That collaborative effort will truly transform global aquatic feed production towards greater responsibility."

Aarestrup concluded, "For us, this certification goes beyond meeting a standard. It's part of our broader commitment to supporting the entire shrimp aquaculture value chain. By investing in innovation, sustainability and collaboration, we aim to help farmers achieve long-term success while ensuring that seafood production is ethical, transparent and sustainable."

ASC certified farms have until October 2025 to ensure their feed supply is ASC compliant. The use of ASC compliant feed is necessary for ASC certified farms to continue meeting the ASC Farm Standard and retain their certification.

For more information, visit HERE.

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Salmon stocks in England reach record low

October 9, 2024 - According to the Atlantic Salmon Stock Assessment for 2024 from the Environment Agency (EA) and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), 90 percent of principal salmon rivers in England are classified as either 'at risk' or 'probably at risk,' meaning salmon numbers are below minimum levels to support sustainable populations.

Atlantic salmon is an indicator species, reflecting the health and cleanliness of marine and freshwater ecosystems. A shrinking salmon population is a warning sign that much more work is needed to improve our natural environment.

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The dramatic decline of salmon stocks is an international trend, with similar findings reported in Ireland, Iceland, Sweden and Canada, however the UK shows the most significant decline.

Agricultural pollution, sedimentation and chemical runoff from industries, wastewater and roads are degrading their habitats. As well as barriers to migration, water scarcity from abstraction and the persistent challenge from climate change and warming seas.

Action is needed across all pressures impacting salmon, and the EA and Natural England (NE) is calling on everyone from landowners and farmers, to the sector of energy, waste and water to do more to protect this iconic and pivotal species.

Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency said, "Forty years ago an estimated 1.4 million salmon returned to UK rivers each year. We are now at barely a third of that - a new low and evidence of the wider, growing biodiversity crisis.

"The EA is already taking action to tackle water pollution, address barriers to migration and restore and improve habitats. We need all those who pollute to clean up their act.

"We will continue to press on and improve our regulation of water quality and that is why I am pleased by the benefits the new Special Measures Bill brings, which will improve the EA's ability to hold polluters to account."

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said: "As a critical indicator species, England's dwindling salmon population is a warning of the deteriorating health and connectivity of our waterways, and signals a threat to other wildlife species and local economies."

"Working in partnership to restore rivers and seas will bring widespread environmental and ecological benefits, driving broader nature recovery, which is at the heart of Natural England's mission."

The EA is taking action to improve our regulation of water quality and the government's new Water (Special Measures) Bill will introduce the greatest increase in enforcement powers in a decade, giving the EA more powers to hold polluters to account.

Despite the overall picture, improvement on individual rivers have been recorded. Last year, the EA completed the largest fish pass in the UK, at Colwick near Nottingham, establishing a new route for migrating wild fish to reach the River Trent catchment. The Trent has observed an increasing number of salmon as overall water quality has improved following decades of decline following industrialisation.

Similarly, fish passage improvement on the River Severn, facilitated by the 'Unlocking the Severn' project, a collaboration between EA, NE and others. This has significantly improved an umber of weirs known to block salmon migration routes. These improvements have helped to ensure that salmon and other migratory fish can now ascend the river more easily to reach their spawning grounds.

Through national and international initiatives such as North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) and the Missing Salmon Alliance the EA will champion Atlantic salmon and seek to mitigate threats to salmon numbers in our oceans and seas.

For more information, visit HERE.

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How population tracing transforms fish farming data insights

By Kelly Haugen

October 8, 2024 - Fish farming is a complex and evolving industry where the management of fish health is paramount. For many years, farms have relied on cage and fish group level data to track the health and performance of their fish populations. However, as operations have grown more intricate and challenges more pressing, this method of aggregation is showing limitations. Enter Population Tracing - a transformative technology now seamlessly integrated across Manolin's platform's data modelling, powering the most precise and accurate insights and decision-making.

Why population tracing matters

At first glance, fish farms may seem like static environments, with fish remaining in their cages for the duration of their generation. In reality, fish populations undergo frequent movements, whether for sea lice treatments, sorting by size, or other management strategies. This dynamic nature complicates the ability to monitor health at the individual cage level alone.

Historically, fish health tracking aggregated data at the cage or group level, meaning that specific populations were often overlooked. With population tracing, farms now have a granular view of each fish group's journey, even as they are split, merged or relocated. This continuous tracking retains the full health record of each population, ensuring that no critical data is lost during transitions.

How population tracing works

Population tracing is about more than just identifying which fish were in a particular cage at a particular time. It's a holistic, forward-thinking approach that allows farms to follow fish populations through every movement, treatment and change they experience over the course of their lifecycle.

For example, imagine a scenario where a population of fish in Cage A shows melanin spots during harvest. Traditional methods might trace the issue back to Cage A, but with population tracing, we can go even deeper. We can identify that only 20 percent of the fish in Cage A were affected, and furthermore, trace these fish back through multiple cages, tracking their specific smolt genetics, the feed they consumed and every treatment they received along the way.

