Edusehat - : Akuakultur

Norwegian Company Frøy Orders Three New Service Vessels from Rainbow Nantong Shipyard in China

Edusehat — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:45:17 +0700

• They will strengthen company’s capacity to meet the future needs of the aquaculture industry

Norway-based company Frøy is strengthening its fleet with three new service vessels from Rainbow Nantong Shipyard in China. Two of the vessels have already secured long-term contracts with two of Norway’s largest aquaculture companies—and this investment marks a new step in Frøy’s efforts to build a more modern, efficient, and sustainable fleet, they assured.

According to them, the vessels represent the next generation of service vessels and will strengthen Frøy’s capacity to meet the future needs of the aquaculture industry. With high technical standards, energy-efficient solutions, and significant operational capacity, they will contribute to a reduced environmental footprint, increased efficiency, and good working conditions on board.

“This is an important investment in Frøy’s continued development. We are seeing strong demand for modern service vessels and have great confidence in the long-term need for this type of capacity in the aquaculture industry. The fact that two of the vessels have already been secured on long-term contracts with leading players in the industry provides a solid foundation for the project and confirms that the vessel concept meets customers’ needs,” said CEO Tonje Foss.

Design Based on Extensive Experience Operating

The vessels have been developed based on Frøy’s extensive experience operating service vessels along the entire Norwegian coast, the company explained. The concept combines high deck and lifting capacity with a hybrid propulsion system, battery packs, and shore power charging.

That resulted in reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions, while also providing the vessels with increased power reserves and operational flexibility. They are further equipped with modern bridge technology, comprehensive camera and surveillance systems, and facilities that facilitate safe and efficient operations.

Vidar Pedersen, Frøy’s Commercial Director, highlighted the significance of the early customer interest: “The fact that two of the vessels have already been secured under long-term contracts is, in our view, a strong endorsement of the project. It gives us confidence that we are developing solutions that meet the needs of some of the most professional and demanding customers in the industry,” says Pedersen.

Significant attention has been paid to the onboard work environment. Noise- and vibration-reducing measures, high-comfort interior design, modern ventilation systems, and spacious cabin solutions are intended to contribute to a high level of well-being and a safe work environment for the crew.

Building on Frøy’s leading position in providing services to the aquaculture industry, the vessels have been developed based on extensive operational experience and a thorough understanding of customer needs. The goal has been to develop vessels that combine high capacity with energy-efficient solutions, strong operational reliability, and good working conditions.

Development for the Region

The company explained with the announcement that the new vessels not only help strengthen Frøy’s service offerings but also contribute to the further development of maritime expertise and value creation in the region.

“When we build new vessels, we’re also investing in expertise and jobs in the region. These projects offer exciting opportunities both at sea and on land, in ship design, technology, project management, and international construction supervision. This helps further develop a strong maritime professional community with expertise that is in demand far beyond our own operations,” assured Foss.

And he concluded: “The aquaculture industry faces ever-increasing demands for efficiency, sustainability, and quality. Therefore, we must continue to develop both our services and our vessels. These newbuilds are a clear expression of our ambitions and our belief in the future of both Frøy and the industry as a whole.”

Assisting Salmon Farmers

Frøy is a world leading integrated aqua service competence and infrastructure partner to the salmon farming industry. They assist salmon farmers with maintaining sustainable and efficient day-to-day farming operations at sea. Frøy was established at Frøya, the global epicenter for aquaculture, more than 20 years ago.

“Our solutions for the ocean space includes transportation of live fish, biological treatments, sorting, counting, cleaning, inspection, installation and maintenance of site infrastructure,” they say.

Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Industry Association Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary with a New Edition of the Cold Harvest and Aquaculture Canada

Edusehat — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:45:16 +0700

• The event is organized by NAIA and the Aquaculture Association of Canada

• More than 75 speakers and over 40 trade show exhibitors participated

The Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA) organized the new edition of the Cold Harvest and Aquaculture Canada 2026 Conference and Trade Show, officially opened in St. John’s lasts September 15. This year’s event marks NAIA’s 40th anniversary and coincides with Aquaculture Week, formally declared by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The event has been held at the Jag Hotel from September 15 to 17.

Cold Harvest is Canada’s largest cold-water aquaculture conference, co-hosted with the Aquaculture Association of Canada (AAC). More than 75 speakers and over 40 trade show exhibitors have participated, with delegates attending from across Canada and internationally. The program featured a wide range of technical and sector-focused sessions covering aquatic animal health, environmental science, innovation, workforce development, and emerging technologies.

Scott Ross, a national leader in agriculture policy and innovation, delivered the conference keynote address on the launch of the new edition. His remarks explore the connections between agriculture, aquaculture, and sustainable food production across Canada. Federal Fisheries Minister, Joanne Thompson, also attended the opening reception as the Provincial Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister, Loyola O’Driscoll.

At the opening reception of the Cold Harvest & Aquaculture Canada Conference & Trade Show 2026 in Newfoundland and Labrador everybody could see Thompson with young employees and students “helping shape the future of the province’s aquaculture sector,” said the organization. “The next generation is bringing energy, ideas and expertise to an industry that supports communities and contributes to Canada’s food system.”

Where the Aquaculture Community Comes Together

NAIA Executive Director Bradley George highlighted the importance of hosting the conference in Newfoundland and Labrador, stating “Cold Harvest has always been a place where the aquaculture community comes together to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and showcase the innovation that drives our sector forward. We’re proud to welcome AAC and delegates from across the country and beyond to St. John’s this September.”

For his part, Cyr Couturier, President of AAC, said: “The Aquaculture Association of Canada is extremely pleased to once again be co-hosting the premier national seafood farming conference and trade show in Canada, in partnership with NAIA,” while adding “we have a fantastic lineup of panelists and sessions on almost every aspect of seafood farming.”

The joint Cold Harvest / Aquaculture Canada program featured technical sessions, keynote speakers, panels, and a large trade show representing the full value chain of aquaculture. Hundreds of delegates from Canada, the United States, Europe, South America, and other regions attended. Those wishing to register can visit www.naia.ca.

Two Associations to One Goal

Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA) is a member-based organization that represents the interests of seafood farmers and their suppliers in Newfoundland and Labrador. The organization advocates on behalf of the aquaculture sector and works with producers, suppliers, governments, and communities to advance sustainable aquaculture development and promote the economic and social value of aquaculture across the province.

On the other hand, the Aquaculture Association of Canada (AAC) was established in 1984 with a mandate to foster the development of the Canadian aquaculture sector. Since 1985, it has delivered the national Aquaculture Canada conference and trade show in partnership with provincial or regional associations. The event brings industry, academia, and government stakeholders together to review innovations, science, and technology in Canadian aquaculture. Proceedings from the first 30 conferences are available free to the public at www.aquacultureassociation.ca.

Norwegian Seafood Industry Unites to Tackle Marine Litter with National and Global Clean-Up Initiative

Edusehat — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:45:15 +0700

By: Norwegian Seafood Council

Norway embarks on huge plastic-cleanup campaign ahead of World Cleanup Day

Together with businesses, schools, and public sector and voluntary organizations, the Norwegian seafood industry participated in a bid to tackle plastic pollution in marine waters, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).

In the runup to World Cleanup Day on September 20, Norway participated in the nationwide Beach Cleanup Week (Strandryddeuka), which culminated in a joint effort to remove marine litter from the Hardangerfjord – one of the world’s longest fjords – on September 17.

This year marked the fifth year of the ‘Clean Hardangerfjord’ campaign, which was launched in 2022 and is organized by Framtidshavet (The Future Ocean Foundation) in collaboration with other local Norwegian organizations.

Beach Cleanup Week took place in Norway from September 11–20 and last year saw 164,253 kg of marine litter removed from Norwegian waters and surrounding areas.

According to the clean-up report from the environmental organization Hold Norge Rent, volunteers have cleared more than 5.1 million kg of litter from Norwegian beaches over the past five years.

Kenneth Bruvik at beach cleanup week 2025.

Eighty Tons of Plastic Removed from the Hardangerfjord

Clean Hardangerfjord is a huge plastic clean-up campaign that brings together several thousand volunteers every year. The aim is to collect as much marine litter as possible in one day along the entire Hardangerfjord, which – at 180 km – is one of the world’s longest fjords.

Kenneth Bruvik, founder, board member and project coordinator at Framtidshavet, says of the cleanup-initiative: “Over the first four years, we have collected 80 tons of plastic from the Hardangerfjord. This has been possible thanks to a unique collaboration between the public sector, schools, private businesses and voluntary organizations. When we all pull together, it is incredible what we can achieve.”

Bruvik adds: “An initiative of this scale not only gives us a cleaner fjord, but also brings a range of other positive effects, such as reputation and brand building, better public health, closer connections to the fjord, research and collaboration across regions. It is a model I hope more people will be inspired by, both in Norway and abroad.”

Beach cleanup week 2025, Norway.

Environmental Issue on a Global Scale

Marine litter continues to be a major global environmental issue. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), between 9 and 23 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year. This plastic can remain in the ocean for hundreds of years and cause harm to both animals and people.

Bruvik says: “If we do nothing, the amount of plastic ending up in the ocean could triple by 2040. As a father and grandfather, I cannot accept such a development. I want future generations to be able to experience clean oceans too. Alongside a deep love for the fjord and nature, that is my greatest motivation.”

Seafood Industry Support

The Norwegian seafood industry has contributed to Clean Hardangerfjord every year since its inception. Since the very beginning, representatives from both fisheries and aquaculture have ensured boats, equipment and volunteers are available for the campaign.

Bruvik says: “We are very grateful for the efforts made by the entire seafood industry. Although we still find a lot of marine litter originating from aquaculture and fisheries, today’s industry representatives have a completely different attitude from their predecessors. It is no longer acceptable for a fisher or aquaculture operator to throw waste into the sea.”

Over the years, Bruvik has seen the harsh effects of plastic waste in the ocean: “It is frightening to see how plastic slowly becomes embedded in nature and eventually turns into microplastics. It destroys life in the ocean and is highly damaging to public health. We cannot allow that, which is why we need to put this issue on the global agenda.”

Beach cleanup week 2024, Norway.

About the Norwegian Seafood Council 

The NSC is headquartered in Tromsø and maintains local representatives in some of Norway’s most important international markets. The Norwegian seafood industry finances the activities of the NSC via a tariff on all Norwegian seafood exports. The NSC is a public company owned by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries.

**About World Cleanup Day, Beach Cleanup Week (Strandryddeuka) and Clean Hardangerfjord (Rein Hardangerfjord)**

World Cleanup Day is an official United Nations international day, taking place on September 20.
Strandryddeuka, or Beach Cleanup Week, is a national cleanup project in Norway, taking place from September 11–20, initiated by the non-profit organization Hold Norge Rent, “Keep Norway Clean”.
Strandryddeuka is the largest cleanup initiative in Norway, gathering at least 15,000 volunteers across the country.
Rein Hardangerfjord, or the ‘Clean Hardangerfjord’ initiative, is organised by Framtidshavet (The Future Ocean Foundation), Hardangerrådet (the Hardanger Council) and Samarbeidsrådet (the Co-operation Council) for Sunnhordland in Norway.
Clean Hardangerfjord is a one-day initiative where all participants try to collect as much plastic waste from the fjord as possible.
In 2026 the initiative celebrates its five-year anniversary.
Up until 2026, the project has collected almost 80 tons of plastic waste from the Hardangerfjord.

Photos: Norwegian Seafood Council.

ASC Brings Ghana Model for Aquaculture Improvement to Global FAO Discussions

Edusehat — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:45:12 +0700

By: Aquaculture Stewardship Council

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) highlighted how certification, improvement programmes and collaboration with governments and industry can help turn global aquaculture goals into practical action at the 37th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI37), taking place in Rome from 7–11 September 2026.

A key focus was ASC’s work in Ghana, where ASC, the Ghana Fisheries Commission and Chamber of Aquaculture are co-developing a national Code of Good Practices – demonstrating how the FAO Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture (GSA) can be applied at country and producer level.

ASC CEO Chris Ninnes and Head of the Improver Programme by ASC, Roy van Daatselaar, contributed to discussions at COFI37, sharing how independent standards, improvement pathways and partnerships can support progress across a sector where producers operate in different contexts and at different stages. They were joined by Bertrand Charron, ASC Global Director of Research & Insights, and Patricia Bianchi, ASC AIP & Governance Manager.

Chris said, “Independent standards that provide certification and credible improvement pathways can help translate global ambition into practical requirements and measurable progress. Only by including the entire value chain (including the ingredient sourcing for feed production) can the Guidelines be delivered.

“We also know that the performance of farming systems differs enormously globally. Implementation pathways to deliver change must build commitment for their direction and end goal, and for the services that facilitate this.

“The development in Ghana of a Code of Good Practice, facilitated by ASC, takes this approach. Supported by the Ministry and Chamber of Aquaculture we will launch this Code at the World Aquaculture Society meeting in Tanzania in December 2026.”

Ghana Shows Implementation in Practice

During a Speaker’s Corner session, Chris and Roy explored how the FAO GSA can be applied in practice in Ghana. As part of the project, ASC mapped the Guidelines against the practical, farm-level requirements of the ASC Farm Standard. Building on this work, ASC has worked with stakeholders in Ghana to develop an industry Code of Good Practices.

Ghana’s aquaculture sector is growing quickly, supported by an expanding domestic market and strong demand for tilapia and catfish. Since 2025, ASC has been working with the Fisheries Commission and the Chamber of Aquaculture to develop a voluntary, Ghana-owned Code of Good Practices for responsible aquaculture. It is designed as an accessible entry point for producers to demonstrate improvement, bridging the gap between international standards and contextualizing best practice into a local reality. The Code will act as a framework to support the Ghana industry on its commitment towards responsible production, improving access to finance and investment, and creating opportunities for market differentiation. By creating incentives for compliance – the Code is aligning private-sector efforts on sector development, with public-sector ambitions to implement the FAO GSA.

From global guidelines to local action: ASC highlights Ghana partnership at COFI37

Roy said, “This is a great example of how private-public collaboration can harness a shared vision on how responsible aquaculture can contribute to environmental sustainability and social responsibility, whilst contributing to economic development, food and nutritional security.

“This has been a genuine co-development process, not ASC handing over a standard. We have engaged farmers, feed companies, financial institutions and government from the start, alongside wider stakeholder consultations. That local ownership is essential if international ambitions are going to translate into changes that work in practice.”

The Code is structured around four pillars drawn from the ASC Farm Standard: legal compliance, environmental performance, social responsibility, and animal health and welfare. Wherever possible, these are anchored in existing Ghanaian legislation.

From Ghana to wider aquaculture improvement

While developed for Ghana, the approach has potential relevance for other countries looking to grow aquaculture while helping producers progressively improve their environmental, social and animal welfare performance.

Through its participation at COFI37, ASC is bringing the Ghana experience into wider discussions on how international guidelines can support locally led approaches to aquaculture development.

Notes to editors

For more information, contact:

Sophia Balod

sophia.balod@asc-aqua.org

About the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), an independent non-profit organisation, is driving the improvement of environmental and social practices in seafood farming through its leading, third-party assured certification programme.

ASC certification delivers measurable impact in aquaculture through science-based requirements—developed and revised through multi-stakeholder processes—covering biodiversity, animal welfare, greenhouse gas emissions, feed ingredient sourcing and human rights, all independently verified.

The ASC sustainability label on products provides proof that the seafood originates from farms certified to the robust ASC environmental and social standard, enabling credible substantiation of sourcing claims and making it the most globally recognised and trusted label for farmed seafood.

ASC is setting the standard for farmed seafood. www.asc-aqua.org

AQUI-S® E10% (Eugenol Immersion Solution) for Freshwater Finfish Sedation Receives FDA Approval

Edusehat — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:45:09 +0700

By: MSD Animal Health

Sedative solution for field use helps manage fish and support fish welfare during spawning, tagging, weighing and measuring activities

Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE: MRK), today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved AQUI-S^® E10% (eugenol immersion solution) for sedation of freshwater finfish to a handleable condition in field-use settings. AQUI-S New Zealand Limited is the sponsor and manufacturer of AQUI-S^® E10%, which is marketed and distributed by Merck Animal Health in the U.S.

AQUI-S^® E10% is a stable sedative solution containing the active ingredient eugenol that can be used to sedate fish during field-based resource management activities, including spawning, tagging, weighing and measuring. After fully recovering from sedation, fish may be released immediately back into their natural water body. The FDA-approved indication does not permit the use of AQUI-S^® E10% in fish held in confined settings, such as hatcheries, ponds or aquariums.

“This approval provides field users of the product a practical, easy-to-use, rapid option for sedating small numbers of fish to a handleable condition and releasing them quickly back to the wild after full recovery in freshwater,” said Tim Kniffen, DVM, MS, technical services veterinarian, North America Aqua business unit, Merck Animal Health. “The ready-to-use liquid formulation of AQUI-S^® E10% has a demonstrated margin of safety for salmonids as well as nonsalmonids and produces a rapid effect and recovery with no withdrawal period and immediate release after full recovery.”

The approved dosage range is 25 to 40 mg/L of eugenol for salmonid fish species and 40 to 100 mg/L of eugenol for nonsalmonid fish species. After handling, sedated fish should be placed in clean, well-aerated freshwater until fully recovered before release.

AQUI-S^® E10% is available in 1-liter and 4-liter presentations. The product is formulated to be added directly to treatment tanks and disperses easily with mixing to create a uniform concentration of the active ingredient in the water. No withdrawal period is required when AQUI-S^® E10% is used according to label directions.

Current and prospective INAD investigators will continue to have access to AQUI-S 20E. INAD customers can continue to access AQUI-S 20E through established channels.

AQUI-S^® E10% will be commercially available in the fourth quarter of 2026. For more information about AQUI-S^® E10%, contact a Merck Animal Health sales or technical services representative or visit https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/producers/aquaculture/.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for AQUI-S^® E10% (eugenol immersion solution): For field-use only in freshwater finfish. Do not leave fish unattended during treatment. No withdrawal period is required when used according to labeling. Not for use in humans. Keep out of reach of children. Harmful if swallowed. May cause skin and eye irritation and skin sensitization. For complete safety information, refer to the product label.

Product Label

About Merck Animal Health

Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is a global animal health business committed to The Science of Healthier Animals. For more than 130 years, we have pioneered groundbreaking science. Today, we are driven by continuous innovation to develop breakthrough medicines, vaccines and technology. Rooted in direct experience on the farm and in the clinic, we work hand in hand with our customers every step of the way. Our singular focus is to empower those who care for animals, helping them manage their vital responsibility with confidence. Because when it comes to animal health, no one sees it like we do. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Aquatic Life Institute Announces 2026 Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark, Reveals Progress for Welfare

Edusehat — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:45:08 +0700

By: Aquatic Life Institute (ALI)

The welfare-based analysis reviews 12 certification schemes and 2 international ratings agencies in its 5th edition

Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) has today published the fifth edition of its Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark report, which remains the world’s only evidence-based tool designed to evaluate how strongly aquatic animal welfare is embedded within aquaculture certification and rating frameworks.

Seafood certification schemes and ratings agencies act as de facto regulators in a largely unregulated global industry. Through transparent evaluation, constructive dialogue, and evidence-based recommendations, the Benchmark seeks to accelerate the integration of robust animal welfare standards across global aquaculture. Since the introduction of structured feedback cycles, several certification schemes have incorporated new welfare language directly aligned with Benchmark recommendations, particularly in areas where provisions were previously absent or insufficiently explicit.

The 2026 edition analyzes current welfare requirements within the primary farming standards of 12 global seafood certification schemes and two international ratings agencies, representing the broadest scope of the Benchmark to date, expanding the geographic and regulatory diversity represented in the assessment. Updated methodology in the 2026 edition includes an expansion of the Transport Welfare Criterion to Transport & Handling, broadening the assessment to include routine handling practices. Further, the Benchmark now evaluates Antimicrobial Misuse as a Core Prohibition, recognizing the welfare implications associated with routine, prophylactic, or otherwise unjustified antimicrobial use.

The global seafood certification schemes and international ratings agencies reviewed in this year’s Benchmark influence the treatment of tens of billions of aquatic animals each year. Within the report, Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Certified Humane®, GLOBALG.A.P., Global Animal Partnership (GAP), Global Seafood Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), Friend of the Sea, Naturland Organic, OceanWise Seafood, RSPCA, Label Rouge, Marine Eco Label, Acquacoltura Sostenibile, Soil Association Organic, and Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch are evaluated on water quality, stocking density and space requirements, environmental enrichment, feed composition, transport and handling, and stunning and slaughter. In addition, the schemes and agencies are evaluated for their inclusion of prohibitions on octopus/cephalopod farming, use of insects in aquafeed, certification of shrimp from eyestalk-ablated broodstock, use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) for faster growth, and antimicrobial misuse.

Based on assessment of the above criteria, Certified Humane retains the highest overall score for the second consecutive year, increasing its performance to 9.5 following the incorporation of animal welfare provisions into its standards through changes informed by ALI’s 2025 Benchmark. RSPCA received the second highest rating at 8.45, and ASC received the third highest rating at 7.95.

“We are honored that Certified Humane has once again been recognized as the top-ranked scheme in the 2026 ALI’s Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark. This recognition underscores the importance of robust animal welfare standards in promoting higher welfare for farmed Atlantic salmon and driving meaningful improvements across the aquaculture sector,” Rosangela Poletto, Certified Humane Scientific Committee Director.

Further, Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) demonstrated one of the largest improvements in overall score and continues to show a strong commitment to strengthening its animal welfare standards through ongoing engagement and standard development.

“Animal Health and Welfare is a core pillar of Best Aquaculture Practices and we greatly appreciate ALI’s role in supporting the strength and integrity of our certification program. The annual Benchmark provides a valuable learning and collaboration opportunity for the Global Seafood Alliance and BAP standards. ALI’s commitment to learning the critical details of both our standards and our certification operations has led to a stronger collaboration and more impactful improvement to our animal welfare assurances,” said David Dietz, Director of Standards.

An additional highlight from the 2026 Benchmark comes from a total of six certification schemes including octopus/cephalopod farming prohibitions in their standards, reflecting the growing momentum against the practices: Certified Humane, RSPCA, Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Soil Association, Friend of the Sea, and Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP).

An overall assessment of all data collected showed that operational welfare is well established throughout the standards. Requirements relating to feed governance, water quality management, stocking density, transport and handling procedures, and humane stunning and slaughter are now incorporated by most certification schemes, providing an increasingly consistent baseline for animal welfare protection. However, behavioral welfare remains underdeveloped. Requirements promoting environmental complexity, behavioral stimulation, and opportunities for natural behavior continue to be among the least frequently adopted provisions, indicating that positive welfare outcomes remain insufficiently addressed.

View the full assessment here.

“What makes the Benchmark meaningful is that it does not end with a score,” said Steffan Edward, Certification Lead at ALI. “Behind every standard we assess are decisions that can ultimately shape the daily lives of millions of aquatic animals. This year, we saw certification schemes engage with our findings, reconsider existing requirements, and, in some cases, make concrete changes or commitments in response. That is exactly what we hope this work can achieve. The Benchmark gives us a way to recognize progress while remaining clear about where important gaps still exist. By returning to this process every year, we can keep raising expectations alongside the science and, most importantly, help turn better welfare standards into better lives for animals.”

The Benchmark serves as a practical resource for certification schemes, seafood companies, policymakers, researchers, funders, and animal welfare organizations. The annual report and Seafood Certification Program are designed to embed animal welfare into supply chains and trade regulations, encouraging accountability and reshaping the seafood industry on a global scale. This report focuses exclusively on animal welfare, recognizing it as an increasingly important component of responsible aquaculture and a growing priority for producers, certification schemes, retailers, investors, and consumers. It does not assess environmental sustainability, food safety, social responsibility, governance performance, or the implementation of and compliance with the standards.

About Aquatic Life Institute

Aquatic Life Institute is an international non-profit organization that works on advancing aquatic animal welfare in both aquaculture and wild capture fisheries globally. The organization works with certifiers, nonprofits, academic institutions, industry stakeholders, governments, and the public to improve welfare of aquatic animals.

FarmInsect, Once Europe’s Largest On-Farm Insect Network, Winds Down After Rescue Effort Fails

Edusehat — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:45:07 +0700

By: Insect Institute

The Bavarian insect farming company confirms it is being wound down, months after filing for insolvency — the latest in a year of high-profile failures across the insect-protein sector.

FarmInsect GmbH, a Bavarian company that built what it describes as the largest network of its kind in Europe, is being wound down. The company’s CEO confirmed the news in a public statement on LinkedIn, saying that months of efforts to save the business — working with shareholders and new partners brought to the table during insolvency proceedings — ultimately did not come together.

FarmInsect ran a decentralized, highly automated on-farm model, which provided consumers with on-farm units that reared black soldier fly larvae on regional organic residues to produce protein feed as an alternative to soy and fishmeal. The Munich district court placed the company under insolvency administration in late March 2026. By the company’s own account, roughly USD 18.52 million in equity and public funding had flowed into the platform since 2020, including backing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and a USD 2.86 million award under the European Innovation Council’s EIC Accelerator.

FarmInsect‘s main distribution partner, the agribusiness group Agravis, had already suspended their joint venture in September 2025, citing weak demand, a lack of competitiveness, and regulatory hurdles, and now describes insect protein as a “niche.”

Commenting on FarmInsect’s collapse, Dr. Dustin Crummett, Executive Director of the Insect Institute and Affiliate Instructor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington Tacoma said, “FarmInsect joins a long list of companies that failed despite substantial investment: Goterra, Ÿnsect, Enorm, Aspire, Divaks, AgroLoop, BetaHatch, Agriprotein. Investors and public funders have provided the sector with nearly USD 2.29 billion, but insect feed remains unable to compete with conventional feed on price. While decentralized production has been hailed as the way forward for a struggling sector, this is clear evidence that the sector’s core economics have not been solved.”

FarmInsect is one of at least seven high-profile insect-protein failures since 2025, alongside Goterra (Australia), Ÿnsect (France), Enorm (Denmark), Aspire (Canada), Divaks (Lithuania) and AgroLoop (Hungary). As of March, shuttered insect farming startups accounted for almost half of all investment into the industry, and more closures have occurred since then. In Australia, Goterra — which pursued a comparable decentralized, waste-to-larvae model — entered voluntary administration in June 2026 and has since been placed in liquidation after administrators could find no buyer. Since 2025, France’s Ÿnsect has gone into judicial liquidation despite raising more than USD 600 million; Denmark’s Enorm Biofactory was declared bankrupt after roughly USD 57.17 million in investment; Canada’s Aspire Food Group was placed in receivership; and Hungary’s AgroLoop has also failed.

The pattern has not gone unnoticed within the industry itself. In a submission to the European Commission earlier this year, the European insect farming trade group IPIFF (the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed) admitted that “waiting for voluntary uptake has failed,” while asking for mandatory procurement of “bio-based and circular products,” which could require public institutions such as canteens and school cafeterias to buy insect-based protein.

“It is a concerning sign that the industry’s own trade group is now asking governments to mandate demand for its products,” Crummett added. “Investors and policymakerss might consider whether the resources spent on insect protein might be better directed to other solutions, given this admitted inability to compete.”

The concerns extend beyond economics. A May 2026 report from the Stockholm Environment Institute, rethinking insects as alternative protein, found that industrial insect farming in temperate, high-income countries frequently falls short of its environmental promise, with performance varying widely depending on energy use, feed inputs and what insect products actually replace in diets. The report concluded that, in high-income countries, insect farming now faces two critical tests — environmental performance and economic viability — both of which are increasingly in question.

The Insect Institute is calling on investors, policymakers and public funders to weigh the sector’s mounting record of commercial failures and contested environmental record before committing further capital or taxpayer support to insect farming ventures.

