US hygiene warning on some types of imported fish

Michael Doyle, a microbiologist with the University of Georgia, told a meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in New Orleans recently that this is because a lot of fish is now coming from countries where sanitary standards for production are not as stringent as those in Canada or the United States. There are also similar fears with fresh produce.

However, he stressed  that consumers should not rule out all food from these countries as ‘unsafe’, pointing out that most food manufacturers will only import ingredients or products if they can verify that they have been produced in sanitary conditions.

In addition, Mr Doyle said that food safety standards are not the same throughout the world, pointing to the use of domestic sewage and livestock manure in some Asian fish farms, and the use of pesticides for agriculture and antibiotics for fish and shrimp production in China that are not approved for use in the United States. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little, The Aquaculturists, published and supported by the International Aquafeed Magazine from Perendale Publishers

Aquaculture: Libreville hosts African conference on aquaculture

African conference on aquaculture a three-day regional seminar on commercial aquaculture development strategies will commence on June 8 in Libreville, Gabon, to facilitate fishing cooperation between African countries riparian of the Atlantic Ocean (COMHAFAT), based in Rabat, Morocco. The meeting is being organised by the Executive Secretariat of the regional organisation, in collaboration with the Gabonese government and the Japanese Foundation for International Cooperation in Fisheries (OFCF-Japan).

Almost 11 million Africans depend on fishing for their livelihoods, while fish resources account for nearly 50 percent of the animal proteins of several countries. According to FAO data, despite the existence of a proven potential, aquaculture is still under developed in Africa and represents only 1.8 percent of the world’s aquaculture production, considering that in 2008 its contribution in sub-Saharan Africa was only 0.5 percent and 1.3 percent in North Africa. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little, The Aquaculturists, published and supported by the International Aquafeed Magazine from Perendale Publishers

Salmon Pancreas disease gene marker identified

A recent research project conducted and funded by SalmoBreed has newly identified a gene marker named Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) which has a significant effect on salmon's resistance to Pancreas Disease (PD). The disease has recently caused huge losses of fish which has cost the Norwegian aquaculture industry hundreds of millions of NOK.

The disease also affects farmed salmon in Scotland and Ireland. Until now, the industry has not had the instruments or tools to tackle it. 

The project was conducted by CIGENE (Centre for Integrative Genetics), UMB (Norwegian School of Life Sciences) under the leadership of Dr Sigbjørn Lien, in cooperation with Nofima Marine and the Institute of Aquaculture Research Genetics Center (AFGC). Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little, The Aquaculturists, published and supported by the International Aquafeed Magazine from Perendale Publishers