CORPORATE NEWS
'RECIRCREADY'
Skretting introduces new concept for recirculating aquaculture systems
Skretting, the world's largest supplier of specialised recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) feeds, said it was to launch RecircReady, the company's improved integrated concept for recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS).
The concept takes into account growth and waste prediction models, nutrient recycling, fish and system health monitoring in addition to tailored feed solutions and their impact on the systems themselves, Skretting said.
The technology incorporated into RAS allows for close supervision of waste and effluents, while tighter control over water quality and isolation from the external environment can help avoid biological risks. At the same time, RAS provides the opportunity to greatly enhance feed management and scope to facilitate consistent growth rates throughout the production cycle.
Developed by the Skretting Aquaculture Research Centre (ARC) through extensive trials at its research facilities in Norway and Italy, Skretting's dedicated feeds incorporate patented ingredients that bind faecal matter. In RAS, this means it is easier to filter and remove solid waste particles, resulting in cleaner water and a healthier system, the company explained.
"Skretting continues to lead advancements in this space. Our primary aim is to help farmers produce more fish in a more cost-effective and sustainable manner," said Dr. Ingunn Stubhaug, researcher at Skretting ARC.
Skretting's RAS feeds are designed to provide farmers with the best possible solution to optimise land-based production. They are based on three key deliverables: improving faeces quality and optimising mechanical filtration; reducing the nutrient load on biofilters through balancing high quality raw materials; and maximising fish growth potential and health.
Skretting's unparalleled RAS capabilities are also now supported by a new state-of-the-art recirculation hall at Skretting ARC's Lerang Research Station in Norway. Predominantly conducting trials for salmon product development, this facility is used to investigate the impact of feeds and formulations on the biological filters in RAS. The recirculation facility has joined a global network of Skretting RAS research units, each with an explicit area of focus, and is expected to prove invaluable in servicing RAS customers.
"Many producers are looking for feed aligned with their own particular systems in terms of physical properties and behaviour. In RAS, you want the feed to reach all of the fish. You also want it to be consumed or to exit the system as quickly as possible. Consequently, some farmers want slower-sinking feeds while others want diets that move faster. This is one of the unique challenges presented by RAS and an area in which we have had a lot of success over the last decade," Stubhaug commented.
"There is a lot of diversity in closed containment aquaculture, and it's essential that producers have the right support to meet their specific requirements. At Skretting, we're excited to be working with more RAS suppliers and farmers to meet their future needs."
USE OF PROBIOTICS IN TILAPIA FARMING
INVE Aquaculture holds training seminar for Thailand's Manit Farm staff
INVE Aquaculture and Thailand's Manit Farm recently organised a technical training for the farm's marketing and sales team to strengthen their knowledge about the efficient use of probiotics in tilapia farming.
As a leading supplier of high-quality tilapia fry and feed Manit Farm distributes INVE Aquaculture's products to farmers throughout Thailand.
The speakers in the seminar included:
-- Dr. David Moriarty, honorary senior fellow at The University of Queensland, who introduced the concept of probiotics. David, with his many years of experience in microbial ecology in the 1980s and 1990s, was influential in the development of INVE Aquaculture's probiotics during his time with the company.
-- Frederic Jozwiak, INVE technical manager farm & feedmill, who gave an overview of the tilapia situation in Brazil and detailed the successful partnership with a Brazilian integrated company. He also reviewed lab and field data confirming the efficacy of INVE Aquaculture's probiotics.
-- Dr. Olivier Decamp, INVE product manager farm & feedmill, who reviewed the unique value proposition of INVE Aquaculture's probiotics for Thai tilapia farmers. Cost-benefit ratio, ease of use, safety and competitiveness of two products sold in Thailand (Secure POND and Secure YIELD) were discussed.
CONTINUING EXPANSION
Biomar Group to build new line for extruded shrimp feed in Ecuador
To accommodate the growth in volumes sold, BioMar Group has decided to invest in additional capacity at its factory in Ecuador. A new extrusion line will add around 40,000 tonnes in capacity and is expected to start operation in the first quarter of 2020, just one year after the latest capacity expansion, which is due in the first quarter of next year.