Sources

Public statement from FarmInsect‘s CEO Wolfgang Westermeier confirming the company is being wound down after restructuring efforts with shareholders and new partners did not succeed, LinkedIn (September 2 2026).
FarmInsect March 2026 insolvency: top agrar, Nach Insolvenz des Larvenmästers FarmInsect: Aussichten für Sanierung „äußerst positiv” (April 2026); Raiffeisen, FarmInsect im Insolvenzverfahren (April 2026), FarmInsect entered insolvency proceedings in late March 2026; a restructuring/investor process was underway at the time of the most recent reporting, and the outcome had not been made public.
IPIFF request for mandatory procurement: An Urgent Call to Action: Aligning Public Procurement with the Bio & Circular economy to Preserve Jobs and Fulfill the Green Deal Promise (Jan 2026); Euractiv, Insect industry hopes public buyers will bite (Feb 2026).
Goterra voluntary administration and liquidation: SmartCompany, Goterra enters liquidation after hopes of sale fall through (July 2026); Pioneering ag-tech startup Goterra enters voluntary administration (June 2026).
Sector failures: TechCrunch, How reality crushed Ÿnsect, the French startup that had raised over $600M for insect farming (Dec 2025); AgFunder News, Breaking: Danish insect ag firm ENORM declared bankrupt (2025); Vox, Bugs were supposed to be the future of food. Now, the insect farming industry is collapsing (March 2026); Regional News (in Lithuanian: regionuzinios), Insect protein producer Divaks goes bankrupt, plans to build a 67 million euro factory in Marijampolė collapse (June 2026).
Stockholm Environment Institute, Rethinking insects as alternative protein: emerging environmental and animal welfare considerations (27 May 2026).

About the Insect Institute

The Insect Institute is a non-profit organization committed to providing policymakers, the public, investors, NGOs, and other stakeholders with evidence-based recommendations concerning the farming of insects as food and feed, including its impact on the environment, animal welfare, public health, and the rest of the food chain.

Beneficial Insects in Regenerative Agriculture: Nature’s Partners in a Healthy Farm

Edusehat — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 07:05:09 +0700

A healthy farm depends on much more than crops, soil, water, and sunlight. It also depends on the countless organisms living within the agricultural ecosystem.

Among the most important are beneficial insects.

Beneficial insects in regenerative agriculture can perform several valuable ecological functions. Some prey on crop pests, others pollinate flowers, and many contribute to the biodiversity and biological balance of the farm.

Rather than viewing every insect as a potential problem, regenerative agriculture encourages farmers to understand which insects are present, what roles they perform, and how farming practices can create conditions that support useful species.

By creating diverse habitats, maintaining flowering plants, reducing unnecessary pesticide applications, and increasing crop diversity, farmers can encourage beneficial insects to become part of a more resilient agricultural system.

Predatory Insects Help Control Crop Pests

Some beneficial insects survive by feeding on insects that can damage crops.

Lady beetles, lacewing larvae, hoverfly larvae, ground beetles, minute pirate bugs, and other predators may consume aphids, mites, insect eggs, caterpillars, and other agricultural pests.

A healthy population of predators will not necessarily eliminate every pest. Nor should that be the goal.

Instead, natural enemies can help keep some pest populations below levels that cause significant crop or economic damage.

This process is an important part of biological pest control.

When farmers provide suitable habitat for predatory insects, these species may become valuable partners in an integrated pest-management strategy.

Parasitoid Insects Can Reduce Pest Populations

Predators are not the only insects that help control pests.

Another important group consists of parasitoids.

Parasitoid insects lay their eggs on or inside another insect. Their developing offspring use the host for food and eventually kill it.

Many parasitoid wasps are extremely small and may go unnoticed even when they are actively working within a farm ecosystem.

Different parasitoid species attack pests such as aphids, caterpillars, flies, and other crop-damaging insects.

Because parasitoids often specialize in particular hosts, a diverse population of natural enemies can contribute to more balanced pest management.

Bees Support Crop Pollination

Not all beneficial insects control pests.

Some provide another essential agricultural service: pollination.

Bees are among the best-known agricultural pollinators. As they move between flowers collecting pollen and nectar, they transfer pollen from one flower to another.

This process supports reproduction in many flowering plants and contributes to the production of numerous fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and other agricultural products.

Honey bees are important pollinators, but they are not the only ones.

Many native bee species, as well as some flies, beetles, butterflies, and other insects, also contribute to pollination.

Supporting a diversity of pollinators can therefore be an important part of building a healthy agricultural ecosystem.

Flowering Plants Provide Food for Beneficial Insects

Beneficial insects need reliable food sources.

For bees, flowering plants provide the pollen and nectar they need. Other beneficial insects may depend on flowers during certain stages of their lives even if they are predators or parasitoids at other stages.

For example, some adult parasitoid wasps and flies feed on nectar while their offspring attack agricultural pests.

Providing different flowering species can help extend the period during which nectar and pollen are available.

Ideally, farmers can select plants that bloom at different times so that flowers are present throughout much of the growing season.

Flowering plants can be incorporated into:

Field borders
Hedgerows
Cover crop mixtures
Insectary strips
Windbreaks
Buffer areas
Areas around farm buildings

These spaces can provide food while also increasing habitat diversity across the farm.

Regenerative Practices Create Insect Habitat

Beneficial insects need more than food.

They also need shelter, nesting areas, overwintering locations, and protection from unnecessary disturbance.

Several practices commonly associated with regenerative and conservation agriculture can help provide these conditions.

Cover crops create vegetation and flowering resources between cash crops.

Reduced soil disturbance may help protect some insects and other organisms that live or overwinter near the soil surface.

Crop diversity creates a wider variety of potential food sources and habitats.

Hedgerows, native vegetation, field margins, brush piles, and other semi-natural areas may provide additional shelter and overwintering locations.

Instead of keeping every part of a farm bare or intensively managed, leaving carefully selected areas for habitat can support a wider range of organisms.

Pesticide Use Can Affect Beneficial Insects

Pesticides can be valuable agricultural tools when pest populations threaten crops, but their use needs to be carefully managed.

Some broad-spectrum insecticides can affect beneficial insects in addition to their intended targets.

Repeated or poorly timed applications may reduce populations of predators, parasitoids, and pollinators that otherwise contribute useful ecological services.

This is one reason Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is important.

IPM encourages farmers to monitor pest populations, understand economic thresholds, use preventive management practices, and select appropriate interventions when they are genuinely needed.

When pesticide treatments are necessary, farmers can consider factors such as product selection, application timing, placement, and potential effects on non-target organisms.

The goal is not necessarily to eliminate pesticide use completely. Instead, the objective is to manage pests effectively while minimizing unnecessary disruption to the agricultural ecosystem.

Crop Diversity Supports More Insect Species

A farm with many types of plants can provide a greater variety of food and habitat than a farm dominated by a single plant species.

Different crops flower at different times.

They develop different canopy structures and root systems.

They may also attract different insects and other organisms.

Crop rotations, cover crop mixtures, intercropping, agroforestry, flowering borders, and preserved natural areas can all increase diversity within the agricultural landscape.

Greater plant diversity can support insects performing several ecological roles, including:

Pollinators
Predators
Parasitoids
Decomposers
Soil-associated organisms

The result can be a more complex agricultural ecosystem in which multiple biological processes operate at the same time.

Beneficial Insects Strengthen Natural Pest Control

A regenerative farm does not need to be completely free of pest insects.

In fact, predators and parasitoids require prey or hosts in order to survive.

The objective of natural pest management is therefore not necessarily complete eradication.

Instead, beneficial insects can help keep pest populations at levels where crop damage remains manageable.

This concept is known as conservation biological control.

Rather than simply introducing beneficial organisms, conservation biological control focuses on creating and protecting the habitats needed by the predators and parasitoids already present in agricultural landscapes.

Flowering strips, hedgerows, cover crops, field margins, and reduced pesticide exposure can all be part of this strategy.

Beneficial Insects and Farm Biodiversity

The importance of beneficial insects extends beyond pest control and pollination.

Insects are part of larger food webs.

They provide food for birds and other wildlife, interact with plants and microorganisms, contribute to decomposition, and participate in nutrient cycling.

This means that protecting insect diversity can have effects throughout the agricultural ecosystem.

A farm containing crops, cover crops, flowering plants, hedgerows, natural vegetation, and other habitat types may support a wider range of organisms than a simplified landscape.

Regenerative agriculture seeks to work with these biological relationships rather than relying exclusively on external inputs.

Beneficial insects are one important part of that approach.

How Farmers Can Encourage Beneficial Insects

Farmers interested in supporting beneficial insect populations can begin by observing what is already living on their land.

Identify existing flowering plants, field margins, natural vegetation, and areas where insects are especially active.

From there, opportunities may include planting flowering field borders, using diverse cover crops, maintaining hedgerows, providing undisturbed habitat, reducing unnecessary pesticide use, and monitoring both pest and beneficial insect populations.

The most appropriate approach will depend on the farm’s crops, climate, pest pressures, existing habitat, and management goals.

Beneficial insects should therefore be viewed as one component of a broader regenerative and integrated pest-management strategy rather than as a complete replacement for every other pest-control method.

Conclusion

Beneficial insects can make important contributions to regenerative agriculture.

Predatory insects and parasitoids help regulate crop pests.

Bees and other pollinators support plant reproduction.

Flowering plants provide food, while cover crops, field margins, hedgerows, and natural vegetation create habitat.

Crop diversity can support a wider range of beneficial species, and careful pesticide management can help protect those populations.

The goal is not simply to introduce more insects onto a farm.

It is to create an agricultural ecosystem in which beneficial organisms have the food, habitat, and protection they need to perform their natural roles.

When farmers work with these biological relationships, beneficial insects can become valuable partners in creating more resilient, diverse, and sustainable agricultural systems.

Interested in Regenerative Agriculture?

Would you like to learn more about working with natural ecological processes rather than against them?

The Ecolonomics Action Team (EAT Community) brings together farmers, environmental professionals, entrepreneurs, and others interested in regenerative agriculture, sustainable business, and practical environmental solutions.

Explore ideas, learn from experienced professionals, and discover approaches that can help create agricultural systems that are both environmentally responsible and economically sustainable.

Visit the EAT Community to learn more:
https://www.eatcommunity.com/

Sources & Further Reading

The Xerces Society — Habitat Planning for Beneficial Insects
A comprehensive resource covering beneficial predators, parasitoids, conservation biological control, habitat development, cover crops, field borders, hedgerows, and pesticide-risk reduction.
https://xerces.org/publications/guidelines/habitat-planning-for-beneficial-insects

The Xerces Society — Conservation Biological Control
Explains how farms can conserve predators and parasitoids and integrate beneficial insects into ecological pest-management systems.
https://xerces.org/pesticides/ecological-pest-management/conservation-biological-control

The Xerces Society — Supporting Pollinators on Farmland
Guidance on providing flowering resources, nesting sites, overwintering habitat, and protection from pesticides for agricultural pollinators.
https://xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/farmland

The Xerces Society — Beneficial Insect Scouting Guide
A practical resource for identifying and monitoring beneficial insects in cropped areas, cover crops, hedgerows, and other farm habitats.
https://xerces.org/publications/scouting-guides/beneficial-insect-scouting-guide

The Xerces Society — Beneficial Insects: Farms and Agricultural Landscapes
A farm-focused habitat assessment resource for evaluating conditions that support beneficial insects.
https://xerces.org/publications/habitat-assessment-guides/beneficial-insects-farms-and-agricultural-landscapes

The post Beneficial Insects in Regenerative Agriculture: Nature’s Partners in a Healthy Farm first appeared on WorldWide Aquaculture.

A New Chapter for the Global Shrimp Council

Edusehat — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:55:08 +0700

By: Aquaculture Stewardship Council

Esther Luiten joins GSC as Executive Director

The Global Shrimp Council is pleased to welcome Esther Luiten as its new Executive Director, marking an important step as the organization continues building a stronger global platform for the shrimp industry and advancing its mission to inspire consumers around the world to choose shrimp more often.

Esther brings more than two decades of experience across international seafood, aquaculture and sustainability, including more than 12 years at the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), as well as leadership roles at IDH and the North Sea Foundation. She has also been closely involved in the development of the Global Shrimp Forum.

“Our industry has an enormous opportunity to tell a stronger, more unified story about shrimp. With Esther’s leadership, we are confident the GSC will continue building momentum and creating value for the entire sector,” said Gabriel Luna, Chairman and Co-Founder, Global Shrimp Council.

For Esther, the role is about bringing strategy, collaboration and execution together. “I look forward to bringing that experience and energy to the Global Shrimp Council and to working with members and partners around the world to help shrimp become a more visible and trusted choice for consumers.”

Her appointment comes at an exciting moment for the GSC, as we continue expanding our global marketing efforts, growing our member network and building on the momentum of The Happy Protein and Shrimp More Often.

Welcome to the GSC, Esther. We are excited for what comes next.

Japan Celebrates Arrival of One-Of-A-Kind, Seasonal Norwegian ‘Saba Nouveau’ Mackerel

Edusehat — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:55:07 +0700

By: Norwegian Seafood Council

The highly anticipated delivery of premium mackerel from Norway coincides with Norway Seafood Festival in Tokyo. This year, Norwegian herring also makes an appearance for the first time.

September 11, 2026, marked the arrival in Japan of the ‘Saba Nouveau’ mackerel, flown in fresh from Norway to celebrate the first catch of the season, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).

Now in its sixth year, the arrival has become a highly anticipated autumn tradition and tells a lesser-known story of how a seasonal fish from Norway’s cold waters has travelled to the other side of the world and earned a distinctive place within Japanese food culture.

Inspired by the Beaujolais Nouveau French wine tradition, which celebrates the first red wines of the region’s new vintage, Saba Nouveau is delivered fresh to Tokyo through a collaboration with Japan Airlines and JALUX, preserving its premium quality and taste.

Blue-Striped Seasonal Delicacy

Recognisable by its distinctive blue stripes, Norwegian mackerel is considered one of a kind. In addition, the Saba Nouveau mackerel has become a sought-after seasonal delicacy in Japan, ideal for special occasions and celebrations. Mackerel has a natural richness that allows for simple preparation, while its versatility lends itself to both traditional and more modern Japanese dishes, such as Saba misoni (mackerel simmered in miso) or Saba no shioyaki (salt-grilled mackerel). If the mackerel is frozen beforehand, it can also be used in sushi. The most common and popular method of preparation, Saba no shioyaki, involves simple salting and grilling over a strong heat to draw out the flavour.

Short Season Makes for Exclusive Mackerel

The Saba Nouveau mackerel’s exclusivity lies in its short season, which runs from August to November, when large shoals of Atlantic mackerel arrive in Norwegian waters after months of feeding. By this point, the fish has reached its peak condition, developing a naturally high fat content that can reach up to 28%, which contributes to the natural rich flavour, juicy texture and high nutritional value.

Norwegian mackerel is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D and high-quality protein. These nutrients are among some of the most important, as they contribute to healthy and normal bodily functions.

Norway–Japan Tradition

Saba Nouveau taps into Japan’s appreciation for seasonal firsts, known as hatsumono. Whether it’s fruit, wine or fish, consuming the first produce of the season is traditionally associated with good health and fortune. Now, Saba Nouveau has become a part of this tradition, combining Norway’s seafood expertise with Japan’s appreciation for seasonality and high-quality mackerel.

NSC’s country director in Japan, Jan Eirik Johnsen said: “We’re proud to welcome the first Norwegian mackerel of the season back to Japan.

“This tradition has become special to both our countries. A distinctly Norwegian seasonal catch has found a natural place within Japan’s own appreciation of hatsumono, creating a tradition that connects our two countries.”

Japan’s importance to the wider Norwegian mackerel story is reflected in the export figures. In 2025, Norway exported 207,927 tonnes of mackerel worth NOK 8.5 billion, with Japan remaining its largest mackerel market and accounting for around 40% of the total volume exported.

Norway Seafood Festival highlights

The arrival of Saba Nouveau coincides with the Norway Seafood Festival, a three-day event that took place from September 11–13 at Tokyo Solamachi’s Sky Arena.

Last year, the festival celebrated 40 years of Norway’s Project Japan, which was responsible for the introduction of salmon sushi, as well as marking five years since Saba Nouveau was first introduced in Japan.

This year, Norwegian herring made its debut at the festival. Herring from Norway is experiencing increased attention in Japan, and the convenience giant 7/11 recently launched salted grilled Norwegian herring across almost 22,000 stores.

Johnsen explains the new introduction: “Looking at the success of Norwegian salmon and mackerel in Japan, we wanted to incorporate another important species in this year’s festival – our Norwegian herring. With less supply of mackerel globally and increased prices, Japanese importers, processors and consumers have looked for alternatives for tasty, healthy and affordable products, and found it in Norwegian herring.

“Maybe herring can become even more of an expected staple in Japan, the same way the other species have.”

Affordable, rich in flavour and effortlessly versatile, Norwegian herring is ideal for grilling, frying and pickling. Sourced from responsibly managed fish stocks, herring’s sustainable credentials will appeal to Japanese consumers looking for adaptable, highly nutritious seafood that offers everyday value.

Festival attendees were able to taste the freshly delivered Saba Nouveau mackerel in sushi and chargrilled dishes, alongside grilled herring serves, and salmon in both barbecued and sushi formats.

Together, Saba Nouveau and herring are two chapters in the story of the enduring relationship between Norway and Japan: one an established seasonal tradition that continues to gain momentum and the other offering new opportunities in Japanese food culture.

About the Norwegian Seafood Council 

The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) works with the Norwegian fisheries and aquaculture industries to develop markets for Norwegian seafood through local market intelligence, market development and reputational risk management.  The NSC is headquartered in Tromsø and maintains local representatives in some of Norway’s most important international markets. The Norwegian seafood industry finances the activities of the NSC via a tariff on all Norwegian seafood exports. The NSC is a public company owned by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries.

ASC and SFP Lead Aquaculture Action Alliance Into New Phase

Edusehat — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:55:06 +0700

By: Aquaculture Stewardship Council

Alliance expands its ambitions in 2026, calling on companies across aquaculture to join efforts to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint.

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) are driving the next phase of the Aquaculture Action Alliance, with the organisations jointly taking on the role of interim secretariat to support the next chapter in the Alliance’s growth.

The Alliance was formerly hosted by IDH – the Sustainable Trade Initiative, as the Aquaculture Working Group. This move marks a new chapter for the coalition, with a stronger focus on coordinated action, broader participation and measurable actions to reduce aquaculture’s environmental footprint.

Aquaculture Action Alliance Logo

The Alliance met in advance of the recent Global Shrimp Forum in Utrecht to bring together members to discuss ongoing efforts and progress for credibly measuring and reducing emissions and strengthening the sustainability of aquaculture.

A Call to the Aquaculture Sector

The Alliance is now seeking additional participation from like-minded companies from feed production to retail who share a commitment to drive long-term progress in aquaculture through improvement and sustainability solutions across the supply chain.

Jill Swasey, Director of Impacts, Monitoring & Evaluation at ASC, said, “Aquaculture has tremendous potential to be part of the solution to global food and environmental challenges. The Aquaculture Action Alliance provides an important space for companies to align approaches, share knowledge and identify where collective action can have the greatest impact.”

Braddock Spear, SFP Prospecting and Outreach Director, said, “By working together, leading seafood companies can increase their impact and support for best practices and state-of-the-art solutions. For aquaculture companies looking to compete on reducing carbon footprints, there is no better option than being part of the Aquaculture Action Alliance.”

Established in 2021, the Alliance has developed tools and approaches to help companies measure carbon, water, nitrogen and phosphorus footprints across aquaculture supply chains. In 2026, the focus is shifting from measurement towards coordinated action, supported by three working groups focused on carbon foot printing, priority actions and establishing the Alliance as an independent entity.

Dominique Gautier, Alliance Chair and Director of Sustainability at Seafresh Group, said, “The Alliance achieved a major milestone in 2026. Underpinned by stronger governance and wider ambitions, we are expanding our focus on what actions we, as leading companies, need to take to reduce aquaculture’s carbon footprint.”

Elena Piana, Steering Committee member and Group Sustainability Manager at Regal Springs, said, “Many of the current Alliance members are focused on farmed shrimp and feed supply chains. To clearly establish the aquaculture sector as the leading low-carbon protein provider, we also need more participation from companies producing and trading in other commodities such as salmon and tilapia.”

Feed companies are critical members in the Alliance, given the central role feed plays in the environmental footprint of farmed seafood and its relevance across multiple aquaculture species and supply chains.

Björn Kok, Steering Committee member and Technical Lead Sustainability Metrics at Skretting, said, “Feed companies can play an essential role at improving the sustainability of aquaculture supply chains. The Alliance needs more of these companies at the table to align sustainability metrics and methodology to facilitate implementation of lasting solutions.”

This re-launch of the Alliance is focused on growth and establishing new priorities for turning sustainability commitment into action. ASC and SFP welcome companies across the aquaculture supply chain and interested organizations to join the Alliance and contribute to practical, sector-wide solutions for lower-carbon aquaculture.

For more information or to explore membership of the Aquaculture Action Alliance, contact AquaAlliance@asc-aqua.org for ASC or aquaalliance@sustainablefish.org for SFP.

About the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), an independent non-profit organization, is driving the improvement of environmental and social practices in seafood farming through its leading, third-party assured certification program.

ASC is setting the standard for farmed seafood. www.asc-aqua.org

Iceland-Based First Water Signs Construction Agreement With Ístak to Complete the First Phase of Development in Þorlákshöfn

Edusehat — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:20:08 +0700

Last year, the company became one of the first in the world to successfully produce and market land-based 5-kilogram gutted premium-quality salmon

Icelandic company First Water and construction contractor Ístak recently have signed an agreement for extensive construction work at First Water’s site in Þorlákshöfn. The project will complete the first phase of the company’s land-based salmon farming facility and double its annual production capacity from 5,000 to 10,000 tons of gutted salmon.

The project involves the construction of a tank and control building housing eight fish farming tanks, each with a capacity of approximately 5,500 cubic meters, together with associated technical equipment. Ístak will be responsible for the concrete works, structural steel erection and installation of the building’s exterior cladding. Construction is scheduled to begin shortly and is expected to take 16–18 months, with completion anticipated in the first quarter of 2028.

“The agreement with Ístak marks a major and important milestone in the development of First Water. This project will complete the first phase of our development and double our current production capacity. We are delighted to partner with a strong Icelandic construction company with extensive experience in delivering complex projects,” assured Einar Örn Ólafsson, CEO of First Water.

This is the first of six planned phases in the development of First Water’s land-based salmon farming facility in Þorlákshöfn, they explained after the agreement. The company’s long-term goal is to produce up to 60,000 HOG tons of salmon annually once the development has been fully completed.

First Harvest

First Water completed the construction of eight 25-meter covered land-based aquaculture tanks last year and harvested, for the first time, 5-kilogram gutted premium-quality salmon in September 2025. Regular harvesting began in January 2026, with 95% of the salmon graded as superior quality. First Water’s products are sold to customers in Europe and the United States.

For Karl Andreassen, CEO of Ístak, “First Water’s development is an ambitious and technically demanding project that is well aligned with Ístak experience and expertise. We are proud to be involved in this important phase and look forward to working closely with First Water on the project.”

New CEO for the Company

The company was very active this Summer, when Einar Örn Ólafsson was appointed as new CEO of First Water. The Board of Directors and the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Eggert Þór Kristófersson, have mutually agreed that Eggert Þór had to step down as CEO. According to the company, Örn Ólafsson brings decades of leadership experience in banking, corporate finance, aquaculture, and investments and will lead the company through its next phase of development.

“First Water has reached an important milestone and is entering an exciting new chapter. With the completion of the first phase next year, the company will be exceptionally well positioned, with double the production capacity, strong commercial partnerships and a premium product that is in demand in key export markets. As construction continues and production capacity expands, we expect a significant increase in export revenues, providing a strong foundation for the continued development of First Water’s operations in Þorlákshöfn. I look forward to building on the strong foundation that has been established and leading the company through its next phase of growth,” said Örn Ólafsson after the announcement.

The Board highlighted that, over the past four years, Eggert Þór has led one of Iceland’s most ambitious land-based aquaculture developments. During his tenure, First Water established its operations in Þorlákshöfn, secured financing for the first phase of its development, and achieved major milestones in the production and commercialization of premium land-based farmed salmon.

Orri Hauksson, Chairman of the Board of First Water, said: “I am delighted to welcome Einar Örn to First Water. He brings a broad range of executive experience across finance, investments and corporate leadership. He has also successfully led a salmon farming company and has a strong understanding of First Water’s business. The Board is confident that he is the right leader to guide the company through its next phase of growth.”

And he added that Kristófersson leaves the company well positioned for its next stage of growth. And he agreed: “With First Water entering its next phase of development, I feel this is the appropriate time to hand over the reins. I would like to thank the entire First Water team for their dedication and outstanding contribution. The expertise, commitment and professionalism they have built together are the foundation of the company’s success,” said Kristófersson.

Government of Canada and Gitanyow First Nation Build New Kitwanga River Hatchery for Skeena Sockeye Valued at Over USD 5.39 million

Edusehat — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:20:07 +0700

They also sign a Incremental Fisheries Reconciliation Agreement

Joanne Thompson, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries in partnership with Gitanyow Nation announced some days ago the award of a general construction contract valued at over USD 5.39 million to Progressive Ventures Construction, marking the next phase of development for the Wilp’Ho Dix Hatchery. The hatchery will raise Kitwanga River sockeye salmon, a stock of significant conservation concern that is of profound cultural importance to the Gitanyow Nation and an important component of the broader Skeena River sockeye salmon population.

The facility will be located on the Kitwanga River, a tributary of the Skeena River in northwestern portion of the province. It will be built by the Government of Canada and operated in partnership with the Gitanyow First Nation.

The project will consist of a hatchery building, a rearing tank farm, aeration tower and supporting infrastructure, including underground water supplies and roadways. A sustainable, energy-efficient fish culture system will allow for the treatment and reuse of some of the water used during the incubation stage.

“The new Wilp’Ho Dix Hatchery will raise 300,000 young sockeye a year for the Kitwanga River, and Gitanyow Nation and Fisheries and Oceans Canada are building it together to bring that run back. Community hatcheries across British Columbia pull volunteers, Indigenous partners and government together to protect and rebuild salmon, and they keep communities connected to the fish that sustain them. Wilp’Ho Dix will carry that important work forward for generations,” underlined Thompson.

Pacific salmon produced from hatcheries in British Columbia contribute over USD 71.84 million to annual provincial GDP and support over 1,500 full-time equivalent jobs in fishery-related industries.

Long-Term Sustainability

Beyond supporting recovery of Pacific salmon stocks of conservation concern, community-run hatcheries provide hands-on learning opportunities, reinforce cultural connections, and contribute towards achieving long-term sustainability of Pacific salmon populations for ecological, cultural, social, and economic benefits. By investing in the Gitanyow hatchery, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will be working with Gitanyow Nation to safeguard salmon while supporting the community’s ongoing connection to this iconic species.

“Thirty years ago, Chief Biiyosxw of Wilp Gwaas Hla’am was raising salmon in a small wooden shed beside the creek because we understood then, as we do today, that we have a responsibility to care for the salmon and the waters that sustain them. To see Wilp’Ho Dix now taking shape at the entrance to Gitanyow Village is incredibly meaningful. This new hatchery builds on generations of Gitanyow knowledge, stewardship and determination, and will help ensure that Kitwanga sockeye are here for generations to come,” commented Joel Starlund/Sk’a’nism Tsa ‘Win’Giit, Executive Director of Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs Office.

10-year agreement

A few days after the agreement, the Government of Canada, represented by the Minister of Fisheries, joined again, representatives from the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs to sign a 10-year Incremental Fisheries Reconciliation Agreement at the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs’ Office and Sindihl House of Learning in Gitanyow, in northwestern British Columbia.

The agreement will strengthen the Gitanyow Fisheries Authority’s capacity to deliver fisheries stewardship initiatives, including the Kitwanga Sockeye Recovery Program. It will also support participation in commercial fishing opportunities, collaborative approaches to the management of Gitanyow fisheries, and ongoing salmon conservation and recovery efforts.

The agreement is an important step forward in Nation-to-Nation reconciliation. It builds on the longstanding relationship between Canada and Gitanyow Nation to support healthy, sustainable salmon populations. It also recognizes the importance of information-sharing and coordination among multiple partners for effective salmon stewardship at the watershed level.

Global Salmon Initiative Welcomes Sudvet Corp. as New Associate Member

Edusehat — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:20:06 +0700

By: Global Salmon Initiative

Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) announced that Sudvet Corp., an animal welfare company headquartered in Los Angeles, California and specializing in botanical and biotechnological solutions for aquaculture, has joined as an Associate Member.

Founded in 2013, Sudvet develops botanical solutions aimed at reducing antibiotics and antiparasitic use in salmon farming. While the company works closely with many of the Chilean producers through its office in Puerto Varas, it is now expanding internationally, establishing offices in Norway, Australia and Scotland.

“Disease pressure and antibiotic use remain some of the most persistent challenges facing the global salmon farming sector, and no single company solves them alone. Sudvet‘s work on natural alternatives is exactly the kind of innovation and contribution that helps build a more resilient industry over the long term. By bringing Sudvet‘s expertise into the GSI network, it strengthens the connection between producers and the technical partners solving these hard problems so we can make progress at an accelerated pace,” said Sophie Ryan, CEO GSI.

