september/october 2015
DEPARTMENTS
ii September/October 2015
24 Vibrio Control In Shrimp Farming Part II. Farms
Stephen G. Newman, Ph.D.
26 Genetic Variation For Resistance To WSS,
AHPND In Pacific White Shrimp
Hctor Castillo-Jurez, Ph.D.; Hugo H. Montaldo, Ph.D.;
Sonia Soto-Rodrguez, Ph.D.; Leobardo Montoya-Rodrguez;
Juan Carlos Quintana Casares
28 Sustainable Aquaculture Practices
Calcium, Magnesium Use In Aquaculture
Claude E. Boyd, Ph.D.
31 Aquaculture Engineering
Estimating Biofilter Size For RAS Systems
Thomas M. Losordo, Ph.D.; Dennis P. DeLong, MSM
34 The Bottom Line
Integrating Feed Manufacturing Into Fish
Or Shrimp Production Operations
Thomas R. Zeigler, Ph.D.; Matthew P. Zeigler, M.S.; Sidinei Valle
38 Feed Tray Management Lowers FCRs,
Shrimp Production Costs In Australia
Bambang M. Julianto, Darrel Herbst
42 Soy-Fed Fish News
Soy Protein Concentrate Replaces Fishmeal
In Spotted Rose Snapper Diets
Herbert E. Quintero, Ph.D.; Michael C. Cremer, Ph.D.;
Jairo Amezquita; Francisco De la Torre, DVM; Thiago Soligo
44 Aquaculture In Canada: Status, Perspectives
Thierry Chopin, Ph.D.
47 Shrimp Farming In China What Should We Learn
From Its Developmental History?
Dr. Xianhong Meng, Dr. Qingyin Wang; Dr. Jie Kong,
Dr. Jian Li, Dr. Jie Huang
50 Large-Scale Tilapia Project Driving Aquaculture
Development In Ivory Coast
Jrme Lazard, Ph.D.; Habib Coulibaly
54 Pirarucu Culture In The Brazilian Amazon
Fledgling Industry Faces Technological Issues
Adriana Ferreira Lima, Ana Paula Oeda Rodrigues,
Eduardo Sousa Varela, Lucas Simon Torati, Patricia Oliveira Maciel
58 Economic Impacts Of Aquatic Parasites On Global
Finfish Production Initial Estimates Project Annual
Losses Up To U.S. $9.6 Billion
Andy Shinn, Ph.D.; Jarunan Pratoomyot, Ph.D.; James Bron, Ph.D.;
Giuseppe Paladini, Ph.D.; Esther Brooker; Adam Brooker, Ph.D.
62 Adding Flavor Complexity To Farmed Barramundi
Dietary Compounds Carry Traits To Fillets
Guy Carton, Ph.D.; Igor Pirozzi, Ph.D.; Ben Jones, Ph.D.;
Richard Smullen, Ph.D.
66 Seafood And Health
Warning: Shrimp Salad May Contain Shrimp
Seafood Industry Measures Build On Labeling
To Minimize Allergy Issues
Roy D. Palmer, FAICD
68 Food Safety And Technology
Human Enteric Viruses In Shellfish
Part III. Norovirus Prevalence In Europe
George J. Flick, Jr., Ph.D.; David D. Kuhn, Ph.D.
global aquaculture advocate
January/February 2009
From The President 2
From The Editor 3
GAA Activities 5
Industry News 92
GAA Calendar 94
Advocate Advertisers 96
On the cover:
This appealing dish created by Chef Chris Aerni of the Rossmount
Inn, St. Andrews, New Brunswick features IMTA Atlantic salmon
and IMTA kelp, examples of differentiated Canadian aquaculture
products. Photo by Thierry Chopin. See page 44.
Page 26
Genetic Resistance
To WSS, AHPND
Shrimp selection for disease
resistance can be viable against
WSS and AHPND when no other
cost-effective control measures are.
Page 82
Land-Based
Macroalgae Farming
Land-based cultivation
of macroalgae minimizes
impacts on wild stocks while
reducing harvest costs and
better controlling product
quality.
72 U.S. Seafood Market
Paul Brown, Jr.; Janice Schreiber; Angel Rubio
76 Sturgeon Aquaculture In British Columbia, Canada
Are We There Yet?
Myron Roth, Ph.D., P.Ag.; Bill Pennell, Ph.D.
79 Brazil Study Results Encouraging For Injector
Aerator In Super-Intensive Shrimp Culture
Dariano Krummenauer, Ph.D.; Bob Advent; Carlos Gaona, Ph.D.;
Geraldo Foes, Ph.D.; Aline Bezerra, M.S.; Alessandro Cardozo, Ph.D.;
Luis Poersch, Ph.D.; Wilson Wasielesky, Jr., Ph.D.
82 Land-Based Macroalgae Farming
Quantity, Quality From Sustainable Food Source
Bradley A. Gadberry; John Colt, Ph.D.; Desmond J. Maynard;
Ronald B. Johnson; Diane C. Boratyn
85 USSEC, Partners Establish Asian Aquaculture
Feed Formulation Database
Dominique P. Bureau, Ph.D.; J. Owen Skipper-Horton;
Timothy Moore; Lukas Manomaitis
88 Insect Meals: Novel Protein, Fat Sources
Florentino Torres
90 Turbot Growth Performance On Soy-Based Feeds
Hsiang Pin Lan; Zhang Jian; Tim OKeefe; Michael Cremer, Ph.D.;
Zhang Xiuli; Sun Xueli; Niu Zhibin; Lv Jianguo
global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 1

GLOBAL AQUACULTURE
ALLIANCE
The Global Aquaculture Alliance is an in-
ternational non-profit, non-governmental
association whose mission is to further envi
ronmentally responsible aquaculture to meet
world food needs. Our members are produc-
ers, processors, marketers and retailers of sea-
food products worldwide. All aquaculturists
in all sectors are welcome in the organization.
OFFICERS
George Chamberlain, President
BillHerzig, Vice President
LeeBloom, Secretary
Jeff Fort, Treasurer
Wally Stevens, Executive Director
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bert Bachmann
Mike Berthet
LeeBloom
Rittirong Boonmechote
George Chamberlain
Shahridan Faiez
Robert Fields
Jeff Fort
John Galiher
Laura Garrido
Nelson Griffin
Bill Herzig
RayJones
Alex Ko
Jordan Mazzetta
Robins McIntosh
Sergio Nates
John Peppel
John Schramm
Jeff Sedacca
Wally Stevens
RELATIONSHIP MANAGER
Sally Krueger
sally.krueger@gaalliance.org
EDITOR
Darryl Jory
editorgaadvocate@aol.com
PRODUCTION STAFF
Assistant Editor
DavidWolfe
david.wolfe@gaalliance.org
Graphic Designer
Lorraine Jennemann
lorraine.jennemann@gaalliance.org
HOME OFFICE
4111 Telegraph Road, Suite 302
St. Louis, Missouri 63129 USA
Telephone: +1-314-293-5500
FAX: +1-314-293-5525
E-mail: homeoffice@gaalliance.org
Website: http://www.gaalliance.org
All contents copyright 2015
Global Aquaculture Alliance.
Global Aquaculture Advocate
is printed in the USA.
ISSN 1540-8906
2 September/October 2015
from the president from the editor
Outreach Through Change Is Coming FOUNDING MEMBERS
E-Learning We Will Not Miss The Future Agribrands International Inc.
Agromarina de Panam, S.A.
Aqualma Unima Group
Market-driven certification has seen remarkable Change is a constant fact of life around us, and Aquatec/Camanor
success in rapidly engaging some of the worlds larg- our farmed seafood industry is not exempted from its Asociacin Nacional de Acuicultores de Colombia
est and most advanced, export-oriented fisheries and effects. As further explained elsewhere in this issue, Asociacin Nacional de Acuicultores de Honduras
farms in sustainability programs. However, this is the Global Aquaculture Advocate will soon be transi- Associao Brasileira de Criadores de Camaro
only a small fraction of global seafood production. George tioning from a printed magazine that is also available
Bangladesh Chapter Global Aquaculture Alliance
The more difficult challenge is how to reach the rest Chamberlain, Ph.D. in digital format to become a web-only publication. Darryl E. Jory, Ph.D. Belize Aquaculture, Ltd.
of the industry. The numbers for aquaculture alone Editor, Development Manager Bluepoints Co., Inc.
President This new web format will retain and expand many of Cmara Nacional de Acuacultura
are not trivial. Global Aquaculture Advocate
Global Aquaculture Alliance the features that made our flagship printed magazine Camaronera de Cocl, S.A.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) editorgaadvocate@aol.com
of the United Nations estimates that some 19 mil-
george.chamberlain@gaalliance.org one of the premier publications covering the farmed Cargill Animal Nutrition
lion people around the world are directly engaged in seafood value chain. The last printed edition will be Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods
the November/December 2015 issue. Continental Grain Co.
aquaculture production. If we consider job multipliers for upstream industries such as
The coming Advocate website will have several significant, valuable advantages over C.P. Aquaculture Business Group
agriculture, feed milling, hatchery and equipment manufacturing, and downstream
the printed format. For our readers, the website format will continue to include the Darden Restaurants
industries such as processing, transportation, wholesale, retail and foodservice, the
Deli Group, Ecuador
number swells to more than 200 million people! quality information that is our trademark, but the editorial and advertising content can
Deli Group, Honduras
By far, the worlds largest aquaculture producer is China. According to FAO, it pro- now be more conveniently enjoyed online and remain permanently available. A web for- Delta Blue Aquaculture
duces 67% of the global aquaculture quantity and 49% of the global value. Much of its mat is very flexible and can take advantage of the latest digital advances, and we will Diamante del Mar S.A.
production directly enters Chinas domestic markets, so export-oriented certification is undoubtedly benefit from new advances in the future as additional relevant technology Eastern Fish Co.
only part of the solution. GAA and the Responsible Aquaculture Foundation (RAF) develops. El Rosario, S.A.
are exploring how to make education, sustainability and food safety programs more rel- For our advertisers, the Advocate can become more interactive and effective through Empacadora Nacional, C.A.
evant to Chinas domestic production sector. the further inclusion of video and sound clips, animations and other visual tools that ExpackSeafood, Inc.
In a series of early-August meetings with individual producers, producer associa- collectively enhance promotional objectives. The website will be regularly updated and Expalsa Exportadora de Alimentos S.A.
tions, the national extension service and food safety regulators in China, our GAA team FCE Agricultural Research and Management, Inc.
can be accessed by search engines scanning for
was pleased to find strong interest in collaboration on a variety of initiatives. One of the High Liner Foods
areas of greatest interest was online education or e-learning, a program under develop- industry information. The coming website India Chapter Global Aquaculture Alliance
And for all of us, the coming website format
ment by RAF with support from GAA.
will allow us to continue providing expanded format will allow us IndianOcean AquacultureGroup
We were delighted to learn that the National Fisheries Technical Extension Center INVE Aquaculture, N.V.
has already developed online software for aquaculture disease diagnosis. Farmers can industry coverage that is more cost-effective and to continue providing King & Prince Seafood Corp.
input symptoms via their smart phones. The software then identifies the most likely timely to produce and deliver. It will appeal to expanded industry Long John Silvers, Inc.
causative disease. Farmers can also use the software to send in photos of sick fish for many industry and consumer segments that are Lyons Seafoods Ltd.
review by veterinarians within 24 hours. We have much to learn from each other! increasingly tech-savvy. In an environmental vein, coverage that is more Maritech S.A. de C.V.
RAF plans to develop a comprehensive set of educational materials that can be used no paper, ink and other chemicals are used in its cost-effective and Meridian Aquatic Technology Systems, LLC
Monsanto
for either structured, lesson-based learning with certificates for different levels of
achievement or for immediate feedback to queries from the field via smart phones.
production and distribution. timely to produce Morrison International, S.A.
Most importantly, the improved format with
The e-learning platform is envisioned as a practical, multilingual tool for capacity expanded content will continue to support the and deliver. National Fish & Seafood Co./
Lu-Mar Lobster & Shrimp Co.
building throughout the aquaculture value chain, including upsteam and downstream Global Aquaculture Alliance mission to feed the world through responsible aquaculture.
segments. It is not intended as a substitute for university education, but may serve as a National Food Institute
By focusing attention on new technologies and developments that improve production National Prawn Co.
stepping stone for those who wish to progress into a more formal degree program.
efficiency and sustainability, as well as new market developments, trends and other rele- Ocean Garden Products, Inc.
RAF is beginning this e-learning program with modules on food safety and man-
agement of early mortality syndrome in shrimp. However, its goal is to develop modules vant areas, the Advocate will help GAA reach out to the world. Overseas Seafood Operations, SAM
that address all the major species groups and disciplines of aquaculture, such as veteri- In the words of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy: Change is the law of life. Pescanova USA
And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. We will Preferred Freezer Services
nary services, genetic selection, reproduction, larval rearing, water quality, nutrition, Productora Semillal, S.A.
processing, marketing and consumer education. not miss the future.
RedChamber Co.
This is an ambitious, long-term project that can only be accomplished through Please contact me at your convenience for details about our articles guidelines.
Rich-SeaPak Corp.
broad collaboration with stakeholders throughout the value chain, as well as research Through the years, your critical comments have significantly improved our magazine, Sahlman Seafoods of Nicaragua, S.A.
and education institutions, extension services, regulatory bodies and foundations. and I urge you to continue sending us your comments on how we can best represent and Sanders Brine Shrimp Co., L.C.
Together we can compile a credible authoritative database of information that will help serve our industry. Sea Farms Group
reach the enormous underserved sectors of the aquaculture industry. Seprofin Mexico
Given the exciting opportunities for collaboration in China on e-learning, certifica- Sincerely, Shrimp News International
tion and other programs, we are delighted to announce that GOAL 2016 will be con- Sociedad Nacional de Galpagos
vened in China next year. Standard Seafood de Venezuela C.A.
Super Shrimp Group
Sincerely, TampaMaid Foods, Inc.
Darryl E. Jory
U.S. Foodservice
Vitapro-Nicovita-Salmofood
Zeigler Brothers, Inc.
George Chamberlain
global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 3

Join the worlds leading
aquaculture organization
Aquaculture is the future of the worlds seafood supply.
Be part of it by joining the Global Aquaculture Alliance,
the leading standards-setting organization for farmed
seafood.
Access science-based information on efficient aqua-
culture management. Connect with other responsible
companies and reach your social responsibility goals.
Global Aquaculture Alliance
Feeding the World Through Responsible Aquaculture www.gaalliance.org +1-314-293-5500
GOVERNING MEMBERS
Alltech
Apex Frozen Foods Pvt. Ltd.
Aqua Bounty Technologies, Inc.
Beaver Street Fisheries
Blue Archipelago Berhad
Capitol Risk Concepts, Ltd.
Cargill Animal Nutrition
Chang International, Inc.
Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL
Darden Restaurants
Dataj Aquafarm Inc.
Delta Blue Aquaculture LLC
Diversified Business Communications
Eastern Fish Co., Inc.
Ever Nexus Sdn. Bhd.
Grobest USA, Inc.
High Liner Foods
H.J. Baker & Brothers, Inc.
iAqua
International Associates Corp.
INVE B.V.
King & Prince Seafood Corp.
Lyons Seafoods Ltd.
Maloney Seafood Corp.
Marine Technologies
Mazzetta Co. LLC
Megasupply
Moreys Seafood International
National Fish & Seafood Inc.
Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems
Pescanova USA
Preferred Freezer Services
Red Chamber Co.
Rich Products Corp.
Sahlman Seafoods of Nicaragua, S.A.
Sea Port Products Corp.
Seafood Exchange of Florida
Seajoy
Seavina Joint Stock Co.
Sunnyvale Seafood Co., Inc.
Thai Union Group
Tropical Aquaculture Products, Inc.
Urner Barry Publications, Inc.
Vitapro-Nicovita-Salmofood
Wuhan Lanesync Supply Chain
Management Co., Ltd.
Zeigler Brothers, Inc.
4 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
Improve sales by adopting GAAs Best Aquaculture
Practices certification for aquaculture facilities.
Annual dues start at U.S. $150 and include a subscrip-
tion to the Global Aquaculture Advocate magazine,
GAA e-newsletters, event discounts and other benefits.
Visit www.gaalliance.org or contact the GAA office
for details.
SUSTAINING MEMBERS
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Amanda Seafood
Ammon International, Inc.
Anova Food Inc.
Aqua Star
Aquatec Aquacultura Ltda.
A.Z. Gems Inc.
BioMar Group
Blue Ridge Aquaculture
BMR Seafood LLC
Camanchaca Inc.
Channel Fish Processing Co., Inc.
Direct Source Seafood
DNI Group, LLC
DSM Nutritional Products
Fega Marikultura P.T.
Fortune Fish Co.
Gortons Seafood
Great American Seafood Imports Co.
H & N Foods International, Inc./Expack
H & T Seafood, Inc.
Hai Yang International, LLC
Harbor Seafood, Inc.
Harvest Select
International Marketing Specialists
Ipswich Shellfish Co., Inc.
Long John Silvers, LLC
Mahalo Seafood LLC
Maritime Products International
Merck Animal Health
Mirasco, Inc.
North Coast Seafoods
Odyssey Enterprises, Inc.
Orca Bay Seafoods
Ore-Cal Corp.
Pacific Supreme Co.
Quirch Foods
Rubicon Resources
Seacore Seafood, Inc.
Seafood Industry Development Corp.
Seattle Fish Co. of New Mexico
Seattle Shrimp & Seafood Co., Inc.
Skretting
Slade Gorton & Co., Inc.
Solae, LLC
Star Agro Marine Exports Ltd.
Tampa Bay Fisheries, Inc.
Tampa Maid Foods
The Fishin Co.
The Great Fish Co.
Trident Seafoods
United Seafood Enterprises, L.P.
ASSOCIATIONMEMBERS
All China Federation of Industry
and Commerce Aquatic Production
Chamber of Commerce
American Feed Industry Association
Asociacin Latino Americana
de Plantas de Rendimiento
Associao Brasileira de Criadores
de Camaro
Australian Prawn Farmers Association
Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation
China Aquatic Products Processing
and Marketing Alliance
Fats and Proteins Research
Foundation, Inc.
Indiana Soybean Alliance
Indonesian Aquaculture Society
IFFO The Marine
Ingredients Organisation
Malaysian Shrimp
Industry Association
Marine Products Export
Development Authority
National Fisheries Institute
National Renderers Association
Oceanic Institute
Prince Edward Island Seafood
Processors Association
SalmonChile
Salmon of the Americas
Seafood Importers
and Processors Alliance
Soy Aquaculture Alliance
Thai Frozen Foods Association
Universidad Austral de Chile
U.S. Soybean Export Council
Washington Fish Growers Association
Washington State China Relations Council
World Aquaculture Society
World Renderers Organization
gaa activities
Evolving GAA Partnerships Point
To GOAL 2016 In China
The GAA team met with the National Fishery Technical Extension leadership
to discuss how GAA can assist the huge Chinese aquaculture industry, especially
through Best Aquaculture Practices certification and new online training.
China is the worlds leading aquaculture producer, and now
one of the leading global aquaculture importers, as well. Although
Chinas shrimp-farming industry has been experiencing reduced
output due to production problems, the industry is striving to
improve itself through improved practices and policies.
A team of GAA representatives visited China in early
August to offer assistance in these efforts. The successful initia-
tives with Chinese organizations that arose during the meetings
pointed to that country as the likely host for GOAL 2016.
NEC
GAA President George Chamberlain, Relationship Manager
Sally Krueger, Vice President of Education and Outreach Steve
Hart and Market Development Manager for Asia Jane Bi met
with Wei Baozhen, director of the National Fishery Technical
Extension Center (NEC) to discuss how GAA could assist the
huge Chinese aquaculture industry, especially through Best
Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification and new online train-
ing being developed by the Responsible Aquaculture Foundation
(RAF). NEC is the agricultural extension service of China,
which has 40,000 extension agents for aquaculture.
Chamberlain explained the benefits of BAP certification and
proposed its application in China to improve food safety for the
domestic aquaculture sector. He also described the RAF online
education program that is entering development.
Although NEC has a certification program under way, as
well as an education program focused on disease diagnosis, Wei
said NEC is looking at collaboration with GAA. Such a part-
nership would be very effective in reaching the Chinese aquacul-
ture industry.
CSIQ
A meeting with the China Society of Inspection and Quar-
antine (CSIQ) was presided over by CSIQ Vice Chairman Wei
Chuanzhong and attended by a group of CSIQ and Administra-
tion of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine
(AQSIQ) department heads. CSIQ is an independent body
whose mission is to serve as a bridge among governments, cor-
porations and inspection bodies to facilitate food trade.
Wei expressed his groups interest in establishing a coopera-
global aquaculture advocate
tive partnership with GAA. Areas of coop-
eration could include working with
AQSIQ on BAP certification, training in
collaboration with the Chinese group
Global Union of Agricultural Products and
Food Inspection, and co-hosting of
GOAL.
GAAs Steve Hart will work with Deputy
Director General Han Jianping of the
AQSIQ Department of International Coop-
eration to draft a memorandum of under-
standing that will formalize the partnership.
CAPPMA
Hart and Bi met with Executive Vice
President Dr. Cui He of the China Aquatic
Products Processing and Marketing Alliance
(CAPPMA) to share updates on GAAs
BAP program and online education through
the RAF. GAA and CAPPMA signed a memorandum of under-
standing in 2014 to advance responsible aquaculture through the
exchange of information and research.
Cui said he was very interested in having an online database
that would bring clarity to the various seafood certifications that
are currently available. He also suggested that BAP schedule a
weeklong program in China to help broaden its exposure within
the domestic market.
Cui expressed interest in the online education platform and
indicated he would help locate Chinese facilities at which to pilot
test the platform. He also suggested that GAA host a sustainabil-
ity forum, perhaps around an existing seafood trade event.
APCC
While in China, Hart and Bi also met with Mu Tong of the
All China Federation of Industry and Commerces Aquatic Pro-
duction Chamber of Commerce (APCC).
Mu indicated APCC wants to help its members be leaders of
sustainability in China by improving process efficiencies and
product quality. She said APCC members would be a good fit
for BAP and so would like to explore ideas for getting better
incorporation of BAP within the APCC membership.
Mu also said she would assist representatives of GAA in
meeting with members to review and pilot test the aquaculture
education platform.
In addition, Mu proposed that GAA help Chinas aquaculture
industry and government adopt policies that are more widely
accepted in other areas. She specifically mentioned adoption of
crop insurance for aquaculture and better food safety policies.
GOAL
The Global Aquaculture Alliance is planning to take GOAL
2016 to China, the global center of aquaculture. The country
boasts a huge diversity of farmed species and thousands of orga-
nized producers. Its burgeoning domestic aquaculture sector is
now changing the fabric of the industry.
The various groups with which GAA met approve of the idea
and indicated they would support the event in direct and indirect
ways. These could range from potential sponsorship and logistical
support to increasing participation and providing program content.
September/October 2015 5
Lasting Legacy: Bill, Betty More To Retire
Couple Shares Dedication To Best Aquaculture Practices Program
As they retire from GAA later this year, Bill and Miss Betty
More will leave a powerful and lasting legacy in responsible
aquaculture and seafood.
Bill and Betty More, the husband-and-wife team who has
ceaselessly guided over 900 aquaculture facilities to Best Aquacul-
ture Practices (BAP) certification since the start of the Global
Aquaculture Alliance program, will retire from GAA at the end of
2015, having spent much of their careers in the field and encour-
aging responsible practices throughout the aquaculture industry.
Bill More, director of the BAP program, is widely recog-
nized as a pioneer in shrimp farming. He has consulted in tech-
nical, operational and management phases at aquaculture proj-
ects in Central America, South America, Southeast Asia and
Africa. In 2003, he parlayed his experience to become vice presi-
dent and director of certification for the Aquaculture Certifica-
tion Council, the body that initially managed BAP certification.
Better known as Miss Betty among BAP clients, BAP Program
Manager Betty More has extensive training in HACCP (hazard
analysis critical control points) auditing and reviews of social and
food safety management systems. She worked alongside Bill in both
administrative and technical roles from the start of BAP.
From Texas To Ecuador
Bill graduated from Texas A & M University in 1962 with a
bachelor of science degree in fisheries. Working as a marine biolo-
gist, More established the first experimental research station in
Texas, where the states first shrimp-farming trials were conducted.
Betty More attended Texas A & I University, 500 miles
away from Texas A & M. Bill tried to convince her to elope and
SIRF Launches Special Fund To Honor Mores
The Seafood Industry Research Fund (SIRF) has
launched the Bill and Betty More Living Memorial Fund to
honor the invaluable contributions the two have made dur-
ing their distinguished careers. SIRF is now in the process of
raising the U.S. $50,000 necessary to establish a permanent
fund in their names.
6 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
move away with him, but patience won out, and the two were
married on April Fools Day in 1961.
My parents were not too thrilled about me going out with
someone who was rough-necking in the oil fields, said Betty,
who soon realized her husband not only had a tough summer job
during school, but also some strange hobbies. I didnt know he
collected and milked rattlesnakes to supplement his college edu-
cation, she said. We were just not exactly like most young,
married couples.
Bill More went on to work in all phases of aquaculture pro-
duction and had notable successes in feed trials for shrimp, cat-
fish and redfish. His work took him to Brazil, Panama and
Ecuador, where his efforts helped Ralston Purina Co. become a
leader in aquaculture research. More and his colleagues had a
major breakthrough with Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus van-
namei, breeding the species in captivity. He also became vice
president of operations at Agromarina de Panama, S.A., a semi-
intensive farm that covered 900 ha and employed a modern
commercial hatchery and closed-cycle maturation facility.
Beyond Aquaculture
In addition to assisting her husband during his varied ventures,
Betty More also worked in real estate and was always incredibly
resourceful. While living in a rural area of Texas where rattle-
snakes were abundant, she learned to use guinea hens to warn of
the snakes presence to keep her two young sons safe.
In addition, More raised orchids, chickens and ducks. She also
authored the book Soldier Boy: Letters and History of an Illinois Sol-
dier, published by Heritage Books in 2001.
Bill and Betty More are justly proud of their two sons, who
were born in 1964 and 1969. Russell More is a developmental
engineer at Microsoft, while Lance works in sales for R.R. Don-
nelly and Sons, the largest printing firm in the United States.
The elder Mores, who will remain consultants for GAA
beginning in 2016, leave a powerful and lasting legacy in aqua-
culture and seafood. But their work is not done Betty More
plans to write a book on the history of fish farming.
The one thing I can say about life with Bill is that it was
never boring, Betty More said. I dont remember ever having a
challenge that we couldnt handle.
It was never boring.... I dont remember
ever having a challenge that we couldnt
handle. Betty More
Over the past 50 years, SIRF has funded more than 400
research projects to solve issues regarding seafood produc-
tion. To donate to the Bill and Betty More Living Memorial
Fund, or for more information about SIRF, contact steven.
hedlund@gaalliance.org or admin@sirfonline.org.
Advocate To Move Fully Online In October
Since 1998, the Global Aquaculture Advocate has been a trusted
source of information on responsible aquaculture. It will continue to
the Advocate will be the last print publication.
The new Advocate website will be free to access, although
be for years to come with the October launch of the new fully Inter- readers will be limited to five articles per month. GAA member-
net-based Advocate at http://advocate.gaalliance.org. ship will be required for unlimited access. Select articles will be
Although GAA currently publishes a digital version of the translated from English to Spanish, Chinese and other languages.
Advocate, the new website will blend the best of the current print As in the print Advocate, the online Advocate will offer a variety of
publication with the timeliness, convenience and interactivity of a advertising opportunities.
web-based publication. Material will be categorized in convenient James Wright, a former senior editor at SeafoodSource.com, is
sections, and the production-, supply- and market-related aqua- the editorial manager of the new Advocate. The site is being devel-
culture content will be updated weekly accompanied by a weekly oped by Visible Logic Inc. of Portland, Maine, USA, which also
e-newsletter and monthly, summary-style e-newsletter. built the GAA and Best Aquaculture Practices sites.
Reflecting the transition, the November/December edition of
James Wright To Manage New Advocate Website
Former SeafoodSource. mouth, New Hampshire, USA.
com editor James Wright Wright comes to GAA from Diversified Communications,
has joined the Global Aqua- where he was senior editor of SeafoodSource.com, a daily sea-
culture Alliance as GAAs food news website with 40,000 subscribers worldwide. From
new editorial manager. 2011 to 2014, Wright was senior editor of SeaFood Business and
Wright will oversee the previously served as assistant editor/associate editor of the maga-
day-to-day operations of zine. His experience in seafood dates back to 1999 as assistant
the new Advocate website, editor of the Gofish.com website.
which is scheduled to We are delighted to have a seafood journalist of James
launch in October. Wright experience join our organization, GAA Executive Director
will also contribute to Wally Stevens said. GAAs mission is to advocate, educate and
GAA editorial matters, demonstrate responsible aquaculture to feed and employ future
including the GOAL con- generations. A critical element of that mission is education, and
James Wright
ference program, from James will make important contributions to our educational out-
GAAs office in Ports- reach.
BAP Team Holds Tilapia Seminar
In Zhanjiang, China
The Global Aquaculture Alliances Best Aquaculture Prac-
tices (BAP) division held a June 19 seminar titled BAP Tilapia
Certification: Your Path to Responsible Production in Zhanji-
ang, China, that drew multiple tilapia stakeholders interested in
responsible aquaculture.
The seminar was led by BAP market and development staff
members, who provided in-depth information on the BAP pro-
gram. The morning session featured leading Chinese tilapia pro-
ducers who have earned BAP certification. They shared their
experiences with the BAP standards, agreeing that BAP certifi-
cation helps improve aquaculture practices and connects the pro-
duction side of the seafood business with the market side.
During the afternoon, top executives from The Fishin Co.,
Odyssey Enterprises and Sunnyvale Seafood shared their opin-
ions on U.S. market requirements and the future of the tilapia Top Chinese producers agreed with BAP staff that certification
supply chain. They called for partnerships among themselves and
other Chinese tilapia producers to ensure sustainability, food
helps connect the production and markets sides of aquaculture.
safety and product quality.
China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance CAPPMA is GAAs key partner in China.
(CAPPMA) Secretary General Gang Di closed the seminar with The seminar was sponsored by Baiyang Aquatic Group,
an encouraging message. He recognized the significant role BAP Hainan Progift Aqua-Tech Co. Ltd., Hainan Qinfu Foods Co.
plays in helping to open doors for Chinese farmed seafood in Ltd., Zhanjiang Guolian Aquatic Products Co. Ltd., Tongwei
international markets. Di also emphasized the importance of Hainan Aquatic Products Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Allied Aquatic
embracing the BAP program for the Chinese domestic market. Produce Development Co. Ltd. and IDH.
global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 7
Recent BAP Certifications Include New Species
The dozens of facilities certified under GAAs Best Aquaculture
Practices (BAP) program in the last few months included opera-
tions that produce rainbow trout or barramundi, as well as shrimp,
salmon, tilapia or Pangasius. Newly certified hatcheries in India and
Vietnam have also joined the BAP list, along with processing plants
in China, Colombia, Guatemala, Indonesia and Chile.
Seajoy Group is Latin Americas first company qualified to
offer shrimp bearing four BAP stars from its operations in both
Honduras and Nicaragua.
Seajoy reached four-star status upon BAPs confirmation that
it sources feed from Cargill de Honduras S. de R. L. feed mill,
which earned BAP certification in early June. Seajoys processing
plant and all of its farms and hatcheries in Honduras and Nica-
ragua are also BAP-certified.
Table1. Recent BAP certifications around the world.
Facility
Farms
Australis Aquaculture Vietnam Ltd.
C.I. Piscicola Botero S.A.
Empresas AquaChile S.A. (2 Farms)
Febin Marine Foods Shekhar Rao Farm
We are proud to partner with Cargill in obtaining our
fourth BAP star, said Brad Price, Seajoy vice president of oper-
ations and sales. Together we are working to improve our feed-
ing efficiencies, as well as minimize our fishmeal requirements.
To that end, we are in the second phase of testing an insect meal
that we expect will replace 75 to 100% of our fishmeal sources.
Seajoy is a long-time supporter of the Global Aquaculture
Alliance and BAP certification. Seajoys first two shrimp farms
attained BAP certification in 2003, and in 2005, it was the
worlds first company qualified to offer three-star BAP shrimp.
Congratulations to Petuna Aquaculture Pty. Ltd., the worlds
first marine-farming company to attain Best Aquaculture Practices
certification for both salmon and trout at the same farm site.
In July, the companys Liberty Point ocean trout farm in
Seajoy was an early supporter of BAP certification, as well as Macquarie Harbour on Tasmanias west coast attained BAP cer-
the programs first three-star company. tification. Last August, its Table Head Atlantic salmon farm site
in Macquarie Harbour was also certified. The companys primary
processing facilities are located in East Devonport, Tasmania.
Environmental and social responsibility are key to our busi-
Country Species
ness, said Mark Porter, chief executive officer of Petuna Aqua-
culture. Adding ocean trout to our already accredited Atlantic
Vietnam Barramundi salmon demonstrates the continued hard work and dedication
Colombia Tilapia our team puts in across every aspect of our business.
Petuna is Tasmanias largest multispecies seafood provider.
Chile Salmon
The company produces whole fish, fillets and smoked products.
India Shrimp It markets domestically and in Asia, the United States and the
United Arab Emirates.
Clear Springs Foods, Inc., the worlds
largest freshwater rainbow trout producer
that uses raceways, has achieved BAP certi-
fication for all of its U.S.-based trout farms.
The BAP certification is validation
of Clear Springs Foods long-term com-
mitment to sustainability and environ-
mental responsibility, said President and
CEO Larry Cope.
The vertically integrated company is located in south-central
Idaho, where thousands of natural springs generated by the
Snake River Plain Aquifer provide the perfect water source for
rainbow trout production.
Clear Springs Foods produces a variety of fresh and frozen styles
of rainbow trout, including dressed, boned, and natural and butter-
fly boneless fillets. The company also markets value-added mahi
mahi, swai and cod. All products are sold to customers in the retail,
foodservice and club store channels throughout North America.
Chiles Patagonia Seafarms is Latin Americas first company
to offer four-star BAP salmon. Owned by Yadran Quellon S.A.,
Patagonia Seafarms became eligible to offer four-star BAP salmon
once its three Pisciculutras Las Quemas Chile S.A. hatcheries
earned BAP certification. Also certified are its processing plant, a
number of farm sites and three feed mills in Chile.