This level of precision allows for not just a retrospective analysis, but proactive health management. With population tracing, Manolin's platform can identify patterns earlier, make better decisions in near real-time and prevent future issues from escalating for farms.

The impact on predictive models and fish health

Manolin's population tracing isn't just about understanding the past. It provides farms with the most precise data intelligence paired with our advanced predictive models. By following individual fish populations, farms can now analyse how different variables - such as stocking density, environmental conditions and treatment efficacy - impact overall health outcomes.

These insights enable farms to make more informed decisions, improving everything from disease prevention to product performance analysis. For instance, farms can now more accurately forecast the outcome of a specific treatment, helping to ensure resources are used efficiently and costs are minimised.

The power of data-driven decisions

At its core, population tracing equips fish farms with the data they need to make smarter, faster decisions. By having a complete, accurate record of each population's health journey, farms can reduce risks, optimise operational efficiency and ultimately improve fish welfare.

Beyond that, population tracing helps farms organise their data, making them better prepared for regulatory requirements. With full transparency, into every movement and treatment, farms are equipped to demonstrate adherence to best practices in fish health management, setting them up for long-term success.

Leading the next generation of aquaculture intelligence

Population tracing represents a fundamental shift in how fish health is managed in the aquaculture industry. By providing farms with granular insights and unmatched data precision, it unlocks new opportunities for growth, efficiency and sustainability. As a cornerstone of Manolin's Watershed platform, population tr

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Optimar provides free electric stunners to shrimp farmers

October 8, 2024 - Shrimp farming is under increasing pressure as consumers and markets demand more ethical and sustainable practices. Meeting these high welfare standards while maintaining product quality is a challenge for shrimp farmers worldwide. Optimar supports multiple initiatives that address these challenges with innovative solutions like the Optimar Electric Stunner.

The Shrimp Welfare Project, one of their key partners, is at the forefront of this movement, pioneering the distribution of free electric stunners to large-scale shrimp farms that meet specific criteria. This initiative aims to distribute 24 humane electric stunners worldwide by the end of 2025. These state-of-the-art stunners are designed to render shrimp insentient rapidly, significantly reducing stress and improving overall welfare.

You may also be interested in:

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Supporting humane shrimp farming

The Shrimp Welfare Project announced, "To qualify for this opportunity, shrimp producers must commit to stunning a minimum of 1800 tonnes of shrimp per year and demonstrate a dedication to improving welfare practices to the best of their abilities."

This initiative highlights the growing recognition within the aquaculture industry of the need for humane slaughter methods, especially as traditional techniques, such as immersion in ice-water slurry, face increasing criticism for being inhumane. Optimar AS partnered with the Shrimp Welfare program in 2023 and has already had many joint projects.

"We are really impressed by how the team has raised awareness about the welfare of shrimps in the slaughtering process"says Mårten Jørgensen, Optimar Sales Manager.

"Collaborating with Optimar has enabled us to successfully implement humane slaughter practices on several farms already, with even more projects currently underway. We are very pleased with the progress we've made and the valuable insights we've gained from producers already using the stunners." said Krzysztof Wojtas, Chief Programmes Officer at Shrimp Welfare Project.

A major step towards sustainable practices

With over 400 billion shrimp farmers annually, the adoption of electric stunning marks a crucial step toward more humane and sustainable shrimp farming. The Shrimp Welfare Project has already made significant strides, providing stunning equipment to producers in Latin America and Southeast Asia. 

If you are a shrimp farmer or producer interested in receiving a free electric stunner, this is your chance to improve your practices and align with global sustainability standards.

For more information, visit HERE.

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VietShrimp 2025 returns with the topic 'Greening Farming'

October 8, 2024 - The term 'Greening' has become familiar and an inevitable trend in the lives and economy of Vietnamese people. It is not difficult to come across this term through projects such as green industry, green cities, green enterprises, green products and even green waste is now receiving attention.

The whole society is urgently coming together and pushing for rapid progress in the 'Greening' revolution. The roadmap for greening Vietnam's shrimp industry has seen encouraging progress, but challenges still remain on the path to sustainable production.

On a positive note, we can easily observe a clear change in the awareness of the importance of environmentally friendly shrimp production, both from producers and consumers. This has led to increasing demand for shrimp products with green certification.

The application of advanced technologies such as recirculating aquaculture systems, the use of probiotics and environmental monitoring systems has helped minimise negative impacts on the ecosystem. Government support through incentive policies, green credit funds and the fact that many shrimp farms have achieved prestigious international certifications, has created favourable conditions for the green transition process.

However, the roadmap for greening the shrimp industry is not without its obstacles. The significant investment required for technology and infrastructure, especially for small-scale producers, poses a considerable financial burden. In addition, the lack of knowledge and techniques for sustainable production is another limitation that needs to be addressed. 

Reaching consumers and ensuring stable prices for 'green' shrimp products still face many challenges. Lastly, the issue of environmental pollution from shrimp farming activities, especially in concentrated farming areas, remains a major challenge that requires urgent attention and decisive solutions.