“GSI is the only organization connecting the global sector on critical industry issues covering sustainability, fish health and welfare, and innovation. For us, especially as we look to expand, being part of a group that is committed to a long-term vision and to strengthening the sector’s sustainability is right where we want to be. At the table, working together to shape a more resilient industry,” added Marcela Delgado, CEO Sudvet.

Sudvet join’s GSI’s network of Associate Members, which brings together suppliers alongside its farming members, to help accelerate advancements in the sector’s sustainability performance.

About GSI

Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) is a leadership initiative established in 2013 by global salmon farming CEOs focused on making significant progress on industry sustainability. Today, GSI comprises 17 companies that are fully committed to realizing a shared goal of providing a highly sustainable source of healthy food to feed a growing global population, whilst minimizing our environmental footprint, and continuing to improve our social contributions.

GSI member companies are Australis Seafoods S.A.; Blumar; Cermaq; Salmones Camanchaca SA; Empresas AquaChile; Grieg Seafood ASA, Multi X Foods S.A.; Salmones Austral; Salmones Aysen; Tassal; and Ventisqueros. GSI companies have a presence in Australia, Canada, Chile, and Norway.

GSI also has a number of supply chain Associate Members in both the pharmaceutical and feed industries, including: BioMar; Cargill; Merck, Sharpe and Dohme (MSD) Animal Health; PHARMAQ; Salmofood; and Skretting. For further information on GSI, please visit or contact us at: www.globalsalmoninitiative.org

GIZ Returns as Gold Sponsor for the World Aquaculture Tanzania 2026 (WA26T)

Edusehat — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:20:05 +0700

By: World Aquaculture Tanzania 2026

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH will participate in WA26T/AFRAQ26 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as a Gold Sponsor, sharing experiences and insights from its broad portfolio of projects working to unlock the potential of Africa’s aquatic resources for sustainable food, jobs, investment and resilient livelihoods.

Different Projects – One Vision

The Gold Sponsorship is supported by three projects implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-funded by the European Union (EU): the Global Programme Sustainable Aquatic Food (GP SAF), ProsperAzul in Mozambique, and STAWIBLUU in Tanzania. Working in different contexts, they share a common vision: to strengthen sustainable aquatic food systems and blue economies while creating economic opportunities and protecting aquatic and coastal ecosystems.

The Global Programme Sustainable Aquatic Food (GP SAF) works to make fisheries and aquaculture more sustainable and inclusive, strengthening small-scale producers and value chains while promoting sustainable management of aquatic resources.

ProsperAzul supports Mozambique in developing a climate-smart and inclusive blue economy, combining investment and access to finance with sustainable fisheries and aquaculture value chains and the conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems.

In Tanzania, STAWIBLUU focuses on blue economy entrepreneurship and sustainable private investment, bringing together public and private actors and supporting selected mariculture value chains including seaweed, sea cucumbers, mud crabs and Artemia.

Beyond these three initiatives, GIZ colleagues from Ghana’s Employment and Skills for Development in Africa (E4D) programme and Nigeria’s Global Programme Agricultural Finance (GP AgFin) will also join AFRAQ26. Their work highlights two further dimensions that are essential for a thriving aquaculture sector: creating employment and business opportunities, and improving access to finance for emerging producers and enterprises.

Together, the GIZ projects represented at AFRAQ26 demonstrate a holistic approach to aquaculture and blue economy development – connecting sustainable production and value chains with entrepreneurship, employment, investment and finance.

As part of its engagement at AFRAQ26, GIZ will also host a dedicated side event bringing together experts and partners to discuss how these different dimensions can work together to unlock the potential of Africa’s aquaculture sector. The session will provide a platform for exchange on practical approaches, experiences and opportunities for collaboration.

“AFRAQ26 is an excellent opportunity to bring together different stakeholders and perspectives on how Africa’s aquatic resources can contribute to food security, sustainable businesses and resilient livelihoods. Our work shows that successful transformation requires sustainable production, strong value chains, investment, innovation and access to finance to go hand in hand,” says Pierre Guillibert, Head of Global Programme “Sustainable Aquatic Food”, GIZ.

GIZ looks forward to connecting with partners, experts and businesses at AFRAQ26 and exploring opportunities to advance sustainable aquatic food systems and blue economies across Africa.

World Aquaculture Tanzania 2026 (WA26T), which is the 5^th Annual International Conference and Exposition of World Aquaculture Society and African Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (AFRAQ2026) is being hosted by the Government of the Republic of Tanzania. The event will take place in Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA, from December 1-4, 2026, at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) – a world class conference and exhibition facility in Tanzania. Since 2022, the WAS has successfully hosted the Annual Aquaculture Africa Conferences (AFRAQs) in Egypt (2022), Zambia (2023), Tunisia (2024) and recently Aquaculture Safari, Uganda (2025). AFRAQs typically attract a diverse group of participants from nearly 100 countries – ranging from aquaculture professionals, producers, researchers, policymakers, industry representatives, development partners, students and various other stakeholders. Nearly 2000 participants are expected at WA26T. The event will feature prominent plenary speakers, cutting-edge research presentations, an exhibition showcasing innovations in the aquaculture sector and much more. Attendees will have the opportunity to network, share knowledge, and collaborate on addressing key challenges and opportunities facing both African landscape and the global aquaculture industry. More information available on https://was.org/meeting/code/AFRAQ26.

Maximizing the Economic Value of Tilapia Genetics: Watch Adriana Artiles’ Presentation

Edusehat — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:55:09 +0700

Turning genetic improvement into measurable value for tilapia producers

Genetic improvement is no longer simply a long-term investment for tilapia producers. When the right strategy, tools and breeding objectives are brought together, genetics can become a powerful driver of productivity, efficiency and economic value.

At the 2026 Aquaculture Symposium in Guatemala, CAT’s Dr. Adriana Artiles explored how tilapia producers can use efficient genetic improvement strategies to maximize their return on investment in her presentation, “Aprovechamiento de la Mejora Genética Eficiente en Tilapia para Maximizar el Retorno Económico.”

Adriana’s presentation addressed some of the key questions producers face when considering a genetic improvement programme: What can I improve? How should I do it? Which breeding strategy and tools are right for my objectives? How long will it take? And what return can I expect?

From genetic potential to economic value

The presentation highlights that successful breeding programs should start with clearly defined production objectives and a strong genetic foundation, including sufficient genetic diversity and phenotypic variation. From there, producers can select the breeding approach and molecular tools that best match their objectives, budget and production system.

Adriana compares three fundamental approaches — mass selection, family/pedigree selection and genomic selection — showing how increasing the precision and intensity of selection can accelerate genetic gain. For tilapia, where generation intervals can be relatively short, this creates an opportunity to deliver meaningful improvements over just a few production cycles.

The presentation also explores how genotyping supports breeding programs, from managing genetic diversity and assigning parentage to enabling genomic selection and marker-assisted selection. Importantly, the optimal marker density depends on the specific breeding objectives — reinforcing the value of selecting the right genomic tool rather than simply choosing the highest-density option.

Adriana Artiles

The next step in genetic improvement: Integrating genome editing into established breeding programs.

CAT’s strategic partnership with Brazilian Fish, announced in February 2025, was highlighted as an example of a commercial-scale tilapia producer integrating genome editing into their breeding program. Adriana explains how genome editing can accelerate the introduction of desirable traits that would otherwise require multiple generations of conventional selection.

The presentation highlights the potential of combining genome editing with genomic selection to increase the speed and precision of genetic improvement, while creating additional economic value for producers.

For producers, genetics deliver value when the right strategy is applied to the right production objectives, driving measurable improvements in profitability.

Watch the 10-minute recording in Spanish

View Adriana Artiles’ talk from Simposio de Acuicultura en Guatemala 2026 to learn how an effective breeding strategy can help tilapia producers maximise gain and economic return: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyld1Uk5Nu8

The post Maximizing the Economic Value of Tilapia Genetics: Watch Adriana Artiles’ Presentation appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

CAT Contributes to New International Publication on Regulatory Advances in Gene Editing

Edusehat — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:55:08 +0700

Exploring the evolving regulatory landscape for gene editing in aquaculture and food production

The regulatory landscape for gene editing is evolving rapidly across the Americas and around the world. As governments develop new frameworks for evaluating the technology, collaboration between regulators, researchers, producers and technology developers is becoming increasingly important.

The Proceedings of the International Workshop on Regulatory Advances in Gene Editing in the Americas, held in Medellín, Colombia, from May 12–15, 2026, bring together 30 chapters examining the science, regulation, policy and practical application of gene editing across agriculture and food production.

Published by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the proceedings provide a valuable overview of the developments shaping the future of gene editing and its path toward commercial application across the Americas.

CAT’s perspective on genome editing in aquaculture

CAT contributed to Chapter 29: Information from Private Sector Companies, providing an aquaculture industry perspective on the opportunities for genome editing to support more productive, resilient and sustainable food systems.

The chapter explores how genome editing can complement conventional breeding to accelerate genetic improvement, with applications ranging from productivity and disease resilience to animal welfare and environmental performance. It also examines reproductive sterility as a potential biological containment and production tool, alongside the importance of clear, science-based regulatory frameworks for commercial development.

As genome editing moves toward commercial deployment, the chapter highlights the importance of regulatory clarity and collaboration across the value chain. Evidence from early commercial programs is already helping generate practical experience that can inform future applications across finfish and shrimp.

Read the Proceedings on the IICA Repository

Explore all 30 chapters and gain insight into the evolving science, regulatory approaches and commercial opportunities shaping the future of gene editing across the Americas.

Available in both English and Spanish.

ISBN: 978-92-9273-244-8

IICA (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture). 2026. Proceedings of the International Workshop on Regulatory Advances in Gene Editing in the Americas (Medellín, May 12–15, 2026). Rocha, P. (Ed.). San José, Costa Rica: IICA. 226 p

The post CAT Contributes to New International Publication on Regulatory Advances in Gene Editing appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Meet CAT at Aquaculture Europe 2026

Edusehat — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:55:07 +0700

September 28–October 1 | Booth 33 | Ljubljana, Slovenia

The CAT team will be in Ljubljana to connect with producers, breeders and industry leaders shaping the future of aquaculture.

Visit us at Booth 33 to discover how the right breeding strategy can turn genetic potential into measurable production value.

From genetic data to better breeding decisions

CAT works with producers worldwide to develop tailored breeding strategies that accelerate genetic gain, improve production efficiency, and build more resilient populations.

From genotyping and selective breeding to genome editing, we bring together the expertise, data and technologies needed to help producers make better genetic decisions.

Our Next-Gen Breeding approach integrates genotyping, selective breeding and genome editing to create tailored, data-driven strategies built around your breeding goals – helping you achieve greater value from your population.

CAT at Aquaculture Europe 2026

Hear directly from two CAT experts as they share practical insights and learnings from our work

Alejandro Gutierrez
Utilizing Advanced Genetic Improvement Tools to Maximize Returns in Fin Fish Species
Session: Selective Breeding & Genomics
Wednesday, September 30 | 16:30

Adriana Artiles
Optimizing Aquaculture Breeding Programs with Early-life Genotyping
Session: Contributed Session 4
Thursday, October 1 | 10:15

Let’s talk about the power of genetics

Whether you’re looking to strengthen an existing breeding program, identify the right genotyping approach, improve genetic gain or explore new opportunities with genome editing, come and talk to the CAT team.

We’ll be at Booth 33 throughout the event and look forward to discussing your breeding goals.

See you in Ljubljana.

The post Meet CAT at Aquaculture Europe 2026 appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Stocking rate raises tilapia yield in biofloc but shrinks fish size: what two USDA trials found

Edusehat — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 06:40:06 +0700

Sponsored article. This article is sponsored by Reef Industries, Inc. The research summarised here was conducted and published independently by the USDA Agricultural Research Service. The sponsor had no involvement in the study, and the study did not evaluate or compare liner products or brands.

Editorial Staff | Aquaculture Magazine

Source: Green, B.W., Rawles, S.D., McEntire, M.E. & Ray, C.L. (2024). Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 55: e13087. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND. DOI: 10.1111/jwas.13087

Two trials at the USDA Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center show yield rising in a straight line with stocking rate, up to 38.3 kg/m³. Individual weight moves the other way, and the trade-off is what determines whether the extra fish pay for themselves.

20.1–38.3

kg/m³ of fish yield across the full range of stocking rates tested
Green et al., 2024

94.4 / 95.4%

Mean survival in Studies 1 and 2, independent of stocking rate
141–143 and 78–79 days

1.16 / 1.03

Mean feed conversion ratio, also independent of stocking rate
Outdoor mixotrophic biofloc tanks

The stocker phase is a planning decision, not a technical detail

Intensive production of market-size tilapia generally requires two or more grow-out phases. Fingerlings are grown to stocker size, roughly 10 to 200 g per fish, and then restocked at lower densities for growth to market weight. Choosing the stocking rate for each phase is one of the decisions that determines how efficiently the culture unit is used.

The requirement is not uniform across markets. Producers stock 30 g and 60 g stockers at the start of two grow-out phases in Brazil and Jamaica respectively, while Mexico and Pakistan stock 40 g and 32 g fish for a single grow-out phase. In temperate and subtropical climates, stocker fish produced in the first season are over-wintered in temperature-controlled facilities before being moved to ponds.

Green and colleagues, at the USDA Agricultural Research Service centre in Stuttgart, Arkansas, tested how far stocking rate can be pushed in an outdoor mixotrophic biofloc system, and what it costs in fish size when it is.

Two studies covered stocking rates from 50 to 300 fish per square metre

Hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis aureus × O. niloticus) were raised in outdoor mixotrophic biofloc tanks in two separate studies with different tank sizes, densities and durations.

Table 1. Design of the two studies

Parameter	Study 1	Study 2
Tank size	18.6 m² (15.7 m³)	4.7 m² (3.6 m³)
Stocking rate	50–150 fish/m²	100–300 fish/m²
Equivalent per volume	59–178 fish/m³	132–396 fish/m³
Increment between treatments	25 fish/m²	25 fish/m²
Duration	141–143 days	78–79 days
Mean water temperature	26.5 °C	27.1 °C

Source: Green et al. (2024). Swipe horizontally on small screens.

Yield rose linearly with stocking rate in both studies

Gross and net fish yield, average daily feed ration, total feed fed and total sodium bicarbonate added all increased linearly with stocking rate in both studies. Across the full range tested, yield ranged from 20.1 to 38.3 kg/m³.

Linear regression models best described growth to stocker size in both studies. That linearity is the practical finding: within the ranges tested, the system did not reach a point where adding fish stopped adding yield.

Figure 1. Individual weight at harvest fell from 389.8 to 163.4 g/fish in Study 1 and from 155.2 to 81.4 g/fish in Study 2 as stocking rate increased, while survival remained above 94% in both. The two studies ran for different durations and are not directly comparable to each other. Chart: Aquaculture Magazine with data from Green et al. (2024).

Individual weight moved in the opposite direction

Average weight at harvest was inversely related to stocking rate, decreasing quadratically in Study 1 and linearly in Study 2. Fish ranged from 389.8 down to 163.4 g in Study 1, and from 155.2 down to 81.4 g in Study 2. Weight gain decreased quadratically with stocking rate in both.

More fish per cubic metre delivers more kilograms, but smaller individuals. Which of the two matters depends entirely on the size of stocker the next production phase requires.

Survival and feed conversion held steady across every density tested

Survival was independent of stocking rate in both studies, averaging 94.4% in Study 1 and 95.4% in Study 2. Feed conversion ratio likewise did not vary with stocking rate, averaging 1.16 and 1.03 respectively.

The authors read the stable FCR as an indication that fish were fed efficiently across the range. It also means the reduction in individual weight is a consequence of density itself rather than of deteriorating feeding performance, which matters when deciding whether the trade-off is acceptable.

Health indicators pointed the same way. Hepatosomatic index, viscerosomatic index and intraperitoneal fat content were unaffected by stocking rate, as were all haematological parameters measured, including red and white cell counts, haematocrit and glutathione peroxidase activity.

Both studies were run in HDPE-lined tanks, and the containment surface is part of the system

The experimental units in both studies were lined structures rather than earthen ponds. Study 1 used eight rectangular, wood-framed tanks of 18.6 m² lined with high-density polyethylene. Study 2 used nine circular, wire-mesh framed tanks of 2.4 m diameter, also HDPE-lined. Each was fitted with a 130-litre conical-bottom settling chamber on a side stream.

That construction is not incidental to the results. Three of the findings reported depend on it.

Solids management. Settling chambers were drained on average every three days in Study 1, removing between 30.5 and 39.3 kg of solids in dry matter across the trial. Water exchange averaged 0.73% per day in Study 1 and 2.7% per day in Study 2 while the chambers operated. Controlling where solids accumulate and where water leaves the system requires a defined, impermeable boundary.

Water chemistry control. The authors added sodium bicarbonate as needed to hold pH above 7.0, stock salt to maintain a 10:1 chloride to nitrite ratio, and dried molasses as a labile carbon source during biofloc development. Dosing to a known volume, and holding that chemistry, assumes the volume is not exchanging with the surrounding soil.

Geometry independent of the ground. The two studies used different shapes and volumes — rectangular at 15.7 m³ and circular at 3.6 m³ — built on frames rather than excavated. That is what allowed the same research question to be tested across two tank designs in the same facility.

None of this was the subject of the study. Green and colleagues tested stocking rate, not containment materials, and the paper makes no comparison between liner types or between lined and unlined systems. What the paper does establish is the specification of the system in which yields of 20.1 to 38.3 kg/m³ and survival above 94% were obtained: an outdoor, frame-built, HDPE-lined tank with side-stream solids removal.

For a producer reading these numbers as a target, that specification is part of the result.

Water quality tracked feed input, not stocking rate directly

The variables that changed did so in response to total feed input, which in turn increased linearly with stocking rate. In Study 1, mean concentrations of nitrite, nitrate, phosphate and total suspended solids increased linearly with total feed input, and ammonium showed a log-linear relationship. In Study 2, phosphate and TSS increased linearly, pH decreased linearly and nitrate increased curvilinearly.

Total suspended solids reached 591 to 788 mg/L during peak feeding in Study 1 and 510 to 789 mg/L in Study 2. Solids drained from settling chambers rose from 30.5 to 39.3 kg in dry matter as feed input increased.

Dissolved oxygen did not follow the pattern. Mean concentrations ranged from 68.3% to 90.0% saturation and were independent of both stocking rate and feed input, including during peak feeding. In a system where oxygen is normally the first constraint to appear, that finding defines where the operational ceiling was not.

Whole-body composition changed only in ash and energy retention

In Study 2, whole-body dry matter, protein, protein retention and lipid were unaffected by stocking rate. Whole-body ash increased with stocking rate, which the authors attribute to the allometric relationship whereby skeleton and scales account for a larger proportion of body weight as fish size decreases.

Whole-body energy retention decreased significantly with stocking rate, and whole-body energy showed a strong indication of decreasing. These are the only composition variables that responded, and both are consistent with producing smaller fish rather than with a nutritional deficit.

Partial budget analysis favoured higher densities, with one caveat

The authors ran a partial budget analysis on a per-cubic-metre basis for producing a 75 g stocker, considering changes in expenses and income for fish numbers, feed and electricity use.

In Study 1, the net change in profit increased from USD 10.68/m³ to USD 16.70/m³ as stocking rate rose from 50 to 125 fish/m², then fell by 55% at the highest rate tested. Taken end to end, increasing from 50 to 150 fish/m² produced an estimated net change of USD 48.45/m³.

Study 2 was more variable, with no discernible pattern. The largest positive change, USD 18.06/m³, came with the step from 250 to 275 fish/m², while the only negative value, USD 0.29/m³, corresponded to the step from 225 to 250 fish/m². End to end, moving from 100 to 300 fish/m² yielded USD 58.63/m³.

The drop of 55% in Study 1 at the highest density is the most useful number for a producer: the economics improved with density up to a point, and then stopped improving before yield did.

What this means when choosing a stocking rate

The findings support the outdoor mixotrophic biofloc system as a viable route for producing stocker hybrid tilapia at commercial intensity. Three points follow for anyone setting a density.

Start from the stocker size the next phase requires, not from the yield target. Since yield rises and individual weight falls across the same range, the binding constraint is the size specification downstream. A 30 g stocker and a 100 g stocker call for different densities or different durations.

Feed input, not stocking rate, is what drives water quality. The relationships detected were with total feed fed. Monitoring and alkalinity management should be planned against the feed curve rather than against the number of fish stocked.

The economic optimum arrived before the biological one. Yield kept rising linearly while the profit change in Study 1 peaked at 125 fish/m² and then dropped sharply. Maximum yield and maximum return were not the same density.

Questions this article answers

How much does yield increase with stocking rate in a biofloc system for stocker tilapia?

Yield increased linearly with stocking rate in both studies, ranging from 20.1 to 38.3 kg/m³ across stocking rates of 50 to 300 fish/m² in outdoor mixotrophic biofloc tanks. No plateau was reached within the ranges tested.

What does higher density cost in individual fish size?

Individual weight at harvest fell from 389.8 to 163.4 g/fish in Study 1, as stocking rate rose from 50 to 150 fish/m² over 141–143 days, and from 155.2 to 81.4 g/fish in Study 2, from 100 to 300 fish/m² over 78–79 days.

Does higher density reduce survival or worsen feed conversion?

Neither, within the ranges tested. Survival was independent of stocking rate and averaged 94.4% and 95.4% in Studies 1 and 2. Feed conversion ratio was also independent of stocking rate, averaging 1.16 and 1.03.

Which water quality variables respond to increased density?

Those driven by feed input: nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, ammonium and total suspended solids, which reached 591–788 mg/L during peak feeding in Study 1. Dissolved oxygen was the exception, remaining between 68.3% and 90.0% saturation and independent of both stocking rate and feed input.

Is the highest density the most profitable?

Not in Study 1. The net change in profit rose from USD 10.68/m³ to USD 16.70/m³ up to 125 fish/m², then fell by 55% at the highest rate tested. Study 2 showed no discernible pattern. The authors state that further replicated research and economic analysis are needed.

What kind of tanks were used in the trials?

Outdoor HDPE-lined tanks built on frames, not earthen ponds. Study 1 used eight rectangular wood-framed tanks of 18.6 m² (15.7 m³); Study 2 used nine circular wire-mesh framed tanks of 2.4 m diameter (4.7 m², 3.6 m³). Each had a 130-litre conical-bottom settling chamber on a side stream. The study did not compare liner types or brands.

Sources and method

Level 1. Reference with verified DOI. Green, B.W., Rawles, S.D., McEntire, M.E. & Ray, C.L. (2024). Relationship between stocking rate and production of stocker hybrid tilapia and water quality in a mixotrophic biofloc system. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 55(5), e13087. doi.org/10.1111/jwas.13087

Licence and status. Open access under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs. Published 2024; a U.S. Government work in the public domain in the USA. Authors affiliated with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center, Stuttgart, Arkansas.

Funding declared by the authors. USDA-ARS, project 6028-31630-006-00D.

Limitations stated in the source. The two studies used different tank volumes, initial fish weights and durations, and are therefore not directly comparable to each other. The partial budget analysis considered only changes in expenses and income for fish numbers, feed and electricity use, for which quantity and price data were available. In Study 1, model parameters deviated substantially from close-to-linear behaviour according to Hougaard’s measure of skewness and Box’s measure of bias. The authors state that additional replicated research and economic analysis are needed to evaluate stocking rate and culture duration for producing specific-sized stocker hybrid tilapia.

Editorial note and sponsorship disclosure. This article is sponsored by Reef Industries, Inc. The study summarised here was designed, conducted, funded and published independently by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, with no involvement from the sponsor, and it did not evaluate, compare or endorse any liner product or brand. Aquaculture Magazine has summarised the published findings and has not conducted independent verification. Figures, conditions and statistical relationships are those reported by the authors. The USDA notes that mention of trade names does not imply endorsement.

This article is sponsored by

Reef Industries, Inc.

Founded in 1957, Reef Industries is a plastic film and laminate manufacturer with more than 60 years of experience, headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company operates five product divisions — Griffolyn®, Permalon®, Armorlon®, Terra Tape® and Banner Guard® — and distributes worldwide. Its Permalon® liners are used for containment applications including ponds, reservoirs and tanks.

Headquarters: 9209 Almeda Genoa Road, Houston, TX 77075, USA
Manufacturing: 10020 Mykawa Road, Houston, TX 77048 · 1951 Amistad Drive, San Benito, TX 78586
Phone: +1 (800) 231-6074
Email: ri@reefindustries.com
Web: reefindustries.com

Aquaculture Magazine is a leading specialised publication for the global aquaculture industry. Published by DP International, Inc., it covers science, technology, markets and trends across the sector. Contact: info@dpinternationalinc.com

The Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility of Wisconsin Freshwater Research Institution Joins Initiative to Fully Use Each Fish

Edusehat — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 05:35:12 +0700

Only about 40% of each fish (the fillets) are usually eaten or productively used; In contrast, the remaining 60% of the fish is often relegated to inexpensive uses or discarded.

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility, in the United States, recently signed the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge, becoming the third research institution to join the initiative. Their participation brings the growing binational movement to 48 companies and organizations committed to ensuring that every part of each fish is fully used and not wasted.

“The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility brings exceptional expertise in freshwater science, aquaculture, and fish nutrition to the Pledge,” said David Naftzger, Executive Director of the Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (GSGP). “Research institutions are essential to developing the technologies, products, and partnerships needed to fully use every fish. We are pleased to welcome UWSP and look forward to learning from their work,” he added.

The UWSP Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility conducts applied aquaculture research and outreach in Bayfield. Fish and fillets from completed research projects are donated when possible, while eligible carcasses are composted for fertilizer. Through the Pledge, the facility will continue pursuing full utilization wherever permitted.

The institution’s participation follows the recent expansion of the Pledge to include laboratories and research facilities in the Great Lakes States, Ontario, and Québec that work with fish and fish materials. These organizations commit to productively using all fish and fish parts handled through their work wherever permitted, rather than sending them to landfill.

Raising Awareness

As part of the Pledge, UWSP will work alongside other participating companies and organizations to promote the full use of fish. This includes raising awareness of opportunities for innovative applications of fish co-products, such as compost, fertilizer, protein, marine collagen, leather, and other new, high-value products.

The Pledge is part of the 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative created by the Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (GSGP), an organization representing the Governors of the Great Lakes States and the Canadian Premiers of Ontario and Québec.

New and Innovative Ways

The Great Lakes region is home to growing aquaculture operations and sizeable commercial fisheries, but only about 40% of each fish (the fillets) are usually eaten or productively used. In contrast, the remaining 60% of the fish is often relegated to inexpensive uses or discarded. The 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative seeks new and innovative ways to fully use each fish to reduce waste, create more value and jobs, and support rural economic development. Iceland pioneered this approach and has seen the value of products made from each cod skyrocket from USD 12 for just the filet to a remarkable USD 5,000 for products including cosmetics, medical bandages, nutritional supplements, and a range of other products.

“At the UWSP Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility, we already work to make productive use of fish from our research by donating fish and fillets and composting eligible carcasses for fertilizer,” said Tyler Firkus, UWSP NADF Assistant Director. “The Pledge gives us an opportunity to formalize that commitment, share what we are learning, and work with others to advance full utilization across aquaculture and research.”

One-Of-A-Kind Facility

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility (UWSP NADF) is the university’s northern most campus located in Bayfield, Wisconsin. UWSP NADF is a one-of-a-kind facility in the Midwest and joins only a handful in the US that provide applied research, demonstration, education and workforce development capabilities.

The state-of the-art, dynamic facility, showcases new advances in aquaculture system technology such as sustainable land based recirculating aquaculture, while also providing traditional aquaculture systems such as flow through raceways and outdoor ponds for industry-based research projects.

The facility is located on the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Anishinaabeg tribal land in Red Cliff, Wisconsin.

24.3 Million Pounds of Fish By-products Now Being Productively Used in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Region

Edusehat — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 05:35:11 +0700

By: 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative

First annual 100% Great Lakes Fish performance report shows major progress toward full fish utilization.

The Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (GSGP) today released its first performance report for the 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative, tracking the initiative’s reach and impact.

The report estimates that 24.3 million pounds of fish byproducts are now being productively used in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence region. The byproducts are generating about USD 3.4 million in economic value and avoiding about 9.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

Fish byproducts include skin, scales, viscera, heads, tails, and other parts that historically were landfilled in many cases. Fish byproducts in our region are now being made into valuable products including fish meal and oil, pet food and treats, fertilizer, compost, bait, and fish leather.