Development Of New BAP Standards Continues

Kader Exports Pvt. Ltd.
Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd. (4 Farms)
Muong Dieu Farm
Omarsa, S.A. Puna Farm
Promarisco (2 Farms)
Rimview Trout Farm
Savvy Seafood Hengfeng Junze Farm
Sprint Export Pvt. Ltd.
Trout Co. SAS La Embarcacion
Hatcheries
Asvini Fisheries Ltd.
Binh Thanh 2 Hatchery
Grobest Breeding (V.N.) Co. Ltd.
Sandhya Marines Ltd. Coastal Aqua Hatchery
Processing Plants
C.I. Piscicola Botero S.A.
Jayalakshmi Sea Foods Pvt. Ltd. Unit II
Maoming Jincheng Frozen Foods Co., Ltd.
Munnangi Sea Foods Pvt. Ltd.
Paraiso Springs Aquaculture
P.T. Mitra Kartika Sejati
P.T. Tri Mitra Makmur Plant 1
Salmones Pacific Star S.A.
Shree Datt Aquaculture Farms Pvt. Ltd.
T.G. Fishery Holding Corp.
Trout Co. SAS
Feed Mills
Uni-President Vietnam Co., Ltd. Binh Duong
Uni-President Vietnam Co., Ltd. Tien Giang
Yunnan Ocean King Biological Feed Science and Technology
8 September/October 2015
India Shrimp
Canada Salmon
Vietnam Pangasius
Ecuador Shrimp The next committee meeting is set for the beginning of
Ecuador Shrimp October in Canada. The committee draft will be passed on to
the BAP Standards Oversight Committee for review before it is
United States Rainbow Trout
made available for public review and comment.
China Shrimp
India Shrimp Zone Management Technical Committee
Colombia Rainbow Trout GAA is moving into new territory with its zone management
(Z.M.) standards, which are designed to guide collaborative zone
management efforts and promote effective biosecurity measures.
India Shrimp In St. Louis, the first meeting of the Zone Management Tech-
Vietnam Pangasius nical Committee, chaired by Peter Marshall of R.S. Standards,
Although missing committee Chairman Brian Kingzett,
Vietnam Shrimp began to work through its draft standards.
the Mollusk Farm Technical Committee made progress
India Shrimp on the updates required to expand BAPs mussel farm The standards synthesize best practices for the formation and
standards to cover additional species. operation of aquaculture zones. They will provide guidance on
whom to engage, what needs to be addressed and the systems
Colombia Tilapia that need to be set up. A big challenge for the committee is to
India Shrimp Meetings of two Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) technical make the zone management standards workable in a wide variety
committees brought a wide cross-section of aquaculture experts of global settings, in some of which the concept of area manage-
China Tilapia
to the GAA office in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, in late June to
India Shrimp ment is relatively new.
advance new BAP program standards.
The Zone Management Technical Committee includes rep-
Guatemala Tilapia
Mollusk Farm Technical Committee resentatives from other aquaculture standard-setting bodies the
Indonesia Shrimp Aquaculture Stewardship Council and GlobalGAP to establish
The Mollusk Technical Committee, whose members reflect
Indonesia Shrimp
expertise for a wide variety of cultivation systems, met to refine broad engagement with the principles of zone management.
Chile Salmon the latest draft of the BAP mollusk farm standards. The existing Given the prevalence of disease problems in the aquaculture
India Shrimp BAP mussel farm standards are being expanded into a compre- industry, producers are already showing interest in the new stan-
hensive set of mollusk farm standards covering filter-feeding dards as a means of improving biosecurity. Likewise, the retail
Vietnam Pangasius
bivalves and grazing gastropods (specifically abalone) of com- and foodservice sectors of the seafood industry are interested in
Colombia Rainbow Trout promoting collaborative efforts to resolve problems that cant be
mercial interest, but excluding cephalopods.
The discussions were very productive, but it was clear more fixed by individual farms.
Vietnam time will be needed to achieve a workable synthesis of global best Pilot testing will be an important step in the evolution of the
Vietnam practices. The topic of carrying capacity is a particular focus of standards, so GAA is actively seeking applicants for field testing
attention, with additional expertise being called on from the GAA of the draft Z.M. standards. The next committee meeting will
China
Zone Management Committee to find the best approaches. coincide with GAAs GOAL meeting in Canada in October.
global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 9
 Making the ordinary Pizza
BAP Made In Seminar
LEIBER BETA-S
EXCELLENT FOR FISH
Draws 90 In Chile
Shrimp Extraordinary

Marcos Moya explained the benefits of BAP certification

during seminars in Chile, Colombia and Peru.

The Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) team recently C

wrapped up a one-day BAP Made In seminar in Puerto

Montt, Chile, that drew nearly 90 attendees. M

In the morning, the seminar centered on market develop- Y

ment and featured Robert Fields, senior merchandise director for

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fresh meat, seafood and deli for Sams Club, a division of

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MY
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Beta-S Biertreber Beta-S Plus

YEAST which denotes that seafood originates from a BAP-certified pro- CY
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cessing plant, farm, hatchery and feed mill. Fields also discussed
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challenges and opportunities in the U.S. market for Chilean

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companies.
In the afternoon, the seminar focused on technical aspects of
the BAP salmon farm standards, finfish and crustacean farm stan-
dards and seafood processing plant standards including restric-
tions on antibiotic use, which were addressed in great detail.
For strong, immunocompetent fish: The seminar was led by BAP Facilities Development Man-
ager Marcos Moya, Director Bill More and Vice President of
Improvement of the cellular & Market Development Peter Redmond.
We are excited by the participation and subsequent reaction
humoral defence mechanisms to the seminar held in Chile, Redmond said. We see unprece-
dented numbers of facilities applying for and gaining BAP certi-
Support of immunological competence fication. The Chilean salmon industry continues to strive to do
in larval and juvenile stages the right thing, and we will continue to support their efforts
through BAP certification.
Improvement of feed conversion As part of the BAP Made In campaign, the seminar was
designed to communicate the value of the BAP program and
unite farmers, processors and other stakeholders behind the con-
cept of responsible aquaculture and third-party certification. The
Leiber GmbH new iBAP improvement program garnered a lot of interest from Premium Quality Shrimp at the Absolute Peak of Freshness
Hafenstrae 24 attendees. SAIL Brand farm raised shrimp is produced under the highest standards of
49565 Bramsche Earlier this year, the BAP Made In series also stopped in
Germany Peru, where Moya led two workshops in Tumbes, Perus
sustainable aquaculture to ensure complete traceability from the hatchery through
Tel. +49 (0)5461 9303-0 shrimp-farming capital. BAP also made inways in Colombia. the grow-out phase in aquaculture farms, to the facility where it is hand-processed
Fax +49 (0)5461 9303-29 There, Moya met with the general manager of the Colombia and then frozen for its final journey to the customer.
www.leibergmbh.de Aquaculture Federation (FEDEACUA) to discuss opportunities
info@leibergmbh.de for collaboration and for promoting Colombian tilapia and trout
from BAP-certified facilities in international markets.
800-526-9066 easternfish.com
10 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 11
Responsible Aquaculture Foundation
Board Expands
Dr. Everett Barnes Jr. of RMC Research Corp. and Dr.
Michael Tlusty of the New England Aquarium have joined the
board of directors of the Responsible Aquaculture Foundation
(RAF), the educational arm of the Global Aquaculture Alliance.
Barnes is president and owner of RMC Research, a private
government consulting company he joined in 1972 and acquired
in 1985. His areas of expertise include grant writing, program
development and management, and online learning content
development and delivery. At the University of New Hamp-
shires Bureau of Educational Research and Testing Services, he
was responsible for New Hampshires K-12 state testing pro-
gram.
Tlusty is director of ocean sustainability science at the New
M & J Seafood Extends Ecuador To Host BAP
BAP Commitment Auditor Course
With 4-Star Products
Fresh Direct Groups M & J Seafood, the United Kingdoms
largest seafood supplier, has announced its further commitment
to the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification program
by adding 18 new prawn items bearing four BAP stars to its
product range.
This represents yet another major milestone in the number
of products available from our Safely Sourced Seafood List, said
Mike Berthet, director of fish and seafood for M & J. Sourcing
four-star BAP seafood is one of the best choices that U.K. food-
service operators can make.
Reflecting the highest level of participation in BAP, four-star
status denotes that seafood is sourced from BAP-certified pro-
cessing plants, farms, hatcheries and feed mills.
Fresh Direct and M & J are taking very decisive, proactive
action for the U.K. foodservice sector, said Peter Redmond,
BAP vice president of market development. This is a bold
move, and we applaud their leadership and vision.
BAP Appeals Policies Include Certification Bodies
Complaints, appeals and disputes regarding certification
brought to the attention of the Best Aquaculture Practices
(BAP) program by retailers, consumers, facilities or other parties
are handled by GAA/BAP or referred to the certification body
involved, depending on the nature of the complaint.
Complaints, appeals and disputes associated with certifica-
tion decisions, audits, auditors or certification bodies are referred
to the applicable certification body. Issues not associated with
certification are handled by GAA/BAP staff members.
To ensure a proper investigation can be done, it is important
that complaints are filed in writing in a timely fashion and pro-
vide specific details including photos or other documentary
12 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
England Aquarium and a research faculty at the University of
Massachusetts Boston. He has been at the aquarium since 1999,
and his extensive background in seafood sustainability involved
both aquaculture- and fisheries-related issues.
Currently, Tlusty sits on GAAs Best Aquaculture Practices
Standards Oversight Committee, the Aquaculture Stewardship
Councils Technical Advisory Group and the Global Seafood
Sustainability Initiatives Process and Benchmark Expert Work-
ing Group.
Everett and Michael bring unique perspectives to the work
of the Responsible Aquaculture Foundation by virtue of their
vast experiences with education delivery and aquaculture
research, RAF President Wally Stevens said.
The Global Aquaculture Alliances Best Aquaculture Practices
(BAP) division invites new auditor candidates and returning audi-
tors requiring refresher training to attend a BAP auditor-training
course in Guayaquil, Ecuador, from September 27 to October 3.
The course is also open to industry observers, including gov-
ernment officials, producers and other industry stakeholders who
wish to learn more about the BAP certification standards and
auditing process.
The registration deadline is September 11. The course will
be held at the Grand Hotel Guayaquil.
The course will cover all of the BAP standards, including the
new issue of the seafood processing plant standards; finfish and
crustacean farm standards; updated salmon farm standards; mus-
sel farm standards; finfish, crustacean and mollusk hatchery and
nursery standards; and feed mill standards.
For detailed information on how to apply, competency
requirements, fees and more, download the course announce-
ment at http://bap.gaalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/
sites/2/2015/06/Guayaquil-Ecuador-Sep-15-Auditor-Observer-
Training-Course-Announcement.pdf.
Please follow the instructions carefully. Improper submittals
will be rejected. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as
possible, as participants are admitted on a space-available basis.
information as to the nature of the complaint.
Certification applicants have the right to appeal certification
decisions. Certification bodies shall therefore have documented
appeals processes in place.
A full investigation shall be conducted, and a written
response shall be provided by certification body personnel. The
response shall also be submitted to GAA/BAP.
If the issues raised are not addressed to the satisfaction of
GAA/BAP, the certification body may be asked to investigate
further, or may be sanctioned or suspended. Sanctioned certifica-
tion bodies may not undertake BAP audits while their contracts
are suspended.
Sponsor
Profile
Better Seafood,
Better Life!
China Aquatic
Products Processing
and Marketing Alliance
(CAPPMA) was founded
in 1994 as a national
non-profit organization
directed under the Min-
istry of Agriculture.
CAPPMA consists of
seafood producers,
processors, distributors,
suppliers and institutions for fisheries research and education, as well as rele-
vant social entities and insiders that provide various services for seafood pro-
cessing and marketing. At present, it has a professional membership of more
than 1,900 persons.
Diverse Species
Eleven association branches have been established by the efforts of
CAPPMA. They are the Shrimp Association, Shellfish Association, Sea
Cucumber Association, Tilapia Association, Ice Fish Association, Cuttlefish
Association, Aquatic Products Wholesale Markets Association, Fishmeal and
Oil Association, Fish Surimi Association, Committee of Seafood Processing
and Re-exporting and Committee of Seafood Processed By-Products Com-
prehensive Utilization. All of them address major aquatic species and impor-
tant seafood trade of the Chinese fishery industry.
Sustainability, Commerce
Over the past several years, CAPPMA has made sustainable development
a major goal in guiding the responsible fishery practices of its members
countrywide. It plays an important role in assisting in the formulation of state
and industrial standards for aquatic products, solving critical industry issues
and holding annual industry development forums for different species.
CAPPMA also conducts communications and encourages cooperation with
international industry organizations. It helps build partnerships to enhance
international commercial negotiations, field visiting and investigations.
CAPPMA at GOAL
This year, a delegation of seven leading Chinese tilapia companies is
attending the Global Aquaculture Alliances international GOAL 2016
event. The mission of the Chinese delegation is to share the best seafood
products with global consumers, as well as express the companies efforts
in responsible production.
There is no doubt that China is the biggest aquaculture producing
country in the world. At the same time, it has huge potential as a seafood
market. Throughout the whole seafood supply chain, Chinas aquaculture
industry would like to work together with all countries involved to promote
the sustainable development of our future.
China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance
No. 40 Maizidian Street, Chaoyang District Beijing 100125 China Phone: 86-10-6506-7766/6503 Web: www.cappma.org/en/
global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 13
 October 26-29, 2015 Vancouver, Canada
Four Seasons Hotel
Limit
ed R
Still A egistrati
www va on
.gaal ilable:
lian
goal ce.org/ Key Production Data Multiple Tours
Exclusive to GOAL, Drs. James Anderson of the Institute On October 26, shuttle to Target Marine Hatcheries,
for Sustainable Food Systems and Ragnar Tveteras Canadas only organic white sturgeon producer, for a tour
of the University of Stavanger will present the latest and caviar tasting. Or tour the processing and distribution
global production data on shrimp and finfish. Among facilities of western Canadas largest seafood distributor,
the species in the international survey contributing to Albion Fisheries Ltd.
their data are shrimp, tilapia, Pangasius, catfish, salmon,
A post-conference tour will head to the wine country in
trout, barramundi, seabass and sea bream. Which species
Okanagan Valley to visit an arctic char farm as well as
are trending now?
three wineries. Companion registration includes a half-
Zone Management Seminar day Taste of Vancouver tour.
GOALs initial sessions on October 26 will focus on zone
management. As shown by disease outbreaks that af- GOAL Gala
fected whole regions in recent years, cooperation and Prepare for a memorable experience at Grouse Moun-
oversight among facilities within production areas helps tain, a short transfer from the Four Seasons. Enjoy the
lessen disease risks, conserve resources and improve unbeatable view and fine cuisine from our private dining
market potential. Peter Marshall of R.S. Standards will room. And get the latest gear or perfect souvenir of your
lead the discussions. visit to the Peak of Vancouver the shops will be open!

Program Schedule

Monday, October 26 1-4:30 pm

Subject Speaker(s)
Zone Management Presentations Moderator: Peter Marshall, R.S. Standards (Additional speakers to be determined)
Anton Immink, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Gregg Small, Rubicon Resources
Make your mark on greater aquaculture production and sustainability Jon Grant, NSERC-Cooke Industrial Research Jonathan Shepherd, Omega Protein
by joining the hundreds of seafood professionals and thought leaders from
Break
around the world who attend the Global Aquaculture Alliances annual GOAL
(Global Outlook on Aquaculture Leadership) conference. Q & A With Audience Moderator: Peter Marshall

Why Attend GOAL 2015?

GOAL is a unique opportunity to network, build relationships and connect the Tuesday, October 27 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
supply side to the marketplace. Since its inception in 2001, GOAL has evolved
Subject Speaker(s)
into a must-attend conference for the worlds top seafood executives.
Opening Remarks Wally Stevens, Global Aquaculture Alliance
GOAL 2015 will feature four days of information and analysis on the farmed Welcome Address Matthew King, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
seafood value chain, with sessions in the mornings and afternoon breakouts. Keynote Address Jon Hindar, Cermaq
Topics such as animal welfare, environmental and social responsibility, food
safety, marketplace accessibility, leadership and consumer education will be Animal Health & Welfare Introduction: George Chamberlain, Global Aquaculture Alliance
among the themes addressed. Genetic Testing of EMS-Resistant Shrimp Abu Bakar Ibrahim, Blue Archipelago Berhad
Zone Management Review of Seminar Peter Marshall, R.S. Standards
Access the Marketplace Reserve Your Antibiotics in Aquaculture Speaker to be determined
At GOAL, learn from and network with many of the worlds leading retail
and foodservice buyers representing hundreds of millions of dollars in buying Room Now! Break
power. The GOAL schedule includes social events to bring participants together GOAL 2015 will convene at Global Shrimp Production Data and Analysis James Anderson, Institute for Sustainable Food Systems, University of Florida
for discussion and fun, too. the luxurious Four Seasons Global Finfish Production Data and Analysis Ragnar Tveteras, University of Stavanger
Hotel in Vancouver. Take
Be Part of the Solution advantage of the special Marketplace Roundtable #1 Moderator: Peter Redmond, Global Aquaculture Alliance
Help address aquacultures opportunities and challenges. Join GAA in conference room rate of CAD Josanna Busby, Delhaize USA Shawn McMurther, Sobeys Canada
Vancouver, as GOAL returns to North America for 2015. For more information, $190 book online now Steve Disko, Schnucks Markets Huw Thomas, Morrisons U.K.
visit www.gaalliance.org/goal. before the room block sells out. Charlotte Maddocks, Tesco

14 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 15

GOAL 2015 Program Schedule, continued
Wednesday, October 28 8 a.m.-1 p.m. nered with GAA and the Sustainable Fisheries Partner-
Subject
Keynote Address
Consumer Education
U.S. Seafood Consumer Survey Results
Seafood Influencer Panel
Marketplace Roundtable #2
Social Responsibility
Marketplace Roundtable #3
Thursday, October 29 8 a.m.-1 p.m. shrimp farmers is resulting in, and will continue to result
Subject
Keynote Address
Aquacultures Role in Global Protein
Requirements
Role of Foundations in Aquaculture
Improvement
Role of First Nations in Aquaculture
Marketplace Roundtable #4
Lifetime Achievement Award
Break
Preferred Freezer Services Aquaculture
Innovation and Leadership Award
Aquafeed Sustainability
Marketplace Roundtable #5
Closing Remarks
16 September/October 2015
Sponsor
Profile
ship to document improvements in farming practices
Speaker(s) through Aquaculture Improvement Projects, with the
Barton Seaver, Celebrity Chef and Author, Sustainable Seafood Advocate objective of attaining BAP certification through the Inte-
Ned Bell, Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver and YEW Restaurant and Bar grated Operating Module (IOM) Program or the Small
Introduction: Steven Hedlund, Global Aquaculture Alliance Farm Group Program.
Matt Brooker, The Fishin Co.
Next, National Fish & Seafood embraced GAAs new
iBAP program. Launched early this year, the iBAP pro-
Barton Seaver, Celebrity Chef and Author Jennifer McGuire, National Fisheries Institute gram the i representing improvement provides
Ned Bell, Four Seasons Hotel and YEW Restaurant Joanne Sasvari, Food Writer
Ann-Marie Copping, Ocean Wise, assistance and encouragement to aquaculture facilities
Vancouver Aquarium interested in BAP certification.
Moderator: Peter Redmond, Global Aquaculture Alliance National Fish & Seafood sponsored Good Luck Prod-
ucts Nopporat and Somrak shrimp hatcheries and its feed
Stuart Smith, COOP Stores Lee French, Price Chopper
Marie Zhang, Long John Silvers Kendrick Repko, Ahold USA mill in Thailand to enroll in the iBAP program. By enroll-
Scott Williams, B.J.s Wholesale Club Investment In Responsible Aquaculture Paying Off ing, the facilities agreed to a step-by-step, deadline-driven
Libby Woodhatch, Seafishs Responsible Aurora Alifano, FishWise A lack of infrastructure. A lack of biosecurity. Insuffi- improvement plan, incentivizing them to make the improve-
Fishing Scheme cient access to education. A fragmented industry with mil- ments necessary to apply for BAP certification. The addi-
Moderator: Peter Redmond, Global Aquaculture Alliance lions of small-scale farmers worldwide. When it comes to tion of two BAP-certified shrimp hatcheries would increase
growing the availability of shrimp from a third party-certi- the volume of three- and four-star BAP shrimp supplied by
Patrick Blow, Marks and Spencer Rob Cumine, Coles Supermarket
Mike Berthet, M & J Seafoods/Fresh Direct Charlie Lousignont, Brinker International fied farm, the challenges are seemingly endless. National Fish & Seafood from Thailand.
Jorge Hernandez, U.S. Foods However, project by project, initiative by initiative, Additionally, National Fish & Seafood is investing in
one companys on-the-ground work with small-scale new traceability technology called SourceTrace to trace
in, greater availability of shrimp originating from a Best
four-star BAP shrimp through the supply chain.
Speaker(s)
Aquaculture Practices (BAP)-certified facility. New Sustainability Initiatives
Last year, National Fish & Seafood, a U.S.-based sub- In partnership with Minh Phu Seafood Corp.,
Henry Demone, High Liner Foods sidiary of Pacific Andes International Holdings, further National Fish & Seafood is piloting a model in the
Jessica Rosen, Forum for the Future positioned itself as a leader in responsible aquaculture Nhung Mien region of Vietnams Ca Mau province that
behind a new campaign dubbed Investing Today For integrates shrimp farms with mangrove ecosystems, capi-
Aldin Hilbrands, IDH The Sustainable Trade Initiative Seafood Tomorrow. The campaign officially debuted at talizing on the natural productivity of mangroves to raise
the Global Aquaculture Alliances GOAL 2014 confer- shrimp, reducing the risk of pollution and disease.
Laurie Jensen, Cermaq Canada, Representative of Ahousaht First Nation ence in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. These extensive, low-input shrimp farms which
Moderator: Peter Redmond, Global Aquaculture Alliance This year, National Fish & Seafoods investment in require no feed or chemicals and cost less to operate
responsible aquaculture is paying off. The volume of four- than intensive farms are ideal for the small-scale
Chris Brown, ASDA Carl Salamone, Wegmans Food Markets
Brett Patience, Bidvest Australia David Wier, Meijer star BAP shrimp supplied by the company has grown from shrimp farmers who represent much of global shrimp
1.5 million pounds (680 metric tons) in 2014 to a pro- production. The mangroves not only provide the shrimp
Recipient to be determined
jected 20 million pounds (9,072 metric tons) by 2016. with natural food, but also higher and more stable
Four-star BAP status denotes that a product originates incomes for families and communities.
Recipient to be determined from a BAP-certified processing plant, farm, hatchery
and feed mill. Its the highest such achievement in the
Hugo Contreras Mayagoitia, Cargill Gorjan Nikolik, Rabobank BAP program.
Moderator: Peter Redmond, Global Aquaculture Alliance For National Fish & Seafood which is a diamond
sponsor and co-host of GAAs GOAL 2015 conference
Ally Dingwall, Sainsburys Laky Zeraduchi, Direct Seafoods/Bidvest
Robert Fields, Sams Club/Walmart Joe Zhou, Red Lobster Seafood Co. accomplishing such growth in the volume of two-,
three- and four-star BAP shrimp involved multiple projects
Travis Larkin, The Seafood Exchange
and initiatives in multiple countries, and a dedicated staff.
Improvement, Project By Project
In 2014, National Fish & Seafood set out to push
more small-scale shrimp farmers toward BAP certification
through improvement projects.
First, working with groups of shrimp farmers in India,
Vietnam and Indonesia, National Fish & Seafood part-
global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 17
 Currently, these farms are being prepared for BAP
group certification. A four-day training seminar and
meetings with local officials were held in May. The Dutch
development organization SNV is helping to conduct
training for 1,150 farmers, and a full-time, eight-member
team is responsible for ensuring traceability via an internal
control system.

OVER MILLION
4 STAR SHRIMP
Investing In People, Social Responsibility
In July, National Fish & Seafood enlisted Rajkumar
Gollapalli, former CEO of Indias National Center for
Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA), to manage its farm-
contracting and certification programs in India and
POUNDS
throughout Southeast Asia.
Gollapalli will continue the companys work to
increase the volume of four-star BAP shrimp by organiz- plus farmers.
ing additional shrimp In addition to investing in its staff, National Fish &
societies for group Seafood is fully committed to social responsibility INDIA VIETNAM THAILAND

certification and to through the BAP program and through its involvement in
identify, train and other initiatives.
certify more IOM The company is working to source more of its fishmeal
farm clusters, hatch- from third party-certified sources in Peru through its parent
eries and feed mills. company, Pacific Andes, a major fishmeal supplier.
Under Gollapallis National Fish & Seafood was the first seafood supplier
leadership, NaCSA selected to participate in Labor Safe Screen, a program
pioneered the shrimp designed to help eliminate forced labor from seafood sup-
society model as a ply chains. The company will be using the diagnostic soft-
method of clustering ware in conjunction with other supply-chain initiatives to
small-scale farmers. increase its transparency and accountability.
To date, NaCSA has Additionally, National Fish & Seafood was the only sea-
developed more than food supplier selected to participate in USAIDs Supply
800 societies com- Unchained initiative to combat human trafficking, includ-
prised of 18,000- ing participation in a conference in Washington, D.C.

National Fish & Seafood, Inc.

11-15 Parker Street Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930 USA Tel: +1-978-282-7880 Web: www.nationalfish.com

Reap The Benefits

Of Responsible Aquaculture
Through the development of its third-party certification program,
the Global Aquaculture Alliance is carrying out its mission of
responsible aquaculture every day. Encompassing environmental
and social responsibility, food safety, animal welfare and traceabil-
ity, the Best Aquaculture Practices program is the worlds most
comprehensive certification system for aquaculture facilities.

Currently, more than 900 farms, processing plants, hatcheries

and feed mills are BAP certified. The facilities are audited annually
by independent, ISO-accredited certification bodies, and training CATCH THE WAVE TO

courses are conducted regularly to ensure auditors are well Feed Mill RP10028
4-STAR
informed of the latest improvements to the BAP standards. Addi- AQUACULTURE LEADERSHIP

tionally, GAAs market development team works with retailers, For more on BAP Standards, contact:
foodservice operators and suppliers worldwide to promote the Global Aquaculture Alliance
BAP program and responsible aquaculture in the marketplace. bap.gaalliance.org +1-314-293-5500