In summary, although certain achievements have been made, there is still much work to be done on the roadmap to greening Vietnam's shrimp industry. Close collaboration among stakeholders, from the Government, businesses to shrimp farmers, is the key to promoting this process, ensuring sustainable development and enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnam's shrimp industry in the international arena.

'Greening farming' will be the main theme throughout VietShrimp 2025. The event will bring together leading businesses in Vietnam's shrimp industry, offering advanced technological solutions and modern farming models to accelerate the greening process of shrimp farming areas.

For more information, visit HERE.

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Aquaculture researchers secure £1.6 million to explore next-generation tech

October 8, 2024 - The Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) has announced its support for three innovation projects aimed at enhancing finfish health and welfare in response to a changing climate and other emerging challenges, following its latest call for research initiatives.

Valued at a combined £1.6 million, these projects have secured nearly £600,000 in funding from SAIC along with additional support from businesses and organisations operating within the Scottish aquaculture sector.

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Two of the successful projects are already underway. The first is exploring the development of a holographic imaging system to detect and monitor micro-jellyfish at aquaculture sites. It also aims to implement an automated profiling system for harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the water column, providing real-time data for fish health management.

The second project builds on previous SAIC-funded initiatives that established predictive biomarkers for assessing gill health in Atlantic salmon. Its objective is to refine these biomarkers using machine learning and non-invasive sampling methods, while investigating their effectiveness in predicting responses to micro-jellyfish exposure and different diets.

Meanwhile, a third project is set to begin in November, focused on stock management strategies for proliferative kidney disease (PKD) outbreaks in Scotland. The initiative will monitor environmental conditions and immune responses in fish using advanced techniques, aiming to develop predictive models that enhance health management practices and improve vaccine efficacy in aquaculture.

The latest funding awards build on SAIC's work to date, which has seen almost £11 million of investment turned into sector-critical research with a combined value exceeding £71 million. These projects have led to the creation of spin-out companies, new products and services, and innovative approaches to tackling sector-wide challenges.

Earlier this year, SAIC announced that it had secured funding that will enable the innovation centre to build on its work from over the past decade. In this next period, SAIC will sharpen its focus on promoting positive health and welfare outcomes for farmed fish through applied research and knowledge exchange, particularly in response to emerging environmental challenges.

Sarah Riddle, Director of Innovation and Engagement at SAIC, added: "Over the past ten years, we have prioritised initiatives aimed at enhancing aquaculture's environmental impact, fish health and unlocking economic potential. In this current funding call, our sharper focus aligns us even more closely with the sector's key priorities, fostering collaboration to tackle critical health, welfare, and survivability challenges in fish farming - and each of these projects aims to tackle these areas. Continued knowledge exchange between the sector and academia will also be vital in maintaining Scotland's position at the forefront of pioneering advancements across the global aquaculture supply chain."

Linsey Dickinson, Interim Executive Director of Research, Innovation and Business Engagement at the University of Stirling, said: "This funding represents a significant boost to the innovative research being conducted across Scotland's aquaculture sector. By applying cutting-edge technologies and evidence-based practices, these projects are poised to address some of the sector's most pressing challenges. Close collaboration between academia and the fish farming community is crucial to ensure that our findings translate into actionable solutions that support the future of sustainable seafood production."

For more information, visit HERE.

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New king size RSW systems for Live Fish Carriers

October 8, 2024 - PTG Frionordica AS has signed contracts with Aas Mek. Verksted for delivery of six RSW units, respectively for two new buildings for Njord Aquashipping and two new buildings for Sølvtrans.

The two vessels for delivery for Sølvtrans is spesially built for transport of smolt, and has one RSW 2100 system at each vessel.  Photo: Sølvtrans.

PTG has been delivering compact and complete systems for efficient cooling of seawater and fish for more than 40 years and more than 600 systems, with cooling capacities ranging from 50 to 2500kW.

King size with three megawatt cooling capacity

"We are very proud to introduce the brand-new RSW 3000 model to meet the increasing demands for cooling and heating seawater for salmon transportation, treatment and processing," says Johnny Valle, Sales and Marketing Director at PTG Frionordica.

He explains that the new king-size RSW 3000 has a three megawatt cooling capacity, making it the largest RSW system PTG has developed with a single compressor solution.

RSW System for more than 30 wellboats built at Aas Mek Verksted

"Two of Njord Aquashipping's Live Fish Carriers will be equipped with two RSW 3000 units on each vessel. PTG Frionordica has previously delivered RSW systems to Njord Aquashipping, and it is especially gratifying that our latest innovation has been chosen for their newbuilds," he adds.

The two vessels for Sølvtrans are specially designed for smolt transportation and are equipped with one RSW 2100 system on each vessel. PTG Frionordica has a long-standing relationship with Sølvtrans, having delivered RSW systems for more than 30 new buildings, built at various shipyards across Norway and Europe, with most being built at Aas Mek Verksted.

"We at PTG Frionordica have delivered RSW systems to more than 30 Live Fish Carriers built at Aas Mek Verksted, and we are excited to once again be selected as the supplier for their newbuildings," concludes Johnny Valle at PTG Frionordica.

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The Aquaculturists

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