The report measures the collective impacts of the 48 organizations participating in GSGP’s 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge.

Through the Pledge, these organizations commit to productively use all the fish byproducts they handle and to not landfill. Together, these organizations represent about 53% of estimated fish volume across the region’s commercial, aquaculture, and recreational fisheries. By sector, Pledge participants represent about 90% of commercial fishery volume, 55% of aquaculture production, and 1% of the recreational fish harvest.

“This report demonstrates the major strides our region has taken toward full fish utilization,” said David Naftzger, Executive Director of GSGP. “We can now track how many fish byproducts are being productively used, the economic and environmental benefits that they create, and where the biggest opportunities remain. GSGP plans to similarly report results every year and use them to measure progress toward our ultimate goal ─100% utilization.”

The report shows particularly broad progress toward 100% utilization in the region’s commercial fishery, where organizations participating in the Pledge represent approximately 90% of estimated commercial fishery volume. Aquaculture producers are similarly using their byproducts productively at a high rate, while work to address fish byproducts from the recreational fishery is at an earlier stage.

GSGP has begun working with fish cleaning stations and fisheries agencies around the Great Lakes to improve systems for collecting, storing, transporting, and productively using material generated by recreational anglers. This work builds on the progress already made with commercial processors. Approaches to productively use sportfish byproducts can be replicated at marinas and cleaning stations throughout the region.

The 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative seeks to eliminate waste and increase the value generated from fish caught, raised, or processed in the Great Lakes region. Traditionally, only about 40% of each fish, primarily the fillets, is consumed by people, while much of the remaining material has been relegated to low-value uses or discarded. The initiative works with fish processors, aquaculture producers, researchers, fisheries agencies, Tribes, recreational fisheries, manufacturers, and other partners to identify productive and higher-value uses for those byproducts.

More information on 100% Great Lakes Fish and the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge is available at https://gsgp.org/projects/100-great-lakes-fish/

About the Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers

The Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers unites the chief executives from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Québec, and Wisconsin. The Governors and Premiers work as equal partners to grow the region’s USD 9.3 trillion economy and protect the world’s largest surface freshwater system. www.gsgp.org

Aquaculture Drives Food Security as NL Sector Generates USD 453 Million in 2025

Edusehat — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 05:35:11 +0700

By: NAIA

With its Cold Harvest Conference & Trade Show just weeks away, the Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA) is releasing 2025 figures that highlight the sector’s growing contribution to food security in the province.

According to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the aquaculture industry generated a farmgate value of USD 453 million in 2025, representing nearly 40% of the total value of all seafood produced in the province. This level of production supports rural employment, strengthens local processors and transport companies, and provides year-round economic activity in coastal communities.

NAIA Executive Director Bradley George said the results reinforce aquaculture’s importance to the province’s food-security goals. “These numbers show that aquaculture is a major contributor to that conversation,” George said. “Our sector provides healthy, sustainable food while supporting economic growth and stability in coastal communities across the province.” He added that as demand for reliable, nutritious protein continues to grow, aquaculture is becoming a central pillar in ensuring Newfoundland and Labrador can meet its long-term food-security needs.

Cold Harvest Conference & Trade Show

NAIA is partnering with Aquaculture Association of Canada to host the Cold Harvest Conference & Trade Show from September 15–17 at the Jag Hotel in St. John’s. It will bring together industry, government, academia, and technology leaders to explore innovation, science, and the future of seafood farming in Newfoundland and Labrador. The program will feature technical sessions, keynotes, panels, and a trade show spanning the full aquaculture value chain, with delegates expected from across Canada, the United States, Europe, and New Zealand. Registration is open at www.naia.ca.

DNV Certifies HTX Thanh Dat to the ASC Farm Standard, Supporting Responsible Shrimp Aquaculture in Vietnam

Edusehat — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 05:35:10 +0700

By: HTX Thanh Dat

The certification verifies the cooperative’s farming practices against recognized environmental and social requirements for responsible aquaculture.

Global assurance provider DNV has officially awarded the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Farm Standard certification to HTX Thanh Dat. This milestone underscores the Vietnamese seafood company’s dedication to sustainable shrimp production and enhances transparency throughout its international supply chains.

As aquaculture plays an increasingly vital role in meeting the surging global demand for seafood, producers face mounting expectations to mitigate their environmental footprint and uphold high social standards across the supply chain.

The ASC Farm Standard provides a robust framework for addressing key environmental and social aspects of aquaculture production. Its requirements cover areas including biodiversity and ecosystem protection, responsible use of natural resources, fish health and welfare, and working conditions.

Through third-party assessment, HTX Thanh Dat delivers enhanced transparency to its supply chain, proving its alignment with internationally recognized benchmarks for responsible aquaculture.

“Achieving the ASC Farm Standard certification is an important milestone for Thanh Dat High-Tech Shrimp Farming Cooperative. It supports our transition toward cleaner, more sustainable and responsible aquaculture while creating greater opportunities to connect with buyers and seafood processors serving international export markets. More importantly, we believe this achievement can contribute to improving the income and livelihoods of our cooperative members and create long-term value for the local community. By strengthening transparency and traceability, protecting the environment, working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting community sustainability, we aim to build greater trust with customers and contribute to a more responsible shrimp supply chain.” – Mr. Tran Thanh Trieu, Chairman of the Board and Director at Thanh Dat High-Tech Shrimp Farming Cooperative.

“Responsible aquaculture starts at farm level. Certification to the ASC Farm Standard provides an independent assessment of how environmental and social requirements are integrated into farming operations. HTX Thanh Dat’s achievement demonstrates its commitment to strengthening responsible shrimp production and building trust across the seafood value chain.” – Rachel Ng, Food & Beverage Manager, DNV Southeast Asia & Oceania.

This certification reflects the growing importance of third-party assurance within the aquaculture sector. As seafood buyers, retailers and other stakeholders increasingly seek credible information on how seafood products are produced and sourced, third-party certification can help producers demonstrate responsible practices, strengthen transparency and support market confidence across global seafood supply chains.

About DNV

DNV is an independent assurance and risk management provider, operating in more than 100 countries. Through certification and assurance services, DNV helps organizations build trust, manage risk and demonstrate compliance with recognized standards and requirements.

Website: www.dnv.com/

About Thanh Dat High-Tech Shrimp Farming Cooperative (HTX Thanh Dat)

Headquartered in Ca Mau Province, Vietnam, HTX Thanh Dat is a shrimp farming cooperative comprising approximately 65 member households and 200 hectares of farming area. The cooperative produces around 700 tons of ASC-certified white leg and black tiger shrimp annually, supplying premium seafood to key international markets such as the EU, US, Japan, Australia, and South Korea.

Ace Aquatec Brings A-Harvestcam, Real-Time AI Intelligence for the Primary Processing

Edusehat — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 05:35:09 +0700

The technology is already being used by Scottish salmon producer Scottish Sea Farms, and quality Seafood Processor Aquascot, alongside a number of Salmon companies in Chile.

The tool gives processors instant visibility of fish weight, quality and yield, delivering better data and better margins.

Ace Aquatec’s just launched A-HarvestCam, a new AI tool that expects to bring greater commercial certainty to primary processing, giving processors an accurate, real-time picture of the fish coming through their lines and the product available to sell. Using AI-powered computer vision, A-HarvestCam automatically counts and weighs fish while assessing weight distribution, quality and harvest performance.

That gives processors earlier insight into differences between stocks, allowing them to adapt production, optimise yield and allocate product to the most valuable markets.

“Better data at harvest means better decisions right across the supply chain. What A-HarvestCam really gives processors is a much clearer picture of the weight, volume and quality of fish moving through their lines, so they can get more from every harvest. Because they can see what’s coming through in real time, they can give secondary processors a much better sense of what’s heading their way, helping everyone plan ahead, make more informed sales decisions and ultimately get the best value from every fish,” said Tara McGregor-Woodhams, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Ace Aquatec.

Crucially, Ace’s proprietary A-HarvestCam also provides ground-truth harvest data that can feed back to Ace Aquatec’s A-Biomass in-water cameras. Using a patented method to compare what was estimated in the pen with what is measured at harvest, Ace Aquatec’s weight-estimation algorithms can be continually refined, helping producers improve biomass accuracy and plan future harvests with greater confidence.

For commercial teams, knowing the volume, size and quality of fish available improves customer planning, reduces unexpected downgrades and minimises the need for last-minute spot sales.

Overview Across Lines and Sites

According to their explanation, all data is available through Ace Aquatec’s A-Fishiq platform, creating a live view across lines and sites. This replaces labor-intensive manual measurement with consistent, actionable data.

Key operational gains include automated data collection replacing labour-intensive manual measurement; reduced unexpected downgrades through real-time size identification; and faster calibration of secondary processing machinery.

The connected flow of intelligence from net pen to primary processing gives producers and processors greater confidence in the fish they have, the fish they harvest and ultimately the value they can realise.

Demanding Environments

Designed for demanding aquaculture environments, A-HarvestCam can be used across harvest, grading and transfer lines, with different fish sizes and species. As a fully agnostic technology, the system seamlessly integrates with existing processing lines, stunners, and infrastructure from any manufacturer. It also supports post-harvest traceability and automated reporting for processors and certification bodies.

The technology can also connect with Ace Aquatec’s A-HSU in-water stunning system, using post-stun monitoring to provide feedback on stun efficacy and support welfare verification and compliance.

The technology is already being used by Scottish salmon producer Scottish Sea Farms, and quality Seafood Processor Aquascot, alongside a number of Salmon companies in Chile.

“What’s particularly exciting for us is that the value of that data doesn’t end at processing. It gives us a reliable ground-truth that we can feed back into our in-pen biomass intelligence, creating a continuous learning loop from pen to harvest. When you bring that together with welfare and quality insights, you start to build a much richer picture of performance across the whole journey. For our customers, that means better visibility, more confidence in their decisions and, ultimately, a stronger and more transparent supply chain,” McGregor-Woodhams added.

French Company Gloria Maris Côte d’Opale, First French Seabass and Seabream Farm That Achieves ASC Certification

Edusehat — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 05:35:08 +0700

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) just announced the certification of Gloria Maris Côte d’Opale, the first French seabass and seabream farm to achieve the ASC Seabream and Seabass standard. The certification represents a major milestone for French aquaculture which recognises the farm’s commitment to meeting ASC’s stringent requirements for environmental responsibility, animal welfare, responsible feed and resource use, and social accountability.

Bastien Riera, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Gloria Maris Groupe, commented after receiving the news: “Achieving ASC certification is an important recognition of the work carried out by our teams over many years. This certification reflects our commitment to contributing to the development of a responsible, transparent, and demanding French aquaculture sector.”

According to ASC, now, by attaining ASC certification, Gloria Maris Côte d’Opale joins a global community of producers dedicated to driving positive change in seafood farming. “The achievement also increases the availability of farmed seafood in France that meets ASC’s environmental and social requirements,” they said.

“ASC congratulates Gloria Maris Côte d’Opale on this remarkable achievement. As a pioneer, Gloria Maris Côte d’Opale is leading the way and demonstrating that a transparent, and responsible French aquaculture sector can meet the highest environmental and social standards,” stated Maxime Engler, ASC France Market Development Manager.

More Than 40 Years of Commitment to Environmental and Social Responsibility

Located along the beaches of the Hauts-de-France region, Gloria Maris Côte d’Opale has been farming sea bass and seabream for more than 40 years. This certification recognizes the site’s long-standing commitment to responsible aquaculture, combining product quality, environmental preservation, and social responsibility.

Due to its location, the farm benefits from favorable conditions to farming of seabass and seabream. The site builds on expertise developed by Gloria Maris Côte d’Opale’s teams since 1982, with a strong focus on farming management and the continuous improvement of practices.

Fish produced at the site are supplied to foodservice professionals, fishmongers, and premium retail markets, with particular attention paid to product quality and traceability.

Growing Consumer Demand for Certified

To achieve certification, Gloria Maris Côte d’Opale underwent an audit conducted by a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) responsible for verifying compliance with requirements of the ASC Seabass and Seabream Standards.

ASC explained that their certification recognizes Gloria Maris Côte d’Opale’s good practices, particularly in the areas of monitoring and reducing environmental impacts; managing aquaculture-related discharges; protecting surrounding ecosystems; responsible management of resources and animal health; and providing good working conditions.

By joining the ASC program, Gloria Maris Côte d’Opale contributes to the development of more responsible aquaculture and helps meet growing consumer demand for certified, traceable seafood products produced through responsible farming practices.

Four Different Natural Locations

The Gloria Maris Groupe’s farms are deeply rooted in their local communities. Their farms are located in coastal regions that are a testament to their heritage, expertise, and consistency. They are Corsica, at the heart of a site designated as a Natura 2000 area and a ‘Grand Site de France;’ Sardinia, on the border of the Stintino Peninsula and the Asinara National Park, in the heart of a preserved natural environment; Opal Coast, in the heart of an environment shaped by tides and ocean currents; and Gravelines, on the English Channel coast.

“For more than 40 years, we have been cultivating the sea with patience and conviction. From the Mediterranean to the Opal Coast, our sites all tell the same story: that of a rigorous, transparent aquaculture industry that guarantees impeccable quality and is deeply committed to protecting marine ecosystems”, they say.

The Maine’s Department of Marine Resources, in the US, Launches an Electronic Aquaculture System That Streamlines the Process for Lease Applicants

Edusehat — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 05:35:07 +0700

The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) of the state of Maine, at the United States, has recently launched an electronic aquaculture application system which will significantly streamline the process for lease applicants who until now have had to submit applications on paper forms. The development of the electronic application system was made possible through a USD 550,000 grant from the Builders Initiative Foundation with strategic support from the Maine Community Foundation and the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future.

“This advancement will modernize and enhance the lease application process for Maine’s aquaculture industry,” said DMR Director of Aquaculture Division, Amanda Ellis. “DMR also recognizes that this is a significant change from the paper applications people have grown accustomed to and we have been working with stakeholders to ensure that the launch of the new system is as smooth as possible,” she added.

They will be scheduling information sessions about the new system in September, October and November with additional sessions added as necessary.

Phased Approach

The new electronic system for experimental and standard lease applicants was launched on Tuesday, August 18th. Electronic applications for all other lease application types including transfers, renewals, amendments, and expansions will be launched in the coming months. “DMR is taking a phased approach as we recognize this is a significant change,” commented Ellis.

“We have notified industry of this new system and will send an additional notice once all other lease application types are available electronically,” she said.

While applications for Limited Purpose Aquaculture (LPA) licenses are not currently available electronically, DMR will pursue adding LPAs in the future.

For Applicants

The new lease application system is available through DMR’s online licensing portal, LEEDS (Licensing Enforcement and Environmental Data System). Once applicants create a LEEDS account, they can login and follow their application in LEEDS throughout the review process.

Applicants will receive electronic reminders through the system to complete any outstanding steps, which helps ensure applications are processed in a timely manner. “Using LEEDS will streamline the review process, improve communication, and ensure timely responses,” said Ellis.

Applicants will also see comments submitted during public comment periods, providing quick access to important feedback. Payment of application fees is also simplified, providing applicants with an opportunity to pay via electronic check or credit card at the time an application is submitted.

The system is fully responsive on all devices and applications can be submitted anywhere there is internet or cell service, DMR explained. According to them, they will be scheduling information sessions about the new system in September, October and November with additional sessions added as necessary.

Information about the aquaculture application system will also be shared directly with industry and via DMR’s website. The new electronic application system is available at www.maine.gov/dmrleeds.

Much More Than Lobster

From clams and oysters to salmon and lobster and everything in between, Maine produces the best-tasting seafood on the area. “And it’s this variety and quality that keep people coming back for more. Because using great, premium seafood products is a difference you can taste,” they assure.

When people think of Maine, they think of lobster. But Maine seafood has way more to offer, and the secrets of the Maine coastline have stayed humbly at our shores for too long. It’s time for the world to know: Maine has excellent seafood products and the finest sea farmers and fishermen on the planet.

They produce crab, littleneck clams (hard shells), steamer clams (soft shells), cod, haddock, halibut, lobster, mussels, oysters, salmon, scallops, scallops and tuna.

Center for Aquaculture Technologies Welcomes Thomas Delomas as New Quantitative Geneticist

Edusehat — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 05:50:11 +0700

Expanding our breeding expertise to support growing demand across North America

At Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT), we’re seeing more aquaculture producers turn to genetics and genomics to improve the performance, resilience, and profitability of their breeding programs. As demand for genetic services grows across the US and Canada, we’re expanding our team.

We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Thomas Delomas as our new Quantitative Geneticist.

Tom brings more than a decade of experience in aquaculture genetics, working across a wide range of finfish and shellfish species. His experience spans selective breeding, genetic diversity management, hormonal sex reversal, induced polyploidy, statistical and bioinformatic innovation, and the development and application of genomic tools.

His time working as a geneticist for the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and the USDA Agricultural Research Service has given Tom the opportunity to develop new genomic tools, integrate technological advancements into breeding programs, and see firsthand the benefits that genomics can deliver.

“My interest in aquaculture started for a simple reason – I like to eat fish!” says Tom. “That has led to over a decade working in aquaculture genetics across a wide range of finfish and shellfish species.”

Expanding our capacity for clients

Tom joins CAT at a time when more producers are exploring how genotyping, genomic selection, and advanced breeding techniques can help them make faster, more informed decisions.

Tom will work directly with CAT clients to develop and implement breeding strategies, apply genomic technologies, and turn complex genetic data into practical breeding decisions.

“Every aquaculture company and every species is unique,” says Tom. “I’m most looking forward to working with each client to create a tailored approach for improved performance.”

Welcoming Tom, Genetic Services Lead for the US and Canada, Dr. Samuel May adds, “We’re excited to have Tom joining the team. His deep analytical and strategic experience ranging across species from koi to salmon to oysters strengthens our ability to support diverse clients and provide further hands-on expertise.”

Bringing genetics into practice

Tom was drawn to CAT because of the opportunity to work directly with producers.

“The cost of developing and using genomic tools has fallen dramatically over the past several years, making it the perfect time for the aquaculture industry to implement these techniques. I was drawn to CAT because the team here is perfectly positioned to make this happen for our clients,” shares Tom.

Supporting the next generation of breeding programs

Bringing Tom on board gives CAT greater capacity to work even closer with producers, take on new breeding challenges, and help clients get more value from the genetic data they are already collecting.

“Tom brings a great combination of highly technical knowledge and applied breeding experience. We’re looking forward to seeing the impact he’ll have with our clients,” concludes Sam.

Tom’s arrival is another step in CAT’s continued investment in the people and expertise needed to help aquaculture producers achieve greater genetic gain and build breeding programs for the future.

The post Center for Aquaculture Technologies Welcomes Thomas Delomas as New Quantitative Geneticist appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

First operational welfare indicator protocol for seawater rainbow trout sets 33 measurable indicators

Edusehat — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 05:45:06 +0700

Editorial Staff | Aquaculture Magazine

Source: Centre for Aquaculture Progress · Operational Welfare Indicator Protocol for ongrowing rainbow trout in seawater, version 1.0, 2026 · Available on the CAP OWI Protocol Hub as an interactive version and as a PDF download

The Centre for Aquaculture Progress has published what it describes as the first assessment tool of its kind for farmed rainbow trout in seawater systems, defining 33 indicators with a common four-tier scoring scale so that auditors and farm managers assess the same thing in the same way.

Operational welfare indicators across three categories
CAP Protocol v1.0, 2026

0–3

Scoring levels applied to every indicator, in four tiers
Common scale across the protocol

Certification schemes the protocol is designed to align with
RSPCA Assured and ASC

The protocol addresses a gap in how trout welfare is assessed on seawater farms

The Centre for Aquaculture Progress has launched an Operational Welfare Indicator (OWI) Protocol for ongrowing rainbow trout raised in seawater. According to the organisation, it is the first assessment tool of its kind for farmed rainbow trout in seawater systems, and the first in a series of OWI protocols the Centre plans to release.

The protocol is aimed at three groups with different needs: farm personnel carrying out routine welfare monitoring, and certification bodies, auditors and buyers verifying it. It is designed to align with the welfare monitoring and assessment requirements of key certification schemes, specifically RSPCA Assured and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.

“Standards for farmed trout already exist, but the welfare requirements in them vary a lot in depth and in how well they can be assessed on a farm. What we tried to do here was to be more specific: state what should be measured, how, and what counts as acceptable, so that either an auditor or a farm manager are looking at the same thing.” — Marco Cerqueira, CCMAR, University of Algarve

Figure 1. The protocol organises its 33 indicators into individual-based, group-based and environmental categories. Source: Centre for Aquaculture Progress.

The 33 indicators are split between individual, group and environmental measures

The protocol organises its indicators into three categories, each capturing a different level of observation on the farm.

Table 1. Structure of the OWI protocol

Category	Indicators	Level of observation
Individual-based	14	The individual fish
Group-based	5	The population in the unit
Environmental	14	The rearing environment
Total	33	—

Source: CAP Operational Welfare Indicator Protocol for ongrowing rainbow trout in seawater, version 1.0. Swipe horizontally on small screens.

Every indicator carries a four-tier scoring system with reference images

Each of the 33 indicators is accompanied by its own scoring system, split into four tiers comprising levels 0 to 3. The protocol also includes reference images and scoring guidance intended for practical application in the field.

That combination is what distinguishes an operational protocol from a written standard. A requirement stated in words leaves the threshold to the judgement of whoever is holding the clipboard; a scored indicator with a reference image narrows that margin.

The stated purpose is convergence: that an auditor and a farm manager assessing the same fish arrive at the same score.

Marco Cerqueira (CCMAR, University of Algarve), who collaborated closely on the development of the protocol. Photo: Centre for Aquaculture Progress.

Development involved research institutes, certifiers, academia, NGOs and producers

The protocol was developed in close collaboration with Marco Cerqueira of CCMAR at the University of Algarve. Jonatan Nilsson and Angelico Madaro at the Institute of Marine Research provided detailed review and extensive contribution to the document.

The Centre also reports feedback from a number of other industry stakeholders, including individuals from certification bodies, academia, NGOs and producers. That breadth matters for a tool whose value depends on being accepted by both the party being audited and the party auditing.

Figure 2. Every indicator is scored across four tiers, levels 0 to 3, with reference images for field application. The example shows operculum damage. Source: Centre for Aquaculture Progress.

The protocol is available in interactive and PDF formats

The document is published on the CAP OWI Protocol Hub as an interactive online version and as a PDF download. It is identified as version 1.0, dated 2026, and is described as the first in a planned series covering additional species and production systems.

Questions this article answers

What does the CAP protocol cover?

Operational welfare assessment of ongrowing rainbow trout raised in seawater. It defines 33 operational welfare indicators: 14 individual-based, 5 group-based and 14 environmental, each with its own scoring system.

How are the indicators scored?

Each indicator uses a scoring system split into four tiers comprising levels 0 to 3. The protocol supplies reference images and scoring guidance so that the same observation produces the same score in the field.

Who is the protocol intended for?

Farm personnel carrying out routine welfare monitoring, and certification bodies, auditors and buyers. It is designed to align with the welfare monitoring and assessment requirements of RSPCA Assured and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.

How does it differ from existing trout standards?

According to Marco Cerqueira of CCMAR, existing standards vary considerably in the depth of their welfare requirements and in how well those requirements can be assessed on a farm. The protocol specifies what should be measured, how, and what counts as acceptable.

Where can the protocol be obtained?

On the CAP OWI Protocol Hub, as an interactive online version and as a PDF download. It is version 1.0, published in 2026, and the first in a planned series of OWI protocols.

Sources and method

Primary source. Centre for Aquaculture Progress, Operational Welfare Indicator (OWI) Protocol for ongrowing rainbow trout raised in seawater, version 1.0, 2026. Published on the CAP OWI Protocol Hub. Organisation website: centreforaquacultureprogress.org.

Contributors named by the Centre. Marco Cerqueira (CCMAR, University of Algarve), developed in close collaboration; Jonatan Nilsson and Angelico Madaro (Institute of Marine Research), detailed review and contribution; additional feedback from individuals at certification bodies, academia, NGOs and producers.

Editorial note. This article reports the launch of a protocol published by the Centre for Aquaculture Progress. The figures, categories and scoring structure are those stated by the organisation. Aquaculture Magazine has not independently evaluated the protocol in field conditions, and no performance or validation data accompanying its use has been published at the time of writing.

About the Centre for Aquaculture Progress

The Centre for Aquaculture Progress accelerates the adoption of science-based and sustainable fish welfare improvements in European aquaculture. The Centre focuses on solutions that work better for everyone: practical for farmers, affordable for consumers, and better for fish.

Fast-tracking aquaculture’s next generation

Edusehat — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 07:05:08 +0700

Selective breeding has transformed Mediterranean fish farming, delivering measurable genetic gains across commercially important species. Now, the aquaculture industry is exploring new tools that could help the next wave of progress arrive faster.

Aquaculture doesn’t have the luxury of time. Markets change. Diseases appear. Climate challenges grow. Yet while breeding programs can deliver progress with every generation, achieving substantial and cumulative genetic gains often requires a long-term commitment measured over multiple generations. For some species with longer breeding cycles, that process still operates on a timeline of 10 years or more.

Selective breeding has already proven what’s possible when the industry commits for the long haul. In the Mediterranean, a long-running, family-based commercial breeding program for gilthead seabream recently reported a nearly 70% increase in harvest weight over two decades while reducing the time needed to reach market size. The study offers more than a success story. It underscores what selective breeding can achieve – and the sustained commitment required to deliver those gains.

Genomic tools, such as SNP genotyping, have already helped accelerate breeding programs. By examining small differences in an animal’s DNA, breeders can estimate its genetic potential more accurately and make selection decisions earlier in life. Yet even with these advances, each generation must still be produced, reared, measured and assessed before the best animals are selected as parents for the next generation. Progress, therefore, continues to rely on sustained investment in data collection, genetic evaluation, and long-term breeding objectives.

Meanwhile, diseases, regulations and markets can change faster than breeding programs can respond. The question now is whether tools such as genome editing could accelerate genetic gains further without replacing the foundations built by selective breeding.

Increasingly, scientists and breeders believe genome editing will become part of the answer. Unlike selective breeding, which takes years to pass desirable traits from one generation to the next, genome editing allows breeders to make precise, targeted changes once the genetic basis of an important trait has been identified. Those improvements can then be incorporated into ongoing selective breeding programs, potentially shortening the time needed to achieve meaningful genetic gains.

Solving industry problems

Scientists have already used genome editing to address a range of practical challenges. Non-browning mushrooms could help extend shelf life and reduce food waste, while grape varieties have been edited to resist powdery mildew, reducing reliance on chemical fungicides. In wheat, larger grains could help improve crop yields. Genome editing makes precise changes to an organism’s own DNA without introducing genetic material from another species. In other words, scientists are editing what is already there rather than inserting genes from another species – the approach most people associate with GMOs.

The technology is also being used to address costly animal-health challenges. Scientists have developed pigs that can resist PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome), a disease estimated to cost North American producers between US$1.2 billion and US$1.4 billion annually in lost production. Other projects are exploring genetic traits that could improve animal welfare and productivity. Together, these developments show how genome editing could help producers raise healthier animals more efficiently and sustainably.

Aquaculture is also beginning to move genome editing from research laboratories into commercial breeding programs. In Brazil, commercial breeding programs are already integrating genome editing into tilapia improvement. In Norway, researchers are investigating whether the technology could one day help Atlantic salmon resist sea lice – a parasite estimated to cost the industry up to US$1.50 per kilogram of farmed salmon in treatment costs and lost performance.

These examples reflect an expanding range of approaches designed to accelerate genetic gains and address emerging challenges. Rather than replacing selective breeding, genome editing is emerging as the next step in genetic improvement, giving breeders another tool for tackling challenges that conventional breeding alone may struggle to solve.

Rules are evolving

The regulatory landscape is evolving as well. In June, the European Parliament backed a new approach to regulating gene-edited crops, differentiating them from traditional GMOs by placing greater emphasis on the characteristics of the final product than on how the plant was developed.

Although the legislation applies only to crops, many in the aquaculture industry see it as an encouraging signal that similar regulatory thinking could eventually extend to other food production sectors, including livestock and aquaculture. The move brings the EU closer to a regulatory approach already adopted in countries such as Brazil and the US, helping create a more predictable pathway for future commercial innovation.