The extrusion line creates the foundation for development of new product ranges and is expected to be ready early 2020.
"We have experienced a strong growth in Ecuador since the acquisition of Alimentsa in 2017 and we currently operate at our capacity limit. For our customers the new line will mean increased flexibility and increased choice, as it will significantly expand our capacity for extruded and value added feed solutions," explained Henrik Aarestrup, vice president, emerging markets, in the BioMar Group.
Shrimp production in Ecuador has been posting double-digit growths, placing Ecuador as the third-largest shrimp producing nation in the world.
"The Ecuadorian shrimp sector will continue to grow in the coming years, although at a somewhat slower pace than in 2018, where we have seen an exceptionally high growth. Ecuador has a competitive edge when it comes to producing shrimp in a responsible manner with high focus on both sustainability and product quality. Recent initiatives like the launch of the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership will further enhance this position", said Aarestrup.
The investment is part of BioMar's strategic plan for the shrimp business, which also includes a recently inaugurated research and trial unit in connection with the plant in Ecuador.
Apart from the shrimp feed business in Ecuador, BioMar currently produces extruded shrimp feed in Asia and Central America plus some support production for Central America and Ecuador coming from BioMar's factories in Chile. Larval diets for shrimp are distributed worldwide under the LARVIVA brand from BioMar's French production site.
AT IRELAND'S HATCH ACCELERATOR EVENT
India's Aquamonk voted Most Investible Business
Aquamonk, an Indian based start-up that uses real-time monitoring and data management for shrimp farming, has been voted Most Investible Business during the Hatch Accelerator Demo Day held on Dec. 6 to an audience of Irish and international investors at Dogpatch Labs, Dublin, Ireland. The event marked the final day of the first Accelerator programme for aquaculture held in Ireland, and was only the second such progamme in the world.
The intensive three-month programme, run by Hatch and supported by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), which is Ireland's seafood development agency, under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, was based in Cork city. Start-ups from the UK, US, Canada, Chile and India benefitted from mentorship from experts in the fields of aquaculture, technology, finance and marketing.
Jim O'Toole, CEO of BIM, who spoke at the Demo Day, said: "This programme represents a new phase of innovation for the Irish seafood sector. Three of six Hatch start-ups look likely to continue to operate their global aquaculture business from Ireland. This shows we're making progress in our ambition to lead in aquaculture innovation".
Alune, an aquaculture investment business that allows access to high-liquidity investment opportunities in aquaculture, incorporated its business in Ireland days before starting the Hatch Accelerator for Aquaculture. A further two of the six start-ups that took part in the Hatch Accelerator, are currently at advanced stages of trying to establish their global aquaculture business headquarters in Ireland.
Aquaculture is the fastest-growing form of animal protein production in the world. Last year saw the value of aquaculture in Ireland increase by 24% to €208 million, according to the BIM Business of Seafood.
PARTICIPATION IN EXHIBITIONS
Nutriad at 9th Future Fish Eurasia in Turkey…
Nutriad participated in the 9th Future Fish Eurasia exhibition held in Turkey at the Izmir International Fair Centre in late October.
The event gathered suppliers of fish feed, fish additives, farming equipment, veterinary services and vaccines, and fish processing equipment, with a strong focus on the Turkish aquaculture market. It provided a great opportunity for the Belgium-based company to further engage with the aqua industry in a dynamic and rapidly growing market.
Despite the challenging current economic climate in Turkey, the fair was well attended by fish producers from Turkey and surrounding countries. Turkey continues to be a strong fish producer with its over 250,000 tonnes of seabass, seabream and trout. Diversification of marine aquaculture is starting to take off, too, with industry sources confirming the stocking of 4-5 million fry of an emerging species of marine fish, meagre (Argyrosomus regius).