18 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 19

Mazzetta Company is a family business at heart,
which explains both our passion for the business and the
pride we take in providing our customers with premium-
quality fresh and frozen seafood. Our family has been in
the seafood business for nearly 40 years. We have
worked hard to assemble a team of dedicated profes-
sionals to serve all of our customers from mom-and-
pop corner markets to the biggest retailers worldwide.
While the Mazzetta family of businesses has grown to
include Beach Point Processing Company, in Prince
Edward Island, Canada; Atwood Lobster, in Spruce
Head, Maine; Highwood and Londonderry Cold Stor-
ages in New Hampshire; Gloucester Seafood Process-
ing, in Gloucester, Massachusetts; and a number of suc-
cessful joint ventures around the globe; the principles
and values that originally guided Mazzetta Company as
a small family-owned business remain steadfast.
Heritage
Mazzetta Company is not just a business; it is a family
name and heritage. Mazzetta Company has long been a
careful steward of the environment. The company is a
leader in employing best operating practices aimed at
meeting customers needs without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
This idea has been embraced in the marketplace
through terms like sustainability and corporate responsi-
bility. Sustainability is a buzzword used frequently nowa-
Mazzetta Company, LLC
P. O. Box 1126 Highland Park, Illinois 60035 USA Phone: +1-847-433-1150 Web: www.seamazz.com
20 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
Sponsor
Profile
days, but few people can actually define what it means.
As it applies to seafood, sustainability means taking a
long-term view of how our actions affect future genera-
tions and making sure we do not deplete resources.
At Mazzetta Company, business decisions that consider
preserving our
planet and its
resources have
always been a part
of who we are.
Commitment
As of 2015,
100% of Mazzetta
Companys warm
water shrimp are
Best Aquaculture
Practices-certified. Achieving this goal has a lot to do
with the internal high standards of Mazzetta Company,
but it is also likely a reflection of the continuing matura-
tion of the shrimp aquaculture industry. It is Mazzetta
Companys belief that by awarding business to farms
and plants that are committed to sustainability through
high certification standards, they reaffirm their own com-
mitment to these important issues.
Whether it is our involvement in international fisheries
policy, marine conservation and ecosystem manage-
ment, industry standards and certifications, or greater
efficiency and mitigating impact throughout the distribu-
tion chain, you can be sure that Mazzetta Company is
committed to being a global leader on sustainability.
Integrity
Although much is changing in the way seafood
reaches the American dinner table, the principles and
values that originally guided Mazzetta Company as a
small family-owned business remain steadfast. Conduct-
ing business with integrity; a demonstrated commitment
to excellence and to constant improvement; and striving
to exhibit the highest level of professional, ethical and
social conduct. As a result, the Seamazz brand name
has grown to become synonymous with exceptionally
high quality.
global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 21
 Building at the Speed of the Supply Chain
Sponsor
Profile

facility is the largest refrig-

erated warehouse in North
America and the largest
single cold storage facility
built at one time in the
entire world. Early fall will
see the opening of PFS
second Washington state
facility in the city of Lynden.
The Lynden facility, which
went from groundbreaking
to opening in just six
months, will serve the local
Headquartered in Chatham, New Jersey, USA, Pre- and regional agricultural
ferred Freezer Services (PFS) is dedicated to designing, community.
constructing, and operating state-of-the-art, temperature-
controlled warehouses throughout North America, Asia, Dedication To Innovation
and the world. The company has grown from a single In the midst of many exciting advances, PFS is far
facility (established in 1989) into a global leader in
temperature-controlled supply chain services.
from slowing down. The company continues to
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PFS can assist customers at every link in the supply LED lighting developments and phasing out inefficient
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of products across the United States on a truckload (TL) tance of identifying and nurturing the next generation of
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opened its eighth fornia, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Relentless passion to deliver service beyond your accurate, and cost-effective fulfillment and delivery
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Woodbridge, New PFS continues to follow the vision of Founder and customer loyalty.
Jersey. The Wood- CEO John J. Galiher. The company strives to be a multi-
bridge facility adds national gateway service provider through the use of
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(237,860 m3) of stor- country. PFS continues to aggressively pursue markets
age capacity and is where it can meet the needs of customers engaged in
open for business.
Summer 2015
the international import/export of frozen seafood, aqua-
culture products, proteins, and any goods that require We Get It Done! TM
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PFS most exciting panys sustained growth stems from its reputable cus-
development to date: tomer service and its commitment to hiring outstanding For more information about PFS, please contact:
the opening of the people with the talent and drive to perform.
Richland, Washington Daniel DiDonato - Executive VP of Sales
facility. The Richland One Main Street, 3rd Floor
Chatham, New Jersey 07928
ddidonato@PreferredFreezer.com
Preferred Freezer Services
Phone: 973-820-4070
1 Main Street, 3rd Floor Chatham, New Jersey 07928 USA Tel: +1-973-820-4070 Web: www.preferredfreezer.com
www.PreferredFreezer.com
22 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 23
production the production system and the develop-
Vibrio Control In Shrimp Farming
Part II. Farms
Successful Vibrio control strategies must revolve around limiting inputs, including
those that come in with the water. Proper pond preparation is essential, as well.
Summary:
Strategies to control Vibrios at
aquaculture farms must revolve
around limiting inputs, including
those from postlarvae suppliers,
those that come in with the
water, those that remain in the
soil between crops and those
in the feed and accumulated
organic matter. Adequate aera-
tion and water exchange help
reduce stressors for the culture
animals. Proper pond preparation
with total dryout between cycles
is essential, as well. Microbial
amendments are also finding
widespread usage at farms.
The ecology in a shrimp or fish farm
pond is a complex one, and each pond has
its own, often unique traits and ecological
composition. Vibrio bacteria are ubiquitous
in marine environments and play a critical
role in the recycling of chitin. This makes
shrimp an easy target, since the animals
skeletons are made of chitin.
Manipulation of the ecology is per-
haps the most common tool of choice
today in outdoor aquaculture production
environments, but attempting to perma-
24 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
nently change bacterial composition is
likely not feasible. Bringing about mean-
ingful short-term changes is at best chal-
lenging. There are, however, measures
that aquafarmers can take to lessen the
risks associated with Vibrios.
Microbiological Links,
Natural Barriers
All of the steps in the process of pro-
ducing shrimp are linked microbiologi-
cally. Pathogens can be passed from
infected females through and on their
eggs into postlarvae production tanks.
Artemia and algae can also carry strains of
Vibrio that should not be added to post-
larvae tanks. Proactive management strat-
egies dictate controlling as many of these
steps as possible to lower the bacterial
loads that can move between these pro-
duction systems.
Little is known about why certain
strains of bacteria predominate in shrimp
ponds. The ecology and water chemistries
are intertwined, and the presence of vari-
ous nutrients influences what bacterial
types will thrive. Since bacteria are in
constant competition for the available
food, some bacteria dominate.
This could be because of a very short
generation time. For some Vibrios, this is
as short as 10 minutes. This means that
in five hours, a single cell could generate
Stephen G. Newman, Ph.D.
President and CEO
AquaInTech Inc.
6722 162nd Place Southwest
Lynnwood, Washington
98037-2716 USA
sgnewm@aqua-in-tech.com
more than 500 million daughter cells.
Competition for nutrients is likely the
most important mechanism by which
some bacteria dominate others. If not for
such naturally occurring barriers, it would
be very difficult to produce shrimp or fish
in these systems.
Farm Control Strategies
Successful control strategies must
revolve around limiting inputs, including
those from postlarvae suppliers, those that
come in with the water, those that might
remain in the soil between crops and those
in the feed and accumulated organic mat-
ter. Monitoring and controlling avoidable
stressors are critical, as well. Stressed ani-
mals are more susceptible to diseases. If
the production environment is stressful,
the shrimp will let you know.
A critical control element was
addressed in this column in the May/June
Global Aquaculture Advocate regarding con-
trol of Vibrios in hatcheries to lower the
loads of potentially problematic bacterial
species. Practical control strategies at the
farm level fall into a number of categories.
The first is stress control. Higher water-
exchange rates with clean water can lessen
Vibrio loads and decrease the impacts of
stressors by washing out organic material
and other metabolites, such as ammonia.
Vibrio Load (cfu)
Aeration must be adequate to ensure dis-
solved-oxygen levels of 4 mg/L or higher
during the early hours of the morning,
when algal metabolism peaks and seriously
reduces D.O. levels.
Proper pond preparation is essential,
as well. This includes a total dryout, with
the use of materials to kill whatever
remains, as well as proper mixing and till-
ing of the sediments. Accumulated
organic material, a very important source
of nutrients for bacteria, is eliminated by
this approach. Proper filtration of incom-
ing water to lessen the carriers that enter
ment of a mature ecology in ponds prior
to stocking are all elements of this.
Bacterial Amendments
Microbial amendments are finding
widespread usage at farms. Coined
probiotics a term that is not only inac-
curate scientifically, but misleading
there are hundreds of variants in the mar-
ketplace.
Although there is actually very little
hard data that supports probiotic
approaches as universally able to reduce
the loads of Vibrios, there is nonetheless
enough data for one to conclude products
with appropriate compositions and prices
that ensure farmers can use them at the
levels needed do have niches as routine
tools for use in shrimp and fish farms.
The products with the greatest poten-
tial are those based on spore formers.
This is a stable form of a specific group of
bacteria that are instrumental in the recy-
cling of a wide variety of nutrients in ter-
restrial and aquatic ecosystems, the Bacil-
lus species. The use of other types of
bacteria can be problematic, primarily
due to the short shelf lives of vegetative
cells and the costs of producing stabilized
forms that can tolerate extended exposure
to temperatures above 90 C in ware-
houses.
The data in Figure 1 demonstrate
that it is possible to impact Vibrio loads
in some production environments
through the use of probiotics. This prod-
uct was able to substantially reduce the
levels of bacteria that grew on the most
common media used for Vibrio selection,
thiosulfate citrate bile salts sucrose agar.
Each treated pond showed a reproducible
reduction in the loads.
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
0 30 72 95
Days of Culture
Figure 1. Vibrio loads can be impacted in some production environments through the use
of bacterial amendments.
Other Tools
Many other tools are in various stages
of development, but few, if any, actually
offer the promise of long-term, effective
and cost-effective approaches for control-
ling Vibrio loads in the average produc-
tion environment.
It is clear that outdoor production of
shrimp is the preferred production para-
digm, and there will not be a mass migra-
tion to highly controlled indoor systems
until the recirculating system industry
gains much more momentum. There is
good evidence to support the use of
closed systems with multiple controls and
limited water reuse to lower overall Vibrio
loads, although biofloc-based systems can
still contain very high levels of Vibrios.
Perspectives
Controlling Vibrios on farms is com-
plicated and as much about controlling
susceptibility as controlling the actual
loads of these bacteria. The fact that
Vibrios are largely benign and important
for healthy functional ecosystems makes
this even more challenging.
Reducing stressors, ensuring a firewall
between the hatchery and the farm,
proper pond preparation and the use of
tools for the short-term manipulation of
microbial ecology are all elements that
should be part of the standard operating
practices at farms.
The presence of bacteria in ponds is
natural, and overly complex methods to
alter the microbial flora can potentially
backfire. Creating holes in the ecological
fabric opens the door for the presence of
other potentially problematic bacteria.
Vibrios are not the only species that kill
shrimp.
Intake Canal
Control Pond
Pond 1
Pond 2
Pond 3
global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 25
production
Genetic Variation For Resistance To WSS,
AHPND In Pacific White Shrimp
Shrimp in the AHPND trial were challenged with Vibrio
parahaemolyticus in laboratory aquariums.
Summary:
Selection for disease resistance has been used in breeding
farm animals and can be a viable option to deal with
white spot syndrome and acute hepatopancreatic necro-
sis disease in commercial shrimp culture. The approach
is worthwhile when there are no other cost-effective
control measures, and there are genetic differences
for resistance to pathogens. In trials, heritability for
AHPND resistance was low, while that for WSS was
moderate. This indicated advancing genetic resistance is
feasible, although progress with AHPND will be slower.
White spot syndrome (WSS) and acute hepatopancreatic
necrosis disease (AHPND) have become the main causes of eco-
nomic loss in shrimp production worldwide. Prevention of these
diseases is very difficult to achieve, and efforts to control them
have often seen inconsistent results. Moreover, some intensive
production systems seem to favor their rapid spread.
In such scenarios, breeding for disease resistance is a viable
option to deal with this issue in commercial shrimp culture.
Breeding shrimp for disease resistance is worthwhile when there
are no other simple, cost-effective control measures, and there
are genetic differences for resistance to the pathogen.
Experimental Trials
The authors conducted a preliminary analysis of data from
experimental trials performed in 2014 to evaluate whether there
is genetic resistance to WSS and AHPND. The heterogeneous
population involved families of Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus
vannamei, from the Mexican Maricultura del Pacfico hatchery
26 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
Hctor Castillo-Jurez, Ph.D.
Departmento de Produccin Agrcola y Animal
Universidad Autnoma Metropolitana
Unidad Xochimilco
Calzada del Hueso 1100
Col. Villa Quietud, Delegacin Coyoacn
04960, Distrito Federal Mxico
mejoracamaron@gmail.com
Hugo H. Montaldo, Ph.D.
Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia
Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico
Ciudad Universitaria
Distrito Federal Mxico
Sonia Soto-Rodrguez, Ph.D.
Leobardo Montoya-Rodrguez
Centro de Investigacin en Alimentacin y Desarrollo
Unidad Mazatln para la Acuicultura y el Manejo Ambiental
Mazatln, Sinaloa, Mxico
Juan Carlos Quintana Casares
Maricultura del Pacfico, S.A. de C.V.
Mazatln, Sinaloa, Mxico
line and families from two different Ecuadorian sources, includ-
ing their crosses.
For the AHPND challenge, 144 families (28 full-sib Ecuador-
ian, 100 half-sib Mexican and 16 full-sib Ecuadorian x Mexican
families) with average individual body weights of about 2 g were
kept in two replicated aquariums. A bacterial inoculum of
AHPND-causing M0904 strain Vibrio parahaemolyticus was added
directly at a final density of 105 colony-forming units/mL.
For the WSS challenge, six replicated tanks containing all
the families with shrimp averaging 4 g body weight were orally
infected using a dose larger than 107 copies of viral DNA/g.
Details on the experimental procedures and complete results will
be presented in a scientific journal soon.
Heritability for AHPND resistance was low, below 0.10,
while at close to 0.20, that for WSS was moderate. These results
indicated that genetically improving resistance to these two dis-
eases is feasible, although genetic progress in the case of
AHPND will be slower. Genetic correlation did not indicate any
strong antagonism between the resistances to these diseases.
The authors also found significant differences in disease
resistance when comparing a high-growth genetic selection line,
two low-growth genetic lines from Ecuador and their crosses.
Compared to the Mexican line, the Ecuadorian lines were more
resistant to both AHPND at 1 g of body weight and WSS at 4-g
body weight. However, there was no difference between lines for
AHPND resistance at 8 g of body weight.
Analysis of first-generation and parental lines suggested
dominant effects for AHPND resistance and recessive effects for
WSS resistance. The results suggested there are differences for
disease resistance and body weight between genetic lines and dif-
L. vannamei families were challenged with white spot syndrome
virus in lined laboratory tanks.
ferent mechanisms of resistance for each disease. These genetic
lines will be the basis for the development of a new disease-resis-
tant, high-growth genetic line.
Genetic Evaluation
Heritability is an important element in predicting the
expected response to genetic selection. The greater the heritabil-
ity, the greater the response to selection will be. It is important
to remember that genetic change due to selection accumulates in
the population across generations, allowing continuous advances
even when the heritability for the selected traits is low.
One of the primary challenges in the genetic evaluation of
disease resistance is how to generate disease resistance data. In
practical terms, disease resistance can be measured as the survival
rate of the animals challenged.
For an animal to survive, it needs mechanisms for resisting or
being resilient to challenges, or it must be protected artificially
from them. The measurement of how animals survive during
infection is therefore crucial to being able to select families of
animals with a higher degree of genetic resistance.
Most studies are well-designed experimental challenges, but
in this type of experiment, some of the natural conditions of the
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outbreaks may be excluded. Other studies can be performed
using data generated from natural disease outbreaks, although
these involve many non-controlled variables.
Outbreak Or Experiment
When the genetic evaluation of families is conducted during
natural disease outbreaks, resistance is observed under the actual
conditions where the disease occurs. However, it is difficult to pre-
dict where disease is going to occur. Moreover, recovering breed-
ing animals from disease-affected commercial ponds is difficult.
This approach can be associated with increased expenses
from disease-related losses and the efforts to keep track of the
pedigree of the animals from the affected ponds. Moreover, the
animals can die or survive during a natural outbreak for reasons
unrelated to the targeted disease.
On the other hand, evaluations based on experimental chal-
lenges make it possible to standardize a management procedure,
which ensures recognition of possible causes of death and main-
tains pedigree control. Genetic evaluation is therefore more
accurate, but the disease conditions may differ widely from those
occurring naturally.
Perspectives
The complex relationships between hosts and etiological
agents vary among species, animal populations, environments
and time periods. These factors are relevant when considering
long-term strategies of genetic selection for disease resistance.
The development of breeding programs for disease resistance
requires an evaluation of the genetic variation to the diseases
being considered and their genetic associations with other
important traits, such as growth and overall survival, in order to
maximize the profitability of shrimp farms. We must keep in
mind, however, that results cannot always be extrapolated to
other populations or production conditions.
The development of breeding programs
for disease resistance requires an evalu-
ation of the genetic variation to the dis-
eases being considered and their genetic
associations with other important traits.
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September/October 2015 27
production sustainable aquaculture practices
Calcium, Magnesium Use
In Aquaculture
Aquatic animals can get the essential nutrients calcium and magnesium from both
culture water and their food.
Summary:
Aquatic plants and animals get the essential nutrients
calcium and magnesium from water and their food.
Hardness is usually great enough to supply adequate
calcium and magnesium in fertilized ponds, and in
ponds with feeding, they are obtained from feed when
hardness is low. Calcium ions affect the toxicity of
trace metals to aquaculture species. Although of limited
concern in ponds, calcium carbonate precipitation can
be troublesome in hatcheries. In inland waters, magne-
sium concentrations can be increased by applications
of potassium magnesium sulfate.
Concentrations of calcium and magnesium are seldom mea-
sured in waters for aquaculture, but total hardness is determined
rather often. Hardness is the concentration of divalent cations
mostly calcium and magnesium in water expressed in milligrams
per liter (parts per million) of equivalent calcium carbonate.
Hardness sometimes is expressed in different forms: total
hardness and calcium hardness with the difference being magne-
sium hardness. Calcium hardness plus magnesium hardness, of
course, is total hardness. The factors for converting between
hardness cations and hardness are as follows: calcium x 2.5 = cal-
cium hardness, and magnesium x 4.12 = magnesium hardness.
The major sources of hardness in freshwater are dissolution
of limestone, calcium silicate and certain feldspars. In arid
regions, the dissolution of calcium and magnesium sulfates and
certain other minerals is a source of calcium and magnesium.
Most liming materials used in aquaculture are made from lime-
28 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
Claude E. Boyd, Ph.D.
School of Fisheries, Aquaculture
and Aquatic Sciences
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama 36830 USA
boydce1@auburn.edu
stone, which imparts hardness to water.
In most freshwater, hardness and
alkalinity are of similar concentration and
range from less than 5 mg to over 150
mg/L. In arid regions, hardness usually
exceeds 100 mg/L and often is greater.
Hardness frequently exceeds alkalinity in
arid regions.
Seawater has an average of 400 mg/L
calcium and 1,350 mg/L magnesium,
resulting in a hardness of over 6,000
mg/L much more than its average alkalinity of about 140
mg/L. Estuaries usually have a lower hardness than seawater, but
much greater than freshwater. Hardness concentrations vary
greatly from place to place and over time in estuaries because of
the mixing of seawater and freshwater in these systems.
Essential Nutrients
Calcium and magnesium are essential nutrients for aquatic
plants and animals. For example, fish need calcium for bone
development, because bone consists largely of calcium phos-
phate. However, the concentrations required for phytoplankton
the most abundant plants in aquaculture ponds are only
about 2 mg/L for calcium and even less for magnesium.
Aquatic animals can get calcium and magnesium both from
the water and their food. Hardness usually is great enough to
supply enough calcium and magnesium for aquatic animals in
fertilized ponds, and in ponds with feeding, calcium and magne-
sium are obtained from the feed when the hardness is low.
Ponds with low-alkalinity water usually have low calcium and
magnesium concentrations, and when liming materials are
applied to remedy this problem, hardness also increases.
Freshwater ponds in arid regions and ponds filled with estua-
rine water or seawater usually have plenty of hardness for aqua-
culture. When such ponds are limed, the benefit that may accrue
is from increasing alkalinity rather than hardness. From a pro-
ductivity standpoint, alkalinity is a more important variable than
hardness.
In fertilized ponds, the amount of phosphate fertilizer neces-
sary to maintain an adequate phytoplankton bloom can be
greater in water of high calcium concentration especially if pH eMail: sales@seajoy.com Tel: (877) 537-17177 Fax: (262) 375-9028
375 9028
To Learn More, Visit Us Online:
global www.seajoy.com
aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 29
is elevated. For example, about three times as much phosphate
fertilization was required in ponds in Israel where hardness was
over 300 mg/L to give the same amount of tilapia production as
achieved in ponds in Alabama, USA, with a hardness of about
45 mg/L.
Other Important Effects
Several other effects of calcium and magnesium deserve men-
tion. In ponds, calcium functions to minimize the rise in pH
that can occur when photosynthesis rates are high. After plants
deplete the water of free carbon dioxide, they can use bicarbon-
ate as a carbon source. But when using bicarbonate, plants
release carbonate that hydrolyses and causes pH to increase. Cal-
cium ions react at elevated pH to precipitate carbonate ions as
calcium carbonate, and this reaction minimizes the amount of
carbonate in the water to hydrolyze and increase pH.
There are some pond waters in which the alkalinity is high and
calcium concentration is low. This combination can lead to dan-
gerously high afternoon pH when photosynthesis is proceeding
rapidly. Calcium sulfate can be applied to increase the concentra-
tion of calcium ion. As a general rule, it is desirable to have a
hardness similar to or greater than the alkalinity roughly 2 mg/L
of calcium sulfate are required to provide 1 mg/L of hardness.
Hardness in water also facilitates flocculation and precipitation
of suspended clay particles to lessen turbidity. An abundance of
calcium and magnesium ions tends to neutralize the negative
charges on suspended clay particles, allowing them to floc together
and create a mass great enough to precipitate. Calcium sulfate
often is applied to ponds to clear turbidity from the water. The
recommended treatment rate usually is 1,000-2,000 kg/ha. saline groundwater with initially high concentrations of carbon
Calcium ions affect the toxicity of trace metals to fish and
other aquaculture species. The presence of calcium blocks the
uptake of metal ions across the gills, thereby increasing the dis-
solved concentration of metals required to cause a toxic effect.
The lethal concentrations of metal ions such as copper, zinc,
lead, cadmium and chromium usually are considerably greater in
harder water than in softer water. To illustrate, the 96-hour lethal
concentration 50 (L.C.50) of copper to channel catfish was
reported by Drs. David Straus and Craig Tucker to be 0.051-
0.065 mg/L in water with a hardness of 16 mg/L, but 1.040-1.880
mg/L in water with a hardness of 287 mg/L. L.C.50 is a standard
measure of the toxicity of a medium that will kill half of the sam-
ple species population in a specific period of exposure.
Calcium also is important in fish hatchery water supplies.
Eggs tend to hydrate at low calcium concentrations and do not
develop and hatch normally. The minimum concentrations of
calcium ions for good development and hatchability have been
reported as 10 mg/L for eggs of brown trout and 4 mg/L for
those of channel catfish. A recent study suggested the minimum
calcium concentration for channel catfish hatcheries should be
10 mg/L, and best hatchability and fry survival were achieved at
around 30 mg/L.
High concentrations of alkalinity and hardness can lead to
precipitation of calcium carbonate from the water. This is espe-
cially common when groundwater that has high alkalinity and
hardness, as well as elevated carbon dioxide concentration, is
brought into contact with the atmosphere. For example, the
alkalinity and hardness in well water used to supply ponds at an
inland shrimp farm in Alabama, USA, were 275 and 325 mg/L,
respectively. Once put into ponds, the water equilibrated with
atmospheric carbon dioxide, and alkalinity and hardness dropped
to 120 and 168 mg/L, respectively, as a result of calcium carbon-
ate precipitation. between 10 and 30 mg/L.
30 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
Calcium is important in fish hatchery water supplies. High
levels of alkalinity and hardness can lead to precipitation
of calcium carbonate from the water.
Although calcium carbonate precipitation is not usually of
great concern in ponds, it can be troublesome in hatcheries. The
author has observed that at a shrimp hatchery supplied with
dioxide, alkalinity and hardness, calcium carbonate precipitated
onto the larvae and resulted in high mortality. The same phe-
nomenon probably can occur with eggs in a fish hatchery.
Desired Concentrations
The ideal situation in freshwater aquaculture is to have hard-
ness and alkalinity concentrations of at least 60 mg/L. There
apparently is little problem with high hardness concentrations
even when they greatly exceed alkalinity concentrations pro-
vided the total dissolved solids concentration is not excessive for
the cultured species. Total hardness concentration does not
appear to be a negative factor in ponds filled with estuarine or
seawater. ogy continues to expand worldwide. This trend is driven by the
In some inland, low-salinity waters, low magnesium concentra-
tions have been reported to lessen the survival and growth of
shrimp. Magnesium concentrations in such waters can be increased
by the application of potassium magnesium sulfate. Magnesium sul-
fate (Epsom salt) also is a soluble source of magnesium.
There is no definitive recommendation on the ideal concen-
tration of magnesium in low-salinity water for shrimp culture,
but the ratio of magnesium in milligrams per liter to salinity in
parts per thousand in seawater is about 40:1. Thus, one approach
to estimating a suitable magnesium concentration in low-salin-
ity, inland aquaculture is to multiply salinity in ppt by 40 to
determine the suitable concentration of magnesium. At 2.5 ppt
salinity, the suitable magnesium concentration is 100 mg/L.
At a typical inland shrimp farm in Alabama, USA, pond
water has about 2.5 ppt salinity, but the magnesium concentra-
tion is only around 5 mg/L in the water supply. It would be
extremely expensive to raise the magnesium concentration to 100
mg/L. But good shrimp survival and production have been
achieved when magnesium concentrations were maintained
production aquaculture engineering
Trickling filters are simple and robust biological filters that provide nitrification, degassing of carbon dioxide and oxygenation in one
component. However, due to the low specific surface area of the media, they are generally larger than most modern filters.
Estimating Biofilter Size For RAS Systems
Summary:
To size a biofilter for use in a recirculating aquaculture
system, the primary concern is to provide enough
biofilter capacity to control total ammonia-nitrogen
(TAN) concentrations to a preset limit. Also critical is
specifying the maximum feed rate for the system. The
lower the TAN concentration going into a biofilter,
the lower the volumetric TAN conversion rate for that
filter will be. Sizing decisions are best based on previ-
ous experience with a given biofilter media in a specific
biofilter configuration.
The production of aquatic products in land-based systems
using tanks and recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technol-
need for intensified production practices that utilize and dis-
charge less water.
A description of these technologies can be found in our pre-
vious columns in the Global Aquaculture Advocate. While the
installment in the July/August 2015 issue described how to
determine the recirculated flow required to the biofilter in an
RAS, this article focuses on how to estimate the size of biofilter
required for a specific application.
Sufficient Capacity, Feed Rates
To size a biofilter for use in an RAS, the primary concern for
the designer is to provide enough biofilter capacity to control the
total ammonia-nitrogen (TAN) concentration in the culture tanks
to a preset upper limit. Knowing this concentration is very impor-
tant, as the removal rate of a biofilter is related to the concentra-
tion of ammonia-nitrogen available to the bacteria in the filter.
The lower the limit of the TAN concentration selected by
the designer, the lower the removal rate will be for a biofilter.
The result will be the requirement of a large biofilter for a given
application.
global aquaculture advocate
Thomas M. Losordo, Ph.D.
Principal Scientist and Chief Engineer
Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, Inc.
400 Regency Forest Drive, Suite 300
Cary, North Carolina 27518 USA
tom.losordo@pentair.com
Dennis P. DeLong, MSM
Manager of Customer Advocacy
Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, Inc.
Also critical to the process of sizing a biofilter is specifying
the maximum feed rate for the system. The ammonia-nitrogen
production rate can be estimated based on the rate of feed addi-
tion and the protein content of the feed used within the system.
Determining VTR
The May/June 2015 column noted that the best way to size
the nitrification capacity of a biofilter was by determining the
volumetric TAN conversion rate (VTR) of the biofilter media in
units of g TAN/m3/day. It is critical that the designer under-
stand the conditions under which this VTR is determined and
compare them to those found within the RAS in question under
peak loading periods.
Remember, the lower the TAN concentration going into a
biofilter, the lower the VTR for that filter will be. This is the
most difficult part of sizing a biofilter for a particular use and, in
most cases, is based on previous experience with a given biofilter
media in a specific biofilter configuration.
Sizing Steps
Thus there are four steps in sizing a biofilter for a particular
use in recirculating aquaculture production systems:
1. Identify the maximum allowable TAN concentration
within the culture tank.
September/October 2015 31

The biofilter media of this moving-bed reactor initially looks white and floats readily. After four months, the seasoned media
(right) looks brownish and has less buoyancy.
2. Estimate the maximum feed rate for the system and calculate
the maximum rate of total ammonia-nitrogen generation.
3. Determine from previous experience or manufacturers
specifications the VTR for the biofilter media being used.
4. Calculate the estimated biofilter media volume requirement.
Biofilter Sizing Example
In an example, consider a freshwater RAS operating at a
water temperature of 25 C, and assume there is no oxygen limi-
tation, as the dissolved-oxygen concentration of the water is
above 4 mg/L to the biofilter. Further assume that the pH and
alkalinity of the system are 7.2 and 100 mg/L, respectively, and
the maximum desired TAN concentration is 2 mg/L. Addition-
ally, assume the maximum feed rate for the entire system on this
biofilter will be at its highest at 60 kg/day of 40%-protein feed.
We now need to estimate the rate of TAN generation cre-
ated daily by this feed rate. See equation 1 below (from the July/
August 2015 Advocate).
Equation 1
TAN produced (kg/day) = 60 kg Feed/day x 40% Protein x
50% Nitrogen wasted x 0.16 g Nitrogen/g Protein x
1.2 g TAN/g Nitrogen
TAN produced = 2.3 kg TAN/day
Note that the percentage of protein and nitrogen wasted in
the equation above should be entered as decimal fractions 0.4
and 0.5, respectively.
Perhaps the most difficult task in this exercise is the third
determining the VTR that will be used. As noted before, this
rate is a function of the type of biofilter media selected and the
conditions within the system.
The authors experience and published research results indi-
cate the VTR for trickling biological filter media with a specific
surface area of 200 m2 under the water quality conditions cited
above is approximately 90 g TAN/m3/day. Likewise, a conserva-
tive estimate of the VTR for media in a moving-bed reactor
under similar conditions is 350 g TAN/m3/day. Equation 2
below can be used to estimate the volume of biofilter media
needed to convert the TAN produced to relatively harmless
nitrate-nitrogen.
32 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
YOUR PARTNER IN A
CHANGING WORLD
Equation 2
Biofilter media volume (m3) = TAN production (g TAN/day)
VTR (g TAN/m3/day)
We can use this equation to calculate the volume of media a
trickling filter would need as:
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bution above the media and 1 m below the media to collect and be challenging, time-consuming and error-prone... Thats why
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Perspectives
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Editors Note: This article was based in part on research conducted by
the author at North Carolina State University and published in the
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Volume 23, 2000 journal of Aquacultural Engineering. The spread- system conditions change.
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2015 Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 33
production the bottom line
Integration of feed manufacturing with other aquaculture operations requires serious thought and analysis. Although the investment
can be significant, and various risks exist, there are many benefits to be achieved.
Integrating Feed Manufacturing Into Fish
Or Shrimp Production Operations
Summary:
Incorporating feed manufactur-
ing into an aquaculture business
offers greater and more efficient
product access, control and logis-
tics, as well as additional profit
potential. Feed mill design and
process flow are determined by
the end products and volumes
required for animal production.
After seeking direction from
qualified advisors, outline prod-
uct specifications, identify feed
ingredients and sources, and
evaluate equipment needs in early
planning. A feasibility study that
plans for growth and includes
both a business plan and economic
analysis is a must.
Businesses that produce animals as
food for humans frequently practice inte-
gration. This can be in the form of back-
ward integration into the production of
feed or the production of seedstock, or
forward integration into processing and
marketing of branded products. In the
United States, this practice has been
ongoing for more than 40 years, espe-
34 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
cially in the poultry business.
In the aquaculture industry, there are
numerous examples worldwide where
feed production has been successfully
integrated into businesses producing fish
and/or shrimp. Although it may not be
for everyone, most astute business man-
agers will evaluate integration from time
to time.
Why Integrate?
There are numerous reasons why an
aquaculture business would consider Thomas R. Zeigler, Ph.D.
manufacturing its own feed. The most Senior Technical Advisor
frequent reason is the incorporation of Past President and Chairman
profits related to feed manufacturing into Zeigler Bros., Inc.
Assist with Feasibility Studies & Business Plans Mill Startup
the primary business. 400 Gardners Station Road
Gardners, Pennsylvania 17324 USA Product & Ingredient Selection Employee Training & Continuous Improvement
Others include more control, greater
tom.zeigler@zeiglerfeed.com Mill Design & Construction Systems & Procedures Audits
confidentiality and protection of intellec-
tual property. Integration also provides Matthew P. Zeigler, M.S. Equipment Selection & Process Flow Farm Trials Design & Evaluation
greater access to improved and fresher Vice President
Operations/Process Engineer
Nutrition & Formulation Commitment to R&D Support
feeds, and faster access to special feeds
needed to improve farm productivity. It Zeigler Bros., Inc. Quality Specifications & Assurance 80 Years of Experience
also allows better management of envi- Sidinei Valle
ronmental constraints such as tempera- Manager, Global Franchising Business
100% Project Success Rate
ture, salinity and disease, providing a Development and Operations
marketing advantage for the final prod-
uct. Integration improves feed logistics, Zeigler Bros., Inc.
including ordering, transporting and integration should include most, if not 717-677-6181
inventory management, as well. all, of the above, as they all contribute to www.zeiglerfeed.com
In reality, the final decision regarding improving the profitability, sustainability info@zeiglerfeed.com
global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 35
and competitive advantage of the core
business.
Professional Advice
Manufacturing aquaculture feeds is
significantly more sophisticated and com-
plicated than manufacturing conventional
farm feeds. It involves more ingredients,
specialized equipment and more-demand-
ing processing methods. These are
required in order to meet the nutritional
and physical requirements needed to
effectively feed the variety of animals and
animal sizes grown in aquaculture pro-
duction systems.
Therefore, an early consideration in
developing a feed-manufacturing plan
should be the seeking and identification
of qualified advisors. There are numerous
opportunities for seeking assistance from
both equipment and ingredient suppliers.
Companies that engineer and design
feed-manufacturing facilities can provide
support, as can various independent con-
sultants or companies in the business of
technology transfer. Integrity and a track
record of success in aquaculture feed pro-
duction are important qualifiers in select-
ing the proper resources.
Products, Ingredients
Feed mill equipment, design and pro-
cess flow are determined by the products
intended to be produced, as well as the vol-
ume required per time unit that must be
achieved to meet the requirements of the
animal production phases of the business.
As few as five and as many as 50 dif-
ferent formulations may be required, and
these can be manufactured in as many as
12 different sizes. Additional product
considerations include hardness, water
stability, buoyancy, color, attractability,
palatability and product coatings. Specifi-
cations for all required products should
be determined early in the process.
Superior feeds can only come from
superior ingredients. Therefore, an
important next step is to identify the
ingredients and their sources, nutritional
contributions, wholesomeness and con-
sistency of composition and supply. This
knowledge is necessary to assist in decid-
ing the location of the feed plant and also
influences the type of equipment and
storage facilities required.
Equipment
Most aquaculture feeds are produced
using pelleting and/or extrusion equip-
ment. Each has specific advantages and
limitations that need to be clearly under-
stood. This equipment, including the
36 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
required boilers for steam generation,
represents the most costly individual
items. Others include grinders, weighing
equipment, mixers and computerized
batching systems. Storage for bulk ingre-
dients is also needed.
When sourcing equipment, consider-
ations include operating costs and effi-
ciency, repair/maintenance costs, country
of origin, ease of accessing replacement
parts and, of course, initial item costs.
Locally available equipment should be
evaluated and considered, as should be
used equipment, if available and in good
condition.
Process
The process of aquaculture feed man-
ufacturing includes receiving, storage,
grinding, weighing, mixing, regrinding,
pelletizing and/or extruding processing,
cooling and/or drying, crumbling, sifting,
top coating, packaging, storage and ship-
ping. Most ingredients are dry, but some
are in liquid form. The process flow and
operating capacity of the equipment
determine plant throughput and effi-
ciency, and must be considered in the
early planning stages.
Formulation
Knowledge of ingredients and their
composition, plus the nutrients required
to feed the culture species at various life
stages, are necessary for the formulation
of effective feeds. Feed formulas can
materially affect equipment operating
efficiency.
The feed formulation basically deter-
mines the ability of the animal to express
its genetic potential. Considering both
the formulation and manufacturing pro-
cesses, producing the right product
requires the consideration of up to 25 dif-
ferent parameters in addition to the spe-
cific nutrients required.
Quality Assurance,
Continuous Improvement
In order to produce wholesome, high-
performance feeds, provisions need to be
made for assuring product quality. These
include developing both ingredient and
product standards, quality assurance pro-
cedures, adequate laboratory equipment
and properly trained staff. The impor-
tance of this area should not be underes-
timated.
Successful businesses realize the only
thing that is constant is change, and deal-
ing with change must be part of operat-
ing strategies. This requires developing
specific tactics to maintain excellence in
critical areas of the project. Some areas Risks ous thought and analysis, especially
include employee training and retraining, Environmental risks such as wind, because the investment can be significant.
product improvement through ingredient rain, hurricanes and floods can be mini- Aquaculture feed production is more
selection and formulation, and testing of mized by proper plant location, design involved and complicated than producing
new feed ingredients and additives. and construction. Fires can be devastat- feeds for farm animals. Although various
Properly designed animal trials com- ing, but again, with proper operating pro- risks exist, there are significant benefits to Established in 1997, the
pare new products and formulations, and cedures and safeguards in place, the risk be achieved, as can be demonstrated from
past industry successes. Global Aquaculture Alliance
can assist in rapid problem solving. It is can be minimal.
also extremely desirable to provide for Risks associated with financing feed (GAA) is an international,
non-profit association dedi-
independent audits of the feed-manufac-
turing enterprise to assure efficient, cost-
sales can be managed with the proper
credit policies and proper securities. Per-
Bottom Line: cated to advancing respon-
effective production and compliance with haps the most difficult risk to manage When considering sible aquaculture through
quality assurance and regulatory stan- comes from disease, which can severely feed integration, doing advocacy, educational
dards and procedures. reduce the amount of feed required.
Examples include acute hepatopancreatic the right things will outreach, scientific research
Proper Planning necrosis disease in the shrimp industry lead to the and global leadership.
The decision to integrate into the
feed-manufacturing business should only
and infectious salmon anemia in the
salmon industry.
right decision GAA recognizes that aqua-
be made after the preparation of a feasi- for growing profits. culture is the only sustain-
Options
bility study that includes both a business able means of increasing the
plan and an economic analysis. The total Before making the final decision to
seafood supply to meet the
cost for a new feed mill can range produce feed, it may be desirable to visit
food needs of the worlds
between U.S. $3 million and $15 million, existing feed-manufacturing companies
including inventories. This is no small to see if you can create a strategic alliance growing population and has
sum, so one of the decision criteria cer- or negotiate to gain some or all of the made a long-standing com-
tainly must be, Does the project provide benefits desired. mitment to advance respon-
adequate return on investment? sible aquaculture practices
Perspectives
Another important step in the plan-
ning process is to project the monthly Integrating into feed manufacturing is and grow a sustainable
tonnage through the mill over the next a significant undertaking. It involves seri- global seafood supply.
five and possibly 10 years. If increased
tonnage is in the forecast, it is important
to plan for that increase in the initial
design and build phase of the mill.
Installing the properly sized electric ser-
vice and providing space for additional
equipment will save a lot of money in the
future, as retrofitting undersized mills can
be very costly.
Selling feed to other aquaculture pro-
ducers may be an option to consider. This
can significantly reduce operating costs
by increasing the number of tons pro-
duced, but the associated accounts receiv-
able process can increase the cash
required to operate.
Most aquaculture animal production
systems are cyclical in nature. They
require different products in different
quantities at different times. Therefore,
the plan must consider the ability to pro-
duce maximum quantities of the different
products required during any specific
time of the production cycle or provide
sufficient warehouse space so the prod-
ucts can be produced in advance and
available as needed from inventory.
Compliance with new and possible
future regulatory standards concerning
food safety must be considered. Certifica-
tion programs such as GlobalGAP and
Best Aquaculture Practices also have
standards for feed plant compliance.
global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 37
production

In lined, aerated ponds, Penaeus monodon fed four times daily had lower FCRs after one month of a culture cycle.
The amount of feed placed on every
tray plays a critical role in feeding

Feed Tray Management Lowers FCRs,

management.