For breeding companies, clear government regulations are a commercial necessity. Developing better traits requires years of costly research, and predictable approval processes give companies the confidence to move new technologies from the lab into commercial production. When rules are reliable, businesses can accurately map out their timeline and costs to launch a product.

The commercial implications are significant

As the science and regulatory landscape continue to evolve, so does the opportunity for aquaculture to fill the gap in the production of healthy protein. Global demand for seafood continues to rise while wild fisheries remain under pressure. To meet that demand sustainably, producers will need healthier, more resilient and productive animals.

In large-scale fish farming, even small gains in survival, growth and feed efficiency can have a substantial commercial impact. Genetics has become one of the industry’s highest-return investments, driving breeders to use new technologies to accelerate those gains.

Selective breeding has already reshaped Mediterranean aquaculture. Genome editing could help deliver the next gains faster. For breeding programs planning the next five years, the question may no longer be whether genome editing becomes part of the toolkit, but when.

As these genetic technologies move closer to wider commercial use, responsible application will be just as important as speed. Sterility can provide an important safeguard by preventing farmed fish from reproducing if they escape. Beyond reducing the risk of genetic interaction with wild stocks, sterility could give producers and regulators greater confidence to expand aquaculture while safeguarding surrounding ecosystems.

Ultimately, these technologies do not change aquaculture’s destination. They have the potential to change how quickly – and responsibly – the industry gets there.

The biggest opportunity in your operation may already be in your genetics.

The post Fast-tracking aquaculture’s next generation appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Innovation Needs a Pathway

Edusehat — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 07:05:07 +0700

Over the past decade, one of the most important developments in genome editing has unfolded not only in the science itself, but in the way regulatory thinking has evolved alongside it.

For much of that time, conversations about genome editing centered on technical possibility: could precise genetic changes be made, and could those changes deliver meaningful improvements in how we produce food? Increasingly, the answer to both questions is yes. The more important question now is how these tools can be implemented responsibly, transparently and in ways that create real value for producers and for society.

That shift is evident in regulators’ and policymakers’ approach to genome editing. Regulatory frameworks are evolving, international dialogue is increasing, and the experience gained through early commercial applications is beginning to shape the next generation of regulatory thinking.

For aquaculture, this represents an important inflection point. The development of science- and risk-based regulatory frameworks may prove to be just as important to the future of genome editing as the scientific advances that made genome-editing solutions possible.

Science is Driving Regulatory Evolution

One of the most encouraging developments is the growing convergence in scientific thinking among regulators, even where legal frameworks remain different.

Policy makers continue to move at different speeds and within different legislative systems. However, the scientific questions underpinning regulatory evaluations are similar. Regulators are focusing more closely on the characteristics of the final product, the presence or absence of new DNA, and the resulting risk profile, rather than relying solely on the process used to develop the organism.

This distinction is particularly important for genome editing applications, where targeted genetic changes can mirror changes that may also arise naturally or through conventional breeding. Around the world, a growing number of jurisdictions have established differentiated regulatory pathways while maintaining meaningful oversight.

Recent developments in the European Union reinforce this broader direction of travel. Although current discussions on New Genomic Techniques and the EU Livestock Strategy do not establish regulatory pathways for genome edited animals, they clearly place innovation, competitiveness, resilience, animal health and food security at the center of future agricultural policy. Rather than prescribing individual technologies, they emphasize the outcomes agriculture must deliver. That creates an important context in which innovations, including genome editing, can be evaluated according to their scientific characteristics and the value they provide.

The most important point is not that countries are reaching identical regulatory outcomes. They are not. It is that they are increasingly asking the same scientific questions. That matters because shared scientific questions can create the foundation for more predictable, transparent and proportionate oversight.

From Technology to Solutions

This evolution in regulatory thinking reflects an equally important shift within the aquaculture industry itself.

The conversation is moving beyond genome editing as a technology and toward the practical breeding solutions it can help deliver. That distinction is important in our work because technology is never the point on its own. The question is whether it can help solve a real production, sustainability or animal health challenge.

Aquaculture is well positioned to benefit from genome editing because of its biological characteristics, including external fertilization, high fecundity and increasingly sophisticated breeding programs. More importantly, genome editing is being applied to traits that address priorities shared across the value chain, including reproductive sterility, resistance to pathogens, growth efficiency and yield improvement.

These are not simply demonstrations of technical capability. They are breeding solutions intended to deliver measurable value for producers, consumers, regulators and the environment.

Ultimately, the future of genome editing will depend on the value it creates and the confidence with which it can be introduced into real production systems.

Regulation as an Enabler of Innovation

One lesson emerging from early commercial genome editing programs is that regulation should not be viewed simply as a gateway to commercialization.

Evidence-led and proportionate regulatory frameworks are essential enablers of responsible innovation. They provide the predictability needed for investment, establish expectations for stewardship and transparency, and help build confidence among producers, supply chain partners and consumers that new technologies have undergone rigorous scientific evaluation.

Our experience working across multiple regulatory jurisdictions has reinforced this point. The conversation is beginning to mature. It is no longer only about how genome edited products should be regulated, but also about how regulatory systems can continue to evolve as practical implementation experience grows.

Like all science-based systems, genome editing regulatory frameworks should continue to develop alongside scientific understanding. Future discussions may increasingly focus on how oversight can remain proportionate to demonstrated risk while continuing to protect food safety, animal health and the environment. That balance is not always easy, but it is exactly where credible innovation depends on credible regulation.

The Next Chapter

Genome editing in aquaculture is no longer confined to research laboratories. Regulatory determinations for animal applications have been issued in multiple jurisdictions. Commercial breeding programs integrating genome editing are underway. International collaboration among regulators has never been stronger.

The first generation of commercial genome edited aquatic animals will do more than introduce new breeding technologies. They will establish regulatory precedent, build confidence across the seafood value chain, and begin to demonstrate how science- and risk-based regulation can enable responsible innovation.

Looking ahead, the next chapter for genome editing in aquaculture will be shaped not only by advances in molecular biology but by the industry’s ability to translate scientific progress into practical breeding solutions that deliver measurable value in commercial production systems.

The science has advanced. Regulatory systems are evolving. Commercial implementation has begun.

The opportunity now is to ensure they continue advancing together, with enough scientific rigour to earn trust and enough practical focus to make the innovation matter.

Written by:
Debbie Plouffe

Debbie provides regulatory guidance, supporting CAT clients to navigate and accelerate the responsible commercialization of genome editing in farmed aquatic species.

The post Innovation Needs a Pathway appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Peru’s Anchovy Fishery Crisis: A Systemic Alert for the Global Industry

Edusehat — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:20:06 +0700

* By Aquaculture Magazine Editorial Team

Record-low catch quotas, extended fishing bans, and fishmeal prices at historic highs are reshaping production cost structures for aquafeed manufacturers in Ecuador, Chile, and beyond — while rendered animal by-products and Antarctic krill emerge as strategic substitutes.

The 2026 Fishing Season: Context and Key Figures

On April 1, 2026, Peru’s Ministry off Production (PRODUCE) authorized the commencement of the first anchovy fishing season in the North-Central coastal zone, setting a maximum catch limit of 1,914,049 metric tons (mt) — a 36.2% decline relative to the 3.0 million mt authorized for the equivalent 2025 season, and the lowest TAC recorded in a decade, with the sole exception of 2023, when the season was cancelled in its entirety due to adverse environmental conditions.

The quota is consistent with stock assessment recommendations issued by the Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE), reflecting reduced biomass availability and heightened concerns over juvenile cohort protection.

The season’s trajectory deteriorated further through May. On May 12, 2026, PRODUCE issued Directorial Resolution No. 00052-2026-PRODUCE/DGSFSPA, imposing a 15-day fishing suspension across the maritime zone between 6° and 14° South latitude within the first 30 nautical miles, after IMARPE detected juvenile fish incidence exceeding 50% in active fishing gear (‘enmallamiento’).

By May 27, with only an estimated 451,000 mt harvested — equivalent to 23.6% of the total authorized quota — the suspension was extended by a further 15 days, until June 10, 2026, accumulating 30 consecutive days of operational stop-page. IMARPE attributed the extension to advancing warm-water intrusions driven by the Coastal El Niño (FEN), which are reducing coastal upwelling, deepening anchovy distribution, and increasing vulnerability of juvenile populations to incidental capture.

With 30 consecutive days of fishing suspension and only 23.G% of the TAC harvested, Peru’s 202G anchovy season represents the most operationally constrained campaign in a decade — and a structural infiection point for global marine ingredient supply chains.

TAC Evolution — North-Central Zone, First Season:

» 2024: Approximately 2.5 million mt.

» 2025: 3.0 million mt.

» 2026: 1.914 million mt (−36.2% year-on-year).

» Volume harvested as of May 27, 2026: ~451,000 mt (23.6% of TAC).

Peru’s Central Reserve Bank (BCRP) projects a 6.6% contraction in the fishing sector for full-year 2026, with the most pronounced impact anticipated in the second fishing season (November-February), which coincides with the period during which FEN conditions are expected to persist or intensify.

The Coastal El Niño: Oceanographic Drivers and Biological Consequences

The Peruvian anchovy is among the most oceanographically sensitive commercial fisheries on Earth. Its productivity is intrinsically linked to the intensity and spatial extent of the Humboldt Current upwelling system, which drives the nutrient enrichment of surface waters along the Peruvian coast.

El Niño events — particularly the FEN variant that affects Peru’s nearshore environment — disrupt this upwelling mechanism by introducing anomalously warm surface waters, suppressing thermocline shoaling, and reducing the biological productivity upon which anchovy populations depend.

According to Official ENFEN Communiqué No. 06-2026 (March 27, 2026), the FEN Alert status is projected to persist through December 2026, with a probability of reaching moderate intensity between May and July. These conditions have a documented multipathway impact on anchovy availability: shoal displacement toward greater depths (> 100 m) and higher latitudes, increased surface-water temperatures in traditional fishing zones, compromised juvenile survival rates, and logistical disruptions due to anomalous swell events that have forced repeated port closures during the current season.

The National Fishing Society (SNP) President, Jessica Luna, noted in January 2026 that the environmental outlook made it imperative to accelerate April operations to preempt anticipated May-June risks. The severity of subsequent oceanographic anomalies, however, exceeded industry projections, rendering precautionary fleet deployment insufficient to offset the structural reduction in accessible biomass.

Global Fishmeal and Fish Oil Production: Q1 2026 in Numbers

Peru accounts for approximately 20% of global fishmeal and fish oil production in an average year, establishing it as the single most influential jurisdiction in the marine ingredients market. Any material restriction in Peruvian anchovy catch translates directly into a global supply shock, the magnitude of which is proportional to the severity and duration of the production disruption.

Data reported by the Marine Ingredients Organization (IFFO) — compiled from member statistics in Chile, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Ivory Coast, Mauritius, Norway, Peru, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, collectively representing approximately 40% of global fishmeal output and 50% of fish oil production — document the following trends for Q1 2026:

» Fishmeal production, March 2026: −38% year-on-year.

» Cumulative fishmeal production, Q1 2026: −28% relative to Q1 2025.

» Cumulative fish oil production, Q1 2026: −12% year-on-year.

Fish oil production demonstrated greater resilience relative to fishmeal, supported by comparatively stable output from Denmark/Norway and Spain. Nevertheless, both ingredients remain structurally undersupplied relative to global aquafeed demand. Current fishmeal spot prices have reached USD 2,500/mt (Perú Broker, May 2026), representing a historic high and an approximate 25% increase over 2023-2024 El Niño-affected levels, as previously reported by Mordor Intelligence (2026).

IFFO’s Market Research Director, Enrico Bachis, contextualized the 2026 quota within biomass assessment parameters, noting that the TAC of 1,914 million mt is equivalent to an exploitation rate of 27% of the estimated anchovy biomass — a figure intended to remain within precautionary reference limits but offering little buffer against further environmental deterioration. The concurrent imposition of spatial fishing bans due to elevated juvenile incidence further constrains effective seasonal yield below the authorized TAC ceiling.

“Higher fishmeal and fish oil prices will add to production costs for aquaculture producers of carnivorous species such as salmon and shrimp.” — Audun Lem, Deputy Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture, FAO.

Impact on Ecuador’s Shrimp Aquafeed Industry

Ecuador is the world’s leading producer and exporter of farmed Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), with an industrial aquafeed sector whose formulation practices are critically dependent on Peruvian fishmeal and fish oil as high-digestibility protein and lipid sources. In 2025, Ecuador absorbed approximately 4.47% of Peru’s fishmeal FOB export value — equivalent to approximately USD 83.6 million — ranking it as the fourth-largest destination globally, after China, Germany, and Japan (Datasur, 2026).

The concentration of Ecuadorian aquafeed procurement in Peruvian-origin marine ingredients creates a specific vulnerability profile in the current supply disruption scenario. The primary operational consequences for Ecuadorian feed manufacturers include:

» Direct cost escalation: With fishmeal at USD 2,500/mt, feed — which can account for 50–60% of variable production costs in shrimp farming — becomes the principal margin compression vector across the value chain.

» Reformulation pressure: Supply constraints compel partial substitution of fishmeal with alternative protein sources, with potential consequences for feed conversion ratio (FCR), specific growth rate (SGR), and zootechnical performance depending on substitution levels and ingredient quality.

» Procurement risk: Operators with limited forward purchasing capacity or lower credit standing face constraints in securing adequate volumes of certified marine ingredients, particularly at a time when Chinese buyers — commanding 78.93% of Peru’s fishmeal exports — are competing for the same constrained supply.

» Export competitiveness: Sustained feed cost inflation erodes producer margins and can reduce Ecuador’s price competitiveness in key destination markets including China, the United States, and the European Union.

Impact on Chile’s Salmon Farming Sector

Chile ranks second globally in salmonid aquaculture production, with major integrated operators — including Mowi, Cermaq, Salmones Camanchaca, and AquaChile — whose feed procurement strategies are directly exposed to marine ingredient price volatility. Feed constitutes between 40% and 50% of total production costs in Chilean salmon farming, and fish oil remains an ingredient of limited substitutability given the industry’s obligation to deliver EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acid profiles demanded by premium export markets (FAIRR, 2026).

Chilean salmon producers have made notable progress in reducing fishmeal inclusion rates — with some operations reporting levels below 5% of total diet formulation through the deployment of micronutrient stacks and blended terrestrial animal proteins — but fish oil dependence has proven more persistent, given the absence of cost-competitive marine-origin omega-3 alternatives at the required scale.

The 38% year-on-year contraction in fishmeal production and 12% decline in fish oil output recorded in Q1 2026 by IFFO members therefore exerts material pressure on forward procurement positions and sustainability certification commitments across the Chilean salmon sector.

The FAIRR Initiative (2026) has highlighted that while the Chilean industry leads its global peers in reducing fishmeal and fish oil dependency ratios (FMFO-DR), cost escalation and supply disruptions translate into operational interruptions that have not been fully mitigated by existing ingredient diversification programs. The current crisis reinforces the urgency of accelerating the commercial validation and scaling of alternative marine omega-3 sources.

The Industry Response: Alternative Ingredients Under Commercial Scrutiny

The 2026 Peruvian anchovy crisis is acting as a catalyst for the accelerated commercial adoption of feed ingredients that have, until recently, been advancing incrementally through research and validation pipelines. The current market conditions transform these alternatives from optional diversification levers into operational necessities for feed manufacturers seeking to maintain formulation targets and cost containment.

Rendered terrestrial animal by-products: Scaling the industrial response

Rendered animal by-products from the poultry, swine, and bovine processing industries represent the highest-volume, most commercially accessible alternative protein and lipid category available to aquafeed manufacturers in the current supply disruption scenario.

The principal ingredients in this category include: Poultry By-product Meal (PBM), derived from heads, feet, viscera, blood, undeveloped eggs, and carcass trimmings; Meat and Bone Meal (MBM), a corendered product of bovine and porcine processing residues; blood meal; hydrolyzed feather meal; porcine and bovine fat (lard and tallow) as fish oil partial substitutes in lipid-supplemented diets; and porcine hemoglobin meal as a highly digestible, ironrich protein source.

The nutritional and zootechnical evidence base supporting the use of these ingredients in aquafeeds has strengthened substantially over the past decade. A feeding trial conducted at the Oceanic Institute demonstrated that high-quality fishmeal can be completely replaced by either MBM or PBM with little to no loss in growth performance (Global Seafood Alliance, 2020).

In rainbow trout and silver perch, total fishmeal replacement was achieved on a digestible nutrients basis through a multisource blend of MBM, PBM, blood meal, and hydrolyzed feather meal without compromising zootechnical outcomes, while simultaneously improving cost-effectiveness relative to single-source substitution strategies (GSA, 2024).

Among rendered animal proteins, PBM is distinguished by its compositional consistency and essential amino acid (EAA) digestibility profile, which of all non-marine animal proteins most closely approximates that of fishmeal.

Recent peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated its efficacy across a range of commercially relevant species: in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), broken-line regression analyses identified optimal PBM inclusion levels that maintained growth parity with fishmeal-based control diets (Yu et al., 2023, Animals); in Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout, dietary levels exceeding 30% PBM have been achieved without significant compromise of growth performance indicators (BMC Veterinary Research, 2025); and in Pacific white shrimp (L. vannamei), inclusion of 20–50% PBM as a partial fishmeal replacement has been validated across multiple experimental designs, provided that amino acid deficiencies are corrected through complementary blending or crystalline amino acid supplementation (Fishes, MDPI, 2025).

MBM derived from bovine and porcine slaughter by-products offers a cost advantage over PBM in many Latin American and North American markets, given the scale of beef and pork processing industries in countries such as Brazil, Argentina, the United States, and Mexico. Bovine and porcine fats (tallow and lard) can serve as partial lipid replacements for fish oil in diets for species with lower absolute requirements for long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), including tilapia, catfish, and certain shrimp production systems.

The key formulation principle across all rendered animal protein applications is multi-source blending: no single rendered ingredient replicates the full nutritional profile of fishmeal, but strategically proportioned combinations of PBM, MBM, blood meal, and feather meal can collectively meet species-specific EAA requirements while maintaining economic viability.

From a sustainability standpoint, the incorporation of rendered terrestrial animal by-products in aquafeeds carries a compelling circular economy rationale: it converts non-food-grade processing residues — which would otherwise require incineration, landfill disposal, or industrial composting — into high-nutritional-value aquafeed ingredients, thereby improving the overall ecological efficiency of integrated food production systems.

This circularity argument is increasingly relevant to aquaculture companies operating under ESG frameworks and sustainability certification requirements.

Ecuador imported approximately USD 83.G million in Peruvian fishmeal in 2025. At a spot price of USD 2,500/mt, each percentage point of unmet demand not covered by cost-eflective alternatives translates directly into structural cost increases for the world’s leading shrimp-producing nation.

Antarctic krill: High-impact inclusion at low dietary levels

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) occupies a functionally distinct category within the alternative ingredient landscape: it does not compete with fishmeal on a volume or cost basis, but delivers a uniquely dense nutritional and functional impact per unit of dietary inclusion. The primary commercial source of krill-based aquafeed ingredients is Aker QRILL Company, which has operated a certified krill fishery in the Southern Ocean’s Area 48 (Antarctic Peninsula) since 2006.

The fishery is managed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) under a precautionary eco-system-based management framework, with total catch limits set at less than 1% of the estimated 63 million metric tons biomass in Area 48 — one of the most conservatively managed fisheries globally (QRILL Aqua, 2025).

The principal QRILL product lines for aquafeed applications are QRILL Aqua (whole krill meal retaining the lipid fraction, including astaxanthin and phospholipid-bound omega-3 fatty acids) and QRILL High Protein (a defatted meal derived as a co-product of krill oil extraction, offering a higher protein concentration with reduced lipid content). A third ingredient, QRILL AstaOmega Oil, provides concentrated astaxanthin and EPA+DHA in a highly bioavailable phospholipid matrix.

The nutritional differentiation of krill meal relative to other marine and terrestrial protein sources rests on several documented mechanisms. First, krill omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) are predominantly bound to phospholipids rather than triglycerides, a structural characteristic associated with enhanced intestinal absorption and tissue deposition efficiency relative to fish oil-derived omega-3 in triglyceride form.

Second, krill meal contains intrinsic feeding stimulants — including free amino acids, nucleotides, and betaine-analogues — that function as potent feed attractants, improving palatability and voluntary feed intake in formulations with reduced or zero fishmeal inclusion. Third, astaxanthin, present naturally in QRILL Aqua, serves both as a pigmentation agent in salmonid flesh and as an antioxidant with documented immunomodulatory properties.

A review article authored by Kiranpreet Kaur (Director of Aquaculture R&D, Aker QRILL Company) and Silvia Torrecillas (Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology), published in the journal Aquaculture, systematically documented krill’s benefits across multiple farmed species.

The review confirmed that krill-supplemented diets enhance disease resistance, innate immunity, growth performance, feed conversion efficiency, and digestibility across a range of commercially important species including Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea), seabream, Atlantic halibut, and Pacific white shrimp (L. vannamei). Notably, in diets formulated with 20% PBM and no fishmeal, the inclusion of 3% krill meal significantly improved feed attractability, palatability, and growth performance in juvenile Litopenaeus stylirostris (ScienceDirect, 2025).

Studies in Atlantic salmon have additionally documented reduced cardiac pathology and mortality during viral infection episodes in animals fed krill meal-supplemented diets — a finding with direct relevance to disease management in intensive Chilean salmon farming.

The principal constraint on krill meal adoption is its cost premium relative to both fishmeal and rendered animal proteins. However, in the current market environment — with fishmeal spot prices at USD 2,500/mt — the price differential between krill and conventional marine ingredients has narrowed, potentially improving the cost-benefit calculus of low-inclusion krill supplementation (2–5% of diet) as a functional ingredient rather than a bulk protein source. This positions krill most competitively as an additive to plant- or rendered animal protein-based formulations where palatability enhancement and omega-3 delivery are required without the volumes that full fishmeal replacement would demand.

Poultry by-product meal, in combination with complementary rendered protein sources, can replace up to 100% of dietary fishmeal without growth performance losses when amino acid profiles are correctly balanced. Antarctic krill meal, at 3 – 5% inclusion, restores palatability and delivers phospholipid-bound omega-3 that terrestrial proteins cannot provide. The combination of both strategies represents the most nutritionally robust and commercially viable formulation response to the current Peruvian supply disruption.

The broader substitution ecosystem

Alongside rendered animal by-products and krill, the aquafeed industry has access to a growing ecosystem of alternative ingredients, each with distinct performance, scalability, and cost profiles:

» Insect meal (Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens): Protein content of 40–55% on a dry matter basis, favorable amino acid and lauric acid fatty acid profile for monogastric aquatic species, scalable industrial production infrastructure increasingly established in Europe, North America, and Asia.

» Single-cell protein (SCP) and microalgae: Emerging sources of EPA and DHA not derived from wild-capture fisheries, with several companies (including Nuseed, Veramaris, and DSM/Evonik joint ventures) operating at commercial scale in omega-3 algal oil production.

» Legume-based proteins (soybean meal, lupins, field peas): Cost-competitive in many geographies, but require processing to reduce antinutritional factor content, present lower digestibility for carnivorous species, and carry known risks of immune activation and intestinal enteritis in salmonids at high inclusion rates.

» Aquaculture processing by-products: Shrimp head meal, squid meal, salmon trimmings meal — circular, nutritionally valuable, and increasingly integrated into supply chain by-product valorization strategies.

The overarching formulation principle, endorsed by leading aquaculture nutritionists, is not full single-source substitution but the construction of intelligently blended multiprotein matrices that simultaneously optimize amino acid balance, lipid quality, palatability, digestibility, ingredient cost, local procurement logistics, and sustainability certification compliance. The variability in rendered product quality — while significantly improved relative to past decades — remains a factor requiring robust supplier qualification and proximate analysis programs at the feed mill level.

Peru’s 202G anchovy crisis is not an isolated event: it is a systemic reminder of the structural vulnerability inherent in a global aquafeed ingredient supply chain dependent on a single wild fishery and a single geographic region. Aquafeed manufacturers that accelerate the transition to multi-protein formulation matrices — integrating rendered animal by-products, Antarctic krill, and emerging alternative ingredients — will be structurally better positioned to manage the next climate-driven supply disruption, whenever it occurs.

Global Market Dynamics: Structural Pressures Across the Value Chain

The global fishmeal and fish oil market, valued at USD 8.8 billion in 2026, is projected to expand to USD 18.2 billion by 2036 at a compound annual growth rate of 7.5% (Future Market Insights, 2026). This growth trajectory, however, is occurring in a context of structurally constrained wild-capture supply, where increasing production is expected to derive primarily from improved by-product utilization from fisheries and aquaculture processing rather than from expanded reduction fisheries.

The 2026 Peruvian crisis crystallizes the long-recognized fragility of a global supply chain in which a single national fishery exercises disproportionate influence over global marine ingredient availability.

The current supply disruption is intensifying several preexisting structural market dynamics:

» Monopsony concentration risk: China absorbed 78.93% of Peru’s fishmeal FOB export value in 2025 (approximately USD 1.476 billion). This demand concentration from a single buyer creates persistent price and availability asymmetries for all other purchasing markets.

» Sustainability certification scarcity: The contraction in IFFO-RS and MSC-certified marine ingredient supply complicates sustainability commitments embedded in aquaculture certification standards (ASC, Global G.A.P.) and corporate ESG targets across the value chain.

» Purchasing power stratification: As Rabobank analysts have noted, available marine ingredients will tend to flow to buyers with the greatest procurement capital, creating asymmetric access risks for mid-sized and smaller feed manufacturers.

» Geographic diversification partial offset: Norway/Denmark and Spain demonstrated relative resilience in Q1 2026 fish oil production, but their combined output is insufficient to compensate for the Peruvian volume deficit at current global demand levels.

Rabobank and IFFO analysts have concurred that under current conditions, some sector of the omega-3 demand chain — aquaculture, human nutrition, pharmaceutical, or companion animal — will necessarily consume less marine-origin omega-3 in 2026 than in prior years. The market’s price signal will determine which sector absorbs the adjustment: historically, aquaculture’s cost discipline and vertical integration capabilities have given large-scale producers an advantage over other demand categories in maintaining access to certified marine ingredients under scarity conditions.

Forward Outlook and Strategic Recommendations

The near-term outlook for the Peruvian anchovy fishery remains subject to significant uncertainty. IMARPE will conduct a new biomass assessment following the expiry of the current suspension on June 10, 2026, the results of which will determine whether fishing operations can resume before the close of the first season.

The second North-Central season (November-February) constitutes the next critical supply milestone, but BCRP projections suggest it will also be adversely affected by FEN persistence.

In 2014, the last major Peruvian season cancellation, the fishery recovered rapidly in the following cycle; however, the multiseason, multi-driver nature of the current environmental disruption suggests a more protracted supply constraint scenario. For aquafeed manufacturers in Ecuador, Chile, and globally, the following strategic actions are indicated by current market conditions:

1.Forward procurement and supplier diversification: Secure forward supply contracts for both marine and terrestrial animal protein ingredients; qualify multiple supplier geographies for PBM and MBM to reduce single-origin dependency.

2. Ingredient substitution validation: Prioritize species-specific feeding trials to validate PBM, MBM, and combined rendered protein blends as partial or total fishmeal replacements, with rigorous amino acid balance modelling and digestibility data.

3. Krill meal integration assessment: Evaluate the economic and functional case for 2 – 5% krill meal inclusion as a palatability enhancer and phospholipid omega-3 carrier in reformulated diets with reduced marine ingredient inclusion.

4. Cost scenario modelling: Revise production cost models to stress-test sustained fishmeal prices above USD 2,000/mt over a 12 – 18-month horizon, incorporating the cost implications of alternative ingredient procurement and reformulation at scale.

5. Regulatory and scientific monitoring: maintain close observation of IMARPE stock assessment outcomes, ENFEN El Niño status reports, and PRODUCE regulatory decisions that will govern the accessibility of the 2026 second-season quota.

Conclusion

The convergence of a record-low catch quota, extended fishing suspensions, and fishmeal spot prices at historic highs in Peru’s 2026 anchovy season represents a significant stress test for the global aquafeed industry. The immediate commercial impact is concentrated in Ecuador’s shrimp feed sector and Chile’s salmon feed industry, but the supply shock radiates across every market that sources marine ingredients from Peruvian reduction fisheries.

The industry’s most resilient response will not be reactive procurement management alone, but the systematic acceleration of formulation strategies that reduce marine ingredient dependency: rendered terrestrial animal by-products at scale, strategic Antarctic krill inclusion for functional performance, and the construction of multi-source protein matrices that can absorb supply shocks without compromising zootechnical outcomes.

