Aquaculture training in South East Asia

The US drug and food administration working with the University of Maryland food safety and Nutrition department, are helping to train Bangladeshi aquaculterists in an effort to improve the standards of the domestic and international aquaculture produce. Using a method first used in 2006 in Vietnam, and used successfully in other countries, such as Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh and recently Malaysia. Known as "train the trainers" this method of training using a combination of, site visits, lectures and demonstrations, has been successful and has helped to improve the standards of aquaculture domestically and on an international scale.

 
Chinese interest in New Zealand Sea Cucumber farming


New Zealand's Bay of Plenty Polytechnic has met with one of China's largest aquaculture Corporations Oriental Oceans, who has shown interest researching and breeding New Zealand’s Sea Cucumber, which is said to be very similar to the Chinese Sea Cucumber. The proposed venture would research and pilot the production of the Sea Cucumber in ponds based at Opotiki. This joint venture would be a valuable asset for the Eastern Bay of Plenty economy.


Dangers of aquaculture overfeed


One danger of aquaculture is the use of "Reduction" or "Trash " fish species such as Anchovy, Sardines as feed for the carnivorous species like Salmon, Tuna and Shrimp. Using lesser species as feed exerts a heavy burden on the wild stocks of these species, which could cause serious ecological damage. A possible solution to this is used in some Norwegian fish farms where they have multiple complementary species, cleaner fish to reduce the sea lice problem.


A salmon called Frankenfish


Alaska's Senator Begich angered by genetically modified salmon, calling the fish "frankenfish" even thou the US FDA has stated that the salmon is safe to eat. Claiming that it is as safe to eat as wild salmon. Is it safe to eat? Could it affect the wild salmon populations?. There will be major opposition to the future of this genetically modified salmon.

Book Review - Aquaculture and Fisheries Biotechnology Genetic Approaches

    

     ISBN 0 85199 596 9

     In this 2004 book by R A Dunham: Aquaculture and Fisheries Biotechnology Genetic Approaches: He, address biotechnology in aquaculture and also the interrelationships with fisheries. Since he points out that aquaculture and fisheries are not antagonistic as they are portrayed, but are infact equally important to each other, and this interrelationship is important for the biotechnology. The biochemical and molecular genetic tools can be applied to both aquaculture and fishers.

    The books concept attempts to relate theory with reality, providing a strong review of the current status using many examples of past and up-to-date research and results. He provides a strong view of the biotechnology within aquaculture and the importance of it with in fisheries as the fisheries is the main genetic pool for aquaculture.

     In chapter 1 he look at the history of biotechnology genetics in aquaculture and fisheries referring to the long history of aquaculture some 2000 years or more in China and the Roman Empire. But even with this long history, aquaculture has only in the last few decades become such an important tool in support of the fisheries since fish stocks in many of the world’s oceans are over fished and in serious decline.

     In chapter 2 he points out that the effects of the environment are equally important and is often an area of research, which is ignored in aquatic genetics and biotechnology. So he looks at the environmental effects and phenotypic variation. The science of this publication though complicated has been written in such a way by Dunham, that it is understandable to student and teachers as well anyone with an interested in aquaculture and fisheries.

     In my opinion, Dunham has presented a very interesting view of biotechnology in aquaculture and fisheries showing how the need to understand all aspect of the science is important to the future of  aquaculture and fisheries.

    Later chapters deal with such diverse material as population Genetic and interactions of hatchery and wild fish, Gene Expression, Isolation and Cloning. Looking at the commercial application of fish biotechnology within the industry as well as strategies for genetic conservation, gene banking and maintaining genetic quality.

     In the final chapter Dunham shows that constraints and limitations of genetic biotechnology can be split into several key areas such as development, biodiversity, political and economic issues.

     He makes recommendations that genetic improvement of cultured fish should be important along with the need for more training programmes and education for aquaculture geneticists especially in the developing countries. Some of the main constraints he mentioned are environmental issues such as environmental risk of genetically altered aquatic organisms, biodiversity and genetic conservation.

     Also other issues he identified are the funding and training of scientists and impact assessment: such as dissemination, food safety and consumer perceptions.

     I have found this book, to be an interesting and informative read, even though it is about genetics and biotechnology, which is a complicated subject. Dunham has presented the subject material in an easy and understandable format. This book is a must for students and biologists, fisheries and farmers alike. Well done R A Dunham.

Book Review - OECD Insights: Fisheries – While Stocks Last

     OECD Insights: Fisheries – While Stocks Last

     by Patrick Love

     ISBN 978-92-64-07737-9 (print)

     ISBN 978-92-64-07991-5 (PDF)

    This recently published OECD insights publication, Fisheries – While Stocks Last - by Patrick Love, looks at the fishing industry and the recent effects of the global recession, which arose from the ‘credit crunch’. Also affected during this time was the aquaculture industry.

    

    Fishing and its impact on the biodiversity within the oceans has long been a major issue and are well documented. Also looked at in this publication is the effect of an ageing population on the work force of the fishing industry and what it means to smaller coastal vessels. Other external factors such as urbanization, pollution and climate change have direct impacts on the industry as a whole.

    

     Over the course of the book the author looks at the state of several sub sectors of the fishing industry from industrial fishing to aquaculture. He also describes Dutch fishers and Basque fleets that were involved in fishing off the coast of Newfoundland hundreds of years ago. 

    He focuses on European fishers and northern fisheries as the forerunners of the modern fishing industry. As well as looking at the historical side of the industry he looks at how different countries today affect and change the fishing industry from the fish markets to fish production.

    An interesting part of this publication looks at the contradictions in the industry and at the controversies that arise from the terminology being used: That there are people trying to be proactive and force change from the fishers to the people that buy the fish in the supermarket.

    At the end of the book the author attempts to bring all the parts together and look at the future challenges facing the industry and how they will respond to it overall.

     The basic idea of this book is to help the reader better understand the nature of the fishing industry and all of its complexities. We at International Aquafeed would recommend this to anyone involved in marine fishing and even to those in aquaculture to and aqua policy development as a foundation document for future decision-making. Well done Patrick Love.