Shrimp Production Costs In Australia

ularly is an effective strategy in maximiz-
ing FCR over the entire crop.
An alternative feeding frequency was
introduced in the last seven years for
have a direct impact on reducing the costs Gold Coast Marine Aquacultures grow-
Summary: of production in growout ponds.
Bambang M. Julianto out ponds. This method involved feeding
Shrimp farmers in Australia the shrimp only four times daily. As a
believe that applying smaller Feed Conversion Gold Coast Marine Aquaculture
result, consistently lower FCRs have been
The feed-conversion ratio (FCR) is a Pty. Ltd.
amounts of feed regularly is an Marks Road achieved (Table 1).
effective strategy for maximizing measure of shrimps efficiency in convert-
Woongoolba, Queensland 4207 Based on feed tray information, feed
feed conversion in ponds. Shrimp ing feed mass into increased body mass. Australia
FCR is defined as the mass of the food volumes applied at Gold Coast vary across
are usually fed five times daily, jbambang@bigpond.net.au the growout period (Figure 1). Feeding
but Gold Coast Marine Aquacul- eaten divided by the body mass gain, all
over a specified period. For P. monodon, Darrel Herbst management at involves the following:
ture feeds shrimp only four times Gold Coast Marine Aquaculture Four feeds per day, at 5 a.m., 11
daily. By providing more time the typical feed-conversion ratio is 1.8.
Pty. Ltd. a.m., 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Feeding is
for shrimp to rest between eating FCRs are important because higher
FCR values indicate uneaten feed that applied using a vehicle with a feed
cycles, consistently lower FCRs
can leach out nutrients in ponds. Leached blower, which spreads feed evenly
have been achieved. There is
nutrients impact water quality in growout Alternative Feed Management across ponds.
also more time for pond staff to
ponds and potentially increase the nutri- In Penaeus monodon growout ponds in The three feeding trays used in every
properly deploy and check feed-
ent load in the farm effluent. In general, a Australia, shrimp are usually fed five pond are employed at the same time
ing trays, which reduces errors in
high FCR means more feed waste and times daily after they have been in the the feeding vehicle spreads feed and
feed management.
costs, which leads to lower profitability pond for one month. Shrimp farmers checked after about three hours.
for the farm. believe that feeding smaller amounts reg- The amount of feed placed on every
In recent years, shrimp aquaculture tray is 0.5% of the total individual
costs have increased in every sector. Farm- Table 1. Shrimp performance achieved with fewer daily feedings. feeding.
ers need to find ways to reduce costs to If no feed is left in the trays, a 3-kg
Average Feed- Average Average increase in feed volume is made dur-
maintain the profitability of the industry. Production Year Conversion Coefficient Body Days
Currently, one possibility for cost reduction (Daily Feedings) Ratio of Variation Weight (g) of Culture ing the next feeding for an average
is to manage feed consumption without shrimp body weight up to 10 g. An
2006-2007 (Five) 1.71 0.17 33.23 176
affecting shrimp growth and total harvest. increase of 5 kg is made for shrimp
2007-2008 (Five) 1.64 0.18 29.94 171
Growout production costs for raising 2008-2009 (Four) 1.42 0.10 33.49 161 with average body weight greater
black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, in 2009-2010 (Four) 1.43 0.05 35.83 204 than 10 g.
Australia are relatively high compared to 2010-2011 (Four) 1.45 0.23 35.09 177 If feed is left on the trays, a 20 to
those in other countries. Feed, labor, 2011-2012 (Four) 1.49 0.20 30.19 189 80% decrease is made in the next
maintenance and power costs all contrib- 2012-2013 (Four) 1.42 0.14 31.64 175 feeding. Previously, Gold Coast
2013-2014 (Four) 1.47 0.06 29.64 179 Marine Aquaculture only decreased
ute to the situation. Feeding management
2014-2015 (Four) 1.43 0.07 38.50 204
that lowers feed-conversion ratios can feeding by 10 to 30% when feed was
38 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 39
Total Feed (kg/day) 400

350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
0 10 20 30 40
left on the trays. This was due to the
belief that a large decrease in feed
would lead to a higher rate of canni-
balism in Penaeus monodon stocked
at high density.
Shrimp do require regular feeding due
to their small stomachs and rapid diges-
tion. However, from previous observa-
tion, shrimp generally feed and rest peri-
odically before returning to the water
column in search of more food.
Benefits
Since the time gap between feedings is
a constant six hours, this provides enough
time for shrimp to rest before resuming
their eating cycle. This allows the shrimp
50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220
Days of Culture
to properly digest their source of nutrients.
This simple act can help maximize molt
cycle and growth performance.
There is also enough time for pond
staff to complete their feeding rounds
without needing to rush. This reduces
human error when setting and checking
feed trays. Monitoring of feed consump-
tion becomes more effective.
Although monitoring of shrimp feed
consumption with feed trays has become
very important in controlling FCR in
intensive operations, this method requires
special human attention and an increase
in workload for farm staff during produc-
tion periods, so the trays may sometimes
be sidelined or even neglected. Gold
Figure 1. Typical
daily feed chart
of Gold Coast
Marine
Aquaculture
growout ponds.
Coast Marine Aquaculture reduces this
possibility for error by maximizing the
time gaps between feeding times.
Shrimp farmers always hesitate to
decrease feed volume during shrimp culti-
vation due to their belief that Penaeus
monodon are highly cannibalistic. If the
amount of feed is decreased, especially dur-
ing molting periods, they think, this will
cause a decrease in biomass due to canni-
balism. Observations made by Gold Coast
Marine Aquaculture show the opposite.

40 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 41
production soy-fed fish news
xxxxx Table 1. Production data for a 75-day feeding
demonstration conducted with spotted rose snappers.

Soy Protein Concentrate Replaces Fishmeal Survival (%)

Parameter Treatment
Diet 1
Value
90.20 9.62

In Spotted Rose Snapper Diets

Diet 2 98.00 2.45
Diet 3 87.60 9.85
Final weight (g) Diet 1 43.60 1.03
Diet 2 43.90 1.14
Diet 3 45.80 2.10
Herbert E. Quintero, Ph.D. Biomass gain (g) Diet 1 6,287.00 801.70
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Diet 2 6,909.00 338.70
1200 North University Drive Diet 3 6,400.70 569.40
Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601 USA Final density (kg/m3) Diet 1 5.58 0.67
qfherbert@gmail.com Diet 2 6.10 0.28
Diet 3 5.67 0.47
Michael C. Cremer, Ph.D.
Jairo Amezquita Weight gain (%) Diet 1 1,725.5 43.3
Diet 2 1,735.9 47.7
Francisco de la Torre, DVM Diet 3 1,817.2 87.8
United States Soybean Export Council
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Specific growth rate Diet 1 4.96 0.03
Diet 2 4.97 0.04
Thiago Soligo Diet 3 5.03 0.07
Martec Industries S.A. Feed-conversion ratio Diet 1 1.39 0.21
Quepos, Costa Rica Diet 2 1.32 0.08
Diet 3 1.39 0.10

Research in partnership with the United States Soybean Export Council at Martec
Industries cage farm site in Costa Rica is examining the use of soy products to replace
fishmeal in snapper diets.
Summary:
The authors set up a feeding
demonstration at a cage farm in
Costa Rica to evaluate the partial
replacement of fishmeal in diets
for spotted rose snappers with
soy protein concentrate (SPC)
containing over 55% protein, low
antinutritional factor content and
low trypsin inhibitor activity. In-
clusion of SPC at up to 26.4% in
the diets did not affect snapper
ducted in 12, 1.2-m3 experimental cage
with the United States Soybean Export
Council to determine the best levels of
replacement of fishmeal and fish oil with
alternative sources for this species of
snapper. The efforts are aimed at improv-
ing the ecological and economical effi-
ciencies of the Martec operations.
A commercial feeding demonstration
was set up to evaluate the partial replace-
ment of fishmeal in a diet for the spotted
rose snapper with a soy protein concen-
trate (SPC) product containing 55.37%
protein, low soy antinutritional factor
crude protein and 13.0% fat with a total
inclusion level up to 26.4%. It was nutri-
tionally equivalent to a commercial fish-
meal-based diet manufactured locally
(diet 2) and a commercial diet from Japan
(diet 3).
The feeding demonstration was con-
units placed inside the farms two brood-
stock cages in the prevailing water current
to maximize water exchange.
Spotted rose snappers produced by
Martecs hatchery at Rancho Chico in
Playa Bejuco, Nandayure, Guanacaste
Province and weighing about 2.39 g each
were stocked at a density of 170 fish/
cage, which was equivalent to a biomass
of 0.34 kg/m3.
Nets from each experimental cage
were cleaned every 10 to 12 days. Twenty
fish were sampled from each experimen-
tal unit every two weeks. Individual fish
weights were determined during each
sampling.
tion of 5.38 0.94 mg/L.
The fish that received diet 1 grew to a
final average weight of 43.63 g at harvest,
while fish fed diet 2 reached an average
weight of 43.88 g. Fish fed diet 3 reached
an average weight of 45.82 g (Table 1,
Figure 1).
Fish survival was 90.2% for snappers
fed diet 1, 98.0% for fish given diet 2 and
87.6% for fish fed diet 3. Similarly, other
variables were also not significantly dif-
ferent among the dietary treatments
(Table 1).
Final biomass per cage unit averaged
5.58 kg/m3 for the replicates fed the
SPC-based diet and 5.67 kg/m3 for fish
in the diet 3 treatment. For fish in units
fed diet 2, biomass reached 6.10 kg/m3.
60
50
Biomass gain ranged from 6.30 to 6.90
kg during the demonstration period.
With an average value of 1,817.2%,
weight gain was highest for the spotted
rose snappers fed diet 3, followed by diet 2
fish at 1,735.9% and diet 1 fish at
1,725.5%. Similarly, specific daily growth
was the highest for fish fed diet 3, fol-
lowed by snappers given diet 2 and diet 1.
Feed-conversion ratios (FCRs) were low-
est for fish fed diet 2, with an average
FCR of 1.32 0.08. Fish fed diet 1 and
diet 3 had similar FCR values of about
1.39.
Perspectives
The analysis of the production vari-
ables obtained at the end of this feeding
Final biomass per cage unit averaged
5.58 kg/m3 for the fish fed the SPC-
based diet. The feed-conversion ratio
for the snappers was about 1.39.
demonstration indicated no significant
difference among the three feed treat-
ments. Results supported the use of SPC
as a partial replacement for fishmeal in
diets for spotted rose snappers when it is
cost effective to do so.
Research performed in 2012 by Yes-
sica Silva-Carrillo and co-authors found
that regular soybean meal can substitute
for up to 20% of the fishmeal used in
spotted rose snapper diets, representing
approximately 10.5% soybean meal inclu-
sion. In this feeding demonstration, SPC
inclusion of 26.4% yielded snapper per-
formance similar to that of fish that
received fishmeal-based diets. Hence,
both soybean meal and soy protein con-
centrate can serve as potential replace-

Fish Weight (g)

production parameters. There
was no significant difference
between the performance of
fish fed an SPC-based diet and
those that received commercial
fishmeal-based diets.
Martec Industries is one of the largest
fish-processing companies operating in
Central America and the first one to
commercially farm raise spotted rose
snappers from egg to market. The com-
pany has been working in partnership
content and low trypsin inhibitor activity.
Study Setup
The 75-day demonstration was con-
ducted at the Martec experimental cage
farm station located near Isla Cedro at
Paquera, Puntarenas Province, Costa
Rica. The facility is used primarily for
broodstock development and experimen-
tal studies related to nutrition and pro-
duction technologies for growout stages.
Three diets were tested in the feeding
demonstration. Diet 1, an SPC-based
feed, was formulated to contain 50.0%
40
Results
Feeding was ad libitum with a target 30
of four daily feedings, but climatic condi-
tions affected feeding. It was found that
60% of the time, fish fed 4 times/day. 20
About 17% of the time, fish fed three
times daily; 11% of the time, fish were
10
fed once or twice daily; and 12% of the
time, the snappers went without food.
Water quality parameters during the 0 mentally and economically sustainable
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
feeding demonstration were very stable,
with an average temperature of 27.6
0.45 C and dissolved-oxygen concentra-
ments for fishmeal without affecting
Figure 1. Growth growth performance.
curves for spotted Availability and the cost of fishmeal
rose snappers raised in the future are two conditions that
under three feeding might shift the cost of the SPC experi-
treatments.
mental diet compared to the commercial
diets. Hence, continued development of
diets based on SPC and soybean meal can
be considered a key aspect for an environ-
aquaculture industry.
Days
Diet 1 Diet 2 Diet 3

42 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 43
production Other finfish species currently undergo-
ing aquaculture development or being culti-
vated on a smaller scale include sablefish,
sturgeon, rainbow trout, steelhead trout,
halibut and arctic char.

Shellfish Sector
Canadas total shellfish aquaculture pro-
duction in 2013 was 41,760 mt, valued at
CAD 92.5 million (USD 71.2 million).
Mussels accounted for 69.6% of the total
volume and 53.5% of its value. Prince
Edward Island was the dominant Canadian
mussel producer with 22,894 mt 78.7% of
total annual Canadian production. New-
foundland raised 15.0% of Canadas mus-
sels, while Nova Scotia produced 3.6%. With the majority of their production in Prince Edward Island, mussels account
The primary markets for mussels from for about 70% of Canadas total annual shellfish volume.
Salmon is by far the most important finfish grown by Canadian aquaculturists. Farm sites in New Brunswick account Atlantic Canada are the U.S. and the
for about 24% of annual production. Canadian fresh, live markets. Canada
exported 53% of its production, with almost savory clams, cockles, Japanese scallops, sea scallops, geoducks
100% going to the U.S. The remainder of Canadas mussel and quahogs. With the development of the deposit feeder com-

Aquaculture In Canada: Status, Perspectives

Summary:
With farmed seafood production valued at USD 741.4
million in 2013, Canada exports to over 22 countries
and is the main seafood supplier to the United States.
Finfish, primarily salmon, make up 75.7% of Canadas
aquaculture volume. With 41,760 mt of production in
2013, shellfish growers are planning expansions to meet
increasing demand. The seaweed aquaculture sector is
emerging mostly through the development of marine
integrated multi-trophic aquaculture. Going forward,
a new Aquaculture Act would provide more effective
governance for aquaculture. Diversification will be
imperative to maintain competitiveness.
Few areas can match Canadas natural attributes and seafood
tradition enormous coastal geography, an abundance of cold
Thierry Chopin, Ph.D.
Canadian Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Network
University of New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick, E2L 4L5, Canada
tchopin@unbsj.ca
million). Canada is the main seafood supplier to the U.S. Can-
ada exports about CAD 11.3 million (USD 8.7 million) in
farmed seafood to Japan and CAD 3.6 million (USD 2.8 mil-
lion) to Taiwan. Other top importers of Canadian aquaculture
products include Singapore, China and Hong Kong.
Marine aquaculture operations in Canada are established in
British Columbia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, New-
foundland, Nova Scotia and Qubec. The industry can be
divided into three sectors: the dominant finfish sector, a strong
shellfish sector and the often ignored, but emerging, seaweed
exports was shipped as both fresh and value-added products to
markets in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Canadian con-
sumption of mussels is 0.5 kg/person/year, which is low when
compared to European standards.
In 2013, Canada produced 9,509 mt of farmed oysters, which
accounted for 29.5% of the total value of shellfish production.
Oyster production was distinctly divided between two Canadian
regions. Some 58.8% of the volume and 45.2% of the value was
accounted for by oysters produced in British Columbia. The
remainder comprised oysters produced in Atlantic Canada.
In 2013, 30% of the Canadian farmed oyster production was
exported for a value of CAD 23.4 million (USD 18.0 million),
primarily as live, fresh oysters. The United States is the export
market for 87% of Canadian farmed oysters. The demand is cur-
rently expanding very rapidly and exceeds Canadas current sup-
ply. In an effort to meet this demand, growers are planning
major production expansions.
Other shellfish species under aquaculture development or
cultivated on a smaller scale include Manila clams, varnish/
ponent of IMTA systems for recapturing the large organic par-
ticles from the fed component (fish or shrimp), advances in the
aquaculture of other invertebrates such as sea urchins, sea
cucumbers, polychaetes and lobsters are anticipated.
There is also increased recognition that marine microbial
communities can play a significant role in the recycling of
organic matter. With a better understanding of the contributions
of the good microbes, it is possible their activities could be
enhanced by appropriately designed structures and methods for
their cultivation.
Seaweed Sector
The seaweed aquaculture sector, which is emerging mostly
through the development of IMTA, is often neglected and
ignored in world statistics, despite the fact that it represents 49%
of the world mariculture production. As 96% of the seaweed
aquaculture is concentrated in six Asian countries, there is a lack
of appreciation for this resource in the western world.
IMTA offers an opportunity to reposition the value and roles

and clean water, a favorable climate, and rich marine and fishery
history. Canada also has established trade relationships with the
United States, Asia and Europe, and a commitment to sustain-
able and responsible aquaculture practices.
However, during the past decade, aquaculture production has
more or less stagnated, with only a 12% increase in volume and
4% rise in value since 2008. Canada has remained a middle-
weight contributor to global production, ranking only 21st
among aquaculture-producing countries.
In 2013, the most recent year for which complete statistics
are available, Canada produced 172,097 mt of farmed seafood,
valued at CAD 962.9 million (USD 741.4 million). In 2013,
16% of Canadas total fish production was in aquaculture prod-
ucts and accounted for 35% of its total value. Canada exported
more than 65% of its aquaculture production valued at more
than CAD 601.0 million (USD 462.8 million) to over 22
countries around the world.
Canadas primary farmed seafood export market is the
United States, to which it annually sends more than 88,000 mt
of seafood valued at more than CAD 576 million (USD 443
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Canadas total finfish aquaculture production in 2013 was
130,337 mt. This represented 75.7% of the volume and 90.4% of
the value of the total Canadian aquaculture production.
Farmed salmon was by far the most important finfish grown
by Canadian aquaculturists. With a production volume of
100,027 mt in 2013, it accounted for 76.7% of the volume and
72.9% of the value of finfish produced. British Columbia
accounted for about 58.0% of the production, while New Bruns-
wick accounted for 24.0%, Newfoundland provided 13.0% and
Nova Scotia raised 5.0%.
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44 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 45
 354 million (USD 273 million) in direct GDP, CAD 464 mil-
production
lion (USD 357 million) in indirect GDP and CAD 246 million
(USD 189 million) in induced GDP.
The total labor income was estimated at CAD 618 million
(USD 476 million), reflecting CAD 193 million (USD 149 mil-
lion) achieved directly, CAD 286 million (USD 220 million)
indirectly and CAD 139 million (USD 107 million) induced.
The cumulative gross value of output generated was CAD 2.80
billion (USD 2.15 billion).
The aquaculture industry created an estimated 13,070 FTE
jobs 4,812 directly; 5,643 indirectly and 2,615 induced.

Perspectives: Regulatory Reform, Innovation

At an IMTA site in New Brunswicks Bay of Fundy, kelps
cultivated in proximity to salmon cages provide key services
to the ecosystem and represent an additional crop with many
product applications.
seaweeds can have in integrated food production systems and in
ecosystem health. Since seaweeds are excellent nutrient scrub-
bers, they can be used as the inorganic extractive component of
IMTA, recapturing the dissolved nutrients released from the fed
component. Moreover, having organisms able to accumulate
phosphorus is becoming increasingly attractive, especially when a
A major challenge for the Canadian aquaculture industry is
Canadas complex and somewhat confusing regulatory system
that can restrict growth and limit investment. This industry is
regulated by an obsolete and inefficient Fisheries Act dating
back to 1867, a time when commercial aquaculture did not exist.
This wildlife management act was never intended for this inno-
vative food production sector.
A new Aquaculture Act would provide the Canadian aqua-
culture industry with a more modern and effective approach to
governance. While respecting provincial jurisdictions, the frame-
work legislation could harmonize the application of federal regu-
lations nationwide and enable the development of new practices
within an ecosystem/multi-species/multi-activity management
approach to give this industry clarity and vision for growth.
Especially with the outbreak of white spot syndrome in 1993, China made the large-scale development of new shrimp varieties
In light of this situation, the need for diversification of the selected for faster growth and greater disease resistance a priority.
Canadian aquaculture industry is imperative to maintain its
competitiveness. It is clear that in some regions, the scope for

Shrimp Farming In China

shortage of this element is predicted.
Nutrient biomitigation is not the only ecosystem service pro-
vided by seaweeds. Seaweeds can be cultivated without the addi-
tion of fertilizers and agrochemicals, especially in an IMTA set-
ting. Seaweed cultivation does not require arable soil or
irrigation. If appropriately designed, it can be seen as engineer-
ing new habitats and harboring thriving communities, and can
be used for habitat restoration.
As photosynthetic organisms, seaweeds are the only aquacul-
ture component with a net production of oxygen. While per-
forming photosynthesis, seaweeds also absorb carbon dioxide
and hence participate in carbon sequestration, even if in a transi-
tory manner. Consequently, they could be a significant player in
slowing global warming, especially if their cultivation is
increased evenly throughout the world. By increasing pH in sea-
water, seaweeds could also play a significant role in reducing
ocean acidification at a local scale.
Economic Impacts
Gardner Pinfold Consultants Inc. measured the economic
impacts of the aquaculture industry in Canada in 2010, consider-
ing the value of the output and the gross domestic product
(GDP), labor income and employment in full-time equivalents
(FTE) at three levels. Direct impacts came from the hatcheries,
growout operations and processors of the aquaculture industry
itself. Indirect impacts resulted from the feed, equipment and
consulting industries supplying goods and services to aquacul-
ture. Induced impacts arose from the spending of income earned
by those employed directly and indirectly.
The value of the total output was CAD 1.11 billion (USD
855.07 million). The aquaculture industry generated a total
GDP of CAD 1.06 billion (USD 819.63 million), with CAD
46 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
expansion of monoculture activities is limited. Multi-species sys-
tems could not only bring increased profitability per cultivation
unit, but also environmental sustainability and societal accept-
ability. Moreover, multi-crop diversification could be an eco-
nomic risk mitigation option to address climate change impacts.
Product diversification within species will also be important.
Attitudes and business models could evolve from the one species
one process one product approach often used with fishery and
aquaculture products to embrace the integrated sequential biore-
finery one species several processes several products concept.
Seaweeds are prime candidates for this approach.
While not covered here, freshwater IMTA (or aquaponics) is
poised to develop in the next few years in Canada. This food pro-
duction system combines animal aquaculture and plant cultivation
through a microbial link in a symbiotic relationship. Aquaponics
should help farmers uphold water quality guidelines by reducing
the amount of nutrients, especially phosphorus, in their effluents.
It should also help decrease water usage, allow product diversifica-
tion and potentially represent a branding advantage.
Increasing responsible aquaculture production through diver-
sification, regulatory reform and new legislation would also have
positive impacts on jobs and economic opportunities in rural/
coastal communities.
Given the degree of health consciousness among Canadian
consumers, a campaign emphasizing the health benefits of eating
more farmed seafood could be very effective in increasing its
demand. Access to more farmed seafood, including seaweeds,
would support increasing market demands for fresh, local, safe
and sustainably produced seafood. For buyers and consumers,
these attributes, with the appropriate valuation of the ecosystem
services rendered, should be used for differentiation through
branding, ecocertification and organic labeling.
What Should We Learn From Its Developmental History?
Summary:
Kuruma shrimp, Marsupenaeus japonicus.
Fenneropenaeus chinensis was the
most important farmed shrimp
important farmed shrimp species in China,
species in China until 1995. Les-
sons learned from its development
made China a pioneer, especially
in shrimp larval production. Initial
research focused on life history,
gonad maturity, the water envi-
ronment and feed. Researchers
later validated techniques for
large-scale seedstock production.
Disease outbreaks led to breeding
programs to select shrimp variet-
ies with better growth and disease
resistance. Whatever the mode,
sustainable development is the
only viable way for aquaculture to
grow further.
Marine shrimp farming has been one of
the most important industries in the field of
marine economy development in China.
The main species cultured are Chinese
shrimp, Fenneropenaeus chinensis; Pacific
white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei; black
tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon; and
Before 1995, F. chinensis was the most
especially in the provinces comprising its
natural distribution along the coast of the
Bohai and Yellow Seas. Its highest ocean
catch was over 40,000 mt in 1979. Produc-
tion increases since 1995 came basically
from L. vannamei (Figure 1).
In 2013, China harvested more than 1
mmt of shrimp from marine farm ponds,
with L. vannamei accounting for 812,545
mt or 75.14% of the total. The production
of F. chinensis (41,931 mt, 3.88%), P. mon-
odon (72,008 mt, 6.65%) and M. japonicus
(45,949 mt, 4.25%) also contributed rela-
tively small shares.
F. chinensis Farming
F. chinensis farming in China has had
a history of about 60 years, considering
the start of related research work in 1952.
Dramatic changes occurred during this
period and made it one of the most rele-
vant industries in the mariculture field.
global aquaculture advocate
Dr. Xianhong Meng
Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute
Dr. Qingyin Wang
Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute
Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences
106 Nanjing Road
Qingdao 266071 China
wangqy@ysfri.ac.cn
Dr. Jie Kong
Dr. Jian Li
Dr. Jie Huang
Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute
According to available information, in
the afternoon of March 30, 1952, Shup-
ing Zhu and Dizhou Tong discussed the
collaboration on Chinese shrimp farming
research between Yellow Sea Fisheries
Research Institute and the Institute of
Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sci-
ences. This was the earliest record of F.
chinensis research in China collected by
the author in the archives offices of the
institutes. The initial research mainly
September/October 2015 47
Annual Shrimp Volume (mt) 1,200,000 6 white spot syndrome (WSS) in F. chinen- culture technology system has developed
Area Yield Production sis has seriously affected shrimp culture. since the mid-1990s. Farming modes also
1,000,000 5 To address the disease, it became an underwent constant improvement and
urgent goal to develop and select new innovation, including extensive culture in

Pond Area (ha)

800,000 4 varieties with traits for faster growth and the 1960s to 1980s, semi-intensive culture
greater disease resistance. This work has in the 1980s to 1990s, land-based pond
600,000 3 been carried out by Dr. Qingyin Wang culture and greenhouse culture.
and his team at the Yellow Sea Fisheries Multi-trophic integrated culture is an
400,000 2 Research Institute, Chinese Academy of emerging, ecosystem-based farming
Fishery Sciences, since 1996. mode. It integrates shrimp farming with
200,000 1 A new variety named Huanghai No. 1 fish, shellfish, crabs, seaweed or other
was obtained in 2003 after seven genera- species to obtain good harvests with
0 0 tions of selective breeding incorporating larger animal sizes, higher quality and
biotechnology with a selective approach. good market value, but makes less impact
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
Land-based pond culture has long been practiced in China. Technical advances
The average body length increased by on the environment. in pond construction have included the use of liners and well-managed aeration.
Figure 1. Area, yield and production of marine shrimp farming in China. 8.40%, while the body weight increased An updated and promising pond-
26.86% from the values achieved by the farming concept called biofloc technology
focused on life history, gonad maturity, for correctly identifying and recogniz- unselected control population. Besides has received considerable attention from farming undoubtedly has promise for Shrimp farmers and related stake-
the water environment and feed. ing the larval stages and for artificial this, many efforts were devoted to select
The year of 1959 marked multiple breeding of shrimp seedstock. shrimp farmers in recent years. With this expansion, even though some constraints holders must enhance their understand-
lines of F. chinensis resistant to white spot technology, unutilized nutrients can be and challenges need to be properly ing of the interactions of farming activi-
milestones in the history of F. chinensis By 1976, seed bred in concrete tanks syndrome virus since 1998.
research in China. In this year, the first and earth ponds had made substan- removed with the production of microbial addressed. Some suggestions have been ties with their ecosystems to practice
After breeding for 11 generations biomass which can be used by shrimp as presented to promote further shrimp farm- ecosystem-based approaches that maxi-
successful rearing of shrimp larvae was tial progress and promoted farming incorporating multi-trait selective breed-
reported at the Beitang shrimp farm in production. an additional food source. Biofloc sys- ing, including the development of new mize profits while minimizing the
ing technology, the Huanghai No. 2 vari- tems also play an important role in bio- farming modes and innovative techniques, impacts of shrimp farming. Sustainable
Tianjin City, and the first report on the In 1981, remarkable progress was ety featuring faster growth, higher pond
life history of Chinese shrimp was pub- made under the concerted efforts of control against diseases and adjustments as well as new theories and ideas. Breeding and environmentally friendly develop-
survival and stronger disease resistance in dissolved-oxygen and pH levels. of new varieties should be strengthened. ment is the only viable way for shrimp
lished. Also during 1959, the first wild- Fazhen Zhao, Denggong Cao, Kex- was evaluated in 2008. The harvest body
captured F. chinensis were successfully ing Wang, Zongyao Chen, Zhenq- Disease diagnosis, prevention and control farming to advance, which was one of the
overwintered in indoor tanks, according to ing Zhu and other researchers. In
weight increased by over 20.0%, resis- Perspectives techniques should be enhanced and most important lessons to be learned
tance to WSS was increased by 15.8%, The Chinese shrimp, F. chinensis, has improved, and feed quality and feeding from the developmental history of F. chi-
available data by Yu Wang and Ruiyu Liu experimental tanks with a total and the shrimp demonstrated lower mor-
and co-authors. water volume of 13,465 m3, an aver- been widely consumed in China, and its schemes should be further perfected. nensis farming in China.
bidity or slower death after infection with
age of 37,300 postlarvae/m3 were disease.
Seedstock Production reared, with some tanks containing In 2013, Huanghai No. 3 was
Important technical breakthroughs in as many as 200,000 postlarvae/m3. obtained after five generations of selective How Do You Feed A Family Of Thousands - Millions?
F. chinensis seed breeding were achieved These researchers validated tech- breeding. Farming experiments showed
in following years: niques for large-scale, industrial that, compared to the performance of
In the 1960s, Ruiyu Liu, Shangqin seedstock production by controlling control groups, the resistance of the new
Wu, Yu Wang, Fazhen Zhao, Kex- temperature, water quality and varieties of juvenile shrimp to ammonia
ing Wang and other Chinese scien- feeds, and made China one of the nitrogen increased by 21.2%, the survival
tists succeeded in experimentally leading countries in shrimp larval rate increased by 15.2%, and average
breeding F. chinensis seedstock. production. weight rose by 11.8%.
 In 1965, Fazhen Zhao of the Yellow The peak period of F. chinensis farm- The Huanghai varieties of F. chinensis
Sea Fisheries Research Institute pub- ing in China was 1987 to 1992, with have been recommended by the Ministry
lished his study on the development of annual total yield from farming ponds of Agriculture of China as the main new
shrimp larvae. It systematically around 200,000 mt, and farm pond area varieties of shrimp to be cultured in
described the morphology and distinc- of around 140,000 ha. Shandong, Hebei, Tianjin, Liaoning and
tive features of the nauplius, zoea,
other coastal areas of northern China. In
mysis and postlarvae stages in detail, New Varieties Of F. chinensis recent years, their annual farming area
which provided the theoretical basis Since 1993, a nationwide outbreak of
exceeded 20,000 ha, and the shrimp have
been well received by farmers.