The question confronting feed manufacturers is not whether to pursue these transitions, but at what pace — and whether that pace will be sufficient for the next crisis. Aquaculture Magazine and Panorama Acuícola Magazine will continue to monitor the evolution of Peru’s anchovy fishery, global marine ingredient markets, and the commercialization of alternative feed ingredient strategies across the aquaculture supply chain.

References and sources consulted by Aquaculture Magazine and Panorama Acuícola Magazine Team on the elaboration of this article are available under previous request to our editorial staff.

Benchmark Genetics Norway Announces Collaboration with Nam Viet Corporation to Develop an Advanced Selective Breeding Program for Nile Tilapia in Vietnam

Edusehat — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:15:12 +0700

• The Vietnamese company, that holds both ASC and BAP certifications, is making a strategic transition from pangasius to meet evolving market demands and unlock new growth opportunities.

• The partnership has already reached a significant milestone with the successful establishment of an optimally structured base population.

Benchmark Genetics Norway (BGN) recently announced a long-term strategic collaboration with Nam Viet Corporation (NaViCo) to develop an advanced selective breeding program for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Vietnam. The partnership brings together NaViCo’s position as one of Vietnam’s largest aquaculture companies with the ambition to develop a fully integrated tilapia value chain, and BGN’s global expertise in designing and operating high-performance breeding programs for more than 30 aquaculture species.

“Our ambition is to position tilapia as a premium product and export from Vietnam, supported by a fully integrated and sustainable value chain,” said Doan Chi Thien, Chief Executive Officer at NaViCo. “Partnering with Benchmark Genetics ensures access to world-class technologies that enable us to deliver consistent product quality and meet growing market expectations.”

NaViCo is making a strategic transition from pangasius to tilapia to meet evolving market demands and unlock new growth opportunities. As one of the world’s largest concentrated aquaculture farming operations, NaViCo holds both ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) and BAP (Best Aquaculture Practices) certifications – two of the most rigorous global standards for responsible aquaculture. These achievements highlight the company’s long-standing commitment to quality, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.

It is important to say that the three representatives from NaViCo and Benchmark Genetics who have signed a collaborative strategic agreement were NaViCo’s CEO, Doãn Chí Thiên; Founder and Chairman of NaViCo, Doãn Tới; and by the Benchmark Genetics part, its Senior Geneticist, Trịnh Quốc Trọng.

Significant Milestone

As part of the collaboration, Benchmark Genetics will design and provide ongoing expert guidance and operational support for a state-of-the-art selective breeding program for Nile tilapia, applying proven genetic improvement strategies to enhance growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, and robustness — traits essential for cost-effective production and delivering premium tilapia to both domestic and international markets.

The partnership has already reached a significant milestone with the successful establishment of an optimally structured base population. This achievement marks the transition from program design to implementation and lays the groundwork for long-term genetic improvement. Building on this foundation, the partners are now preparing to integrate genomic selection to maximize genetic gain for survival, robustness, and other commercially important traits, positioning the program at the forefront of modern tilapia breeding and further strengthening NaViCo’s position as a leading global producer of high-quality seafood.

Combination of Skills

According to the information provided by the two companies, the program will be implemented in Vietnam, providing long-term value to NaViCo’s operations, its customers, and the broader tilapia sector in Southeast Asia. By combining NaViCo’s operational scale with Benchmark Genetics’ industry-leading genetics services, the partnership aims to set new industry benchmarks for quality, efficiency, and sustainability in tilapia farming.

“NaViCo is a forward-thinking partner with a bold vision for the future of tilapia farming in Vietnam,” said Morten Rye, Director of Genetics Services and International Strategies at Benchmark Genetics. “We are proud to contribute our global expertise in genetic improvement to support NaViCo’s ambitious goal and to help raise the standard for sustainable aquaculture in one of the world’s most important seafood-producing nations.”

Unlocking Better Biological and Commercial Performance

Benchmark Genetics is a global aquaculture genetics company dedicated to helping producers unlock better biological and commercial performance through genetic innovation. As a leading global supplier of Atlantic salmon eggs, they deliver high-performance genetics to aquaculture producers in more than 36 countries worldwide — serving both net-pen and land-based production systems.

Beyond egg supply, they offer advanced Genetics Services and Genotyping Services, combining decades of breeding expertise with cutting-edge genomic tools to create measurable value for aquaculture producers worldwide.

Headquartered in Bergen, Norway, Benchmark Genetics partners with aquaculture producers around the world to help shape the future of sustainable aquaculture. Their solutions support breeding program development, genomic selection, custom genotyping, cryopreservation, and data-driven performance improvement—helping customers enhance growth, robustness, health, welfare, and profitability.

NOAA Is Seeking Public Input on Where to Locate New Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in the United States

Edusehat — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:15:11 +0700

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Home (NOAA) from the United States (US) is seeking public input on where to focus while searching places to begin the process of identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOA). They are requesting relevant information on specific issues and areas they should consider for future Aquaculture Opportunity Areas. The deadline for comments is September 14, 2026.

According the definition they provided, Aquaculture Opportunity Areas are defined geographic areas that have been evaluated to determine their potential suitability for commercial aquaculture. The AOA identification process takes into account the potential environmental, economic, and social impacts of identifying AOAs and siting aquaculture in those locations drawing from extensive scientific review and analysis. Public input is critical to this process.

As part of the comment period, NOAA will also host three public listening sessions. The sessions will be in English and Spanish, they reported. They look for the citizens attend one of three public listening sessions or provide a written comment through to help inform where NOAA should focus on searching for Aquaculture Opportunity Areas.

The importance of the task relies on the fact that the United States imported an estimated USD 12 billion in farmed seafood in 2024, about half of the USD 25 billion in total seafood imports. “Aquaculture creates jobs, uplifts coastal economies, and complements wild-capture fisheries. It provides healthy and sustainable seafood to American families—bolstering domestic food security,” members of NOAA highlighted.

Many Ways to Help

According the information they released they are requesting data, comments, views, information, analysis, or suggestions from the public to support the identification of AOAs in US waters. Specifically, they are interested in learning from this input about regions of the country where NOAA should consider analyzing for potential Aquaculture Opportunity Areas; the types of aquacultures these areas may or may not support; or water depths and distances from shore that should be considered.

Other interesting data are locations where the presence of aquaculture gear may overlap with areas used by fishing operations and other commercial users; locations where aquaculture gear may overlap with protected species like whales, dolphins, and sea turtles; areas that may be important for subsistence harvest or other cultural resources; and areas that may be important for outdoor recreation or conserving natural resources.

Past and Ongoing

In 2020, NOAA sought input on regions to begin searching for Aquaculture Opportunity Areas. California and the Gulf of America (previously Mexico) were selected as the first regions for focused evaluation. In 2025, they completed this process by identifying 13 areas in the Gulf and off Southern California totaling more than 21,000 acres in federal waters as Aquaculture Opportunity Areas.

As this work supports Executive Order 13921 on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth, they are also working to identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska state waters. In February 2026, the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science published an Atlas identifying 77 options, ranging from 50 to 2,000 acres, for Aquaculture Opportunity Area identification across 10 study areas in Gulf of Alaska state waters.

The citizens interested in providing information can submit comments through the Federal Register via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. They can visit https://www.regulations.gov and type NOAA–NMFS–2026–2179.

Products and Services to Support Economic Vitality

Let’s remember that, from daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings, and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product.

NOAA’s dedicated scientists use cutting-edge research and high-tech instrumentation to provide citizens, planners, emergency managers and other decision makers with reliable information they need, when they need it.

Antarctic Krill Fishery Set to Close This Week, as Precautionary Management Measures Take Effect

Edusehat — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:15:10 +0700

By: Aker QRILL Company

Aker QRILL Company is concluding its 2026 Antarctic krill fishing season this week, with vessels ceasing fishing and preparing to leave the fishing grounds. The fisheries close when the precautionary harvest limit set by CCAMLR is reached, demonstrating that the management system is working as intended.

The season has continued later than in 2025, when the Area 48 krill fishery closed on 1 August after reaching the 620,000-tonne harvest limit. In 2026, fishing activity was spread across CCAMLR Subareas 48.1 and 48.2, with vessels operating on multiple fishing grounds. Vessels operated across a geographic range of about 1,000 kilometers, roughly the distance from Oslo to Paris, spanning CCAMLR’s Subareas 48.1 and 48.2.

Nearly 90 percent of catches in the Antarctic Peninsula were taken after 1 April, outside the penguin breeding season. Since 2019, Aker and the broader krill industry have voluntarily closed around 74,000 square kilometers of buffer zones around penguin colonies for fishing between 1 October and 15 March.

“Where fishing takes place is an important part of how the krill fishery should be managed,” said Webjørn Barstad, CEO of Aker QRILL Company. “This season provides another useful real-world evidence that the fishery can operate across a wide geographical area, and the closing proves that the system works. We will use that experience as CCAMLR develops the next generation of krill management.”

A Small and Well-Managed Fishery in a Large Ecosystem

The closure comes weeks after the FAO, the UN’s food and agriculture body, named the Antarctic fishing areas a “global benchmark for precautionary, ecosystem-based fisheries management” in its 2026 State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report. All 15 stocks assessed in the region, including krill, were rated 100 percent biologically sustainable, the highest share of any fishing area covered by the report.

The Antarctic krill fishery remains one of the most tightly regulated fisheries in the world. Around 11 krill vessels operated during the 2026 season across CCAMLR’s Area 48, a management area covering approximately 3.5 million square kilometers. The current 620,000-tonne trigger level represents around 11 % of CCAMLR’s precautionary catch limit of 5.61 million tonnes for Area 48 and less than one percent of the approximately 63 million tons of krill biomass estimated by the 2019 CCAMLR synoptic survey.

Aker QRILL Company believes in developing the Antarctic krill as a responsibly managed marine resource, particularly at a time when global supplies of traditional marine ingredients are increasingly constrained. Global aquaculture production has grown substantially, while the underlying supply of fishmeal and fish oil has remained largely flat. In 2026, production from key fisheries supplying certified marine ingredients is running particularly low. Further development needs to go hand in hand with stronger conservation.

Building Better Management

Aker QRILL Company supports the establishment of the proposed Domain 1 Marine Protected Area of approximately 455,000 km² around the Antarctic Peninsula. The company also supports a modernized Krill Fishery Management Approach that distributes catches across smaller management units and adapts fishing activity over space and time.

Experience from the last two seasons shows why both elements matter and that the fisheries do not always return to the same places. In 2025, fishing activity increased in Subarea 48.1. In 2026, the fishery expanded its use of areas north, central, and south of Bransfield Strait, as well as north and central Gerlache Strait.

“The responsible solution moving forward should now be to build that distribution into the management system rather than relying on annual variations in krill abundance and fleet behavior. ” Barstad said. “That means protecting large and important areas while establishing a science-based management system for the areas where fishing can be further developed. These elements need to be considered together if the 27 members of CCAMLR are going to reach consensus.”

About Aker QRILL Company

Aker QRILL Company is a global frontrunner in sustainable krill-based ingredients, delivering high-performance nutrition to the aquaculture and pet food industries. With full control of the value chain from sustainable harvesting in Antarctica to advanced R&D, processing, and global sales, we are committed to driving innovation and impact. The company develops krill-based ingredients for aquaculture (QRILL Aqua), animal feed applications (QRILL Pet), and nutraceutical human health products.

Our headquarters are in Oslo, Norway, with regional offices across key markets including Bergen, Ålesund, France, India, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Chile, and Ecuador.

NC Chamber Foundation Releases New Research on North Carolina’s Maritime Assets and Supply Chain Competitiveness

Edusehat — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:15:09 +0700

By: NC Chamber Foundation

North Carolina’s maritime economy extends far beyond the ports of Wilmington and Morehead City. New analysis from the NC Chamber Foundation explores how the state’s broader maritime assets including inland waterways, working waterfronts, marine industries, ferry routes, coastal infrastructure, research institutions, and mariculture all support supply chain resilience and long-term economic competitiveness across North Carolina.

Released as part of the Foundation’s strategic supply chain assets research series, North Carolina’s Maritime Assets: Working Waterfronts, Waterways, and Supply Chain Competitiveness examines how maritime infrastructure supports business growth across industries ranging from manufacturing and defense to agriculture, energy, and logistics, while identifying opportunities to bolster North Carolina’s existing maritime economic ecosystem.

North Carolina’s Maritime Assets Working Waterfronts, Waterways, and Supply Chain Competitiveness

Key Takeaways

North Carolina’s robust maritime economy includes inland waterways, ferry routes, working waterfronts, marine industrial sites, boatbuilding and repair facilities, seafood and shellfish businesses, defense suppliers, coastal research institutions, and water-adjacent freight infrastructure. 
Maritime infrastructure creates value by helping businesses move freight, strengthen defense manufacturing, support seafood and aquaculture, maintain critical transportation connections, and enable major industrial and energy projects.
Many maritime assets already support established industries, while others present opportunities for future growth through targeted investment in workforce, industrial site infrastructure and inventory, channel maintenance, cold chain infrastructure, permitting, and capital.

Why It Matters

North Carolina’s maritime competitiveness depends on more than its ports. Strengthening the broader maritime ecosystem can improve supply chain resilience, expand industrial and defense capabilities, support seafood and marine manufacturing, strengthen coastal communities, and create new opportunities for economic growth. A supply chain-focused approach helps identify where investments in infrastructure, workforce, and industrial capacity can produce measurable business outcomes rather than simply expanding waterfront development. By viewing maritime assets as an integrated statewide ecosystem, North Carolina can better prioritize investments that improve competitiveness and support long-term economic development.

If you have questions about the report or are interested in engaging more on this topic, please reach out to NC Chamber Foundation Senior Director of Infrastructure Competitiveness Dana Magliola.

About the Series

North Carolina’s economic competitiveness depends on a complex network of transportation, logistics, industrial, and infrastructure assets that move goods and people, connect markets, and support business growth across every region of the state. As supply chains evolve and demand for efficient industrial production and freight movement increases, understanding how these systems function together is increasingly important for long-term economic planning.

As part of its ongoing research on North Carolina’s long-term infrastructure competitiveness, the NC Chamber Foundation is examining the state’s supply chain and logistics assets and how they support business growth. Read more here.

Cold Harvest and Aquaculture Canada Conference and Trade Shows Return This September, Co-Hosted by NAIA and AAC

Edusehat — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:15:08 +0700

By: NAIA

The Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA) will host its annual Cold Harvest Conference & Trade Show this September in St. John’s, delivered in partnership with the Aquaculture Association of Canada’s (AAC) flagship national conference – Aquaculture Canada. The event, which will be held at the Jag Hotel from September 15 – 17, will bring together leaders from industry, government, academia, and technology to advance innovation and growth across the aquaculture sector.

Cyr Couturier, President of AAC, said “The Aquaculture Association of Canada is extremely pleased to once again be co-hosting the premier national seafood farming conference and trade show in Canada, in partnership with NAIA,” while adding “we have a fantastic lineup of panelists and sessions on almost every aspect of seafood farming.”

The joint Cold Harvest / Aquaculture Canada program will feature technical sessions, keynote speakers, panels, and a large trade show representing the full value chain of aquaculture.

Hundreds of delegates from Canada, the United States, Europe, South America, and other regions are expected to attend. Those wishing to register can visit www.naia.ca.

About Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA)

NAIA is a member-based organization that represents the interests of seafood farmers and their suppliers in Newfoundland and Labrador. The organization advocates on behalf of the aquaculture sector and works with producers, suppliers, governments, and communities to advance sustainable aquaculture development and promote the economic and social value of aquaculture across the province.

About Aquaculture Association of Canada (AAC)

The AAC was established in 1984 with a mandate to foster the development of the Canadian aquaculture sector. Since 1985, it has delivered the national Aquaculture Canada conference and trade show in partnership with provincial or regional associations. The event brings industry, academia, and government stakeholders together to review innovations, science, and technology in Canadian aquaculture. Proceedings from the first 30 conferences are available free to the public at www.aquacultureassociation.ca.

German Ambassador to Chile Visits Ventisqueros and Learns About Its Salmon Farming Operations

Edusehat — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:15:07 +0700

By: Ventisqueros

Diplomat Susanne Fries-Gaier toured the company’s facilities in Puerto Montt and gained firsthand insight into part of its salmon farming operations, accompanied by representatives from Ventisqueros and the Honorary Consulate of Germany in Puerto Montt.

As part of her tour of southern Chile, German Ambassador Susanne Fries-Gaier visited Ventisqueros’ facilities together with Germany’s Honorary Consul in Puerto Montt, Thomas Frank Bollinger Folkerts. The delegation was welcomed by Francisco Bellolio, Transformation and People Manager, and José Miguel Lecaros, Process Manager at Ventisqueros.

The ambassador’s agenda included visits to various Chilean-German institutions and meetings with regional authorities. Against this backdrop, a visit to Ventisqueros, a company belonging to the Schörghuber Group, was scheduled, a connection that gave the meeting particular significance.

In this context, Fries-Gaier noted that “German companies investing here in Chile play an important role in our bilateral relations. It was a very productive trip, during which many ideas emerged on how to further deepen our ties.”

The meeting provided an opportunity to share with the German delegation some of the challenges and opportunities facing Chile’s salmon industry, as well as Ventisqueros’ role as a German-owned company operating and creating value in southern Chile.

During the visit, the ambassador and honorary consul learned more about Ventisqueros’ operations, where they observed the use of technology and the standards applied throughout different stages of salmon production for international markets.

“For Ventisqueros, it is very valuable to welcome representatives from Germany and show them firsthand how we work from southern Chile. As part of the Schörghuber Group, we have close ties with Germany, which are also reflected in a long-term vision based on excellence, innovation and sustainable development,” Bellolio said.

The meeting helped strengthen ties between Germany and Chile while creating an opportunity for dialogue on productive development and new avenues for collaboration between the two countries.

dsm-firmenich  Animal Nutrition & Health Releases Updated Digital Salmofan™ Color Measurement Tool for Trout

Edusehat — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:15:06 +0700

By: dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health

dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health, a global leader in sustainable animal nutrition solutions, has today announced an update to their innovative Digital SalmoFan software, adding a new algorithm designed to accurately measure trout fillet color for partners across the entire value chain.

The Digital SalmoFan is a user-friendly, portable device that measures the color of salmon and trout fillets using a numeric scoring system. This latest innovation builds upon the existing SalmoFan and SalmoFan Lineal, which are widely used in the global salmon industry for fillet cooler measurement. This also brings globally recognized cooler metrics into the digital era.

Following success, the Digital SalmoFan has already gained traction throughout the salmon and trout industry, including feed producers, farmers, processors, and research institutions. Leading companies within the aquaculture industry, such as Skretting Group, MOWI UK, and UniNord University, have successfully integrated the Digital SalmoFan into their quality and R&D initiatives – highlighting dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health‘s commitment as the industry leader in color measurement solutions.

Dr Louise Buttle, Global Key Account Manager Aquaculture for dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health says: “’We are committed to coupling innovative, high-quality products with cutting-edge digital services that drive efficiency and precision across the value chain. The updated Digital SalmoFan reflects this commitment, enabling the aquaculture industry to maximize the value of color, providing a credible reference point, helping to unlock greater value and optimize performance at every stage.”

The updated software now allows users to select between salmon or trout species, ensuring consistent color measurements anywhere, without light interference. This advancement provides an efficient and innovative method for gathering, storing and sharing data from objective and precise color measurements.

To learn more about the Digital SalmoFan and other color measurement tools, please follow the link here.

About dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health

In 2024, dsm-firmenich shared its plan to find a new owner for the Animal Nutrition & Health (ANH) business, including vitamins. ANH, a dsm-firmenich company, is a global leader in animal nutrition and health, as well as vitamins, carotenoids, and aroma ingredients. ANH is an innovation leader and increased its sales to USD 3.85 billion with a team of more than 7,800 people, driven by its strong purpose: feeding the planet without costing the earth. Together, we make it possible.

www.dsm-firmenich.com/anh

Sashimi Revolution in China Accelerates Growth Opportunities for Imported Salmon

Edusehat — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:15:05 +0700

By: Norwegian Seafood Council

Sashimi rules the salmon category in China, according to NSC research, offering an opening for salmon imports

Ahead of World Seafood Shanghai (WSS), taking place from 26–28 August, the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) has pinpointed sashimi as a key opportunity in China’s rapidly expanding salmon market. This is being driven by rising in-home consumption, fast delivery services and the parallel growth of factories providing sashimi-grade salmon to meet demand.

NSC’s Seafood Trends 2026: The China Report takes a deeper dive into the surge in consumption of seafood in China and the trends influencing how consumers discover, purchase and consume it – helping to drive the market’s accelerated growth.

Post-Covid Consumption Shift

China’s imported salmon category grew 50% in 2025. Alongside this growth, one of the biggest changes in how salmon is consumed has been the post-Covid shift towards in-home consumption, particularly of sashimi.

Online retail and delivery services have helped enable this shift. Consumers can order freshly prepared sashimi from sashimi-certified factories and specialized fresh cut sashimi stores, where salmon is sliced on demand before being dispatched for delivery.

The growth of fresh cut stores and factories approved to prepare sashimi-grade salmon is helping supply keep pace with demand. This availability is no longer limited to China’s largest cities, with consumers in tier-two and tier-three cities increasingly able to access the same quality and convenience.

According to NSC Country Director for China Sigmund Bjørgo: “I’ve experienced first-hand how effectively China’s delivery network serves the sashimi market. Salmon ordered to my apartment can arrive within 25 minutes, carefully packaged and in excellent condition.

“That combination of speed and care helps preserve the quality and freshness consumers expect from Norwegian salmon. It makes sashimi easier to enjoy at home and means the product can arrive as fresh as if consumers had bought it themselves at the supermarket.”

Sigmund Bjorgo (Photo credits: Haugen Media).

Salmon: An Affordable Luxury

Salmon sashimi dominates China’s raw fish category – according to NSC data*, about 25% of Chinese seafood consumers in Tier 1 cities report that they eat salmon sashimi once a week or more frequently.

Bjørgo explains: “In China, salmon equals sashimi – full stop. There isn’t even much focus on sushi. That is a small slice of the salmon category; it really is mainly sashimi.”

The popularity of raw, expertly sliced salmon in China is particularly pertinent when compared with the global average of 13% for weekly sashimi consumption*. The average in this case is influenced by high percentages in many Asian markets.

Before the pandemic, salmon sashimi in China was largely associated with Japanese restaurants, with consumers less accustomed to buying raw fish to eat at home or preparing it themselves. The subsequent growth in home consumption has helped sashimi become a more established part of the shopping basket.

Salmon is considered an affordable luxury in China, combining premium appeal with the convenience of an at-home treat.

Affluence is the biggest enabler of seafood consumption in China, where the middle class has grown from around 300,000 people in 2000 to 184 million today – creating a growing audience for higher-value seafood.

Rather than diluting its premium positioning, greater accessibility is enabling more consumers to incorporate salmon sashimi into the traditional Chinese meal of multiple shared dishes.

Freshness Is a Key Driver

In 2025, China emerged as the market with the highest value growth for Norwegian seafood, with an increase in export value of NOK 2.9 billion (USD 0.31 billion) (31%) compared with the previous year. China purchased Norwegian seafood totaling NOK 12.3 billion (USD 1.32 billion) and climbed from being the sixth largest market in 2024 to the third largest market in 2025.

Looking at salmon consumption in particular, and the development from 2024 to 2025, China also comes out on top with the most growth compared to the other top salmon markets.

(Source: NSC, Chinese Salmon Market 2026).

Although Norwegian salmon is cold-chain reliant, the fact that it is favoured as a premium product by China’s rising middle class provides further evidence that it arrives fresh – and is trusted by consumers.

According to NSC Consumer Analyst Lars Moksness: “Through this new research, we’ve gained powerful new understanding of what influences the Chinese consumer. Our findings show that when purchasing seafood, freshness is a key driver, including cost. Consumers are looking for premium-grade seafood, especially when it comes to salmon sashimi – and Norwegian salmon offers the quality they are looking for.”

With China’s middle class continuing to expand and demand for premium seafood gathering pace, the appetite for Norwegian salmon shows no signs of slowing. Looking at the newest development, the Chinese salmon import increased 43 % in first half of 2026, on top of the 50 % for the full year of 2025. In other words, there’s no indication that the trend will stop anytime soon.

As sashimi moves firmly into the mainstream and consumers increasingly prioritise freshness, quality and convenience, Norway is well placed to serve China’s growing taste for premium salmon sashimi.

The NSC and nine companies from the Norwegian seafood industry are present at the Norwegian Seafood Pavilion at World Seafood Shanghai (WSS) from 26–28 August. Before the trade show, there will be a salmon consumers focus group as well as a sashimi taste test among chefs. The China 9th Global Salmon Industry Summit, the largest salmon seminar in China, were also held on Wednesday 26 August. The seminar is organized by the trade media Seafood Guide, where NSC is co-organizer.

Seafood Trends 2026: The China Report (Norwegian Seafood Council, April 2026)

Chinese Salmon Market 2026 (NSC, Sigmund Bjørgo, April 2026)

* NSC Global Tracker 2026, result from 20 global markets

About the Norwegian Seafood Council 

The NSC is headquartered in Tromsø and maintains local representatives in some of Norway’s most important international markets. The Norwegian seafood industry finances the activities of the NSC via a tariff on all Norwegian seafood exports. The NSC is a public company owned by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries. 

Smart Aquaculture: The Point of No Return

Edusehat — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 07:20:06 +0700

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence is driving a profound structural transformation that leaves no room for a passive stance within the industry. To understand how the use of data, digital infrastructure, and systemic integration are indispensable for leading the sector into the future, it is essential to analyze the point of noreturn toward Smart Aquaculture by combining FAO guidelines with the Aquaculture 4.0 approach.

* By Antonio Garza de Yta

Transforming our thought processes and behaviors, and embracing novel approaches that deviate from long-standing practices, stands as one of the most significant challenges of our era. The advent of artificial intelligence is not a gradual process; it is a paradigm shift. It is transforming entire systems at a pace that leaves no room for passivity.

The issue at hand is not one of whether we wish to adapt, but rather the speed at which we implement these changes. In that sense, most have already taken the first step, but those who haven’t yet must accelerate their efforts, as remaining static is tantamount to regression. It is important to note that this change no longer differentiates between large and small organizations; all entities are being evaluated using a new standard.

The advent of artificial intelligence is a paradigm shift transforming entire systems at a pace that leaves no room for passivity. This change no longer differentiates between large and small organizations; all entities are being evaluated using a new standard.

In this context, the FAO has been the subject of frequent criticism, much of it focused on an alleged lack of agility or a vision rooted in the past. However, a thorough review of the proposal for the Global Conference on Smart Agriculture reveals a different approach. The conversation is progressing as it should—toward implementation, not just rhetoric. In a sector that has traditionally been resistant to change, this is a significant achievement.

The FAO Global Conference (July 1–3, 2026) is based on a clear premise: data, digitalization, and technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and precision agriculture are no longer mere addons; they are the operational foundation of modern agrifood systems. The focus should be on the technology’s potential to enhance decision-making, optimize resource utilization, and address the challenges of productivity, sustainability, and climate variability in a systematic manner.

Data, digitalization, and technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and precision agriculture are the operational foundation of modern agri-food systems. The focus remains on enhancing decision-making, optimizing resource utilization, and systematically addressing climate variability.

In practice, the discussion shifts from isolated solutions to a focus on systems. Digital infrastructure, data governance, extension services, and investment models are all interconnected. This approach aligns directly with the discussions held in Aquaculture 4.0, where infrastructure, data, and integration were identified as the pillars for transforming our operations and, above all, forging trust with external stakeholders. It is important to note that inclusion is not merely a matter of policy; it is an essential structural requirement. Small-scale producers, young people, and women are not on the sidelines of this transition — they are at its very heart. True scale is unattainable without them.

It was a privilege to take part in this forum as a speaker. The event’s importance, as well as the opportunity it presents to observe how other sectors are addressing similar challenges and how aquaculture can accelerate its adoption and scaling up, made it particularly noteworthy. It is not always a lack of technology; it is often a lack of alignment and execution.

The discussion shifts from isolated solutions to a focus on integrated systems. This approach aligns directly with Aquaculture 4.0, where digital infrastructure, data governance, and integration were identified as the pillars for transforming operations and forging trust.