Nutriad, together with its aquaculture partners in Turkey, Nutriad Yem and Avet, was present with a booth. "Turkey is a focus market for Nutriad. We have a strong position in this market, thanks to our specialised product portfolio for marine fish and trout, our aquaculture partners, and our broad offer of services to support the mostly vertically integrated industry in Turkey", said Peter Coutteau, business unit director aquaculture for Nutriad.
… at Fenacam in Brasil
The Nutriad's aqua team participated in the XV edition of Fenacam (Feira Nacional do Camarão or National Shrimp Festival), held in Natal, Brazil, on November 13-16. Fenacam brings together industry and academic leaders and has consolidated as the major aquaculture event in Brazil. Although attendees came from all over Brazil, the event was particularly attended by shrimp and fish producers from the northeast region.
The trade show gathered suppliers of fish and shrimp feed, feed additives, farming and processing equipment. Nutriad was present to support Escama Forte and Customizzare, both highly technical partners with great focus on disease prevention in aquatic species. Escama Forte offers products and services directly to farmers, while Customizzare is well known for manufacturing top-quality functional aquafeeds. Fenacam was an ideal platform for Nutriad to showcase its health solutions and to further engage with the industry
Dr Waldo Nuez, Nutriad's aquaculture lead scientist, participated in the technical sessions and shared his views on the use of functional feed additives to reinforce the disease-prevention strategy, particularly against current and frequent bacterial and parasite infections affecting tilapia production.
"Following an early and well-formulated prevention strategy via use of health feed additives, we can improve survival during season-specific outbreaks of Streptococcus agalactiae type 3 and Francisella noatunensis and help fish to keep the guard up against opportunistic infections", said Nuez.
Nutriad delivers products and services to over 80 countries through a network of own sales offices and distributors.
TO PRODUCE STERILE FINFISH
Aquaculture R&D firm CAT inks agreement with AquaBounty
The Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT), a leading aquaculture research company, and AquaBounty Technologies Inc. have signed a licensing and research agreement to employ CAT's patented sterility technology for use in products developed by AquaBounty.
AquaBounty and CAT, are co-funding CAT's research using gene editing to produce a sterile finfish for use in aquaculture. CAT will hold the patents and AquaBounty will receive a non-exclusive, royalty-free, license to those patents and the technology. The development work will be performed at CAT's facility in San Diego, USA.
"We are delighted to work with AquaBounty to develop this technology and realize its potential in aquaculture", said Dr. John Buchanan, CEO of CAT.
Ronald Stotish, AquaBounty CEO, on his end, said: "Although AquaBounty has been very successful in routinely achieving levels approaching 100% sterility using triploid induction technology, we are very pleased to be working with CAT and using their innovative gene editing approach to ensure 100% sterility genetically. Sterility of farmed fish has many environmental and production benefits and we believe this project has a broad range of potential applications in the industry".
CAT—which is focused on improving productivity, efficiency and sustainability in the aquaculture industry—operates two laboratories: its research hub in San Diego, California, USA; and the world's only Level 3-certified pathogen containment, private aquaculture research facility located on Prince Edward Island in Canada.
TASKED WITH DEVELOPING NEW MARKETS
Russian Fishery Co. names new chief commercial officer
Russian Fishery Co. (RFC), Russia's largest pollock harvester, has appointed Soren Dalsager as its new chief commercial officer.
As CCO, Mr. Dalsager will lead the company's efforts to ensure the transition from a production/fishing-oriented focus to a market-driven and customer-focused business by enhancing the RFC's product portfolio and developing new markets.
Dalsager brings more than 30 years of experience from the international seafood industry -- he has held the positions of EVP global sales and marketing for Regal Springs аnd president of Royal Greenland US, among others. He is also the founder of the internationally recognised Napa Seafood Summit.
"We expect Mr. Dalsager's deep knowledge of the fishing industry and his vast experience will help to create a high performing global sales and marketing team, expand the customer base, develop new markets and sales channels, and increase the overall profitability of our growing product portfolio", RFC CEO Fedor Kirsanov said.