Work with
Culture Modes, Technologies
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chinensis, formed attention was focused on research and
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48 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 49
production
Large-Scale Tilapia Project Driving
Aquaculture Development In Ivory Coast
Tilapia harvested from the floating cages in Lake Taabo can help supply the strong
local demand for fish, which currently is met largely by imports.
Summary:
A large-scale aquaculture project
in Ivory Coast is building on
advances made over past decades
by often short-lived projects.
Developed by Societe dElevage
et de Distribution de Poissons
(SEDP), the facilities so far con-
sist of a tilapia hatchery located
in And-Adzop and two float-
ing cage growout farms on lakes
constructed for hydropower
purposes. The soft technology
adopted by SEDP allows the full
growing cycle to be controlled
using local materials, local man-
power and local inputs.
Fish culture in Sub-Saharan Africa has
been only recently implemented, unlike
what has occurred in many other parts of
the world. This implementation, which
started mainly just after World War II, was
the result of a colonial initiative imposed on
local populations by colonial administra-
tions with the aim of improving the nutri-
tional status of candidate fish farmers. As
50 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
many as 300,000 ponds were recorded in
the early 1960s in the newly independent
Sub-Saharan colonies. This dynamic had to
face a number of constraints of biotechni-
cal, social and economic origin.
Among these constraints were a lack of
established fish production practices and
the fact that pond fish culture requires a
large amount of manpower, both for dig-
ging ponds and managing the culture
cycle. That could only be achieved through
improving the nutrition of the workers.
The increasing and dramatic involve-
ment of funding agencies in the field of
Hapas for tilapia breeding and fry nursery are implemented in ponds at the SEDP
hatchery in And-Adzop.
Jrme Lazard, Ph.D.
International Consultant
in Tropical Aquaculture
HUDDA (Human Development
and Dams)
97 Avenue de la Rpublique
75011 Paris, France
jerome.lazard@hudda.org
Habib Coulibaly
Engineer and Executive Director
Societe dElevage et de Distribution
de Poissons
Abidjan, Cte dIvoire
agricultural development in Sub-Saharan
Africa (SSA) during the 1970s and 1980s
also addressed aquaculture. The outputs
were limited, however, due to a poor
development strategy. In the field of aqua-
culture, research and so-called pilot proj-
ects were firstly targeted by international
cooperation and funding agencies. Such
operations did yield advances concerning
the biology and culture of tilapia and cat-
fish, as well as fish pond management.
Yet the development projects widely
implemented throughout SSA resulted in
limited impact and mostly stopped as
funding came to an end. The main reason
for this was that the projects focused,
once again, on a self-subsistence activity
for a large number of beneficiaries instead
of targeting a selected number of profes-
sional, well-trained fish farmers with
commercial and profitability targets.
During this period, the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the
global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 51
 Adzop hatchery is estimated to be
around 10 million individuals.
The Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus,
used at SEDP are a hybrid strain from sev-
eral populations found in Ivory Coast: the
Bouak strain and a TilAqua population
selected by a Dutch operator using the YY
technique for all-male production.

Growout
The Nile tilapia used by SEDP are a hybrid strain from several Ivory Coast populations. Fry delivered by the hatchery are
grown in 50-m3 floating cages located in
Taabo and Kossou Lakes. Following
United Nations claimed that Fish cul- The facilities developed by SEDP so comprehensive research conducted by
ture is everyones business. Following far consist of a tilapia hatchery located in FAO on fish populations and limnology
this trend, a number of projects operated And-Adzop (100 km northeast of during the early 1970s, a fisheries man-
by non-governmental organizations were Abidjan) and two floating cage growout agement framework was established. It
implemented in the 1990s without any farms on two man-made lakes: Taabo included, among other items, the intro-
greater success. and Kossou 160 and 250 km north of duction of Oreochromis niloticus in the
Currently, African aquaculture devel- Abidjan and with 70- and 1,000-km lakes to take advantage of a vacant eco-
opment may have reached a turning areas, respectively. The lakes were con- logical niche and the training of local
point, as a series of favorable events start structed in the 1970s on the Bandama farmers to raise fish after they were dis-
to emerge. These include increasing River for hydropower purposes. placed by the dam impoundment that
aquatic product imports by many African The technology adopted by SEDP proved unsuccessful.
countries, development of regional mar- for fish farming is so-called soft tech- Because of the lack of technical data
kets for freshwater fish and subsequent nology, as opposed to a high-tech on water quality in the lakes, SEDP had
high market prices, the example of an approach requiring high levels of tech- to develop its own program for monitor-
established endogenous aquaculture food nology. The full growing cycle can be ing water quality to assess the lakes aqua-
chain in Nigeria and the increas- controlled using local materials, local culture potential and optimally manage
ing number of large-scale private fish manpower and local inputs available in the existing operations. After the first year
farms in several countries. the country or at least within the region. of operation, SEDP achieved satisfactory
biotechnical performance (Figure 1): indi-
SEDP Hatchery vidual growth of over 2 g/day, 1.1 feed-
In this context, Societe dElevage et The hatchery was set up on a farm of conversion ratio and 90% survival.
de Distribution de Poissons (SEDP), a 3 ha total area that was formerly used for The feed is imported from Ghana in
private fish production and marketing producing market-size Nile tilapia. Water the absence of any feed plant able to pro-
company with its headquarters in Abi- is supplied to ponds by gravity from a vide fish feed in Ivory Coast. The pro-
djan, Ivory Coast, was started in 2013. small dam built across a stream. Ten days
duction of market-size fish reached 100
Its goal is to grow and market fish and to after fertilization, fry are collected from
mt in 2014, and SEDP plans to produce
help establish an aquaculture network in broodstock ponds and stocked in hapas
500 to 600 mt in 2015.
the country based on the development of placed in other ponds, where the fry are
a value chain involving various stake- hormonally sex-reversed and grown to a Marketing
holders from input suppliers and fish size of 0.5 to 1.0 g. The potential annual The commercialization of this pro-
growers to processors and wholesalers. capacity of fry production from the And- duction takes place in a favorable con-
text. For Ivorian consumers, and particu-
500
Unit 1 larly those with the least purchasing
power, fish remains the primary source
400
of animal protein due mainly to its rela-
Unit 2
Weight (g)

tively low cost compared to that of meat.

300
Thus, the yearly national fish con-
Unit 3 sumption fluctuates between 250,000
200 and 300,000 mt, while annual individual
Unit 4
consumption is estimated at 13.2 kg.
100 About 67% of this demand is supplied by
imports, which emphasizes Ivory Coasts
0
st
Unit 5 great dependence on outside countries
ing g 1 g 2 g 3 g 4 g 5 e
toc
k
ishin ishin ishin ishin ishin Harv for its fish needs.
geS teF teF teF teF teF The challenge now is for SEDP to
Ca dia dia dia dia dia Unit 6
r me r me r me r me r me act as a driving force for further develop-
Inte Inte Inte Inte Inte
ment of aquaculture within a network
Figure 1. Growth curves of Nile tilapia cultivated from July 2014 to December/January 2015 that includes small-scale and middle-size
in floating cages on Lake Taabo. fish farmers and various other operators.
52 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 53
production parental health conditions. This would lead
Pirarucu Culture In The Brazilian Amazon
Fledgling Industry Faces Technological Issues
Further transfer of existing technologies and knowledge would greatly enhance
production of the fast-growing pirarucu. Photo by Jefferson Cristiano Christofoletti.
Summary:
With their fast growth and ample
light-flavored flesh, pirarucu
present potential as an aquacul-
ture species. Although a private
initiative in Brazil has established
the beginning of a model of
vertical integration for pirarucu
production with local farmers,
industry growth is hampered by
limited technology and manage-
ment of domestication practices.
Pirarucu fingerlings face a diet
transition from plankton to dry
feed in a key life stage. Current
commercial diets are typically
not fully suited to the nutritional
needs of pirarucu. However,
health problems during growout
are generally minimal.
The pirarucu or paiche, Arapaima
gigas, is the largest freshwater fish reared
in the Amazon. Pirarucu fillets are highly
nutritious, lack spines and present a light
flavor appreciated in Brazil and overseas.
Moreover, the fast growth of the fish in
the first year up to 10 kg and its obli-
gate aerial breathing adaption are remark-
able aspects of this Amazon species.
Its captive production has limited
environmental impacts, as farms typically
do not use hormones or antibiotics, and
advocate traceability. Despite impressive
54 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
potential for the aquaculture of pirarucu,
2013 estimates for its production
reported only 2,300 mt. Due to the low
technological levels applied in its captive
reproduction, an irregular supply of fin-
gerlings disrupts the whole production
chain, which is still under development in
Brazil. Limited technology is also
observed in the other links of the chain,
so when farmed, pirarucu is normally a
secondary species.
The transfer of existing technologies
used for other species into the production
of pirarucu would significantly improve
production levels. Research on pirarucu
reproduction, nutrition, genetics, health
and processing would also benefit the
aquaculture of this species.
Production Chain Started
Led by Empresa Brasileira de Pes-
quisa Agropecuria (Brazilian Agricul-
tural Research Corp.) and in collabora-
tion with Servio Brasileiro de Apoio s
Micro e Pequenas Empresas (Brazilian
Micro and Small Business Support Ser-
vice) and the Ministry of Fisheries and
Aquaculture, a series of actions were trig-
gered in 2012 to provide research on cap-
ital areas as well as the immediate transfer
of existing technologies in the fields of
reproduction, nutrition, health and
genetics of the Amazon pirarucu.
Additionally, a technological evalua-
tion of the production of pirarucu in the
Amazon was made to assess the status of
this production chain in Brazil.
Adriana Ferreira Lima
Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa
Agropecuria (Embrapa)
Quadra 104 S, LO1, Lt. 34
77020-020 Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil
adriana.lima@embrapa.br
Ana Paula Oeda Rodrigues
Eduardo Sousa Varela
Lucas Simon Torati
Patricia Oliveira Maciel
Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa
Agropecuria (Embrapa)
Reproduction
The pirarucu is at an early stage of
domestication, so reproduction in captiv-
ity is still considered the big challenge.
Among the main issues are a complicated
sex identification of the fish and adult
broodstock management.
Often, producers stock several adults
in ponds or small dams without proper
knowledge of their origin and age, and
wait for spontaneous spawnings to occur
during the rainy season, so larvae or juve-
niles can then be captured. This practice
results in a low level of reproduction and
raises the risks of inbreeding.
As the sexual maturity of the species
occurs after four or five years of life, when
fish reach a weight of 40 to 60 kg, it is
very costly to maintain broodstock in an
ineffective system like this. With no
guidance of broodstock mating and no
individual tagging or registering of fish
age, records of mating or genetic related-
ness, control of reproductive parameters
is basically absent. This enormously con-
tributes to the irregular offerings of fin-
gerlings in the market.
In this context, the isolation of couples
into different earthen ponds is now gener-
ating a higher control of reproduction and
productivity. This naturally necessitates
the adoption of practices for proper identi-
fication of the broodstock. Evaluation of
the color patterns of mature adults is the
empirical method used by most producers,
but its accuracy falls short.
Although its access to most producers
is limited, a more-precise sex identifica-
tion method is the use of enzyme immu-
noassay kits for detection of vitellogenin,
a protein produced only by mature
females. Especially when allied with pas-
sive integrated transponder tagging, these
kits would support much more efficient
broodstock management and help pre-
vent inbreeding, a huge problem encoun-
tered at most of the fish farms.
The transfer of these simple technolo-
gies would enhance the fingerling produc-
tion in the Amazon. Further studies of
more controlled reproduction will ensure a
more constant offering of fingerlings
throughout the year.
Fingerlings
The fingerling stage is marked by
feed training in which a gradual transi-
tion is made from the natural zooplank-
ton feed to a dry feed ration with 45 to
50% crude protein. This process can take
from 10 to 20 days. Normally done inside
a laboratory, it is one of the most critical
points in fingerling production, as high
mortality and susceptibility to diseases are
common at this stage.
Beyond the feed training, water qual-
ity and stocking issues can favor the
development of body and branchial ecto-
parasites, especially Thichodina species
to methods for prevention and offer specific
treatments for the different diseases that
Pirarucu can grow from affect pirarucu at early life stages.
fingerlings to weights over
10 kg in less than a year.
Photo by Jefferson Cristiano
Growout
The rearing of pirarucu adults is com-
Christofoletti.
monly done in earthen ponds and dams,
but cage production has also been tried. In
general, pirarucu growout is divided into
two phases. In the first 90 to 120 days,
fish measure 10 to 15 cm in total length
and monogenea flatworms, which are the
and reach weights of 600 to 1,000 g.
main causes of mortalities at these early
In the second phase, pirarucu reach
stages. In addition, as the fingerlings are
approximately 10 kg after 270 to 300
normally captured more than 10 days
days. Better feed efficiency is reported for
after hatching, an initial parasite load is
systems in which forage fish complement
often present due to contact with the
the ration offered. This is due to the fact
environment and parents. These factors
that the available commercial rations do
result in variable success among hatcher-
not fully meet the nutritional require-
ies, which is reflected in the fingerling
ments of the species. This contributes to
prices and productivity in adult growth.
a high feed-conversion ratio of 2.0 or
The feed training of fingerlings is an
greater and severely impacts final produc-
intense and careful phase that requires
tion costs. On the other hand, health
specialized labor and detailed observa-
problems during growout are generally
tion. Fry that exit training without an
minimal, at least when the fingerlings
effective transition to dry feed should be
have successfully completed feed training
returned to the initial stages of training,
and have good health.
although most producers have not
Considering that pirarucu feed on
adopted this approach.
zooplankton during the first phase, fertil-
In addition, the adoption of best
ization of the earthen ponds is a practice
practices for sanitary management would
that can complement commercial rations.
also help solve early-stage mortality prob-
The development of rations that address
lems. These include the control of finger-
the nutritional requirements and mouth
lings coming into the laboratories, proper
size of the species will be essential to
early diagnosis of diseases to allow pre-
optimize captive production. Further
ventive treatments, disinfection of struc-
research is required, but this will only
tures and devices used in rearing, and
become viable to the feed industry when
appropriate control of water quality.
the pirarucu production chain gains vol-
Also important is knowledge of the
ume and greater structure.
pathogenicity of the diseases that infect fin-
gerling pirarucu, and the influence of
global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 55
 SUSTAINABLE
DEMAND FOR SEAFOOD
Pirarucu fillet. Photo by Jefferson
Cristiano Christofoletti.
BEAVER STREET FISHERIES, INC.
Working with our partners to meet the global demand for seafood responsibly.
Processing,
Commercialization
Most Brazilian fish-processing plants
have no production line or methods of
desensitization and slaughtering adapted
to large fish such as pirarucu. Fresh fillets
and frozen or salted products are the main
items offered to the market. Utilization of
by-products, especially the scales and
leather, which could make the processing
more profitable, is rare. Once again, the
main obstacle at this stage is the irregular
production, which limits the opening of
national and international markets.
Brazil already has a private initiative
of pirarucu production at industrial scale
with the beginning of a model of vertical
integration. This company stimulates the
production of pirarucu by offering trained
fingerlings, technical assistance and a
purchase guarantee to the local fish farm-
ers, who in turn grow out the fish. Over
the last few years, the adoption of this
model has led to an increase in the pro-
duction of in captivity.

Perspectives
Only the synergic efforts of research
and development institutions, technical
agencies and the production sector could
provide new technologies for farming
pirarucu and effectively transfer them to
producers. Moreover, marketing strate-
gies should be adopted to expand the
market niches. The production model
must incorporate technologies for trace-
ability to ensure sustainability and help
reduce the depletion of natural stocks.
The ongoing research and technologi-
cal transfer initiatives undertaken over the
last three years have so far shown that
pirarucu is unquestionably a potential can-
didate for further aquaculture. If the
800 252 5661
remaining issues in the production chain
can be solved, pirarucu can become one of beaverstreetfisheries.com
the main fish species produced in Brazil.

56 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 57
marketplace Table 1. Some notable parasite-induced losses in finfish aquaculture.
Equivalent Estimated

Economic Impacts Of Aquatic Parasites Host Parasite Country Year

Loss
Details
Production
Loss (mt)
Loss (U.S. $,
million)

On Global Finfish Production

Atlantic salmon Caligus rogercresseyi Chile 2009 Cost to industry 31,266 193.60
Salmo salar Desmozoon lepeophtherii Scotland 2009-10 8.7% mortality 82 0.36
Kudoa thyrsites Canada 2010 Loss in fillet quality 2,190 15.00
Paramoeba perurans Scotland 2011 10-20% mortality 13,600 81.00
Initial Estimates Project Annual Losses Up To U.S. $9.6 Billion Sea lice (Lepeophthirius
salmonis and Caligus species)
Global 2009 Control: U.S. $0.30/kg 107,696 480.00

Japanese amberjack Benedenia seriolae Japan 2001 Control: 22% of production 33,637 214.00
Seriola quinqueradiata Kudoa yasunagai Japan 2011 Estimated 20% mortality 162 1.60
Neobenedenia melleni Japan Current Control and managment 29,150 Over 200.00
Andy Shinn, Ph.D. European seabass Diplectanum aequans Italy 2006 5-10% mortality 110-220 0.92-1.85
Fish Vet Group Asia Ltd. Dicentrarchus labrax
99/386 Chaengwattana Building Greater amberjack Benedenia seriolae Australia 2003 Mortality of 39 mt 39 0.53
Chaengwattana Road Seriola dumerili and Zeuxapta seriolae
Kwaeng Toongsonghong, Khet Laksi Paradeontacylix-like Spain 1994 Estimated 80% mortality 48 0.77
Bangkok 10210 Thailand trematodes
andy.shinn@fishvetgroup.com Sharp-snout sea bream Enteromyxum leei Mediterranean 2004 Stopped production 400 2.63
Diplodus puntazzo
Jarunan Pratoomyot, Ph.D. Cobia Neobenedenia melleni Taiwan 2001 40% mortality 284 1.80
Institute of Marine Science Rachycentron canadum
Burapha University Southern bluefin tuna Caligus chiastos and Australia 2008 40-47% mortality 85 1.40
Chonburi, Thailand Thunnus maccoyii Cardicola forsteri
Uronema nigricans Australia 2003 4% mortality 95 2.13
James Bron, Ph.D. Tilapia species Amyloodinium ocellatum United States 1997-98 20-50% mortality 2,045-5,115 6.77-16.93
Giuseppe Paladini, Ph.D. Oreochromis niloticus
Esther Brooker and O. mossambicus
Adam Brooker, Ph.D.
Institute of Aquaculture
School of Natural Sciences ius multifiliis and Cryptocaryon irritans; and species belonging to representing 5.8 to 16.5% of the value of aquaculture production
University of Stirling the monogenean genera Gyrodactylus and Dactylogyrus. in the United Kingdom across all species reared in freshwater,
Stirling, United Kingdom brackish and marine systems.
Estimating Global Costs To begin moving toward an estimate of loss attributable to
The authors recently began to estimate the global costs of par- parasitism, the figure of 20% is applied here to estimate stage-
Commonly encountered parasites of aquatic animals include is complicated, as costs can be affected by a diverse assortment of asitism by following production at four commercial Nile tilapia, specific losses due to parasites within the hatchery phase of pro-
(from left) Caligus elongatus, the monogenean Gyrodactylus sala- environmental and management factors. The factors can range Oreochromis niloticus, farms in Thailand over the course of 12 duction. This is based on this latter study on aquaculture activi-
ris, the ciliate protozoan Trichodina and Anisakis nematodes. from direct losses in production to the more indirect costs of months to determine average mortality rates in the earlier stages of ties in the U.K. It is important to stress, however, that this is not
On the second row, right, the eggs of the turbellarian Bdelloura longer-term control and management of infections and the production. The data are presented in Figure 1. From these values, 20% of global harvest production.
candida are shown on the gills of a horseshoe crab. The image on the following survival rates can be determined: egg production
wider, downstream socioeconomic impacts on livelihoods and
the third row shows Gyrodactylus salaris on the fin of an Atlantic
salmon, followed by the sessile peritrich Apiosoma on the skin of
satellite industries associated with the primary producer. (77.5% hatch rate), swim-up fry (77.8% survival from hatched Global Numbers
a freshwater fish and the monogenean Dictyocotyle coeliaca from Certain parasite infections may be predictable, as they occur eggs, 60.8% survival of starting egg number), 21-day post-mono- In 2013, the last year for which complete figures are available
the body cavity of a ray. regularly, while others are unpredictable because they arise spo- sex fry (78.9% survival from swim-up fry, 48.0% survival of start- from FAO, the global production of finfish through aquaculture
radically. In each case, there can be costs for treating and manag- ing egg number) and in 2.5-cm nursery-size fish (83.3% survival was 47.07 mmt. If we assume an average sale weight of harvest-
ing infections once they are established, but for predictable from 21-day monosex stage, 40.0% survival of starting egg num- sized fish of 0.4 to 0.5 kg, the total number of harvest fish sold
infections, there also are costs associated with prophylactic treat- ber).
Summary: ment and management. Hatchery-based losses were then calculated using local pro-
Table 1 provides some estimates of economic loss associated duction costs 0.1 Thai baht (U.S. $0.0028) for each egg to 2.5-cm
Parasites generate costs for managing infections as well 25
with notable protistan and metazoan parasite events in some of swim-up stage, 0.2 baht ($0.0057) for each swim-up to monosex Swim-Up 21-Day Post- Nursery-
as prophylactic treatment in finfish aquaculture. Based Eggs Fry Monosex Fry Size Fish
the worlds leading finfish production industries. The figures fry and 0.3 baht ($0.0085) for each monosex to nursery-size fish
on estimated hatchery losses to parasitism of 20%, the
provided in Table 1 were extracted from a larger study by the and by assuming that 20% of the mortalities can be directly 20

authors estimated annual global loss of juvenile fish to
parasites at U.S. $107.31 million to $134.14 million.
Assuming parasites are responsible for losses of 1% to 10%
of harvest-size fish, the value of these fish was estimated
at $945.00 million to $9.45 billion. Combining the hatch-
ery and growout figures, the parasites annual cost was
tentatively estimated at $1.05 billion to $9.58 billion.
Obligate and opportunistic parasites play a critical role in
determining the productivity, sustainability and economic viabil-
ity of global finfish aquaculture enterprises. Without stringent
and appropriate control measures, the impacts of these patho-
gens can often be significant.
Estimating the true impacts of each parasite event, however,
authors in which the potential economic costs related to 498
specific events attributable to a range of key parasite pathogens
were detailed.
Acceptance of Losses
A significant proportion of stock losses occur within the
hatchery/nursery phases of production. In many industries, these
are factored into and accepted as part of normal operational
practices.
Such fatalistic acceptance means losses are frequently underre-
ported, hiding the severity and impacts of parasites such as omy-
cete species belonging to the genera Aphanomyces and Saprolegnia;
the dinoflagellates Amyloodinium ocellatum and Piscinoodinium pil-
lulare; ciliate protozoans such as Trichodina species, Ichthyophthir-
Tilapia (millions)
attributed to parasitic infection.
Given the broad diversity of aquaculture, the 267 food finfish 15
species and categories listed by the Food and Agriculture Organi-
zation (FAO) of the United Nations and the vast spectrum of par-
asites that can impact their production, it is almost impossible to
10
ascribe a single value that captures all the losses induced by para-
site activity in each industry. Likewise, despite continuous health 5
monitoring by on-site diagnosticians, it is technically impossible
to determine the cause of mortality of every fish on site. 0
From the figures provided above and in Figure 1, for exam- 0 10 20 30 40 50
ple, about 1.2 million 21-day post-monosex fry are lost each Weeks
month (about 40,000/day). From a parallel study conducted by Figure 1. Survival metrics across one cluster of Nile tilapia at four
some of the current authors, it would appear that parasites farm sites. The development and survival to each stage have been
account for an annual loss of U.S. $62 million to $175 million, aligned so survival can be readily interpreted.

58 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 59
 annually can be estimated at 94.14 billion to 117.68 billion.
If this figure is adjusted by assuming a 10% loss of fish
Middle East & Central Asia between nursery and harvest, the annual number of post-nursery
fish can be estimated as 103.55 billion to 129.44 billion. If the
same percentages of parasite-induced loss are applied for each
Aquaculture 2015 stage of finfish hatchery production, and assuming that U.S. $1.00
= 32.16 Thai baht, the annual global loss of juvenile fish can be

14-16 December estimated at between U.S. $107.31 million and $134.14 million.
Using the annual production of all farmed tilapia species for
2013, for example, which was 4.82 mmt, we can estimate there

Olympic Hotel, Tehran, Iran
Including: the Asia Pacific Aquaculture Regional 2015 (APC Chapter of the World aquaculture Socie-
ty), the Middle East Aquaculture Forum 15 Tehran, the International Shrimp Symposium 2015, and
many more. This event is hosted by the Iranian Fisheries Research Organisation.
tapping new markets in aquaculture
Join us early and benefit from early
bird discount. Abstract submission
deadline: 5th October 2015
The first AquaForum in Jeju organized by the World
Aquaculture Society and supported by the Korean Government
showed an enormous interest in this type of events that bring
the suppliers, academics and farmers together. After the
success of the first Middle East Aquaculture Forum in Dubai,
MEAF is reaching out to another prime aquaculture
destination, namely Tehran, Iran.
MEAF15 Tehran
The countrys diverse knowledge base and its community of
highly trained aquaculture professionals make Iran, Teheran
an obvious venue for the next MEAF edition.
With its central location in the Middle East, its direct
access from/to over 78 global destinations and its
state-of-the-art meeting facilities and hotels,
Teheran is set to solidify the success of the APC-WAS
Middle East Aquaculture Forum.
were 9.7 billion to 13.4 billion post-nursery fish produced and
that the economic losses of juvenile tilapia to parasitic infection
were U.S. $4.84 million to $6.66 million at the nursery stage,
$5.84 million to $8.02 million at the monosex stage and $5.13
million to $7.05 million at the swim-up stage.
Secondary Losses
However, these estimates are for the direct losses due to par-
asitic infections and do not account for the role that parasites can
play in facilitating secondary infections and the resultant losses.
Considering post-nursery losses, the total production in 2013
was 40.50 mmt of freshwater fish valued at U.S. $1,641/mt, and
6.57 mmt of brackish and marine fish valued at U.S. $4,203/mt.
If we assume parasites are responsible for the loss of 1 to 10% of
harvest-size fish, then the value of these fish can be estimated at
$945.00 million for 1.0% loss, $2.36 billion at 2.5% loss, $4.72
billion for 5.0% and $9.45 billion at 10.0% loss. If the hatchery
and growout figures are combined, the annual global cost of par-
asites in finfish aquaculture can be very loosely and tentatively
estimated at $1.05 billion to $9.58 billion.
Perspectives
Moving toward an accurate estimation of the global cost of
parasite-associated impacts is dependent on detailed, high-qual-
ity data and the resources necessary to undertake such studies.
However, as global aquaculture continues to grow and intensify,
the prevalence and severity of parasite infections will similarly
rise, as will the attendant economic costs of parasitism.
In addition, the increased trade in finfish and their products
may facilitate the spread of parasites into new environments.
Changing climatic conditions will also place increased pressure
on aquaculture systems, current production practices and the
interactions among wild and farmed aquatic stocks, parasite life
cycles and transmission pathways.

This first Middle East & Central Asia Aqua

Forum will include several renowned
aquaculture meetings and will Int Shrimp Sym
provide a truly international
platform for academics,
aquaculture experts and
industry alike.