In contrast, I would like to share my experience at the recent WAS global event in Singapore. Beyond individual efforts, the event high-lighted a model that is clearly falling behind. While this format may have been effective 20 years ago, it no longer aligns with the industry’s current dynamics, whether in terms of content, structure, or the value it offers to participants. This is particularly concerning when we consider that WAS continues to have one of the world’s most extensive professional networks — an asset that is currently underutilized compared to other events that have better understood where the sector is headed and how to harness that energy.

Inclusion is an essential structural requirement in this digital transition. Small-scale producers, young people, and women are not on the sidelines — they are at its very heart. True industrial scale is completely unattainable without them.

I have full confidence in the new leadership team of Foluke Areola and Luis Andrés González Agraz, as they have the vision and capacity to drive the necessary structural changes. This will not be a superficial adjustment; rather, it will be a fundamental shift in mindset. As an industry, it is essential that we support this process, not through criticism but through active participation.

Ultimately, this decision does not hinge on a question of whether to implement change. The objective is to reach the destination first, to execute efficiently, and to avoid being left behind. Aquaculture is a rapidly expanding industry. The only question is which side you will be on.

Observing how other sectors address similar challenges reveals how aquaculture can accelerate its adoption and scaling up. The core challenge is not always a lack of technology; it is often a critical lack of strategic alignment and execution.

* Antonio Garza de Yta is Vice President of the International Center for Strategic Studies in Aquaculture (CIDEEA), President of Aquaculture Without Frontiers (AwF), Past President of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS), Former Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Tamaulipas, Mexico, and Creator of the Certification for Aquaculture Professionals (CAP) Program with Auburn University.

Global Shrimp Council’s First Consumer Pop-Up Inspires 4,000+ Guests to Enjoy “Shrimp More Often”

Edusehat — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 06:15:06 +0700

By: Global Shrimp Council

The four-day Venice Beach activation brought The Happy Protein to life, using food, experiences and happiness to encourage consumers to discover more ways — and more occasions — to enjoy shrimp.

The Global Shrimp Council (GSC) successfully concluded its first-ever consumer pop-up experience in Venice Beach, welcoming more than 4,000 guests over four days and marking an important milestone in its mission to inspire consumers to eat Shrimp More Often.

Held from August 6–9, the activation transformed The Happy Protein from a campaign message into a real-world experience through shrimp tastings, chef demonstrations, interactive activities and entertainment.

At the heart of the activation was a simple idea: increasing shrimp consumption is not only about telling consumers why shrimp is good for them. It is also about creating more reasons, formats and occasions to choose it.

The response was strong both on-site and online. Guests actively participated in the experience, interacted with the mascot “Happy” and shared their moments across social media. The activation generated more than 40,000 social media views, attracted hundreds of new followers and inspired dozens of tagged photos and videos.

The Pop-Up also provided valuable consumer insights. Jessica Rodríguez, GSC’s Marketing Strategist, identified children and families as an influential audience, revealing an opportunity the Council has not yet fully explored. Shrimp fried rice and empanadas were particularly popular among younger visitors, showing how familiar, easy-to-enjoy formats can help introduce shrimp to new audiences and consumption occasions.

The experience also challenged assumptions about American consumers’ openness to less familiar flavors. A shrimp dish prepared by Chef Dumas, presented as “cooked in lime juice” and featuring fresh citrus and spicy notes, was enthusiastically received — suggesting consumers may be more adventurous than expected when shrimp is presented in an approachable way.

These learnings reinforce the idea behind Shrimp More Often: growing the category means expanding the audiences, formats and occasions in which people choose shrimp. And throughout the entire experience, one feeling consistently connected everything:

Happiness

“For a long time, we have talked about growing shrimp consumption through health, protein, nutrition, convenience, taste and versatility. In Venice Beach, we took that conversation one step further: we gave people new ways to experience shrimp and new reasons to choose it more often,” said Gabriel Luna, Co-Founder of the Global Shrimp Council.

“If we can connect shrimp with happy moments, sharing, discovery and enjoyment, we can create more occasions for consumers to bring shrimp into their lives. That is how Shrimp More Often becomes more than a message — it becomes a behavior.”

None of this would have been possible without the companies that stood behind this vision: our GSC members and our 2026 campaign sponsors, whose belief and support helped make the Venice Beach Pop-Up a reality. Together with the GSC team, agency partner Hopscotch, volunteers and families, they brought the experience to life through commitment, collaboration and a shared ambition for the category.

This milestone belongs to all of them, and we extend our deepest gratitude for their support.

As the Global Shrimp Council continues to grow, so does our invitation to the wider shrimp industry. Growing the category is a collective effort, and our doors are open to companies that share the ambition of creating a stronger, more connected future for shrimp.

The Venice Beach Pop-Up provides the Global Shrimp Council with a strong foundation to continue creating new consumption occasions, reaching new audiences and building stronger emotional connections with consumers.

We welcome everyone who wants to help write the next chapter of Shrimp More Often.

The Happy Protein created a happy moment.

Shrimp More Often is about creating many more.

Integrating Anaerobic Digestion in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

Edusehat — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:25:05 +0700

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) have become popular due to their compact and manageable size. Compared to traditional net pens in open waters, RAS allow operators to rear fish at high densities in indoor tanks in a more biosecure manner.

One of the biggest benefits of RAS is lower water consumption, as it can recirculate and recycle 90-99% of the water, making it a sustainable aquaculture option. Though they offer several benefits compared to traditional aquaculture systems, they are not without their flaws.

According to Dr. Abhinav Choudhury, Environmental Research Engineer with The Conservation Fund (TCF) Freshwater Institute, one of the biggest challenges to RAS is waste management. While the collection and removal in itself is not necessarily difficult, the challenge lies in what RAS farmers do with that waste.

40,000-gallon Growout tank (left) and radial flow settler (right) for waste solids removal at the Freshwater Institute. (Credit: Sam Levitan / The Conservation Fund)

Waste Removal in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

Culture tank design is an important consideration to prevent the build-up of solids. Once removed from the tanks, mechanical filtration systems, such as drum filters, can separate most of the solid waste particulates.

Regardless of how the waste is removed, the process results in a backwash rich in organic matter and nutrients. Massive volumes of this discharge can be generated on a daily basis.

“Many RAS producers consider this a concentrated stream, but from an engineer’s perspective, it is actually quite dilute, with a high moisture content,” shares Choudhury.

The next step to treatment is dewatering—or reducing the volume of waste that needs to be treated and/or disposed of.

Anaerobic digester setup at the Freshwater Institute. (Credit: Abhinav Choudhury / The Conservation Fund)

The Freshwater Institute relies on gravity thickening settlers, which raise the dry matter content of the wastewater from roughly 0.1–0.5% up to about 10%.

“To put those numbers into perspective, a 1,000-metric-ton fish farm could produce 800 metric tons of backwash every single day. After dewatering, that drops to 8 metric tons of sludge at 10% solids. That still sounds like a lot, but it is 99% less than what the farm started with,” explains Abhinav.

Even with the reduced volume, the waste still needs to be dealt with daily. After dewatering, farmers are ultimately left with a highly concentrated waste stream that needs to be treated or disposed of, as it can lead to the eutrophication of local water bodies if it’s discharged untreated.

“This is exactly where my work comes in: investigating technologies that allow RAS farmers to generate revenue from this waste, instead of paying someone else to dispose of it,” Choudhury introduces.

He’s explored composting of aquaculture waste to produce a sellable fertilizer and is currently investigating energy generation through anaerobic digestion.

Abhinav Choudhury collecting data on the composting of aquaculture sludge. (Credit: Kata Sharrer / The Conservation Fund)

Anaerobic Digestion: Creating Energy out of Waste

Choudhury has been trialing a pilot-scale anaerobic digestion system at the institute since 2025. The digester tank, constructed from fiberglass, is partially underground and sealed with a geomembrane liner to maintain anaerobic conditions.

The system is designed to keep the digester’s waste level constant, releasing the digested effluent whenever raw waste is added.

“We expect to maintain a hydraulic retention time of 20-25 days during regular operation. The digester temperature is maintained using a shell-and-tube heat exchanger.

The recirculation system pumps wastewater through the heat exchanger at regular intervals to keep the solids mixed and the temperature within the optimal range of 35-38 ℃, to keep the microorganisms happy,” explains Choudhury.

Inside the digester, microorganisms break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen, producing a mixture of gases (biogas)—including methane, carbon dioxide, traces of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and water vapor.

The biogas is continuously measured and stored in inflatable bladders, which can be used as needed for energy production. “The methane content in the biogas can vary between 50–75%, making this product highly energy-dense,” adds Choudhury.

Inflatable bladders containing biogas generated from the anaerobic digestion of aquaculture waste. (Credit: Abhinav Choudhury / The Conservation Fund)

Additional Benefits and Possible Drawbacks

In addition to energy generation, the anaerobic process also creates a stabilized digestate byproduct rich in dissolved nutrients that can be used as fertilizer on land. There is also a substantial reduction in the pathogen load in raw wastewater after digestion.

Another benefit is the reduction of offensive odors. The closed anaerobic system prevents the release of toxic gases and odors.

While seemingly a minor issue, offensive odors and toxic gases generated in open waste treatment systems can prevent the acceptance and implementation of aquaculture at a broader scale.

There is also the possibility of the anaerobic digester being used for other waste removal and processing, including food/organic waste from other sources. “This prevents the food waste from going to a landfill and increases the digester’s energy production potential,” notes Choudhury.

Abhinav Choudhury analyzing aquaculture sludge characteristics data. (Credit: Kata Sharrer / The Conservation Fund)

Even with these benefits, Choudhury notes that there are potential drawbacks as well. One of which is that, even though there is a substantial reduction in solids, the actual volume of the digested effluent and its nutrient content remain roughly the same.

Another possible drawback stems from having nowhere to dispose of the digestate. While land application is the most common management form, without access to land, disposal may be challenging and may require more expensive treatment methods to reduce its nutrient load and eutrophication potential.

Third, the microorganisms in the tank are most effective at 35 ℃, making it a less accessible and efficient option for colder climates, as “a substantial fraction of the generated energy may need to be returned to the digester to maintain optimal process performance,” explains Choudhury.

According to Choudhury, the biggest challenge, however, tends to be the capital cost of highly engineered large-scale anaerobic digestion systems, which limits their economic feasibility for smaller farms.

“However, addressing these issues is part of ongoing research in this area,” he adds.

Boiler setup for supplying heat to maintain the digester temperature at optimal levels. (Credit: Abhinav Choudhury / The Conservation Fund)

Initial Testing of the Anaerobic Digester

As of April 2026, the digester was equipped with a control panel that automates the process. Since then, the team has been testing the system’s capabilities and troubleshooting operational challenges.

“Our goal is to optimize all the components of the anaerobic digestion system by 2027, so that we can start running our planned experiments at that time,” explains Choudhury.

He continues, “Our goal for this research cycle is to optimize digester operating conditions for aquaculture waste, identify and address inhibitory conditions (if they arise), and investigate changes in the microbial community over long-term operation.”

Sourced from a digester that processes protein- and fat-containing food waste and dairy manure as feedstocks, the inoculum (microbial source) appears to be handling the aquaculture waste well.

“As aquaculture waste, specifically salmonid waste, contains high levels of fat and protein, it was likely that the microorganisms could easily adapt to this new feedstock, and they did,” explains Choudhury.

The suited inoculum enabled the digester to achieve the highest methane concentration obtainable (75%) in the biogas from aquaculture waste.

High methane concentrations indicate the presence of fats in the feedstock and suggest that the inoculum is acclimated to these conditions; however, high fat concentrations can also lead to inhibitory conditions, according to Choudhury.

He continues, “It will be interesting to see how more concentrated aquaculture waste affects process efficiency and biogas production.”

Semi-commercial scale recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) at the Freshwater Institute. (Credit: Kata Sharrer and Scott Tsukuda / The Conservation Fund)

Scaling up Operations

Dr. Choudhury has been working on this project for 6 years, progressing from lab scale to pilot scale. Seeing the system work at a large scale at the institute has been particularly rewarding, he shares.

“Coming from a lab-scale research background, the project was quite overwhelming at the beginning, as it has so many moving parts and safety considerations. But thanks to my supervisors, colleagues, and support staff, we were able to get the system up and running, while also doing our best to ensure operator safety,” explains Choudhury.

He continues, “There are always new challenges that come up, but having a supportive team at the Freshwater Institute who are as invested as I am in making sure this project succeeds has been the real highlight.”

The post Integrating Anaerobic Digestion in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems appeared first on FishSens Magazine.

Analysis of Sustainability Differences Among Various Shrimp Farming Models: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Edusehat — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 11:25:06 +0700

By Aquaculture Magazine Editorial Team

Shrimp farming faces the challenge of increasing productivity while reducing environmental impacts. This study demonstrates that production model and farming technology strongly influence economic, ecological, and social performance, highlighting integrated multitrophic aquaculture and recirculating systems as the most promising strategies for achieving long-term sustainability, resource efficiency, and resilient shrimp production.

Shrimp farming plays a vital role in global aquaculture by supplying high-quality protein, strengthening food security, supporting local economies, and generating income for millions of producers. As one of the fastest-growing sectors of aquaculture, shrimp production has expanded rapidly in recent decades. However, this growth has also increased concerns regarding environmental impacts, resource consumption, and the long-term sustainability of farming practices. Consequently, developing production systems that combine economic efficiency with environmental responsibility has become a major priority for the industry.

Several shrimp farming models have been developed to address these challenges. Indor Super Intensive Culture (ISIC) achieves very high production through intensive water management but requires substantial water use, continuous aeration, and high energy consumption. Indoor Super Intensive Recirculating Culture (ISIRC) reduces water consumption and pollution by recycling and treating culture water through mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration processes.

Pond Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (PIMTA) achieves the highest overall sustainability score among shrimp farming models. By integrating multi-species production, it optimizes nutrient recycling, lowers pollution, enhances microbial diversity, and reduces long-term operational risks.

Meanwhile, Indoor Super Intensive Biofloc Culture (ISIBC) enhances water quality by adding carbon sources that stimulate beneficial microbial communities, converting waste nutrients into microbial protein that can be reused as natural feed. Traditional systems such as Pond Monoculture (PMC) remain widely used because of their low investment costs, whereas Pond Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (PIMTA) combines multiple aquatic species to recycle nutrients, improve resource efficiency, reduce waste, and increase farm profitability.

Despite the diversity of available production systems, comparing their overall sustainability remains difficult. Most previous studies have focused on individual aspects such as economic, ecological, and social benefits remain limited. Existing assessment methods often rely on subjective scoring or fail to capture the relative contribution of different sustainability indicators. To address these limitations, this study applies a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantitatively compare the comprehensive benefits of different shrimp farming models, providing a more objective framework for evaluating sustainability and supporting the future development of environmentally responsible and economically viable aquaculture systems.

Materials and Methods

A systematic literature was conducted using the Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases with keywords related to intensive aquaculture, shrimp farming, water quality, bioeconomy, social benefits, and integrated benefits. From 439 retrieved publications, 136 studies met the selection criteria and were included in the meta-analysis after data screening and extraction. Comprehensive, economic, ecological, and social benefits were treated as qualitative indicators.

Indicator selection was based on previous studies evaluating economic efficiency, production costs, profitability, water quality, environmental impacts, and sustainability. Economic indicators included fixed and variable costs and cost-benefit performance, whereas ecological indicators considered water quality parameters, nutrient pollution, carbon emissions, microbial diversity, and microplastic contamination. Social benefits, including employment generation and income creation, were incorporated alongside environmental and economic indicators to provide a comprehensive assessment of the sustainability of different shrimp farming models.

Results

The meta-analysis revealed significant differences in the economic, ecological, and social performance of the shrimp farming models evaluated. Comparisons among ISIC systems showed that the ISIC_Exchange and ISIC_Unknown models performed similarly, suggesting that many undefined ISIC systems likely rely on conventional water-exchange practices (Figure 1a). Compared with ISIC recirculation, the ISIC_Exchange model exhibited significantly lower ecological performance but higher social benefits, while economic performance remained similar (Figure 1b).

Relative to ISIC_Biofloc, ISIC_Exchange achieved better ecological performance but lower economic benefits, whereas social benefits showed no significant differences (Figure 1c). Compared with traditional PMC and PIMTA systems, ISIC_ Exchange generally showed lower ecological performance while maintaining similar economic and social outcomes (Figures 1d-e).

Indoor Super Intensive Recirculating Culture (ISIRC) consistently delivers superior ecological performance over traditional water-exchange methods. Biological filtration processes effectively treat culture water, remove nitrogenous wastes, and reduce pollutant discharge into local ecosystems.

The ISIC Unknown model followed similar trends displaying lower ecological performance than ISIC_Recirculation, PMC, and PIMTA, as well as lower economic performance than ISIC_Biofloc, although most social indicators did not differ significantly (Figures 1f-i). In contrast, ISIC_Recirculation consistently demonstrated superior ecological performance compared with ISIC_Biofloc and PMC, together with improved social benefits over Biofloc systems, while economic differences remained limited (Figures 1j-l).

Among intensive production systems, ISIC_Biofloc produced the highest economic benefits, outperforming both PMC and PIMTA, but its ecological performance was significantly lower than those systems. Likewise, PIMTA consistently exhibited the highest ecological performance among all farming models, significantly surpassing PMC (Figure 1o).

Overall, the analysis confirmed that farming model selection has a significant influence on the comprehensive sustainability of shrimp production, although substantial variability among studies indicates that local conditions strongly affect outcomes (Figure 1). Several key indicators were identified as major drivers of sustainability differences. Ecological performance was primarily influenced by total solids (TS), microbial diversity (Simpson index), ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), and microplastic contamination (MPS). Social performance was largely determined by food production capacity, while land rent was identified as the economic indicator with the greatest influence on overall benefits.

Comparisons among production technologies further highlighted important differences. The PIMTA model achieved the highest overall sustainability score, followed by ISIC Recirculation, whereas conventional ISIC systems, biofloc technology, and traditional production methods showed lower comprehensive benefit scores. However, when comparing intensive, semiintensive, and extensive pond systems, intensive farming generated greater pollutant emissions but achieved higher overall benefits due to substantially greater shrimp yields.

Indoor Super Intensive Biofloc Culture (ISIBC) yields high economic returns by converting waste nutrients into consumable microbial protein. However, its overall ecological performance remains significantly lower than multi-trophic and recirculating farming systems.

Finally, the study evaluated how environmental variables modify sustainability performance. Survival rate (SR), pH, and dissolved oxygen (DO) significantly influenced the comprehensive benefits of different farming models. Sustainability improved as survival increase up to approximately 68.4% after which additional gains became less influential. Higher pH values reduced differences among production systems, whereas higher dissolved oxygen concentrations increased the performance differences between farming models. Together, these findings demonstrate that both farming technology and water quality conditions play critical roles in determining the overall sustainability of shrimp aquaculture.

Discussion

The study compares shrimp farming models and technologies to determine which provide the greatest overall economic, ecological, and social benefits. Among the production models, PIMTA achieve the highest comprehensive performance due to its balanced profitability, environmental sustainability, and resilience.

By integrating multiple species such as shrimp, shellfish, and other aquatic organisms, PIMTA improves nutrient recycling, reduces pollution, enhances microbial diversity, promotes carbon sequestration, and lowers production risks. Although intensive systems may generate high short-term profits, PIMTA offers superior long-term sustainability.

Key ecological drivers influencing sustainability scores include total solids, ammonia nitrogen, microbial diversity, and microplastic contamination. Additionally, water quality parameters like dissolved oxygen, pH, and survival rates strongly modify overall farming benefits.

The ISIC model ranked second, providing strong economic returns through high-density production but suffering from higher nutrient emissions, wastewater generation, and environmental impacts. The PMC model, based on traditional monoculture, showed the lowest overall performance.

Among farming technologies, biological hierarchy technology delivered the best results by efficiently recycling nutrients, improving ecological balance, and increasing profitability. Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) also performed well because they effectively reduce pollutants and maintain water quality through biological filtration, although their high energy demand increases carbon emissions. In contrast, water exchange systems, traditional farming and biofloc technology demonstrated lower comprehensive benefits due to greater pollutant emissions, high energy requirements, carbon outputs, and operational costs.

Land rent and feed costs are primary economic drivers impacting farm profitability. On the social level, food production capacity directly governs community benefits, balancing financial returns with local food security goals.

Comparisons within intensive systems showed that recirculation technology provides better ecological performance than water exchange, while water exchange contributes more to social benefits through higher production. Biofloc systems can improve shrimp survival and profitability but still face environmental and operational challenges.

The study also identifies key factors influencing overall performance, including feed costs, electricity consumption, product conformity, total solids, microbial diversity, survival rate, dissolved oxygen, and pH. Future improvements should focus on optimizing multispecies farming, reducing carbon emissions, improving wastewater treatment, adopting renewable energy, and integrating advanced ecological technologies. Overall, the findings indicate that combining environmental sustainability with economic efficiency is essential for achieving long-term resilience and sustainable shrimp aquaculture.

Future improvements should focus on optimizing multi-species farming, reducing carbon emissions, improving wastewater treatment, adopting renewable energy, and integrating advanced ecological technologies.

Conclusion

The study concludes that the PIM-TA model using biological hierarchy technology provides the highest overall economic, ecological, and social benefits, followed by the ISIC recirculation system, while the traditional PMC model performs the worst. Among intensive systems, recirculation offers the best environmental performance, whereas water exchange contributes more to social benefits. Feed, energy use, product compliance, microbial diversity, and water quality are key factors influencing outcomes. Dynamic models that predict water quality and disease risk could optimize farming strategies, improve efficiency, and support the long-term sustainability and resilience of shrimp aquaculture.

This is a summarized version developed by the editorial team of Aquaculture Magazine based on the review article titled “ANALYSIS OF SUSTAINABILITY DIFFERENCES AMONG VARIOUS SHRIMP FARMING MODELS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META ANALYSIS)” developed by: WANG, Y. – Ocean University of China, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences and Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center; CHEN, Z., WANG, J., CHANG, Z., ZHANG, S., MENG, G. & LI, J. – Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences and Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center. The original article, including tables and figures, was published on JANUARY, 2026, through SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. The full version can be accessed online through this link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34072-6

Innovafeed to Present Breakthrough Scientific Findings in Insect-Based Nutrition at Aquaculture Europe 2026 in Ljubljana

Edusehat — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 10:15:11 +0700

Innovafeed, a global leader in the production of insect-based ingredients for animal and plant nutrition, announced today its participation in Aquaculture Europe 2026, taking place from September 29 to October 1 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The company’s multidisciplinary team of experts will showcase cutting-edge research on Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) larval meal, highlighting its biochemical properties, functional gut health benefits, and palatability performance in aquaculture species.

As the global aquaculture industry seeks sustainable, high-performance alternatives to traditional marine proteins, Innovafeed continues to pioneer evidence-based solutions that enhance aquatic health while reducing environmental impact. At this year’s conference, company representatives will deliver three scientific abstract presentations on Wednesday, September 30, offering critical data on larval meal applications and transparent science communication in the industrial sector.

Scientific Sessions & Abstract Highlights

Innovafeed’s research team will lead two technical sessions focused on functional nutrition and one session on industry communication standards:

1. “Palatability of Black Soldier Fly Larval Meal in Penaeus vannamei: A Biochemical and In Vivo Comparison with Squid Meal”

Session: Nutrition – Functional Ingredients 1 | Presenters: Luca Donati & Dr. Marine Bezagu

This presentation evaluates the biochemical attractant profile of Black Soldier Fly larval meal compared to traditional squid meal, detailing in vivo trial results on feed intake and palatability responses in Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei).

2. “Beyond Protein: Hermetia illucens-Based Ingredients as Functional Performance and Gut Health Drivers for Fish”

Session: Nutrition – Functional Ingredients 1 | Presenters: Dr. Marine Bezagu & Fabio Zanuzo (Onda)

Developed in collaboration with Contract Research Organization (CRO) partner Onda, this scientific presentation explores the bioactive properties of insect ingredients that promote gut integrity, biome resilience, and overall immunological performance in finfish beyond standard crude protein metrics.

3. “Communicating Science from Industry: Building Trust, Avoiding Bias, and Creating Genuine Engagement”

Session: Communicating Science | Presenter: Nadège Audiffren

Addressing the critical bridge between commercial research and public perception, this talk examines framework strategies for delivering transparent, unbiased scientific data to foster stakeholder trust and foster authentic engagement across the sustainable food chain.

Multidisciplinary Delegation in Attendance

Innovafeed’s presence in Ljubljana brings together specialists spanning research and development, performance engineering, commercial strategy, and corporate communications. Conference delegates, industry partners, and media representatives are invited to meet directly with the attending leadership team:

Marine Bezagu, PhD

Head of Product Development, Aquaculture

Luca Donati

Product Performance Engineer

Elodie Petit

Animal Nutrition Sales Director

Nadège Audiffren

Head of Global Communications

Throughout the three-day summit, Innovafeed’s team will be available for technical discussions, strategic commercial inquiries, and collaborative research planning, demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to driving sustainable innovation across European and global aquaculture markets.

About Innovafeed

Innovafeed is a biotech company and a leading producer of insect-based ingredients (Hermetia illucens) for animal and plant nutrition. By breeding insects at an industrial scale through an innovative circular economy model, Innovafeed provides sustainable, high-quality, and high-performance nutritional solutions for aquaculture, livestock, pet food, and agriculture, contributing to a more resilient global food system.

Media Contact & Meeting Scheduling:

Nadège Audiffren – Head of Global Communications Innovafeed Communications Team

Event: Aquaculture Europe 2026 (Ljubljana, Slovenia)

Dates: September 29 – October 1, 2026

Troutlodge stands out at WCGALP 2026 with a presentation on advances in trout genetics

Edusehat — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 10:15:10 +0700

By: Troutlodge

The Salmonids Business Unit of Hendrix Genetics had a notable participation at the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production (WCGALP), held July 11–17 in Madison, Wisconsin—one of the most influential scientific events in animal‑production genetics. More than 20 members of the Hendrix Genetics team attended the congress, representing various Business Units.

Research Presented by Dr. Katharina Correa

In the Aquaculture session, Dr. Katharina Correa, geneticist in the Salmonids Business Unit and part of the team supporting Troutlodge operations in Chile, presented the study: “Accounting for Different Ploidy Levels in Trout Genetic Evaluations in a Commercial Breeding Program”.

The work was developed in collaboration with specialists from Hendrix Genetics/Troutlodge and Wageningen University & Research.

Relevance for the Trout Industry

The research addresses a key challenge in genetic improvement programs: how to integrate phenotypic data from triploid fish into the genetic evaluation of diploid broodstock.

Triploids—fish with three sets of chromosomes—are widely used in the industry due to their performance and sterility, which reduces environmental risks. However, incorporating their information into commercial genetic models has been complex.

The study proposes a methodology applicable to breeding programs that enables:

Improved selection accuracy for broodstock.
Integration of triploid data without distorting evaluations.
Optimized genetic progress in key production traits.

This advancement directly strengthens the competitiveness and sustainability of rainbow trout production.

Commitment to Innovation

Dr. Correa’s participation in WCGALP reinforces the commitment of Hendrix Genetics and Troutlodge to applied research and the development of genetic solutions that drive global aquaculture forward.

The article is available in the official WCGALP repository, where congress publications are hosted: “Accounting for Different Ploidy Levels in Trout Genetic Evaluations in a Commercial Breeding Program”

Read the article: Bink | Accounting for Different Ploidy Levels in Trout Genetic Evaluations in a Commercial Breeding Program | World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive

German Biotech AquaNab Targets a USD 4 Billion Salmon Farming Problem with Nanoantibody Technology – Secures Funding to Combat Global Sea Lice Challenge

Edusehat — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 10:15:09 +0700

By: AquaNab

With sea lice costing the aquaculture industry an estimated USD 4 billion annually, the Hamburg-based company has developed AquaNabs, a first-of-its-kind nanoantibody treatment, delivered through fish feed, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical and mechanical delousing.

AquaNab, a Hamburg-based biotechnology company, is developing precision nanoantibody technology to treat and prevent sea lice, one of the costliest and most persistent challenges facing salmon farming. The company, backed by Nordic Foodtech VC from Finland, is the first in the world to apply alpaca-derived nanoantibodies through fish feed, with research demonstrating that the nanoantibodies called AquaNabs can cross the fish’s intestinal barrier and enter its bloodstream.

This breakthrough comes as the food industry seeks more sustainable ways to feed a growing global population. Sea lice cost the aquaculture industry an estimated USD 4 billion annually in treatment costs, lost production, and fish mortality.