Limited Registration
www.was.org IFRO
Still Available:
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www.meaf.ae
goal
info@meaf.ae

60 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 61
marketplace A Diet With No Seaweed B Diet With 10% Seaweed
Cooked Crab Aroma Cooked Crab Aroma

Adding Flavor Complexity

Overall Desirability Sweet Aroma Overall Desirability Sweet Aroma

Guy Carton, Ph.D. Sweet Aftertaste Fresh Fish Aroma Sweet Aftertaste Fresh Fish Aroma

To Farmed Barramundi
College of Marine
and Environmental Sciences Fresh Fish Aftertaste Off-Fishy Aroma Fresh Fish Aftertaste Off-Fishy Aroma
Centre for Sustainable Tropical

Dietary Compounds Carry Traits To Fillets Fisheries and Aquaculture

James Cook University Crablike Aftertaste Off-Fishy Flavor Crablike Aftertaste Off-Fishy Flavor
1 James Cook Drive
Townsville City, Queensland 4811
Australia Crablike Seafood Flavor Seaweed Flavor Crablike Seafood Flavor Seaweed Flavor
guy.carton@jcu.edu.au Fresh Fish Flavor Fresh Fish Flavor
Rich and Complex Rich and Complex
Igor Pirozzi, Ph.D.
Ben Jones, Ph.D. C Diet With 20% Seaweed D Diet With 30% Seaweed
College of Marine Cooked Crab Aroma Cooked Crab Aroma
and Environmental Sciences Overall Desirability Sweet Aroma Overall Desirability Sweet Aroma
Centre for Sustainable Tropical
Fisheries and Aquaculture Sweet Aftertaste Fresh Fish Aroma Sweet Aftertaste Fresh Fish Aroma
James Cook University
Richard Smullen, Ph.D. Fresh Fish Aftertaste Off-Fishy Aroma
Fresh Fish Aftertaste Off-Fishy Aroma
The flavor compounds Ridley AquaFeeds Ltd.
in diets containing Narangba, Queensland, Australia
seaweed carried posi- Crablike Aftertaste Off-Fishy Flavor Crablike Aftertaste Off-Fishy Flavor
tive organoleptic attri-
butes to the fish fillets It is well recognized that nutrition
Seaweed Flavor Crablike Seafood Flavor Seaweed Flavor
of barramundi. plays an important role in shaping the Crablike Seafood Flavor
organoleptic properties of fish, as key fla- Rich and Complex Fresh Fish Flavor Rich and Complex Fresh Fish Flavor
vor and aroma compounds are principally
derived from the diet. Wild fish often Figure 1. Organoleptic profiles of fillets as determined by a trained sensory panel.
have a very diverse diet, which brings about the characteristic
Summary: complexity and distinctive flavor commonly associated with
Farmed fish receive feeds that lack the diversity of wild wild-caught marine fish.
diets, which may cause organoleptic differences from Fish grown in aquaculture systems, however, are typically fed

those of wild-caught fish. The authors explored the use
of a short-term finishing diet containing Ulva seaweed
to alter the flavor, aroma and taste of freshwater-reared
manufactured diets that are principally formulated to maximize
somatic growth right up to the point of harvest. Although these
diets utilize wild-sourced materials, fish reared in aquaculture
DEEPCHILL TM

barramundi. For fish that received diets with 20 and
30% seaweed, increases were observed in the intensity
of seafood flavor and aroma, crablike aftertaste and flavor
complexity. The 20% seaweed diet could also mask off-
flavor taint resulting from geosmin exposure.
Organoleptic attributes such as flavor, taste and aroma are
among the most important factors that influence consumer
acceptability and demand for fish products. While the organolep-
tic attributes of farmed fish are generally considered adequate,
systems lack the natural diversity of wild diets. This may be the
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toxins, and drug residues in aquaculture products.
ingredients and/or incorporate terrestrial-derived ingredients,
organoleptic quality issues are likely to become more prevalent in
Trifluralin ELISA
aquaculture, as such diets may be low in or completely devoid of Benzo[a]pyrene ELISA
key flavor compounds. Chloramphenicol (CAP) ELISA
Nitrofurantoin (AHD) ELISA
Finishing Diet Study
Nitrofurazone (AMOZ) ELISA
Furaltadone (AMOZ) ELISA
The authors explored the application and potential use of a Furazolidone (AOZ) ELISA

farmed fish has sometimes been described as bland and devoid of short-term finishing diet that could alter the flavor, aroma and Crystal Violet/LCV ELISA
Malachite Green/LMG ELISA
desirable flavor qualities, especially for freshwater fish. Consumers taste of freshwater-reared fish prior to harvest. Finishing diets Domoic Acid (ASP) ELISA
have identified farmed fish as less complex and lacking sealike or are commonly used in aquaculture to modify attributes that have Okadaic Acid (DSP) ELISA

. .
Saxitoxin (PSP) ELISA
sea-fresh flavors and aromas, and often describe farmed fish as high consumer appeal. The most notable applications are flesh Diethylstilbestrol (DES) ELISA Premium Product Quality Increased Yields Customized to Your Needs
organoleptically inferior to their wild-caught counterparts. color or restoring desirable fatty acids in fish reared on plant-
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of biomass, with much less consideration given to the organolep- barramundi in Australia, was selected as a model species to assess or send an email to inquiries@sunwell.com
tic quality of the harvested product. This is perplexing, given the efficacy of an organoleptic finishing diet. In Australia,
that aquaculture provides significant opportunities to intention- farmed barramundi are generally acknowledged as organolepti- Sunwell Technologies Inc.
ally influence or manipulate organoleptic attributes prior to har- cally adequate, although it is well known that wild-caught coun- We are seeking to partner with new distributors
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and expectations while also increasing financial returns. teristics and typically achieve a higher market price.
62 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 63
 Muddy/Earthy Aroma
Overall Desirability Crablike Seafood Aroma
Muddy/Earthy Flavor Fresh Fish Aroma
Crablike Seafood Fresh Fish Flavor
Aftertaste
Muddy/Earthy Flavor Crablike Seafood Flavor
Seaweed Flavor
Figure 2. Organoleptic profiles of fish exposed to geosmin and fed
diets with 0 (grey) or 20% (green) inclusion levels of seaweed.
Marine macroalgae or seaweeds are high in numerous flavor
compounds, especially those responsible for the sea-fresh and
sealike flavors and aromas that typically characterize wild-caught
marine fish. These compounds are passed up the food chain and
eventually accumulate in higher-order predators like carnivorous
fish. Given this information, the use of the marine seaweed Ulva
ohnoi, more commonly known as sea lettuce, was trialed.
The seaweed was initially collected from settlement ponds on
a prawn farm, where it was grown to reduce nutrient discharge.
Following collection, the sea lettuce was further grown for sev-
eral weeks, harvested, oven dried and milled to a fine powder.
The seaweed was combined with a milled commercial growout
diet to produce feed pellets with varying inclusion levels of sea-
weed: from a control with no seaweed to 10, 20, 30 and 50%.
Forty-five, 1-kg barramundi from a commercial farm were
stocked in 15, 500-L fiberglass tanks at 3 fish/tank. The tanks
were randomly allocated one of the five diets such that a single
diet was fed to three tanks and a total of nine fish. Fish were fed
to satiation daily. Feed intake was measured to evaluate the pal-
atability of each diet.
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64 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
A single fish was harvested from each tank after seven, 14
and 21 days of feeding using industry standards. The fish were
then filleted on both sides and immediately frozen. After two
weeks of storage, the fillets were subjected to descriptive sensory
assessment by a panel consisting of nine trained people.
Only four diets were assessed, as the diet containing seaweed
at the 50% inclusion level clearly impacted palatability. The feed
intake of fish on this diet was only one-third of that observed in
fish fed the control diet. Barramundi fed the 10% seaweed diet
had a sensory profile similar to that of barramundi fed the refer-
ence diet (Figure 1).
Clear differences in the organoleptic profile were apparent in
fish fed the 20 and 30% diets. Significant increases were observed
in the intensity of crablike/seafood flavor, crablike aroma, crablike
aftertaste, sweet aroma and flavor complexity (Figure 1). In gen-
eral, the intensity of these attributes continued to increase with
feeding time, being most intense after 21 days of feeding.
Testing For Key Compounds
Following these results, the authors subjected smaller tissue
samples from fillets to instrumental analysis, searching for sev-
eral well-known key flavor and aroma compounds. Only one
compound, dimethylsulphide, showed a clear association with
the change in organoleptic attributes.
Dimethylsulphide is regarded as the source for a major smell
of the sea often characterized as a sort of fishy, tangy, sea-fresh
smell. This compound was eight times more elevated in the tis-
sue of barramundi fed the 30% seaweed diet than in fish fed the
control diet and was commensurate with a threefold increase in
crablike/seafood flavor.
Masking Off-Flavors
The authors recently studied the ability of these diets to mask
or disguise off-flavors that result in muddy/earthy/musty taints.
Although these flavors are generally regarded as natural charac-
teristics of wild-caught freshwater fish, the occurrence of these
flavors can be extremely problematic in freshwater pond farming.
Off-flavor fish are considered spoiled and unmarketable, result-
ing in significant losses to farmers. Episodes of off-flavor taint-
ing have previously been identified in the pond culture of barra-
mundi in northern Australia.
Following an approach similar to that outlined above, the
authors fed two groups of fish a control diet containing no sea-
weed and another diet containing 20% seaweed. Following four
weeks of feeding, the fish were intentionally tainted with geos-
min at three different intensities: low, 0.5 ug/kg geosmin; low to
medium, 1.4 ug/kg geosmin; and medium to high, 5.2 ug/kg
geosmin. The fish were then harvested and again subjected to
descriptive sensory assessment.
Results demonstrated that the 20% seaweed diet had the
capacity to mask off-flavor taint resulting from geosmin at low
to medium levels, while halving the perception of such off-fla-
vors at medium to high levels (Figure 2).
Perspectives
Feeding freshwater fish a diet incorporating sea lettuce,
which is rich in flavor compounds, can enhance and add flavor
complexity to the fish. The flavors and aromas seem to be prin-
cipally marine or sealike, and this practice may present a way of
producing freshwater fish that have organoleptic similarities to
those of wild-caught marine fish. Although promising, this
research is still at a very rudimentary stage. If an organoleptic
finishing diet is to be useful in a commercial setting, there is still
much we need to learn. Product of
nutrition through innovation global aquaculture advocate USA
September/October 2015 65
marketplace seafood and health
Warning: Shrimp Salad May Contain Shrimp
Seafood Industry Measures Build On Labeling To Minimize Allergy Issues
Shrimp and other seafood are delicious and nutritious, but can
cause allergic reactions in a small percentage of the population.
Summary:
Crustaceans, fish and any food that contains protein
have the potential to cause allergic reactions in some
individuals. To protect consumers, those in seafood
businesses must stay abreast of changing regulations
and take appropriate measures to avoid and/or mini-
mize potential problems related to allergens. Clearly
identify food that may contain allergens. Copy ingre-
dient information for any foods removed from their
original packaging. Prevent crosscontamination
during cleaning and keep staff informed.
Allergies and their effects on consumers are playing a much
larger role in the food industry than ever before. New laws are
coming all over the world, so be warned, get your knowledge
updated and be ready for the challenges.
It is a fact that some 95% of all chronic diseases have an
inflammatory component. All humans have what is known as
gut integrity, which thwarts or creates the stage for food sensi-
tivity, immune dysfunction, inflammation and chronic disease.
Defining and amending your diet by avoiding foods that cause
inflammation can be an important part of breaking the cycle of
chronic inflammation and improving outcomes.
Allergies
Allergies are an immune system response. Cells that line the
skin, gut, lungs, nose and eyes are designed to kill invading aller-
gens. These cells contain antibodies that act to detect allergens.
When an allergen is detected, the cells are triggered to dump
their contents (including histamine) into the tissues, causing an
allergic reaction.
66 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
Roy D. Palmer, FAICD
GILLS
2312/80 Clarendon Street
Southbank VIC 3006 Australia
roydpalmer@gmail.com
www.gillseafood.com
Sometimes our bodies mistake food as an invader and send
antibodies to fight it. Typical symptoms present within four
hours and may include runny nose, itchy mouth or eyes, or hives.
At the severe end of these issues is anaphylaxis, an allergic
reaction that is potentially lifethreatening. Although deaths
from food allergies are rare, extreme caution is essential.
Anaphylactic attacks commonly occur within minutes of eat-
ing the allergenic food, and they affect the whole body. Symp-
toms can include difficult or noisy breathing, wheezing or persis-
tent coughing, difficulty speaking or a hoarse voice, swelling of
the tongue or throat, pale skin, dizziness or loss of consciousness.
Generally, while food allergies can develop at any age, it is
estimated that only 1 to 2% of the population suffers some kind
of food allergy. Food allergies are most common in young chil-
dren, affecting an estimated 4 to 6% of children up to 6 years
old. However, most food allergies affecting children are not
severe, and children commonly grow out of them.
Some populations are more susceptible to allergies than others.
Common food allergens include milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts
(walnuts, pecans and almonds), wheat, soy, fish and shellfish.
Food Intolerance
Many people who believe they have a food allergy actually
suffer from food intolerance, which is very different from food
allergies. Food intolerance involves the inability of the body to
digest a food. The symptoms of food intolerance are generally
minor in nature for example, headaches, wheezing, runny nose,
hives, bloating, or stomach or bowel upsets. In comparison, the
symptoms of an allergic reaction to food can be very serious and
potentially lifethreatening. clinical tests highlights that 60 to 70% of the immune system
Examples of types of food intolerance include lactose intoler-
ance, milk intolerance, food additive intolerance and intolerance
of sulfites.
One disease we hear much more about today is coeliac dis-
ease. This autoimmune disease occurs in genetically predisposed
persons. It is a disorder of the small bowel caused by an immune
reaction to dietary gluten, but it is not a food allergy. It occurs
when the lining of the bowel is damaged by the white blood cells
of the immune system and not by antibodies, as in food allergies.
Failure of the body to eliminate gluten from the diet leads to
chronic inflammation and damage to the lining of the small
intestine. The tissue damage results in certain nutrients not
being properly absorbed by the body, and possible serious
complications can result that involve multiple organ systems and
Seafood like shrimp and mollusks appear at the top of the European Unions
list of primary food allergens. Chart art courtesy of Thrive! Meetings & Events.
increased risk of some malignancies. Symptoms of coeliac disease
include nausea, constipation, tiredness, reduced growth and skin
problems.
Common Causes Of Allergies
Any food that contains protein has the potential to cause
allergic reactions in some individuals. However, eight foods
account for 90% of all food allergies worldwide, although some
regional and country-specific differences exist. These eight
offenders are wheat, peanuts, soybeans, milk, eggs, tree nuts,
crustaceans and fish. New allergens also continue to emerge.
Sesame has recently been recognized as a new food allergen
in some countries. Lupin, a legume related to peanuts and soy, is
another emerging allergen. Lupin has a high level of protein and
dietary fiber and a low fat content, which makes it attractive for
human nutrition. Lupin is increasingly used in food products
worldwide.
Prevention
Our digestive tracts need healthy bacteria such as Bifidobacte-
ria and Acidophilus to maintain health and integrity. Digestive
systems are responsible not only for food digestion, but nervous,
hormonal and immune functions, as well. Evidence from many
resides in the large intestine, emphasizing the importance of
intestinal health.
Establishing and maintaining good gut bacteria is a con-
stant battle for all. In todays world, our systems are continually
exposed to pathogens, pesticides in foods, antibiotics, food-
triggered sensitivities, processed foods, varied environmental
issues and stress. Maintaining good gut health takes a daily
regimen of eating healthfully, stress reduction and eliminating
food sensitivities.
Regulations
As new foods and ingredients enter the food supply, and new
allergens emerge, the allergens will need to be considered for
mandatory declaration on food labels. Since lists of food aller-
global aquaculture advocate
gens vary among countries, there is a need for an
internationally consistent approach something
the seafood industry could proactively apply to
assist consumers.
In Europe, regulations for allergen labeling
changed in December 2014 and incorporated a
requirement for giving specific menu advice for
consumers. Without wanting to belittle either
the regulators or the consumers, it needs to be
stated that sometimes we just go over the top.
The case of a menu statement such as shrimp
salad may contain shrimp is one of those
moments surely if you were allergic to shrimp,
you would simply avoid that menu choice and
not have to be told a shrimp selection could con-
tain that seafood.
Recommendations
Whatever seafood or food business you are in
now, it would be a good idea to check the laws,
especially those related to labeling, in the areas
where you operate or sell goods, as these rules are
constantly updated. Ignorance is no excuse if you
are implicated.
Constantly stress the importance of keeping
staff informed with accurate information about
the ingredients in food, as they are an important connection to
end consumers. If food is contaminated with an allergen, inform
your staff and customers of this risk.
When handling foods that contain known allergens, take
extra care not to contaminate other foods or equipment. Define
a specific time period and/or work area solely for use in the prep-
aration of allergenfree foods and maintain separate utensils for
this use. It is essential to ensure that staff clean and sanitize all
equipment and surfaces that come into contact with allergens, so
include special instructions in cleaning schedules to prevent
crosscontamination during cleaning.
When identifying food for display or menus, include known
allergens or specific ingredients in the descriptions for exam-
ple, fish with almond butter. Make sure information on aller-
gens is easily accessible by serving staff for when a customer
makes an inquiry.
If customers request food suitable for special dietary require-
ments, you must ensure your business provides this. As a safe-
guard, keep a copy of the ingredient information for any foods
that have been removed from their original packaging. When
displaying unwrapped food, you might need to follow further
instructions to keep ahead of the regulations.
Consumer Advice
We are all consumers, so the main advice for ourselves and
other consumers with a food allergy is to always read the label on
packaged food. When eating out, do not be afraid to ask ques-
tions in relation to the possible presence of allergens. As outlined
above, it is food businesses responsibility to provide this advice
upon request.
Always advise retail or restaurant staff of allergies prior to
ordering food. If you have a severe allergy, its best to avoid food
from a selfservice area or buffet. Its easy for small amounts of
allergenic ingredients to get into food by accident because people
may use the same serving utensils for different dishes. Also, do
not share straws, cups, cutlery or other food utensils.
September/October 2015 67
marketplace food safety and technology Table 1. Number of positive samples detected for mollusks collected during warm
(April to September) and cold (October to March) months, and in different zones.

Human Enteric Viruses In Shellfish Total Warm

Season
Cold North
Area
South Farmed Mussels
Molluscan Species
Wild Mussels Clams Cockles

Part III. Norovirus Prevalence In Europe N

NoV GI +
168
54
81
36
87
18
90
27
78
27
70
25
35
10
31
7
32
12
NoV Gll + 43 27 16 21 20 22 9 5 7
More than one virus 19 17 2 10 9 8 4 2 4

In studies, shellfish
raised under different
cultivation methods in
the same affected area
were similarly involved
in virus contamination.
samples (38.5%) collected directly after
importation in the Netherlands.
Norovirus contaminations in the oys-
ters were identified as genotype I.4 and
in mussels as GI.4 and GIIb. The reason
for the greater contamination in mussels
was related to the possibility that the
virus was recovered more efficiently from
mussels than oysters.
George J. Flick, Jr., Ph.D.
University Distinguished Professor
Spain
flickg@vt.edu
An 18-month survey was conducted in
10 shellfish-harvesting areas in two
regions in northwest Spain from January
2011 to June 2012. Each sample was com-
posed of 10 mussels or 20 clams and cock-
les. The samples included wild and raft-
cultured Mediterranean mussels, Mutilus
galloprovincialis; Manila and carpet-shell
clams, Venerupis philippinarum and Venus
decussate; and cockles, Cerastoderma edule.
Overall, 55.4% of the samples were
David D. Kuhn, Ph.D.
contaminated by at least one of the stud-
ied viruses norovirus and hepatitis A
while 11.3% of the samples were contam-
inated by two or three viruses. At 32.1%,
norovirus GI was the most prevalent
virus, followed by norovirus GII at 25.6%
and hepatitis at 10.1%. The results of the
study are shown in Table 1.
Cultured mussels had the highest
number of positive samples, followed by
cockles and wild mussels. Viral contami-
nation levels for most of the positive
samples ranged from 102 to 103 RNA
copies/g of digestive tissue. The presence
of viral contamination was statistically
higher in the warm months from April to
September than in the colder months
from October to March.
Italy
Samples of Mytilus galloprovincialis
mussels, Tapes philippinarum clams and
Crassostrea gigas oysters were collected
from two harvesting areas in the delta area
of the Po River in Italy. A total of 70 sam-
ples (35 for each area) were collected each
month for one year for the determination
of norovirus (NoV) GI and GII. Norovi-
rus contamination was found in 51.4% of
the samples, of which 2.9% contained only
NoV GI and 14.3% contained only GII,
while 34.3% of the samples contained
both genotypes. About 90.0% of the posi-
tive results were obtained in the period
between November 2008 and April 2009.
There was no statistical difference
between the frequencies of positive sam-
ples from the two harvesting areas.
At 60.9%, mussels showed the high-
est frequency of positive results, testing
positive in 14 of the 15 samplings. The
shellfish were similarly involved in the
virus contamination, despite the different
cultivation procedures clams on the

Digestarom P.E.P. MGE

Assistant Professor
davekuhn@vt.edu

Food Science and

ships, military and holiday camps, nurs- Technology Department
Summary: ing homes, nurseries, hotels and restau- Center for Applied Health Sciences
rants. Epidemiological studies have esti- Duck Pond Drive

Better digestion for

Pathogenic noroviruses have been Virginia Tech (0418)
mated that noroviruses are responsible for
identified in shellfish from Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 USA
60% to 80% of all foodborne outbreaks of
approved growing waters in vari-

better feed efficiency

ous countries in Europe. While
multiple studies have reported
the highest concentration of virus
contamination in the winter
months, some studies have
shown higher concentrations
in the summer. When norovi-
ruses were detected, more than
one genotype was present. Addi-
tionally, norovirus contamination
was usually accompanied by the
presence of enteric viruses. Clams
and mussels appear to accumulate
more norovirus particles than
oysters do.
As reported in previous articles in this
series, noroviruses are the major cause of
outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis and
have been reported in hospitals, cruise
68 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
gastroenteritis worldwide. Consumption
of shellfish is one of three main transmis-
sion routes of norovirus infection.
This article discusses the viruses pres-
ence and significance in seawater and
shellfish. It is important to note that
some molluscan shellfish in the study
reporting were obtained from prohibited
areas, areas known as receiving untreated
sewage or from growing areas classified as
B and C by the European Union Com-
mission. Therefore, some of the studies
may not reflect the potential for human
illnesses due to harvest restrictions for
direct human consumption.
It is also important to realize that
shellfish viral outbreaks can be caused by
multiple viruses. Following a 2006 flood-
ing event close to a shellfish production
lagoon in France, an outbreak of 205
cases of gastroenteritis was linked to oys-
ter consumption. An analysis showed that
of 12 stool samples collected from differ-
ent individuals, eight were positive for
multiple enteric viruses, and one stool Add the power of Phytogenics to your diet:
sample contained seven enteric viruses.
Shellfish were contaminated by as many A unique blend of herbs, essential oils and
as five different enteric viruses. For the functional avors
first time in Europe, Aichi virus was
Proven in science and practice
detected in oyster samples.
Tailored to the animals needs
Netherlands
In a study, shellfish from oyster farms
in the Netherlands and shellfish imported
from other countries (Germany, Ireland,
digestarom.biomin.net
Denmark, France and Britain) were exam-
ined for norovirus contamination. One of
21 oyster samples (4.8%) from Dutch
farms was norovirus-positive, whereas
Naturally ahead
norovirus was detected in one of eight oys-
ter samples (12.5%) and five of 13 mussel
global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 69
lagoon sand, mussels on ropes attached to
stocks and oysters in floating cages.
In further study, from July 2007 to
April 2010, 163 shellfish samples of shell-
fish were collected in the Campania region
of southern Italy from harvesting areas,
authorized and non-authorized retailers,
and a restaurant following an outbreak of
gastroenteritis. One hundred, seventeen
Mutilus galloprovincialis mussels were
obtained from 22 harvesting areas. Thirty-
five mussel samples were obtained from
retail stores, and 11 other shellfish species
were obtained from other sources, including
a restaurant that had a previous outbreak.
A total of 94 shellfish samples (57.7%)
were positive for the presence of norovirus,
and GII was the most frequently identified
genogroup. Norovirus contamination was
found in 74.0% of the shellfish purchased
from retailers, and more than half of the
samples from non-registered street ven-
dors who sold unpacked shellfish were
contaminated with norovirus.
However, in 46.7% of the samples of
shellfish collected from harvesting areas
and 55.9% of shellfish collected from
retailers, norovirus from the GI and GII
genogroups was found, indicating a high
collected in harvesting areas of class A and
B of four Italian regions and analyzed for
norovirus GI and GII. Norovirus showed
a high prevalence of 51.5% with a large
variability according to the group consid-
ered 47.8% in Crassostrea in Veneto,
79.7% for Mytilus in Campania and 84.6%
for Tapes in Sardinia.
Norovirus contamination affected
class A and class B production areas to a
different extent, with a statistically signif-
icant difference in both contamination
prevalence (22.1% versus 66.3%) and
quantity (average contamination level of
3.1 x 102 versus 1.9 x 103 copies/g). The
Mytilus, Tapes/Ruditapes and Crassostrea
species analyzed from class B harvesting
areas showed norovirus prevalence of
70.3, 66.0 and 47.8%, respectively. The
other two bivalve species in the study,
Donax and Solen, showed a relevant noro-
virus presence of 40.0% and 34.4% of
samples, respectively.
British Isles
In research in the British Isles Pacific
oysters, Crassostrea gigas, from commercial
beds in two geographically distinct pro-
duction areas were analyzed for the pres-
For production area A, 69 of 145
samples were negative for both norovirus
GI and GII genotypes. Of the positive
samples, 42 were positive for both geno-
groups, 18 were positive for GI only, and
16 were positive for GII only. For pro-
duction area B, 29 of 92 samples were
negative. Of the positive samples, 47
were positive for both genogroups.
Results in both areas showed strong
seasonality, with peak monthly average
norovirus contamination recorded
between December and February and
lowest levels generally recorded between
June and August. Norovirus contamina-
tion was 17 times higher in oyster sam-
ples obtained from October to March
than during the remainder of the year.
C
M

presence of norovirus GI in the environ- ence of noroviruses. Both harvesting areas Y

ment. This finding is not consistent with were in estuarine locations with urban
The fact that the future will be built on sustainability is
CM

data from human infections, which indi- populations greater than 100,000 in the
cate an apparent worldwide dominance of river catchment area and were potentially something we believe in wholeheartedly.
MY

norovirus GII, and could be related to a impacted by identifiable municipal sewer CY

greater resistance to breakdown during discharges serving those populations. A CMY

water treatment of norovirus GI strains.
In 2008-2009 and 2011-2012, samples
Thats why, as one of Indias leading seafood companies, we are committed
total of 237 samples were collected.
to a vision of Feeding the world through responsible Aquaculture. We firmly
From production A, 145 samples were
K

from 185 Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels,
66 Tapes philippinarum and Ruditapes
decussates clams, 23 Crassostrea gigas oysters
and 62 other Donax and Solen species were
collected from January 2004 to July 2006,
while from production area B, 92 samples
were collected from January 2006 to July
2006, with a break from May to June 2005.
believe that its possible to ensure a lasting supply of fresh, healthy seafood
Oysters and other types of shellfish
for our customers, while minimizing our footprints on the eco system.
can be contaminated by several virus
At Apex, we follow the best sustainable practices when it comes to rearing,
strains.
harvesting and processing our products, to cater to plates and palates across
the world.

Choose APEX. Choose a tastier future built on sustainability.

Increase Survival and Remove Organic Waste

with PROFITABLE PROBIOTICS

Multiple Aquaculture Farms Have Reported Consistent:

Survival Increase up to 100%*
Sludge Reduction in Pond Bottoms

1520 Aquatic Dr
Wellington, CO 80549
800.493.4831 For sales enquiries please contact: Apex Frozen Foods Pvt. Ltd., India
keetonaqua.com
Tel: +91 98488 90909, email: sales@apexfrozenfoods.com, www.apexfrozenfoods.com
* Results may vary depending on water conditions and maintenance practices.

70 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 71
marketplace u.s. seafood market Vietnamese shrimp imports continued lower by well over been under way and recently affected mostly the West Coast
20% for May and YTD. Imports in all categories were signifi- Latin American HLSO shrimp market. This situation is tempo-

U.S. Shrimp Imports From Indonesia, India Rise
While Ecuador Sends Shrimp To Asia
Paul Brown, Jr.
Urner Barry Publications, Inc.
P. O. Box 389
Toms River, New Jersey 08752 USA
cantly lower, although YTD imports of breaded shrimp
remained higher.
Shrimp imports from Thailand remained higher, albeit from
a very low point in 2014. Reports continue to indicate slightly
better production for Thailand than a year ago. Imports from
China were sharply lower in May.
Mexican imports were up sharply on a percentage basis, but
May volumes were minimal. Anecdotal reports appear to indi-
cate an improvement in Mexican farmed shrimp production in
2015 over 2014. Some preharvest of smaller-count shrimp has
rary, with production to begin in earnest in August/September.
Farmed production will be followed by wild production in Sep-
tember/October.
As the market crawls out from under the correction of 2014-
15, we are seeing some steadiness in conditions. However, Feb-
ruary through May is the lowest import period of the year. June
will begin a ramp up of imports that will likely peak in Novem-
ber, but remain strong through January 2016. The strong U.S.
dollar continues to make the U.S. an attractive market.

Whole Salmon Imports Aid Market Rebound

May shrimp imports from India and Indonesia continued signi-
ficant increases from a year ago, while imports from Vietnam
and Ecuador continued sharply lower.
Summary:
May imports of shrimp to the U.S. were down 12.2%
since April, while year-to-date (YTD) imports were
6.2% higher. As the shrimp market recovers from the
2014-15 correction, we are seeing steadiness before
imports ramp up and peak in November. Fresh Atlantic
whole fish imports were up 40.6% in May, while fresh
fillet imports were down 2.2% YTD. Whole fish imports
into the Northeast continued to jump. Norwegian im-
ports of whole fish and fresh fillets were rising. Both the
fresh and frozen tilapia fillet markets continue to show
downward pricing pressure. U.S. imports of frozen
tilapia have leveled out over the past months, but remain
comparatively high. The Pangasius market adjusted
lower in June and held a soft undertone, while the
catfish market was firm.
In May, total imports of shrimp to the United States were
down 12.2% since April, while year-to-date (YTD) imports were
6.2% higher (Table 1). Imports from India and Indonesia con-
tinued significant increases from a year ago. Shrimp imports
pbrownjr@urnerbarry.com
Janice Schreiber
Angel Rubio
Urner Barry Publications, Inc. The salmon import market for the United States continued
the year 6.5% higher year-to-date (YTD) through May (Table
2). Total month-to-month data revealed a slight decrease of
Shell-on imports (including easy-peel) were down 4.0% for about 1.0% when compared to April. Fresh Atlantic whole fish
May, but remained 15.4% higher YTD. India and Indonesia imports were up 40.6%, while fresh fillet imports were down
posted much higher numbers for headless, shell-on (HLSO) 2.2% YTD.
imports, while Ecuador was off sharply. In May, 31-40 and larger Compared to last years levels at this time, total imports were
imports were higher, while smaller counts were lower. Imports of 0.25% lower in May. The overall market was full steady to
16-20 shrimp were only 1.0% higher than in May 2014. firmer at the beginning of August. After several weeks of falling
Peeled imports for both May and YTD were down slightly prices, the market was rebounding from 52-week lows.
over 2%. Here again, shrimp from India and Indonesia saw higher
import volume, while Vietnam numbers were lower. Cooked Whole fish imports into the steady Northeast market continued Whole Fish
imports were down sharply in May but maintained a positive to see large jumps. In May, year-to-date (YTD) imports of whole salmon to the
YTD level. Breaded imports were higher for both May and YTD. U.S. continued to see a large increase up 40.6%. Imports from
Indian shrimp imports were up 32.0% in May compared to a
year ago and were 30.3% higher YTD. Increased HLSO imports
from India focused on 16-20 through 31-40 shrimp. Peeled
imports for May were greater than HLSO imports and up 49.4%
over the same period a year ago. Cooked imports for May were
down, but remained higher YTD.
MAKE SMARTER CHOICES.
Imports from Indonesia for May and YTD were both up
21.2%. Through the first five months of the year, Indonesia was FASTER.
the top supplier of shrimp to the U.S. HLSO imports from Indo-
nesia, most likely easy-peel, centered on 16-20 through 41-50 EVERY DAY.
counts and mostly 21-25 through 31-40. As with India, peeled
shrimp imports outnumbered HLSO and were up 17.8% for May. Urner Barry offers a wide array of solutions
Through May, Ecuador was the second-largest supplier of
to help companies gain a competitive edge,
shrimp to the U.S., although May imports were down sharply.
May imports were off 24.5%, pulling down YTD imports 2.6%. minimize risk, and maximize profit.
HLSO imports were focused on 31-40 through 61-70 shrimp
with some larger counts, as well. Featuring our premium online service:
May imports of both HLSO and peeled shrimp were sharply
lower, as a lot of Ecuadors production was headed to Asia.
COMTELL

from Vietnam continued sharply lower and were down 27.9%

YTD. Volume from Ecuador was down significantly for May,
However, June exports to the U.S. were trending higher. Ecua-
dor has ramped monthly production up to 60 million lb) Quotations Analytics .
but only off 2.6% YTD. Thailand figures were up slightly. (27,215 mt) in the last several months.
History News .
Table 1. Snapshot of U.S. shrimp imports, May 2015.
Arrange a consultation by calling
May 2015 April 2015 Change May 2014 Change YTD 2015 YTD 2014 Change
Form (1,000 lb) (1,000 lb) (Month) (1,000 lb) (Year) (1,000 lb) (1,000 lb) (Year) 800-932-0617 and ask about
Shell-on 30,674 37,940 -19.2% 31,943 -4.0% 190,378 165,036 15.4% our free trial offer
Peeled 37,392 41,194 -9.2% 38,201 -2.1% 182,925 187,688 -2.5%
Cooked 9,478 11,880 -20.2% 11,595 -18.3% 58,131 55,739 4.3%
Breaded
Total
8,473
86,017
6,993
98,007
21.2%
-12.2%
6,899
88,638
22.8%
-3.0%
41,343
472,777
36,626
445,089
12.9%
6.2%
www.urnerbarry.com
Sources: Urner Barry foreign trade data, U.S. Department of Commerce.

72 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 73
Canada and Norway were the primary drivers at 88.4 and icantly. The West Coast whole fish market was full steady to firm. Frozen Fillets near-record highs only 300,000 lb (136 mt) or roughly eight
140.8% increases, respectively. The month-to-month data Supplies were barely adequate and falling short of needs. Demand May imports of frozen fillets surged as seasonally expected, containers, off the record-high figure. Recent reports of slightly
revealed an increase of 1.6% when compared to April imports. was very active, but started to moderate in early August. although volumes were below the three-year average. This has higher replacement costs from China, mainly for product to be
Similarly, when comparing to May of 2014, May 2015 imports total YTD imports at their second-highest levels ever. Still, delivered in August and September, could be a sign the U.S. mar-
saw a 39.4% increase. This year looks to mirror 2012 with Fillets imports throughout 2015 were 10% greater than in 2014, or 15 ket is finding a bottom after months of downward correction. At
respect to year-to-date volume. U.S. imports of fresh fillets reached 113.4 million lb (51,437 million lb (6,804 mt) more than last years levels. However, the moment, however, the market in the U.S. remains steady to
May imports into the Northeast continued to see large jumps. mt) in May, the second-highest YTD volume on record. when adding shipments from China and Taiwan only, import about steady with sporadic discounts noted.
The market in the Northeast was full steady to firmer. Supplies Month-to-month data, however, showed a 4.5% decrease when figures continued to show record volumes. Replacement costs in May showed a price decline from U.S.
were barely adequate. Larger whole fish were especially tight. compared to April volumes. Additionally, when comparing The May situation in the U.S. market continued to be quite $2.22 to $1.98. This change was quite large, but similar to Aprils
Imports of European whole fish during May were again imports to last year at the same time, there was a 15.1% decrease. similar to the previous months, when existing inventories were figure of $2.22, although this figure can be deceiving. To correct
slightly less than those of last year at the same time. Overall, the Chilean imports were down 1.9% YTD from May 2014 levels. reportedly fully adequate. Many U.S. importers were assessing for the inconsistent price trend, Urner Barry weighted the import
European whole fish market continues to see Norwegian whole Norway continued to see double-digit increases YTD up 10.7% buying positions overseas for third- and fourth-quarter deliveries. price and obtained an average price of $2.05 throughout the first
fish becoming more readily available. Supplies in the European with 11.8 million lb (5,352 mt) imported through the end of May. Monthly average prices in the U.S. wholesale market adjusted five months of 2015. When compared to the 2014 average, this
whole fish market were barely steady for a moderate to fair The Chilean market currently has been steady at listed levels. downward as volumes throughout the first five months reached years average import price per pound was $0.22 or 10% lower.
demand. Prices had been firm, and as of the beginning of The market did see a firm undertone rebounding after the
August, supplies continued to be short.
Imports from Canada on the West Coast also increased signif-
52-week lows in mid-July. Supplies were adequate for a moder-
ate demand. Catfish Imports Slip, Pangasius Still Up YTD
Table 2. Snapshot of U.S. salmon imports, May 2015. Channel Catfish Pangasius
Imports of channel catfish to the United States in May May U.S. imports of Pangasius decreased marginally from
May April Change May Change YTD 2015 YTD 2014 Change declined compared to the previous months imports, when histori- the previous month, but were almost 80% higher when com-
Form 2015 (lb) 2015 (lb) (Month) 2014 (lb) (Year) (lb) (lb) (Year)
cal and seasonal trends suggested shipments should have increased pared to May 2014. Monthly imports throughout the first five
Fresh whole fish 21,754,858 21,411,723 1.60% 15.601,923 39.44% 98,061,266 69,722,239 40.65% (Table 4). The decline caused year-to-date imports to fall below months of 2015 oscillated between 18 million and 22 million lb
Frozen whole fish 275,129 398,175 -30.90% 726,132 -62.11% 1,945,034 3,639,790 -46.56% last years figures by nearly 15%. In addition to limited supplies, (8,165 and 9,979 mt), with an average at 19.8 million lb (8,981
Fresh fillets 21,798,332 22,822,542 -4.49% 25,674,507 -15.10% 113,451,306 116,043,514 -2.23%
higher replacement costs caused the market to firm in June. mt) about 15.0% higher per month than in 2014. Imports in
Frozen fillets 6,380,572 6,083,139 4.89% 8,333,377 -23.43% 35,803,245 44,640,208 -19.80%
Total 50,208,891 50,715,579 -1.00% 50,335,939 -0.25% 249,260,851 234,045,751 6.50% The domestic catfish market was steady in July. According to 2015 remained at record highs 98.9 million lb (44,860 mt)
many sellers, supplies of smaller fish were tighter than normal. with the first five months up 13.4 million lb (6,078 mt) from the
Sources: Urner Barry foreign trade data, U.S. Department of Commerce.
Inventories of larger fish were reportedly burdensome for a dull 2014 volume.
buying interest, yet prices for larger fish have remained about In the U.S. market, prices retreated in June, and the overall
Tilapia Fillet Prices Down, Frozen Wholes Level Off steady. In addition, many processors have reported steady pond
bank prices throughout 2015, which has provided relative stabil-
undertone remained soft. Additionally, replacement costs also
came down, but only slightly. The overall market remained
ity to the overall market. steady to about steady at listed levels.
Fresh Fillets
Year-to-date (YTD) imports of fresh fillets were only 1.2% Table 4. Snapshot of U.S. catfish imports, January 2015.
May imports of below those of a year ago. However, imports in April and May
May April Change May Change YTD 2015 YTD 2014 Change
frozen tilapia fillets registered figures below the numbers for the past two years and Form 2015 (lb) 2015 (lb) (Month) 2014 (lb) (Year) (lb) (lb) (Year)
surged as seasonally the three-year average. Compared to 2013 when imports
expected, providing reached a record high 2015 is only 3.8% below those figures. Pangasius 19,412,250 20,477,026 -5.20% 10,844,072 79.01% 98,937,591 85,158,603 16.18%
Channel catfish 476,099 588,359 -19.08% 1,396,861 -65.92% 6,987,649 8,193,899 -14.72%
availability for plenty In May, YTD imports from Costa Rica were down 14.6% Total 19,888,349 21,065,385 -5.59% 12,240,933 62.47% 105,925,240 93,352,502 13.47%
of tasty dishes. compared to 2014. However, monthly imports have increased
significantly since volumes reached a multi-year seasonal low Sources: Urner Barry foreign trade data, U.S. Department of Commerce.
during the last quarter of 2014.
Shipments from Ecuador were down 6% YTD, which
showed the countrys decrease in exports over the last few years
has slowed down. Meanwhile, shipments from Mexico and
Frozen Whole Fish
May figures for imports of frozen whole tilapia to the United
Colombia were 14 and 33% higher, respectively, when compared
to a year ago. It must be noted that shipments from Mexico have through the gaa recognizes
development of its
States remained above last years figures and were higher than declined by half to 428,000 lb (194 mt) in May from a peak total that
for shipments recorded over the last five years (Table 3). How- of 850,000 lb (385 mt) posted in February. aquaculture is the only
ever, April and May import figures were marginally below the Market prices adjusted downward during March and
three-year average, although this was after imports posted the remained barely steady. Seasonally soft demand explains the Best Aquaculture Practices certification sustainable means
second-highest monthly figure for the month of March. bearish undertone. Meanwhile, replacement prices have trended standards, GAA has become the leading of increasing seafood
upward since mid-2012, reaching records in November 2014. standards-setting organization for aquaculture supply to meet the food
Mays replacement figure was U.S. $3.48, up only $0.04. seafood. needs of the worlds
growing population.
Table 3. Snapshot of U.S. tilapia imports, May 2015.
May April Change May Change YTD 2015 YTD 2014 Change
Form 2015 (lb) 2015 (lb) (Month) 2014 (lb) (Year) (lb) (lb) (Year)
Fresh fillets 4,731,737 4,749,078 -0.37% 4,871,168 -2.86% 25,121,213 25,425,580 -1.20%
Frozen whole fish 5,995,941 4,874,891 23.00% 4,650,748 28.92% 36,531,113 28,362,615 28.80%
Frozen fillets 19,131,480 9,498,343 101.42% 24,042,097 -20.43% 144,975,811 131,362,689 10.36%
Total 29,859,158 19,122,312 56.15% 33,564,013 -11.04% 206,628,137 185,150,884 11.60%
learn more at www.gaalliance.org
Sources: Urner Barry foreign trade data, U.S. Department of Commerce.

74 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 75
innovation caviar and caviar substitutes made from
Sturgeon Aquaculture In British Columbia, Canada
Are We There Yet?
Target Marine Hatcheries was a pioneer in sturgeon aquaculture in British Columbia.
It began growing sturgeon commercially in a land-based system in 2000.
Photo courtesy of Target Marine Hatcheries.
Summary:
Aquaculture of high-value white
sturgeon is in its early phases in
British Columbia, Canada.
Although preliminary work began
in the 1980s, Target Marine
Hatcheries began growing sturgeon
commercially in a land-based
system around 2000. Given the
long time required to produce
caviar, licensed producers are
looking at developing markets
for value-added products and by-
products based on sturgeon meat.
A bottle-neck to further develop-
ment of sturgeon aquaculture is
access to sufficient eggs/fry from
a few broodstock of limited
genetic background.
Aquaculture in British Columbia (B.C.),
Canada, has grown substantially in the last
40 years. As B.C.s number 1 agricultural
export, farmed salmon had a wholesale
value of CAD 595 million (USD 453 mil-
lion) in 2013, reflecting 91% of all B.C.
aquaculture production and 42% of the
provinces seafood production.
76 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
While salmon will undoubtedly
remain the backbone of B.C. seafood
production, there continues to be interest
in emerging species, including freshwater
trout, Arctic char, tilapia and white stur-
geon. These species lend themselves well
to land-based production using recircu-
lating aquaculture systems. In the case of
white sturgeon, the high value for stur-
geon meat and caviar is particularly well
suited to offset the high costs associated
with such production systems.
White sturgeon possess many of the
necessary attributes to become a success-
ful aquaculture species. These include
tolerance of stress and high rearing densi-
ties, good feed conversion and fast
growth. More importantly, current cul-
ture methodology employs land-based,
contained aquaculture facilities that mini-
mize interactions and potential impacts
with the environment.
Sturgeon In British Columbia
Two species of sturgeon are found in
B.C. waters: the white sturgeon, Acipenser
transmontanus, and the green sturgeon,
Acipenser medirostris. The green sturgeon,
the smaller of the two, is not known to
reproduce in B.C. and is believed to orig-
Myron Roth, Ph.D., P.Ag.
Industry Specialist
Aquaculture and Seafood
British Columbia Ministry
of Agriculture
808 Douglas Street
Victoria, British Columbia
V8W 2B6 Canada
myron.roth@gov.bc.ca
Bill Pennell, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Vancouver Island University
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
inate further south in Oregon, USA. Lit-
tle is known about this species, which is
not considered a candidate for aquacul-
ture development.
In B.C., white sturgeon are found in
the Fraser, Nechako, Columbia and Koo-
tenay Rivers. To address concerns over
the declining sturgeon numbers, a con-
servation hatchery program was estab-
lished on the Upper Kootenay River near
Cranbrook, B.C. It has stocked hatchery-
reared fish in the Kootenay and Colum-
bia river systems since the mid-1980s.
More recently, a second hatchery was
established on the Nechako River to sup-
port stock recovery efforts.
Early Aquaculture
Development
Still in its early development phases,
sturgeon aquaculture in B.C. has focused
exclusively on Lower Fraser sturgeon.
This work was initiated in the early 1980s
by Dr. Dave Lane at Malaspina College
now Vancouver Island University in
Nanaimo. Lane collaborated with
researchers at the University of California
Davis on initial work that involved
mark and re-capture studies and research
on spawning and rearing techniques.
In the late 1980s, several large adult
Fraser River fish were donated to the
program at Malaspina, and in 1991, Lane
and colleagues had the first spawning at a
Fisheries and Oceans Canada hatchery.
By 2005, sturgeon were being spawned at
Malaspina on an annual basis to establish
broodstock. Today, some of the fish
reared at Vancouver Island University are
nearly old enough to reproduce.
Sturgeon are large fish. It takes several students to transfer them at Vancouver Island
Universitys International Centre for Sturgeon Studies.
Commercial Aquaculture
Around 2000, Target Marine Hatch-
eries began growing sturgeon commer-
cially in a land-based system using fish
from the Malaspina breeding program.
Over time, Target expanded its facilities
and developed its own broodstock. The
long-term goal was the production of
caviar, but this took longer than expected.
After much research and effort, Tar-
get Marine harvested its first caviar in
2011, which is now marketed under the
brand name Northern Divine. In addi-
tion to developing a premium-brand cav-
iar, Target also produces sturgeon meat
and by-products.
There are now five producers licensed
to commercially produce sturgeon in B.C.
in various stages of planning, production
and sales. Based on these ongoing suc-
cesses, other groups, including First
Nations, have expressed interest in devel-
oping sturgeon businesses.
In 2012, Vancouver Island University
opened the International Centre for Stur-
geon Studies (ICSS). The state-of-the-
art facility houses broodstock and a range
Sturgeon Production (mt)
of quarantine, rearing, research, training
facilities and labs. Research at the facility
on sturgeon biology, conservation and
aquaculture provides critical training,
genetic and infrastructure support for
B.C.s sturgeon producers. The ICSS also
includes an aquaponics facility to investi-
gate land-based multi-trophic aquacul-
ture applications for coldwater species
with a focus on sturgeon.
Sturgeon Products, Markets
Like other aquaculture efforts, sturgeon
aquaculture was initially developed as a
conservation tool to recover depleted stocks
(Figure 1). However, it also attracted the
attention of entrepreneurs, given the lim-
ited availability of sturgeon caviar and prices
ranging CAD 1,000-5,000/kg (USD 761-
3,806/kg), depending on species and qual-
ity. The current price for B.C. aquacul-
tured sturgeon caviar is CAD 2,400/kg
(USD 1,827/kg). However, time to mar-
ket can be 11 years, which makes for a long
return on investment.
In a paper by Paolo Bronzi and
Harald Rosenthal for the proceedings of
the 2013 International Symposium on
Sturgeons, the global production of true
sturgeon caviar is currently estimated at
260 mt from an estimated 32 countries.
However, production is expected to more
than double over the next 10 years. This
production capacity has led to speculation
that caviar prices could crash without
concerted marketing coordination and
support.
It is worth noting, however, that the
caviar market includes 60,000 mt of
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Figure 1. Global sturgeon production. Source: Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations.
global aquaculture advocate
non-sturgeon fish eggs and animal and
plant derivatives. This presents a difficult
marketing landscape for producers of true
sturgeon caviar.
Given the production and market
challenges of producing caviar, sturgeon
growers in B.C. are increasingly looking at
developing markets and products based on
sturgeon meat. The time to market for
white sturgeon meat is three years or less
based on harvesting fish at 5 to 8 kg. Cur-
rent farm gate prices in B.C. range CAD
20-35/kg (USD 15.37-26.90/kg), depend-
ing on the product and destination.
Current sturgeon products include
whole gutted fish and head-off, gutted
and finned bullets, largely from males;
and fillets and skin-on portions from
females that are held back for caviar pro-
duction. Fillets and portions from these
fish, which can range in size from 30.0 to
140.0 kg, incur some additional process-
ing costs and usually weigh 2.3 to 4.5 kg.
Destinations include distributors, res-
taurants and retail outlets. The bulk of
B.C. farmed sturgeon is currently pro-
cessed as bullets and sold through distribu-
tors. This is largely due to the fact that
sturgeon is largely unknown as a seafood
product in North American retail markets.
There is also a limited market for small,
live fish of less than 2 kg, which command
a slight price premium. These fish are kept
in holding tanks at retail outlets and must
be killed before they are handed over to
consumers. While a niche market, it is an
important one, as fish can be moved to
market relatively quickly, although addi-
tional transport costs are involved.
Processors are also working on the
Culture
Capture
September/October 2015 77

Eggs are collected from sturgeon broodstock at the International Centre
for Sturgeon Studies.
development of smoked sturgeon prod-
ucts. In addition, producers in B.C. are
developing by-products from sturgeon
that utilize the heads, fins, livers and spi-
nal cord marrow of the fish.
Product development and early mar-
keting initiatives have been facilitated by
the use of third-party organic and sus-
tainability certification schemes. Given
the conservation status of sturgeon in
B.C. and worldwide, endorsement of
farmed sturgeon as a sustainable seafood
product is an important marketing and
conservation consideration.
Sturgeon Policy In B.C.
In B.C., all producers must be
licensed to hatch and/or grow sturgeon
by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO),
the lead agency for aquaculture licensing.
Only sturgeon from the Lower Fraser
may be farmed, and the culture must be
parental fish originally developed by
innovation
Malaspina. Currently, parental spawners
in the ICSS program include four females
and three males, from which a second
generation will be developed.
The small number of fish represents a
genetic bottleneck with a risk of inbreed-
ing depression for future stock develop-
ment and a physical constraint on the
supply of eggs/fry that can be made avail-
able to potential growers. Apart from the
fish acquired in the early 1990s, no stur-
geon broodstock or surplus stock from
conservation programs have been made
available to develop commercial aquacul-
ture due to conservation concerns.
Several other issues have also been
raised, such as the potential for escapes,
disease transfer risks and, most impor-
tantly, the potential use of cultured stur-
geon as a cover for fish illegally
obtained from poaching and moved
through the distribution system. The
industry is aware of these issues and is
committed to working with regulatory
agencies to resolve them through the use
of closed-containment systems, fish
health management plans, monitoring
and reporting, and traceability.
In this first trial with air injectors in biofloc systems, the authors compared the aeration performance of the injectors with that
Future Sturgeon Potential of the diffuser tubes and paddlewheel aerators typically used in Southern Brazil.
While caviar will remain the highest-
value sturgeon product by weight, there is
Brazil Study Results Encouraging For Injector
a significant business case to develop mar-
kets for sturgeon meat and value-added

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for membership details.
78 September/October 2015
on land in closed systems with specific
measures that prevent escapes. Other
conditions of licensing include, but are
not limited to, requirements for fish
health management plans and reporting.
Movement of live fish between facilities
and retail outlets is overseen by a federal/
provincial Introductions and Transfers
Committee. Due to the conservation status
of sturgeon, which are listed in B.C. as
endangered (Nachako, Upper Fraser,
Columbia and Kootenay stocks) and
threatened (Lower Fraser stock), permits
are required for live fish transfers, and doc-
umented chain of custody records must ver-
ify that transported fish are of aquaculture
origin and have not been obtained illegally.
Permits are also required by retailers
and transporters, and are enforced by
provincial conservation officers.
Challenges
One of the bottlenecks to the further
development of sturgeon aquaculture in
B.C. is access to broodstock. While the
ICSS and companies like Target Marine
have developed broodstock programs,
they are based on a limited number of
global aquaculture advocate
products, particularly smoked sturgeon.
Smaller whole processed fish, fillets, por-
tions and by-products can also comple-
ment caviar production and improve cash
flow and timely returns on investment.
Sturgeon aquaculture can represent a
very good return on investment, provided
growth of the industry is supported by pro-
gressive regulatory policies, access to capital
and focused marketing to both create
demand and ensure prices remain stable.
Based on discussions with producers,
the current annual total wholesale value
of B.C. cultured sturgeon products is
estimated at over CAD 2.0 million (USD
1.5 million). Given that a single female
can produce CAD 5,000 to 24,000 (USD
3,806 to 18,270) worth of caviar or, if the
eggs are reared and harvested, CAD 6.0
million (USD 4.6 million) worth of stur-
geon meat, there is potential for the
industry to expand several fold once pro-
ducers reach steady production.
Since one would not want to put a
cap on production value, it is impossible
to say if we are there yet, but it is safe to
say that sturgeon aquaculture in B.C. is
well on its way.
Aeration In Super-Intensive Shrimp Culture
Summary:
Zero-exchange biofloc systems
for shrimp culture allow elevated
stocking densities and produc-
tion, but also require more dis-
solved oxygen and thorough
water circulation. A new type of
air injector for such systems uses
only a centrifugal pump to recir-
culate water while naturally aspi-
rating ambient air. Mounted on
raceway bottoms, the injectors
mix water vertically while creat-
ing a horizontal current to keep
solids in suspension and help
distribute feeds. In research in
Brazil, the injectors compared
well to other aerators in nursery
and growout culture.
Biofloc technology systems represent
a new alternative for shrimp culture.
These systems utilize minimal to zero
water exchange and improve water qual-
ity through the formation of a microbial
community consisting of microorganisms Dariano Krummenauer,
that include bacteria, microalgae, proto- Ph.D.
Laboratrio de Carcinocultura
zoa and zooplankton. In addition to
Instituto de Oceanografia
improved water quality, bioflocs also sup-
plement shrimp diets. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande
Rio Grande (R.S.), 96201-900, Brazil
The formation of biofloc is stimulated
darianok@gmail.com
by the addition of a carbon source to
maintain a carbon:nitrogen ratio ranging Bob Advent
from 12:1 to 20:1, depending upon physi- Advent Environmental Systems LLC
cal, chemical and biological interactions. Lake Mary, Florida, USA
These interactions are stimulated by Carlos Gaona, Ph.D.
increased rates of mixing and oxygenation.
Geraldo Foes, Ph.D.
In early stages of culture, the abun-
Aline Bezerra, M.S.
dance of bacteria that use the dissolved
Alessandro Cardozo, Ph.D.
organic matter in the environment for
Luis Poersch, Ph.D.
growth increases. Conversely, low oxygen
Wilson Wasielesky, Jr., Ph.D.
concentrations can negatively influence the Laboratrio de Carcinocultura
floc-forming microbial community and
Instituto de Oceanografia
lead to poor water quality and reduced Universidade Federal do Rio Grande
performance of the cultured animals.
Aeration In Biofloc Systems elevated stocking densities and produc-
Zero-exchange biofloc systems allow tion, but also require more dissolved oxy-
global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 79
gen, degassing and thorough mixing and
circulation of the water column. Several
aeration devices have been used in the
systems. The most common aerators in
super-intensive raceways are venturis and
diffusers (air stones and tubes driven by
blowers), while paddlewheel aerators are
more common in lined ponds for inten-
sive culture.
Recently, a new type of air injector has
been used in raceway systems. These injec-
tors use only a centrifugal pump to recir-
culate the water while naturally aspirating
ambient air, sheering it into the water col-
umn at an air:water ratio of 3:1. This
sheering produces fine microbubbles and
high transfer rates, and eliminates the
need for pure oxygen supplementation.
Mounted on the bottoms of raceways,
the injectors mix the water vertically
while creating a horizontal current to
keep solids in suspension and assist in the
distribution of feeds. The injectors air
intakes or snorkels can also be built into
a manifold for the ability to select and
adjust the source and location of the air
being injected.
Utilizing the hot air accumulated near
the top of a greenhouse allows for
increased heating of the water, while
drawing fresh air from outside aids in the
reduction of carbon dioxide build-up in
the greenhouse. By performing multiple
tasks efficiently, these injectors can be a
good alternative for super-intensive, zero-
exchange biofloc systems.
Study Setup
To compare the performance of the
air injectors with that of the diffuser
tubes and paddlewheel aerators typically
used in Southern Brazil, nursery and grow-
out phase studies were performed at the
Marine Station of Aquaculture of the
Federal University of Rio Grande in
Southern Brazil.
Shrimp were fed commercial diets
with 38 and 40% crude protein, with
feeding rates adjusted according to
weekly growth. For both studies, organic
fertilization employed molasses from
sugar cane as a carbon source. Following
daily measurements, pH and alkalinity
were corrected with calcium hydroxide
whenever the pH was below 7.0 and
alkalinity was equal to or less than 100
mg calcium carbonate/L.
Nursery Phase Study
Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus
vannamei, postlarvae from a commercial
hatchery in Canguaretama, Rio Grande
do Norte State, Brazil, were stocked at
80 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
High animal densities may make paddlewheel aeration unsuitable for super-intensive
Shrimp stocked in raceways equipped with air injector aeration for a growout study
raceways.
achieved weekly growth rates similar to those reported in super-intensive systems
in Southern Brazil.
Table 1. Water quality parameters in a nursery
2,500 shrimp/m3 in two, 70-m3 tanks seawater (185 m3, 28-ppt salinity), phase biofloc system raising white shrimp.
operated with zero water exchange and groundwater (52 m3, 5 ppt) and biofloc- Parameter Injectors Air Hoses
raised for 30 days until each individual rich water (2% of the total volume) from
a nursery study. Water quality parameters Temperature (C) 28.9 27.2
reached 1.0-g weight. The tanks were
Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) 5.77 6.05
filled with a mixture of sand-filtered sea- were maintained within normal ranges pH 7.74 7.63
water with 28-ppt salinity and 5-ppt for the culture of L. vannamei (Table 3). Salinity (ppt) 23.1 23.8
groundwater, and inoculated with bio- The shrimp in the injector treatment Total ammonia-nitrogen (mg/L) 0.70 0.18
floc-rich water from a previous growout showed final average weights of 9.42 g, Nitrite-nitrogen (mg/L) 1.90 0.72
study at 10% of the total volume. while those whose raceways received pad- Nitrate-nitrogen (mg/L) 4.83 5.92
dlewheel aeration reflected weights of Phosphate (mg/L) 1.40 1.80
This study compared the performance
Alkalinity (mg/L) 198.00 101.67
of the air injectors, driven by a 2-hp cen- 8.55 g. At 1.94, feed-conversion ratios
Total suspended solids (mg/L) 253.00 328.33
trifugal pump, with a commercial micro- were much better than the 3.95 recorded
perforated air diffuser hose driven by a for the paddlewheel treatment. Table 2. Zootechnical parameters of L. vannamei
2-hp blower. In the injector treatment, However, the survival rate in the air in a nursery phase biofloc system.
the injectors were positioned parallel to injector trial was 73% versus 51% in the
the direction of flow along the bottom of paddlewheel trial. Apparently the paddle- Parameter Injectors Air Hoses
each tank wall. The diffuser hoses were wheel physically killed the shrimp, as dur- Initial weight (g) 0.05 0.03
cut into 10-cm lengths, connected by ing the trial, dead shrimp were found close Final weight (g) 0.96 0.71
polyvinyl chloride pipe and placed every to the aerator. This significantly affected Survival (%) 98.8 80.7
final productivity and biomass values. Feed-conversion ratio 1.22 1.46
1.5 m2 in the bottoms of the tanks.
The treatments were performed in At 0.71 and 0.64 g, respectively, the
Table 3. Water quality parameters in a growout
duplicate. Water quality parameters were weekly growth rates for the injector and phase biofloc system raising white shrimp.
maintained within normal ranges for the paddlewheel treatments were similar to
culture of L. vannamei in both treatments those reported in super-intensive systems Parameter Injectors Paddlewheel
(Table 1). The better growth and sur- in Southern Brazil, but it is important to Temperature (C) 25.4 23.4
vival were observed in the injector treat- highlight that at the end of culture, low Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) 7.21 7.30
ment, with 0.96 g and 98.8%, respectively temperatures near 20 C were recorded. pH 7.78 7.84
Salinity 20.3 21.3
(Table 2).
Perspectives Total ammonia-nitrogen (mg/L) 0.24 0.28
In this first trial with air injectors and Nitrite-nitrogen (mg/L) 4.12 1.88
Growout Study Nitrate-nitrogen (mg/L) 11.60 18.00
An 86-day growout study was per- bioflocs, the results were encouraging, as Total suspended solids (mg/L) 458.00 662.00
formed in two lined raceways to compare productivity exceeded 4 kg/m3. On the
the air injectors to paddlewheel aerators. other hand, paddlewheel aerators may be a Table 4. Zootechnical parameters of L. vannamei
In the air injector system, 14 air injectors better choice for intensive systems in in a growout phase biofloc system.
were positioned parallel to the direction of ponds and apparently are not intended for
super-intensive raceway systems. In gen- Parameter Injectors Paddlewheel
flow along the bottom of each raceway and
driven by a 3-hp centrifugal pump. In the eral, the detected temperatures were 2 C Initial weight (g) 0.82 0.82
higher in the air injector system. This can Final weight (g) 9.42 8.55
paddlewheel system, a 2-hp paddlewheel Feed-conversion ratio 1.94 3.95
aerator was used. be explained by the difference in injecting
Weekly growth rate (g) 0.71 0.64
The raceways were stocked at 591 air into the bottom of the tanks versus Survival (%) 73 51
shrimp/m3 with 0.82-g L. vannamei juve- casting water from the surface into the air. Biomass (kg) 770.87 448.81
niles. The raceways were each filled to Productivity (kg/m2) 3.25 2.06
237 m3 with a mixture of sand-filtered Productivity (kg/m3) 4.06 2.57
global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 81
innovation
Land-Based Macroalgae Farming
Quantity, Quality From Sustainable Food Source
The three species of macroalgae reared (left to right, Turkish
towel, Pacific dulse and sea lettuce) exhibited high-protein,
low-fat profiles with adequate mineral content.
Summary:
Land-based cultivation of macroalgae offers a new
approach to minimize impacts on wild macroalgae
stocks while reducing harvest costs and better controlling
product quality. Research by the U.S. National Marine
Fisheries Service on intensive land-based production
of macroalgae for human consumption observed high
productivity and consistent nutritional composition for
several algae species. Although growth rates varied sig-
nificantly relative to seasonal sunlight, the high-protein
macroalgae could be produced year-round. Integration
of macroalgae with land-based fish culture systems
could reduce capital and operating costs.
Macroalgae have been used as food in Asia and Europe for
centuries. In the United States, the consumption of macroalgae
is currently limited and occurs primarily in the states of Hawaii
and California. Most of the macroalgae sold in the U.S. is har-
vested from the wild and sold in Asian markets, high-end res-
taurants and health food stores.
Macroalgae culture is a productive segment of aquaculture
across the world, but there is limited production in the United
States. Open-ocean farming of macroalgae in the U.S. is
restricted to a few regions, and site permitting is often difficult.
However, with increasing need for aquaculture to help sustain
82 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
Bradley A. Gadberry
Northwest Fisheries Science Center
National Marine Fisheries Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
2725 Montlake Boulevard East
Seattle, Washington 98112 USA
brad.gadberry@noaa.gov
John Colt, Ph.D.
Desmond J. Maynard
Ronald B. Johnson
Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Diane C. Boratyn
Sol-Sea Ltd.
Seattle, Washington, USA
food sources in the future, there is great potential for coastal
U.S. communities to intensively produce macroalgae in land-
based systems.
Key issues that limit the sale of macroalgae in the U.S.
include seasonal availability, variable product quality, restrictions
on the harvest of wild macroalgae and a lack of commercial dis-
tribution channels.
Land-based cultivation systems offer a new approach to min-
imize impacts on wild macroalgae stocks while reducing harvest
costs and better controlling product quality. The integration of
macroalgae with land-based fish culture systems can reduce the
capital and operating costs of macroalgae production and reduce
the discharge of nutrients to the environment.
NMFS Research Objectives
The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has studied the
intensive land-based production of macroalgae for human con-
sumption. The project evaluated the potential commercial pro-
duction of two red and one green macroalgae species by measur-
ing growth rates, nutrient composition and protein quality. This
research was conducted at the Manchester Field Station west of
Seattle, Washington, USA, a facility that also rears endangered
salmon.
Three species of native macroalgae Turkish towel, Chond-
racanthus exasperatus; Pacific dulse, Palmaria mollis; and sea let-
tuce, Ulva rigida were reared over a 13-month period. The
macroalgae were grown in 2,000-L fiberglass tanks operated in
airlift circulating culture. The macroalgae were pulse-fertilized
twice a week with commercial nitrogen and phosphorus fertiliz-
ers and once a week with an f/2 trace metals solution.
The plants were weighed twice a month, and the initial den-
sity was adjusted to 10 kg/m3 after each weighing. On a monthly
basis, subsamples of each of the three species were dried, ground
and analyzed for protein, lipid, ash and amino acids using stan-
dard methods.
Growth, Production
Over the study, the specific growth rate varied significantly
global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 83
among the species (Table 1). The maximum growth in all spe- aspartic and glutamic acids were present in high percentages.
innovation
cies occurred near the summer solstice (Figure 1), and growth Of the three species studied, Turkish towel had the highest

USSEC, Partners Establish Asian

rate was directly related to day length or total photosynthetically
active radiation. The minimum growth in all species was
observed near the winter solstice. Biweekly growth rates of the
three species were all positive except for sea lettuce near the win-
ter solstice (Figure 1).
Annual production rates for a commercial operation producing
the three species were estimated from experimental growth rates,
initial densities and an assumed 25% tank coverage of land area.
Annual wet and dry production numbers are presented in Table 2.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, the aver-
age annual dry-weight production of wheat, corn and soybeans is
in the U.S. are 3.2, 9.9 and 3.0 mt/ha, respectively. Since most
macroalgae are sold wet, macroalgae are many times more pro-
ductive than conventional agriculture. In addition, these produc-
tion estimates are based on area tank coverage of 25%, a number
that will significantly increase for larger commercial farms.
Nutritional Composition
While there is abundant proximate composition information
on both wild and extensively reared macroalgae in the scientific
literature, there is little information available for intensively pro-
Specific Growth Rate
duced macroalgae in land-based systems. Within a species, no
difference in protein, lipid or ash content attributable to season
was observed (Figure 2).
All species exhibited high-protein, low-fat profiles with ade-
quate mineral content. Sea lettuce had significantly higher pro-
tein and lipid content than the two red macroalgae species. The
protein content of the macroalgae was lower than that found in
animal proteins, but higher than that of many terrestrial plants.
A number of studies have shown that the protein content of
wild macroalgae can be highly variable, and the lipid content is
generally low. Seasonal variations often occur in protein, with
more protein in autumn plants and less in summer plants. Lipid
content can also vary, with some green macroalgae having more
lipids in autumn months and fewer lipids in summer months.
The study data suggested that land-based systems with adequate
fertilization can produce year-round red and green macroalgae
Protein (%)
percentage (0.82 0.27%) of taurine, a sulfonic acid with human
health benefits. Taurine supplied through the diet helps regulate
blood pressure and has other benefits to the circulatory system.
Taurine is also beneficial to marine fish. The addition of Turkish
towel to marine fish feeds may be a useful means to increase the
taurine content of the diets, which could prove especially useful
Aquaculture Feed Formulation Database
when formulating alternative, plant-based feeds.
Dominique P. Bureau, Ph.D.
Perspectives Fish Nutrition Research Laboratory
This study demonstrated the potential for macroalgae aqua- Department of Animal and Poultry Science
culture in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. and that a land- University of Guelph
based macroalgae system can consistently produce large quanti- Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
ties of macroalgae with good nutritional and amino acid profiles. dbureau@uoguelph.ca
The Puget Sound area offers good water quality and is close to a
J. Owen Skipper-Horton
large urban population. The concentration of large fish-process- Fish Nutrition Research Laboratory
ing facilities in the Seattle area would allow easy access to exist- Department of Animal and Poultry Science
ing distribution networks for marine food products. Develop- University of Guelph
ment of a local macroalgae aquaculture industry could improve
Timothy Moore
regional economic health, provide local jobs and supply locally
Nathan Associates Inc.
produced healthy foods to the region.
Arlington, Virginia, USA
10
Lukas Manomaitis
8 Seafood Consulting Associates
Bangkok, Thailand
6
(%/day)
4
duced in a wide variety of culture ponds, tanks and net pens, and
2
under varied environmental conditions. Numerous adjustments
0 need to be made to the nutritional compositions, ingredient
compositions and physical characteristics of feeds according to
-2
Sea Dulse Turkish Especially given the huge volumes of aquafeed required species, life stage and animal weight.
Lettuce Towel
-4 to support Asian aquaculture, effective feed formulation is key Aquaculture feeds are becoming complex mixtures of an
-6 to continued industry growth. ever-increasing number of ingredients of plant, animal and
0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 microbial origin. Feed manufacturers require robust but highly
Day flexible tools to assist them in the formulation of cost-effective
Figure 1. Specific growth rates of macroalgae. feeds. Furthermore, socioeconomic factors, local preferences and
Summary: competition result in significant market segmentation.
30 Due to the wide range of farmed species and culture
Limited Nutrition Information

25 conditions encountered by aquaculturists, numerous

with consistent nutrient composition.
Protein Quality
The protein quality of the three macroalgae species was high,
with essential amino acids accounting for almost half of the total
amino acids present. Amino acid profiles for all three species com-
pared favorably with those of conventional foods. Non-essential
amino acids related to the umami or savory taste in foods such as
Lipid (%)
20 adjustments need to be made in the nutritional compo- Large amounts of information on the nutrient requirements
15 sitions, ingredient compositions and physical charac- for different aquatic species have been compiled in recent years in
10 teristics of aquafeeds. To help aquaculture formulators a number of reference documents. However, this information gen-
5 erally targets a limited number of species and only one life stage.
with some of the tools and training needed to produce
0 For example, nutrient requirements reported in the 2011
high-quality aquaculture feeds, the U.S. Soybean
Spring Summer Fall Winter
National Research Councils Nutrient Requirements of Fish and
Export Council spearheaded the Asian Aquaculture
Shrimp were derived mainly from studies using juvenile fish,
10 Feed Formulation Database project. The AAFFD is
Figure 2. Varia- which are typically fed semi-purified diets or diets with high nutri-
8 designed as a reference tool for individuals involved in

tion of protein, feed formulation, ingredient purchasing, quality control ent digestibility. These estimated requirements do not account for
Table 1. Specific growth rates 6
lipid and ash
(%/day) for various algae species. 4 and research. changes in body weight and life stage, the effects of a diets nutri-
content with tional composition and/or the digestibility of its nutrients, nor do
Pacific Turkish Sea 2 season. they factor in safety margins to account for the reality of nutrient
Parameter Dulse Towel Lettuce 0 The development of cost-effective compound aquaculture losses during manufacturing, storage and feeding.
Spring Summer Fall Winter feeds has been a key factor in the rapid development of the aqua-
Mean 4.99 4.31 2.74 Consequently, the information available in the reference lit-
Maximum 8.18 7.60 6.22 culture sector in many parts of the world. Asia represents the most erature is not always easily translatable into practical nutritional
Minimum 1.51 1.48 -5.03 50
important market for aquaculture feeds, with an annual produc- specifications or guidelines that aquaculture feed manufacturers
40 tion of about 30 mmt. Some experts predict the Asian aquaculture
Ash (%)

Table 2. Annual production (mt/ha) can upload into least-cost feed formulation programs.
30 feed industry will double over the next two decades due to the
for various algae species.
20 continued transitioning of aquaculture operations toward use of Formulation Database
Pacific Turkish Sea 10
Sea Dulse Turkish compounded feeds in more intensive production and the contin- For 30 years, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC)
Parameter Dulse Towel Lettuce Lettuce Towel
0 ued growth of the sector in general. has worked with the global aquaculture sector to promote the
Wet-weight production 235 218 129 Spring Summer Fall Winter The Asian aquaculture feed sector is characterized by its use of soy products from the United States in aquaculture feeds.
Dry-weight production 23 25 17 Season great diversity. Over 300 fish and crustacean species are pro- As aquaculture has expanded, it became clear to USSEC that
84 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 85
 associated tools will enable the formulation of cost-effective and
nutritive feeds for a wide variety of Asian aquaculture species
under a broad range of conditions.
The project was established with initial funding from the
Nebraska Soybean Board. Complementary funding was later
obtained from the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID).

The AAFFD will enable the formulation of cost-effective and
nutritive feeds for a wide variety of Asian aquaculture species
under a broad range of conditions.
there are not enough trained formulators for aquafeeds. Further-
more, the information available in reference literature for aqua-
culture species is incomplete and lags far behind that for terres-
trial livestock species.
To help aquaculture formulators with some of the tools and
training needed to produce high-quality aquaculture feeds, the
organization spearheaded the Asian Aquaculture Feed Formula-
tion Database (AAFFD) project this year. The project targets
the development of dynamic databases that will be accessible free
of charge to aquaculture feed formulators. The information and
HELP SEASHARE
Put More Seafood on More Dinner Tables
ITS HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT 1 IN 6 AMERICANS NEEDS HELP
TO PROVIDE ENOUGH FOOD FOR THE FAMILY.
Integrated Information
USSEC and USAID entrusted the AAFFD development to
Veridis Aquatic Technologies Inc., a Canadian corporation
focused on implementing cutting-edge benchmarking to
improve the productivity, sustainability and profitability of com-
mercial aquaculture operations. Veridis in turn sought the exper-
tise of the University of Guelphs Fish Nutrition Research Labo-
ratory, a research group that has developed world-class nutri-
tional models and feed formulation tools for different culture
species over the past three decades.
Working in close cooperation, the various partners decided
the AAFFD would be comprised of two distinct, yet integrated
and coordinated sub-databases: a Feed Ingredient Composition
Database (FICD) and an Aquaculture Species Nutritional Data-
base (ASND).
This large project required the contribution of numerous
research associates and graduate students with expertise in the
nutritive values of feed ingredients, aquafeed formulation and
nutritional modeling. The two AAFFD databases were popu-
lated with data collected from scientific and technical literature,
a survey of feed industry stakeholders and estimates generated
using cutting-edge mathematical models developed at the Uni-
versity of Guelph.
The FICD data include information on the chemical and
nutritional compositions of over 300 ingredients commonly used
in Asian aquaculture feeds. The ASND database includes nutri-
tional specifications for 24 aquatic species representing approxi-
mately 90% of the commercial aquaculture production in Asia.
These two sub-databases together provide feed formulators with
the information necessary to develop locally specialized feeds
specific to a number of species using combinations of ingredients
that best fit local conditions and preferences.
A cloud-based interface accessible anytime from anywhere
around the world was developed to access the databases. The
user-friendly interface at http://tinyurl.com/AAFFD permits the
export of data from the databases in a format compatible with
the needs of nutritionists, feed formulators and common least-
cost feed formulation programs.

The need for nutritious
food has never been greater.
Contact SeaShare with your
206-842-3609 w w w. s e a s h a r e . o r g donation today.
86 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
Perspectives
The AAFFD clearly does not replace nutritionists, feed for-
mulators and consultants in their respective roles, as any database
must be linked with additional knowledge and experience to cre-
ate reasonable, effective and profitable formulations. But by
compiling detailed information on the compositions of commer-
cially available feed ingredients, the AAFFD can be a reference
tool for individuals involved in feed formulation, ingredient pur-
chasing, quality control and research. It can be used as a starting
point by less-experienced feed manufacturers or as a reference for
comparisons to nutritional guidelines currently used by estab-
lished feed manufacturers.
While the focus of this project is on the Asian aquaculture
feed market, the information and tools are also valuable for other
markets. USSEC plans to expand the number of species and
ingredients covered by the AAFFD to a more global context.
global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 87
innovation
Insect Meals: Novel Protein, Fat Sources
As potential ingredients in aquafeed, various insects offer high levels of protein and fats.
Summary:
With their high levels of protein
fat, insects are being studied
as potential ingredients in aqua-
feeds. Studies with trout found
that insect meal used as a partial
replacement for fishmeal in diets
had no adverse effects on growth
and nutrient utilization, and did
not alter fish flavor. Shrimp fed
live Trichocorixa insects had poor
growth, but the color, odor and
taste of shrimp muscle were not
affected. Large-scale utilization
of insects will depend on high-
quality waste sidestreams not
currently used for livestock
production.
Garbage in, garbage out. This long-
standing clich in the computer world is
just as true in feed formulation: Poor-
quality ingredients cant become good-
quality ingredients, no matter what one
tries to do with them.
Quality protein is essential for the
healthy growth of any omnivorous or car-
nivorous aquaculture species. Insect meals
seem to fill this need, and their mass-
88 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
scale production appears to be sustain-
able. Nevertheless, recent studies have
shown that bringing insects into the
global protein supply will depend on col-
lecting and using relatively high-quality
waste sidestreams that are not currently
used for livestock production.
Protein, Amino Acid Content
The great potential of insects as an
alternative protein source becomes appar-
ent when comparing their protein con-
tent with that of plant protein sources
such as soybeans or animal by-products
such as meat and bone meal. Indeed,
insects have been qualified as protein
concentrates with protein content rang-
ing from 30% in wood worms to 82% in
some species of wasps. Their digestibility
values go from 33% up to 96% in some
moth and butterfly larvae.
Similarly, the amino acid composition
of insect meals differs largely among spe-
cies. High amino acid values for phenyl-
alanine and tyrosine have been found in
some species, and some insects are rich in
tryptophan, lysine and threonine (Figure
1). However, the analytical data suggest
that for insects, total sulfur amino acids
are first limiting, and when insect meals
are incorporated into aquaculture diets as
the primary source of protein, total sulfur
Florentino Torres
Chief Executive Officer
Feedsagrisolutions SAS
Cra 14, #19-36
Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia
gerencia@scipem.com
amino acids were shown to be the first
limiting amino acid.
Lipid, Carbohydrate Content
In addition to protein, the other main
component in the nutrient composition
of insects is fat. The bulk of insect fatty
acid analyses indicate that most insect-
level profiles are fairly similar. Numerous
studies have shown that diet is a signifi-
cant contributor to the polyunsaturation
of fatty acids in insects.
Insect lipid content which can reach
50% on a dry-matter basis is usually
unsaturated, resembling oil or sunflower
oil. Triglycerides represent the largest
store of metabolic energy in insects. In
addition and similar to shrimp, insects
cannot synthesize cholesterol de novo.
It is important to keep in mind that an
imbalance of sterols, particularly choles-
terol, can reduce growth rates, molting
frequency and survival in farmed shrimp.
Based on fresh weight, the reported cho-
lesterol contents of insects range from 105
mg/100 g for house crickets to as low as
56 mg/100 g for scarab beetles.
Insects also tend to have low concen-
trations of structural carbohydrates: 3 to
4% in immature stages and 15% in adults.
Studies have shown that larvae reared on
foods with a low protein:carbohydrate
ratio gained less mass, grew more slowly
and contained significantly less storage
protein reserves than individuals fed bal-
anced or high-protein diets.
Insect Meals In Aquafeed
Studies have shown that black soldier
fly prepupae seem to be a suitable ingre-
dient for partial replacement of fishmeal
Insects have been quali-
fied as protein concen-
trates with protein
content ranging from 30%
in wood worms to 82%
in some species of wasps.
8
Lysine species conducted to evaluate the nutri-
Black Soldier Fly Larvae
7 tive value of insects or insect meals as a
Histidine 6
Methionine Housefly Pupa Meal replacement for fishmeal are limited.
5
Insect peptides produced by hydrolysis
Fishmeal
of house fly larvae and fed to Pacific white
4 Poultry Meal shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, resulted in
3
adequate body weight gain, reduced feed-
2
conversion ratios and high survival rates.
Arginine Phenylalanine
1
In a more recent study performed to evalu-
0
ate the partial and total replacement of
formulated feed by live insects (Tricho-
corixa species), during intensive culture of
L. vannamei, shrimp fed exclusively on
Leucime Threonine insects had poor growth, but no effect was
detected on the color, odor and taste of
shrimp muscle.
Isoleucine Valine Perspectives
The practice of feeding insects to aqua-
Figure 1. Amino acid composition of insect meals and other animal by-products. culture species can be readily adapted in an
Source: Bosch et al., 2014. aquaculture industry with a range of farm-
and fish oil in rainbow trout diets. In can catfish fed grasshopper meal revealed ing systems and a pool of cultivated species
addition, the fly content does not appear the insect meal could replace fishmeal at with different nutrient requirements. The
to alter the flavor of the trout. up to 25% without any adverse effect on safety and economic viability of breeding
In a recent 12-week feeding trial with growth and nutrient utilization. and rearing insects on organic wastes need
to be considered, but in order to be eco-
rainbow trout and using super worm In the early 1970s, studies indicated
nomically feasible, the overall cost of rear-
meal, an ingredient produced by grinding that when shrimp were offered arthro-
ing and feeding insects to fish and shrimp
up larvae of the tropical darkling beetle, pods, the insect larvae were selected over
Zophobas morio, good performance was the insect nymphs, which, in turn, were needs to be lower than the costs of feeding
achieved with levels of worm meal up to preferred over the adults. Published conventional protein sources like fishmeal,
about 15%. Data from a study with Afri- results from feeding trials with shrimp animal by-products or soybean meal.
Best Aquaculture Practices Auditor Course
September 27-October 3, 2015
Guayaquil, Ecuador Grand Hotel Guayaquil
Registration Deadline: September 11, 2015
The Global Aquaculture Alliance Best Aquaculture Practices division invites new auditor candidates,
returning auditors requiring refresher training and government and industry observers to attend this
informative course.
The course will cover the BAP standards for:
Seafood Processing Plants (Issue 4) Mussel Farms
Finfish and Crustacean Farms Feed Mills
Salmon Farms (Version 2)
Finfish and Crustacean Hatcheries and Nurseries
Course Announcement:
Please review the application requirements for http://bap.gaalliance.org/wp-content/
competence and experience in aquaculture uploads/sites/2/2015/06/Guayaquil-
and seafood. Improper submittals will be rejected. Ecuador-Sep-15-Auditor-Observer-
Training-Course-Announcement.pdf
Candidates are accepted on a space-available basis.
global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 89
innovation Table 4. Maximum inclusion
rates of soy nitrogen-free

Turbot Growth Performance

Ongoing research is extract in aquafeeds.
studying optimized
Hsiang Pin Lan least-cost formula-
Species NFE (%)

On Soy-Based Feeds
U.S. Soybean Export Council tions incorporating Carp 16.0-17.0
16305 Swingley Ridge Road soy in turbot diets. Tilapia 16.0-17.0
Suite 200 The stripes on the Channel catfish 16.0-17.0
Chesterfield, Missouri 63017 USA tank bottom darken Rainbow trout 7.5-8.5
hlan@ct.ussec.org the body color of Chinook salmon 0
turbot for better Coho salmon 6.0-6.5
Zhang Jian Atlantic salmon 3.0-3.5
market appeal.
Tim OKeefe Red drum 6.0-6.5
Michael Cremer, Ph.D. Striped bass 7.5-8.5
U.S. Soybean Export Council Red sea bream 7.5-8.5
Japanese eel 6.0-6.5
Zhang Xiuli
Sun Xueli Table 1. Compositions (%) of soy-based 0.78 and 0.72, respectively. The feed
Niu Zhibin diets used for turbot growout. costs per kilogram of fish weight gain are
Lv Jianguo Soy Maximized Diet Soy Optimized Diet shown in Table 3.
Yantai Taihua Marine Technology Ingredient (10% Fishmeal) (21% Fishmeal) Although the commercial diet gener-
Co., Ltd.
Soybean meal 0 8.00 ated the lowest FCR, the feed cost per
Yantai, Shandong Province, China Soy protein concentrate 40.00 26.00 kilogram of weight gain was highest due
Hydrolyzed fish protein 3.00 3.00 to its high fishmeal content. The opti-
Wheat flour 18.70 18.20 mized soy diet that contained about 21%
daily water exchange. The test diet was for- Corn gluten meal 6.50 5.50 fishmeal generated the lowest feed cost
Blood meal 7.50 7.50 per kilogram of weight gain.
mulated to contain 50% protein and 10% Calcium phosphate 1.44 0.40
fat, levels similar to those of the existing Fishmeal (anchovy) 10.00 21.30
commercial turbot feeds. Fish oil 4.00 5.60 Soy Diet Formulation
The formulation consideration was Soy oil 3.20 1.20 The aquafeed industry commonly rec-
Yantai Taihua Marine Technology turbot production room. From left: Yantai Taihua
maximizing soy in the diet with proper Soy lecithin 1.50 1.00 ognizes that carnivorous species have a lim-
General Manager Lv Jianguo, Yantai Taihua Production Manager Sun Xueli, Yantai
Taihua researcher Zhang Xiuli, USSEC aquafeed consultant Timothy OKeefe and nutrition for the turbot. The test diet, Vitamin premix 0.50 0.50 ited capability to digest plant protein. Soy
USSEC Asia Marine Aquacultures Hsiang Pin Lan. which contained 10% fishmeal and 40% Mineral premix 0.25 0.25 contains a nitrogen-free extract (NFE),
D.L.-methionine 0.28 0.18 which is mostly non-starch polysaccharide
soy protein concentrate (SPC) (Table 1), L-Lysine HCL 0.33 0.13
was fed twice daily. Approximately 1,000 that is poorly digested by carnivorous spe-
$3/kg after the incident, and the industry Taurine (95%) 2.00 0.50
fish were stocked in each of three tanks. Threonine 0.11 0.05 cies. This limitation needs to be considered
almost crashed. in feed formulation. Soybean meal contains
Summary: The turbot farmers who survived
The fish grew from 167.5 to 302.5 g Choline chloride (50%) 0.04 0.04
in 124 days, reflecting decent growth. Vitamin C (35%) 0.03 0.03 32% NFE, and 65% protein soy protein
Under culture, carnivorous turbot learned a serious lesson from the incident The average feed-conversion ratio (FCR) concentrate contains 16% NFE.
are typically fed diets containing and started paying more attention to pro- Table 2. Growth performance of turbot on three study diets.
and survival rate from two of the tanks The ratio of animal protein to plant
45 to 65% fishmeal. Since fish- duction practices. From that point, most
meal prices are increasingly high, were 1.02 and 99.8%, respectively. The Soy Maximized Soy Optimized protein was 1:2 in the soy maximized diet
turbot farmers have applied biosecurity FCR value was similar to that obtained Diet Diet Commercial Diet and 1:1 in the soy optimized diet.
the authors performed research
and shifted from trash fish to manufac- using the commercial feed, according to (10% Fishmeal) (21% Fishmeal) (50% Fishmeal) Although the soy diets had different pro-
to evaluate the replacement of
tured feed for production. the farm operator. The results indicated tein sources, the NFE values of the two
fishmeal in turbot diets with soy Culture period (days) 124 124 124
In China, most turbot feeds contain that proper formulation using soy protein Average survival (%) 98.4% 99.0% 98.0% diets were fairly similar, less than 7%.
products. In a study that gave
about 50% crude protein and 10% fat. concentrate could replace a significant Fish growth (g) 23.0 to 105.9 20.2 to 112.1 20.3 to 119.4 The study results showed no difference in
turbot feed with 40% soy protein
The industry commonly uses 45 to 60% quantity of the fishmeal in turbot diets. Specific grow rate (%) 0.53% 0.60% 0.62% fish growth performance between the diet
concentrate, the fish had decent Daily weight gain (g) 0.67 0.74 0.80
fishmeal in the diets, since turbot are rec- treatments.
growth and excellent survival. In 2014 Study Average feed- 0.79 0.78 0.72
ognized as a highly carnivorous spices.
another study, turbot on a diet conversion ratio
with 21% fishmeal, 8% soybean
Fishmeal prices increased dramatically in In a 2014 study, the goal was to evalu- Perspectives
recent years and are expected to be higher ate the growth and economic performance Table 3. Calculated feed costs per kilogram of fish weight gain. In general, carnivorous fish species
meal and 26% soy protein concen-
in the future. Therefore, economical, of turbot fed a soy-based diet with least- have poor tolerance of soy NFE. Chinook
trate also performed well. Soy Maximized Soy Optimized
high-quality turbot feed is needed for cost formulation. This study was also con- salmon, for example, have zero tolerance.
ducted at Yantai Taihua Marine Technol- Diet Diet Commercial Diet However, the tolerance among carnivorous
industry sustainability.
(10% Fishmeal) (21% Fishmeal) (50% Fishmeal)
ogy under the same conditions used in species varies. Table 4 shows the soy NFE
Turbot, Scophthalmus maximus, were Feeding Studies 2013. Average feed- 0.79 0.78 0.72 tolerance of various fish species.
introduced to China in 1992 and com- Fish with average initial weights of conversion ratio Using a combination of dehulled soy-
2013 Study Feed cost (U.S. $/kg) 2.00 2.00 2.30
mercially produced since 1995. The high about 20 g were stocked at a density of bean meal and soy protein concentrate
Feed cost/g weight 1.58 1.56 1.66
value of the fish as high as U.S. $60/kg To evaluate the performance of turbot 2,000 fish/tank. Formulated to be 50% gain (U.S. $) can effectively replace fishmeal and lower
in the late 1990s led to the rapid devel- fed diets with high soy content, the authors crude protein and 10% fat (Table 1), the Difference/kg weight 0.02 0 0.10 the cost of feed while achieving adequate
opment of their aquaculture production. initiated a feeding demonstration project in optimized test diet contained 21.3% fish- gain (U.S. $) performance in fish growth and economy.
However, the quick growth lacked sus- 2013 at Yantai Taihua Marine Technology meal, 8.0% soybean meal and 26.0% soy A current study is evaluating the opti-
tainability. In 2006, chemical residues Co., Ltd., located in Yantai, Shandong protein concentrate. The 2014 study also containing 50.0% fishmeal. in Table 2. The turbot grew from 20 to mized soy diet when fed to 250-g sub-
were found in turbot in the Shanghai fish Province, China. Fish were raised in square, used the 10.0% fishmeal diet from the Data on fish growth, FCR and eco- over 110 g. The average FCRs for the 10, market-size fish grown to a market size
market. Prices for the fish dropped below 6- x 6- x 0.5-m concrete tanks with 600% 2013 study and a local commercial diet nomic growth performance are presented 21 and 50% fishmeal diets were 0.79, greater than 600 g.
90 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 91
industry news
As high as 90% of U.S. consumers do not eat recommended
amounts of seafood.
U.S. Consumers Missing Seafood
Health Benefits
While most consumers in the United States eat some sea-
food, the amounts are inadequate to meet federal dietary guide-
lines, according to studies conducted by U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) scientists. Both fish and shellfish are nutri-
ent-rich protein foods whose consumption has been associated
with reduced heart disease risk.
Seafood contains healthful natural compounds known as
omega-3 fatty acids. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans rec-
ommend eating two servings of seafood weekly (about 227 g) to
get at least 1,750 mg of the omega-3s eicosapentaenoic acid
(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) weekly.
U.S. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) nutritionist Lisa
Jahns led a study based on an evaluation of food-intake data col-
lected from a representative sampling of the U.S. population
during the national What We Eat in America survey. Overall,
80 to 90% of U.S. consumers did not meet the seafood recom-
mendations.
Additionally, a review of published studies that explored fish
consumptions link to heart health pointed to consistent evidence
supporting a reduced risk of heart disease due to eating oily fish.
EPA and DHA are abundant in oily fish such as salmon, mack-
erel, herring, sardines, anchovies, trout and tuna.
Researchers concluded that getting the message of the benefits
of fish consumption to consumers is key and suggested a public
health education program on the health benefits of eating fish.
Both studies were published in the journal Nutrients. Data on
the nutrient content of seafood can be found in the USDA-ARS
National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference at www.ars.
usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=8964.
Cargill Launches SmartShield
To Battle EMS
To help customers manage the risks
of early mortality syndrome (EMS) at
their shrimp farms and improve profit-
ability, Cargills animal nutrition busi-
ness has launched the SmartShield
program, a holistic approach combining specialized feed and
technical services proven to combat the disease and increase pro-
duction.
The SmartShield program is comprised of three components:
92 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate
People, Products, Programs
Please send short news items and photos for consideration to:
Darryl E. Jory
4111 Telegraph Road, Suite 302
St. Louis, Missouri 63129 USA
E-mail: editorgaadvocate@aol.com
Fax: +1-419-844-1638
an on-farm risk assessment using a specialized tool that provides
specific biosecurity and farm management recommendations to
reduce disease risk, targeted feed solutions that include func-
tional additives that improve growth performance and shrimp
immunity, and specialized technical support aimed at early
detection and prevention.
Field trials conducted in Mexico showed the SmartShield
program can provide an average of 59% higher production yield
and a 20% improvement in feed conversion.
In partnership with customers, researchers, industry and gov-
ernment, Cargill has been investigating strategies to help shrimp
producers reduce the risks of EMS outbreaks for more than two
years.
Disease is one of the major causes of low farm productivity
and loss of revenue, said Ryan Lane, global aquaculture tech-
nology director. Our experience has shown us that a holistic
approach improved biosecurity, specialized feeding and cus-
tomized technical services for ongoing disease prevention and
management is best for effectively reducing disease outbreaks
on the farm.
For more information about Cargill Animal Nutrition, visit
www.cargill.com/feed.
New CEFAS Technology Aims
At Global Diseases
The United Kingdoms Centre for Environment, Fisheries
and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), a world leader in aquatic
food security, is working with governments and industry in the
U.K. and Asia to develop new DNA-based diagnostic technol-
ogy linked to data reporting by smart phone, which can be used
by farmers at pond side to rapidly detect diseases.
CEFAS is leading field trials in Thailand, where diseases like
white spot syndrome and early mortality syndrome have led to a
halving of annual yield and profit in the shrimp industry. It is
hoped this revolutionary approach will ensure that early detec-
tion enables faster management of infections and disease.
The results of the field trials during 2015 and 2016 will
enable CEFAS and partners to further develop the technology,
which is hoped to be available to industry in 2017.
Decentralized diagnostics combined with technology-driven
field reporting has the ability to bridge the significant knowledge
gap among farmers, scientists, aquatic health professionals and
policy makers at national, regional and global levels, Professor
Grant Stentiford of CEFAS said. In countries where veterinary
and diagnostic infrastructures are not as developed, farmer-led
approaches offer the potential to better manage diseases and
safeguard local profit and a sustainable supply chain.
For additional information, visit https://www.cefas.co.uk.
YSI Introduces New Aquaculture
Expansion Modules
YSI, a Xylem brand, has introduced three new expansion
modules for its highly acclaimed Aquaculture and Aquatic Life
Support Monitoring and Control product line. The expansion
modules IOEM-8, IOEM-4 and REM-4 allow YSI cus-
tomers to interface with more devices and increase their control
capability when connected to a YSI 5200A, 5400 and/or 5500D
monitor.
We want to give our customers cost-effective products and
services that make their job easier and improve the efficiency of
their facilities, YSI Product Manager Laura St. Pierre said.
With YSIs new IOEMs (Input Output Expansion Modules),
theyll gain the ability to configure up to eight inputs/outputs.
The inputs allow them to integrate additional sensors or output
from other devices. The outputs can be configured to control
pumps, U.V. systems and analog valves, or send data to SCADA
or PLC systems.
St. Pierre added: The new REM (Relay Expansion Module)
adds relays where needed to control feeders, lighting, heaters,
alarms and more.
With these new products, YSIs primary goal is to help
aquatic facility managers ensure healthy livestock and maximize
profits with tighter control of water quality and system parame-
ters. Some applications for YSIs new modules include recirculat-
ing systems, raceways, ponds, sea cages, live haul, aquariums and
research.
For more information, visit www.ysi.com.
Lower Your Costs and
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100% Chicken-Based Meals and Fats
from a proven industry leader means
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Your AQuAFeeD proteIN CHoICe
tyson Animal Nutrition Group
www.tysonanimalnutritiongroup.com
global aquaculture advocate
H.J. Baker Hires New Director
Of International Sales
Global agriculture firm H.J. Baker has announced that Steve
Langley has joined the companys Crop Performance Division
and Animal Health and Nutrition Division to accelerate global
growth initiatives.
Langley will oversee all of H.J. Bakers international sales and
marketing activities. He will be based in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
Langley has more than 30 years of international business
expertise in agriculture manufacturing and marketing. For the
last five years, Langley focused on the swine and poultry equip-
ment industry, where he was vice president of business develop-
ment for Q.C. Supply Inc. and ran swine management systems
in North America for Big Dutchman, Inc.
He also spent 14 years in Shanghai, China, as a sales and
marketing executive and then chief operating officer of the
China Premium Food Corp. Langley serves on several boards for
both U.S and Chinese companies and has received multiple
industry awards.
Steves depth of international experience and success in the
agriculture industry make him a true asset, said Executive Vice
President of Sales and Marketing Steve Azzarello. Having
Steve join us as director is only going to help us as we move for-
ward in our efforts to grow internationally.
H.J. Baker & Bro. Inc. is a global manufacturer and supplier
of agricultural goods and services that contribute to animal
health and nutrition in aquaculture, as well as the poultry, swine
and dairy industries. For more information on H.J. Baker, visit
www.hjbaker.com.
ChiCken Fat
Feather Meal
ChiCken
By-ProduCt Meal
Join the conversation!
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mexico Web: http://www.pentairaes.com/ Systems and Technology Join The Global Aquaculture Alliance: www.gaalliance.org/who-we-are/membership/
aquaponics-technology-and-design-
Workshop
Aquaculture Association of workshop.html
December 9-11, 2015
Southern Africa Aquaculture Apopka, Florida, USA
Conference 2015 GOAL 2015 Phone: Phone: +1-407-886-3939
September 27-October 3, 2015 October 26-29, 2015 Web: www.pentairaes.com

through the
Polokwane, Limpopo Province, Vancouver, Canada

gaa recognizes
South Africa Phone: +1-314-293-5500
Middle East and Central Asia
Phone: +27-012-803-5208 Web: www.gaalliance.org/goal/

development of its
Web: www.aasa-aqua.co.za/conferences/
Aquaculture 2015 that
December 14-16, 2015
SEAFEX 2015
Tehran, Iran aquaculture is the only
October 27-29, 2015
Best Aquaculture Practices
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Phone: + 971-56-684-8080 Best Aquaculture Practices certification sustainable means
Auditor Training Course standards, GAA has become the leading
September 27-October 3, 2015 Web: www.seafexme.com
Web: www.meaf.ae of increasing seafood
Guayaquil, Ecuador standards-setting organization for aquaculture supply to meet the food
Phone: 593-4-232-9690 seafood. needs of the worlds
Web: http://bap.gaalliance.org/wp- growing population.
content/uploads/sites/2/2015/06/
Guayaquil-Ecuador-Sep-15-Auditor-
Observer-Training-Course-Announce-
ment.pdf

learn more at www.gaalliance.org

94 September/October 2015 global aquaculture advocate global aquaculture advocate September/October 2015 95
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