Beyond the economic toll, sea lice pose environmental and animal welfare challenges, raising concerns about chemical runoff, the health of surrounding waters, and the impact of mechanical and chemical delousing methods on fish welfare. As scrutiny from regulators, retailers, and consumers intensifies, producers are seeking more effective, sustainable alternatives.

“Animal welfare and fish health remain the biggest challenges facing sustainable aquaculture, and producers need better tools to protect it,” said CEO Dr. Ruth Tamara Montero, an experienced fish immunologist with a PhD from Germany’s Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut.

“Sea lice is just the start. Right now, producers are stuck choosing between costly, stressful treatments and losses from the parasite itself. We want to give them a way out of that cycle, one that protects their fish, their business, and helps secure the future of food.”

The company’s first product is being developed for Atlantic salmon, but the platform is designed to be adapted to bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases across multiple aquaculture species.

Dr. Alejandro Rojas Fernandez, co-founder of AquaNab.

AquaNab has secured an investment from Nordic Foodtech VC, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on solving the hardest problems in food and agriculture, to support the development of its technology. AquaNab represents the first investment outside the Nordics for the venture capital.

Mika Kukkurainen, Partner at Nordic Foodtech, said, “AquaNab has the potential to transform not only how disease is managed in aquaculture, but how we think about health and resilience across food production. By turning advanced nanoantibody science into a practical, feed-based solution, the team is creating a pathway from breakthrough biotechnology to measurable outcomes in farming: lower losses, healthier animals, and greater efficiency. This is the kind of technology that can reshape an industry.”

AquaNab was co-founded by Dr. Ruth Tamara Montero, Dr. Alejandro Rojas Fernandez, and Gunnar Johildarson in Hamburg with a mission to transform aquaculture through robust, low-cost, and sustainable precision immuno-therapeutics. The science behind AquaNab builds on internationally recognized expertise in nanoantibody development. Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Alejandro Rojas was among the first researchers globally to develop neutralizing nanoantibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses.

Gunnar Johildarson, co-founder of AquaNab

AquaNab is advancing its lead program towards finalizing proof of concept while expanding collaborations with salmon producers, feed manufacturers, and animal health companies. The company is currently seeking additional investment to accelerate development of its nanoantibody platform and bring its first products to market.

About AquaNab

AquaNab is a Hamburg-based biotechnology company developing nanoantibody-based precision therapeutics for aquaculture. Founded in 2023, the company combines expertise in immunology, biotechnology and fish health to create sustainable alternatives to conventional parasite and disease treatments. Its platform is designed to improve fish welfare, reduce reliance on harsh chemical treatments and antibiotics, and help producers protect their bio-capital while building a more resilient and sustainable aquaculture industry. For more information, visit https://aquanabs.de/

Global Salmon Initiative Publishes Latest Sustainability Report, Expanding Transparency in Feed Sourcing with Three New Metrics

Edusehat — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 10:15:09 +0700

By: Global Salmon Initiative

The Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) published its latest Sustainability Report, marking 13 consecutive years of transparent, aligned reporting on the environmental and social performance of its farmed salmon members. The report covers 11 farming member companies across Canada, Chile, Norway and Tasmania – providing the largest industry-wide data set publicly available.

For the first time, the report includes three new feed metrics: marine ingredients derived from trimmings, inclusion of novel ingredients, and the percentage of low-risk soy used in feed, as well as an expanded metric on the use of new non-medicinal technologies for sea lice management. Together, these additional metrics help provide a clearer baseline of feed evolution, monitor progress, and mobilize collective action to demonstrate continued advancement year on year.

“Responsible feed sourcing is one of the most important ways to reduce aquaculture’s environmental footprint, said Taylor Voorhees, Global Aquaculture Director, The Nature Conservancy. “While the sector has made meaningful gains, progress has not always been easy to track at the necessary level of detail. By introducing these new metrics, GSI members are demonstrating their commitment to sustainability in feed sourcing and providing a clearer picture of improvements across the industry.”

By incorporating these metrics to its long-running, public reporting platform, GSI is building on its common evidence base for improved dialogue, accountability, and continued improvement across the sector to strengthen its role in providing nutrient-rich, sustainable food.

“Aquaculture has an important role to play in building nutritious food systems that provide food security and climate benefits, but its contribution must be backed by robust evidence. Transparent and consistent reporting helps move discussions beyond perceptions and allows progress to be assessed against clear metrics over time.

Initiatives such as GSI’s sustainability reporting can contribute to greater accountability and help stakeholders better understand where improvements are being made and where further effort is needed” added Tom Pickerell, Global Director, Ocean Program, World Resources Institute (WRI).

Key findings from this year’s report include:

68% reduction in average antibiotic use for salmonids since 2013, including a 22% reduction in the last five years alone. GSI members continue to reduce antibiotic use through improved holistic fish health management and advanced best-practices.

79% reduction in the average use of combined medicinal sea lice treatments since 2013. A result of significant investment in non-medicinal approaches to sea lice management and farm innovations, which are now also reported on in their own metric showing percentage of farms using non-medicinal strategies.

Since 2013, a 64% decrease in average fishmeal use and a 31% decrease in average fish oil use. A reflection of continued improvements in feed efficiencies and ingredient utilization

65% of members’ production is ASC-certified. Calculated as an average across total production, it highlights that almost two-thirds of all GSI production meets the leading global certification program for responsible farmed seafood.

21,600+ employees worldwide. Farmed salmon continues to be a major employer in coastal regions. This year, GSI members also expanded their reporting on employment, providing data broken down by age, gender, and employment type. This gives a clearer picture of salmon farming’s contribution to regional employment and community development.

Together, these findings point to a common thread across this year’s report: that measurable progress is built on transparent, consistent data and collective action.

While the report shows the industry’s overall trajectory continuing in the right direction, GSI members are clear that there is more work ahead.

“There is no hiding from the data,” said Sophie Ryan, CEO, GSI. “Every metric in this report – from feed sourcing to antibiotic use, to how many people we employ – exists so we can see clearly where we’ve made progress and where we still have work to do. This year’s new and expanded metrics give us, and our stakeholders, a more complete picture of how our members our performing and where our collective efforts are driving improvements and that’s the kind of data driven progress GSI was built to deliver.”

Alongside company data, the report also highlights farmed salmon’s role in global food systems both from an environmental and nutrition outlook.

“Aquaculture, including farmed salmon, has an important role to play in global food systems,” said João Campari, Global Leader, Food & Agriculture Practice, WWF International. “But like the broader food system, change is needed to bend the curve of biodiversity loss and the lack of green infrastructure that often underpins development in local landscapes and seascapes. What GSI and the results of this Report show us is that pre-competitive collaboration among producers, feed manufacturers, and external partners is what drives change at the speed and scale our planet needs.”

GSI members are committed to farming salmon that is raised to be better, for people and planet, by using transparent reporting to measure progress, foster collaboration, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

The full 2025 Sustainability Report, including company-level data deep dive, and a dedicated section on farmed salmon’s role in sustainable food systems is available now at: globalsalmoninitiative.org/en/our-progress/sustainability-report.

ABOUT GSI

For further information on GSI, please visit or contact us at:

Website – www.globalsalmoninitiative.org
LinkedIn – Global Salmon Initiative
Instagram – @GSI_Salmon
X – @GSI_Salmon

The FeedTech Division of the Canadian Company Onda Achieves FeedAssure Certification

Edusehat — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 10:15:08 +0700

• They also informed about a partnership with Innovafeed to investigate the antibacterial potential of insect-derived protein

• The organization maintains one of the most extensive proprietary libraries of aquaculture pathogens in the industry

The Canadian company Onda announced some days ago that its FeedTech Division has officially achieved FeedAssure certification, a significant milestone that recognizes the division’s commitment to rigorous quality management, feed safety, and operational excellence. After a year-long process to achieve this certification, they said, “Onda’s FeedTech operations are very proud to be nationally recognized for best practices for feed production and quality assurance. Having the official certification awarded to our FeedTech Division highlights Onda’s continued commitment to quality in everything they do”.

“Innovation in animal nutrition is essential to strengthening the global food supply chain,” said Myrna Gillis, CEO of Onda. “FeedAssure certification expands our ability to support feed companies and ingredient suppliers as a small-batch-to-scale contract manufacturer. We can manufacture custom research and commercial diets, evaluate innovative ingredients under real-world conditions, and help clients move promising products toward commercial markets around the world,” she added.

FeedAssure is the feed industry’s recognized certification program for demonstrating compliance with strict standards related to ingredient sourcing, manufacturing controls, traceability, sanitation, documentation, and continuous improvement.

Important Advantages

The certification process involved extensive cross-functional collaboration between FeedTech operations, quality assurance, technical staff, and management teams. Team members participated in detailed process reviews, training initiatives, internal audits, and corrective action implementation to ensure full alignment with FeedAssure requirements.

For Onda’s clients, the certification provides several important advantages such as enhanced confidence in feed trial integrity, improved traceability and documentation, reduced operational risk and greater assurance for commercial-scale ingredient evaluations and product development programs.

Commercial and Custom Experimental Diets

According them, as a contract research organization serving the global aquaculture industry, Onda’s FeedTech Division produces both commercial diets and custom experimental diets with the ability to conduct a variety of aquatic animal research studies for feed manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, and aquaculture producers. FeedAssure certification strengthens Onda’s ability to support clients with data generated under a recognized quality framework, helping accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative feed solutions.

“The foundational requirements were already in place from our GLP and GMP programs. These shared processes coupled with the specific manufacturing, Feed Fraud, Feed Defense and HACCP programs made FeedAssure a perfect fit for Onda” said Catherine Albert, Quality Director at Onda.

Ingredient Abilities

After breaking the news, the Canadian company informed that they recently partnered with Innovafeed to investigate the antibacterial potential of insect-derived protein. They will evaluate the antibacterial activity of Black Soldier Fly larvae (BSFL)-derived ingredient against key aquaculture pathogens.

The primary goal of this study was to determine whether Innovafeed’s BSFL ingredient demonstrated direct antibacterial activity against bacterial pathogens relevant to aquaculture production. Specifically, the study evaluated the ingredient’s ability to inhibit bacterial growth and its potential to reduce the overall bacterial burden across multiple bacterial species impacting key aquaculture sectors.

To accomplish this, the protein ingredient was screened at multiple concentrations against a panel of aquaculture pathogens using Onda’s established in-vitro testing platform.

Innovafeed chose Onda because the company maintains one of the most extensive proprietary libraries of aquaculture pathogens in the industry, enabling clients to rapidly evaluate functional ingredients against bacteria relevant to commercial production systems.

For Innovafeed, this capability offered several advantages, including access to a diverse panel of aquaculture pathogens and the ability to perform controlled in-vitro screening prior to more expensive in-vivo trials to control budgets and guide investment planning in continued research.

As the aquaculture industry seeks alternatives to traditional protein sources such as fish meal and soy, Innovafeed has focused on developing insect derived ingredients that support farming performance, animal health and environmental sustainability. Beyond nutritional value, recent research suggests these ingredients may also be seen as functional ingredients, contributing among other aspects to improved gut health and immune function in a variety of aquaculture species.

Aker QRILL Company Joins Sustainable Shrimp Partnership, Strengthening Its Commitment to Shrimp Industry

Edusehat — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 10:15:07 +0700

By: Aker QRILL Company

Aker QRILL Company, a producer and supplier of krill meal and krill oil—innovative ingredients with unique nutritional properties—has announced its membership in the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP), the leading alliance of producers and companies committed to the sustainable and responsible development of the shrimp industry.

Aker QRILL Company’s incorporation into SSP reflects the company’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and collaboration across the shrimp value chain. Through this membership, the company aims to strengthen its presence in Ecuador while actively contributing to the continued development of an increasingly efficient, transparent, and sustainable shrimp industry.

As a supplier of innovative marine ingredients for aquaculture nutrition, Aker QRILL Company shares SSP’s vision of promoting responsible practices that enhance the industry’s competitiveness while creating value for producers, consumers, and local communities.

“We are very pleased to become part of this organization. Although we have collaborated on several initiatives in the past and have closely followed the important work SSP has carried out to strengthen Ecuador’s shrimp industry, we are excited to officially join this initiative and take on a more active role both within SSP and across the industry as a whole,” said Webjørn Barstad, CEO of Aker QRILL Company.

“We want to contribute our expertise, knowledge, and innovative capabilities to support the sustainable growth of the industry. We are delighted to join SSP and to actively participate in the various activities and initiatives it promotes for the benefit of the sector,” added Xavier Zurita, Commercial Manager Ecuador at Aker QRILL Company.

Xavier Zurita, Commercial Manager Ecuador at Aker QRILL Company.

As part of this new stage of collaboration, Aker QRILL Company will participate in the technical, educational, and promotional activities led by SSP, contributing to knowledge exchange and the advancement of best practices throughout Ecuador’s shrimp industry.

This commitment to knowledge exchange was recently reflected in Aker QRILL Company’s participation in SustainED 2026, held on July 29 and organized by the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) and the National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA). Xavier Zurita, Commercial Manager Ecuador at Aker QRILL Company, participated as a featured speaker in the event “Decisions that drive better results: Nutrition, ingredients, and new solutions for more efficient shrimp production,” where he presented “Alternative marine ingredients in the new normality.”

His presentation addressed the role of alternative marine ingredients in building more resilient supply chains and enabling more efficient and sustainable shrimp production. The event brought together key stakeholders and customers from Ecuador’s shrimp industry, reinforcing Aker QRILL Company’s contribution to the conversation on the future of sustainable aquaculture.

The company also reaffirms its commitment to providing Ecuadorian shrimp producers with innovative and sustainable nutritional ingredients designed to support animal health, production efficiency, and the sustainability of modern aquaculture.

Pamela Nath, Director of SSP, added: “We are delighted to welcome Aker QRILL Company to SSP. Their expertise in marine ingredients will bring new ideas and knowledge that will enrich the discussions we foster with our members, helping us continue to identify opportunities to strengthen the sustainability of shrimp aquaculture.”

About Aker QRILL Company

Aker QRILL Company is a global leader in the development of innovative nutritional ingredients derived from Antarctic krill. Through its QRILL portfolio, the company delivers science-backed, sustainable solutions for aquaculture designed to improve production performance, animal health, and farming efficiency.

About Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP)

The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) is a group of leading companies committed to transforming the future of shrimp aquaculture. Pioneers in Ecuador, SSP members are dedicated to producing and promoting the highest-quality shrimp, raised according to the highest social and environmental standards through greater collaboration and transparency.

Norway’s Leading Producer Ode, First Company in the World to Achieve ASC Certification for Farmed Cod

Edusehat — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 06:35:06 +0700

• They worked closely with the Council over several years to develop the standard

• Days before, the company announced they made the operation profitable for the first time

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) opened for certification of Atlantic cod, in 2025, when cod was included in the revised ASC Salmon and Cod Standard v1.5. Now, the Norwegian company Ode become the first company to have completed a full audit and been awarded a certificate under the new standard. Ode, Norway’s leading cod producer, just obtained the most rigorous and widely recognized sustainability, quality and responsibility standard in aquaculture.

The importance of this achievement was highlighted by Ola Kvalheim, CEO of Ode, and not only for the wider cod industry but for the customers too. “This certification is a strong validation of Ode, the way we operate, and the products we provide our customers. Now consumers and the wider society can have even more trust in farmed cod being a high-quality sustainable product produced in a responsible manner,” said Kvalheim.

He also pointed to the fact that Ode has worked closely with ASC over several years to develop the standard. “ASC ensures that companies operate according to sustainable principles, prioritize animal welfare, and act in a socially responsible manner”, he assured.

The ASC certification is the most rigorous and widely recognized sustainability, quality and responsibility standard in aquaculture. This makes Ode the first cod producer in the world certified against the standard of the ASC.

Tough Requirements Across the Entire Operation

The ASC standard sets tough requirements across the entire operation, for both sea-based and land-based production: impact on the seabed and on water quality around the farms, containment and escape prevention, traceability of feed ingredients, fish health and fish welfare, working conditions and health and safety, and transparency towards local communities and authorities.

The audit covered both the environmental and the social principles of the standard and included interviews with employees at the sites and a review of documentation from the full production cycle.

“The team at Ode has been working on this for a long time, especially our operations and quality departments, who have developed the systems that enable us to document sustainable operations down to the smallest detail. A certification like this is something you must earn through documented sustainable and responsible operations,” said for his part Tor Olav Seim, Head of Strategy and Business Development at Ode.

Global Mega Trend

According to the company, the certification comes at a time of growing demand for demonstrably sustainable and responsible seafood. Wild fish populations are under pressure, and the United Nations states that significant growth in aquaculture is needed to meet the ever-growing demand. “Being part of this global mega trend, Ode is growing and supplying fresh cod year-round to a selection of customers globally”, they said in a press release.

“For several of the large retail chains and customers, ASC is not nice to have, but rather a table-stakes requirement for being on the shelf. Now we finally have that validation, and it opens doors we have been knocking on for a long time,” declared Anders Tofte Wilhelmsen, Commercial Director at Ode. For him, the certification carries a value that extends beyond any individual customer agreement.

And he finally added: “Farmed cod is a young, innovative and exciting industry, working in a professional, sustainable and responsible manner — and an independent certification body has now verified that. The fact that the product now comes with independent certification behind it strengthens the position of the entire category”.

Grew Revenue

Days before the announcement, the company reported that they grew revenue by 118.7% from NOK 401 million in 2024 to NOK 877 million (USD 91m / EUR 80m). EBITDA came in at NOK 109 million (USD 11m / EUR 10m), a margin of 12.4%, while the net result after tax of NOK 66 million (USD 7m / EUR 6m) corresponds to a net margin of 7.5%. According to them, several companies have farmed cod since the early 2000s, but Ode‘s 2025 accounts are the first to prove the business can be profitable.

“Although expected as part of our business plan, this is a major milestone for Ode, and I thank our employees, customers and partners for their contribution. Five years of significant investment in our organization, value chain and product offering — coupled with strong biology and consistently high quality — delivered both record revenue growth and profitability in 2025,” said the CEO of Ode.

Conceptual Foundations of the Water Footprint: Components, Scope, and Application in Water Management

Edusehat — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 05:25:06 +0700

* By Juan Diego Rodriguez Triana

In an era of global environmental strain, efficient resource management dictates aquaculture sustainability. Juan Diego Rodriguez Triana establishes the conceptual foundations of the aquaculture water footprint. By decomposing usage into blue, green, and gray components, this analytical framework maps direct farm consumption alongside indirect supply chain pressures, offering stakeholders a robust, lifecycle-based tool to maximize water-use efficiency and protect local watersheds.

In a global context marked by increasing pressure on water resources, efficient water management has become a determining factor for the sustainability of productive systems, especially in aquaculture.

This sector depends directly on the availability and quality of water resources, not only as the physical medium for cultivating aquatic organisms, but also as an element that conditions productivity, animal health, welfare, and the relationship between the production system and surrounding ecosystems. In this context, the water footprint emerges as a key indicator for understanding not only how much water is used, but also how, where, and with what impacts it is utilized throughout the value chain.

The application of the water footprint in aquaculture systems makes it possible to reveal dynamics that have traditionally been addressed only partially, such as water abstraction and recirculation, evaporation losses, effluent discharges, pollutant loads associated with farming activities, and the indirect use of water embedded in inputs such as feed, energy, and other materials required for production.

The water footprint quantifies freshwater volumes used per product unit or system. It is tied to virtual water, illustrating how trade implicitly transfers resource pressures from consuming territories to producing regions worldwide.

In this way, the analysis is not limited to the volume of water present in ponds, raceways, cages, or recirculating systems, but rather incorporates a broader perspective on the water pressures generated directly and indirectly by aquaculture activities.

This article establishes the conceptual foundations necessary to understand the water footprint as an analytical and management tool in aquaculture systems, addressing its main components, the distinction between direct and indirect water footprints, and the concept of virtual water.

Based on this approach, the aim is to provide a theoretical framework that facilitates the interpretation of results and supports decision-making processes aimed at improving water-use efficiency, reducing impacts on water bodies, and strengthening the environmental sustainability of a growing sector that is increasingly demanding in productive, sanitary, and environmental terms.

Water Footprint

The water footprint is an indicator that quantifies the volume of freshwater used to produce a good, provide a service, or sustain the consumption of a person, community, company, or country. Depending on the objective of the analysis, it may be expressed per unit of product, per hectare, per monetary unit, or for an entire system.

The concept is closely related to that of virtual water, understood as the volume of water incorporated directly and indirectly into the production of goods and services that are subsequently traded or consumed elsewhere. From this perspective, when a product is exchanged, the water required to produce it is also implicitly transferred.

The notion of virtual water was an important foundation for the subsequent development of the water footprint approach, as it highlighted how consumption and trade can shift water pressures from consuming territories to producing territories.

The blue footprint measures surface and groundwater consumption via evaporation or incorporation. Conversely, the green footprint tracks soil-stored rainwater evapotranspired by crops, reflecting indirect water use embedded in commercial aquaculture feeds.

However, the water footprint should not be interpreted solely as an isolated volumetric value. Its significance depends on the hydrological and territorial context in which water use occurs. The same volume may have very different implications depending on whether it is associated with a water-abundant basin or a region affected by scarcity, competition among users, or water quality degradation. Therefore, the water footprint is most useful when interpreted together with information on water availability, seasonality, resource quality, and ecosystem requirements.

Conceptually, this approach is divided into three main components: blue water footprint, green water footprint, and gray water footprint (Figure 1).

Blue water footprint

The blue water footprint corresponds to the consumption of freshwater originating from surface or groundwater bodies, that is, from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and aquifers, which does not return to the same basin at the same place and time, either because it evaporates, becomes incorporated into the product, is transferred to another basin, or returns at a time different from that required by the hydrological system (Figure 2). In aquaculture, this component mainly includes water used for pond filling and exchange, facility cleaning, hydraulic transport, and replacement of losses caused by evaporation or infiltration.

Evaporation is usually the dominant loss component, especially in extensive and semi-intensive aquaculture systems due to the large exposed surface areas. Nevertheless, all relevant loss mechanisms should be considered, including those associated with water transport, processing, and disposal.

In intensive aquaculture systems, reductions in the blue water footprint have been supported by technologies such as Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and Biofloc Technology (BFT), which significantly reduce water exchange through internal reuse. RAS employ mechanical and biological filtration processes to remove suspended solids and transform nitrogen compounds, while BFT systems rely on microbial communities to recycle nutrients and convert nitrogen into biomass that can be utilized by cultured organisms.

The gray water footprint represents the theoretical freshwater volume required to assimilate pollutant loads, such as ammonia, phosphorus, and biochemical oxygen demand, ensuring receiving water bodies maintain acceptable local quality standards.

From a productive perspective, the blue water footprint is the dimension most closely associated with physical water scarcity, allocation conflicts, and overexploitation of water sources. Its relevance, however, depends not only on the extracted volume but also on local water availability and the environmental requirements of the watershed.

A particular case is harvested rainwater: if it is collected and used before becoming runoff, it is generally accounted for as blue water footprint; if it remains in the soil and is used by vegetation, it corresponds to green water footprint. This distinction is important because it shows that the classification of the same resource depends not only on its origin, but also on how it is integrated into the production process.

Direct footprints quantify visible operational use within the aquaculture farm. Indirect footprints capture upstream supply chain impacts, including feed manufacturing, input processing, and energy production, demanding a comprehensive lifecycle assessment perspective.

Green water footprint

The green water footprint corresponds to the use of rainwater stored in the soil and available to plants, which is subsequently evapotranspired or incorporated into biomass (Figure 3). This component is particularly important in agricultural, forestry, and livestock systems that depend on soil moisture derived from precipitation.

Unlike the blue water footprint, the green footprint does not necessarily imply direct abstraction from rivers or aquifers, but it does represent the appropriation of water available within the territory to sustain biological production. In aquaculture, this appears as an indirect green water footprint associated with the production of agricultural ingredients used in balanced feeds, such as corn and soybeans, whose growth depends significantly on rainfall.

The incorporation of the green water footprint was a decisive contribution of the water footprint approach, as it broadened the traditional perspective focused solely on abstracted or artificially distributed water. Conceptually, it recognizes that a significant part of agricultural and livestock production depends on natural water flows that also possess ecological and productive value.

However, its interpretation requires caution, since the use of green water does not automatically imply the absence of impacts. Changes in land cover, soil management, or productive expansion may alter rainfall partitioning, infiltration, runoff, and other relevant ecological processes.

Gray water footprint

The gray water footprint represents the theoretical volume of freshwater required to assimilate a pollutant load until a specified water quality standard is met (Figure 4). It does not represent physically consumed water, but rather the volume needed to dilute or absorb pollutants so that the final concentration remains within acceptable limits. This component integrates the relationship between production and water quality deterioration, including both point-source discharges and diffuse inputs such as runoff or leaching.

In aquaculture, this component is closely related to the discharge of nutrients, organic matter, and suspended solids originating from uneaten feed, feces, nitrogenous metabolites, and products used in sanitary management. The main compounds associated with the gray water footprint include ammonia nitrogen, nitrites, nitrates, phosphorus, and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).

The gray water footprint depends directly on local conditions, since both natural concentrations and water quality standards may vary among watersheds and types of water bodies. For this reason, the same pollutant load may generate different gray water footprint values depending on the geographical context.

A value greater than zero for this parameter does not necessarily imply non-compliance with regulations, but rather indicates the use of part of the assimilative capacity of the system. However, when this indicator exceeds the water availability of the receiving body, it demonstrates that the pollutant load surpasses its dilution capacity.

Direct and Indirect Water Footprint

In addition to being analyzed according to its blue, green, and gray components, the water footprint can also be assessed according to the location within the value chain where water use or resource appropriation occurs. Under this approach, a distinction is made between direct and indirect water footprints, two complementary dimensions that allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the water dependency of aquaculture systems.

The direct water footprint corresponds to water used within the aquaculture production unit and associated with the system’s own operations, representing the visible and operational use of water resources within the aquaculture farm.

In contrast, the indirect water footprint comprises water used in upstream stages and throughout the aquaculture supply chain. In this case, the main contribution is generally related to the production of balanced feed, especially through the cultivation of agricultural raw materials, whose production incorporates significant volumes of water, particularly green water. Additionally, the indirect footprint includes water associated with the manufacturing of inputs, energy production, transportation, infrastructure, and other services required by the production system.

The true potential of water footprint metrics depends on local hydrological contexts. Assessing volumetric data alongside seasonal availability, resource quality, and ecosystem requirements helps operations improve efficiency and mitigate localized environmental impacts.

This distinction is particularly relevant in aquaculture because most water pressure does not occur at the visible point of consumption, but rather upstream in the production chain, particularly in feed manufacturing. Therefore, an analysis limited solely to direct consumption may considerably underestimate the system’s actual dependency on water resources and their associated impacts; consequently, a holistic assessment requires a life-cycle perspective rather than an operational on-site measurement.

Analytically, it is important to emphasize that the direct and indirect categories do not replace the blue, green, and gray categories. Rather, they are complementary dimensions. The first classification indicates the type of water used or the pressure generated; the second indicates at which stage of the value chain that appropriation or impact occurs. Thus, an indirect footprint may simultaneously include blue, green, and gray components, just as a direct footprint may (Figure 5).

Conclusion

The water footprint constitutes a comprehensive tool for understanding the relationship between aquaculture and water resources, enabling the simultaneous assessment of water consumption, appropriation, and pollution throughout the production chain. Its application in aquaculture systems is particularly relevant because water acts not only as an input, but also as the primary biological support for production.

The distinction between blue, green, and gray water footprints, as well as between direct and indirect footprints, provides a robust analytical framework for studying the water dependency of goods, services, and territories. However, its true potential emerges when these components are interpreted according to local context, water availability, water quality, and the ecological conditions of watersheds.

* Juan Diego Rodriguez Triana
Clima Soluciones SAS Coordinador
Phone: +57 3219782480
Bogotá, Colombia

Why Evaluating Water Chemistry and Fish Growth Performance Matters

Edusehat — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 01:55:07 +0700

Water quality is one of the most important factors determining success in aquaculture. Fish live, breathe, feed, and release waste into the same water. Changes in water chemistry can therefore influence their health, behavior, feeding activity, and growth.

Monitoring water chemistry alongside fish growth performance helps farmers identify problems early, improve feeding efficiency, reduce stress, and achieve more consistent production. The Food and Agriculture Organization emphasizes that water-quality conditions must be evaluated as interacting factors rather than isolated measurements.

Dissolved Oxygen Supports Growth and Metabolism

Fish need dissolved oxygen to convert feed into energy and support essential body functions. When oxygen concentrations decline, fish often become less active and consume less feed. Prolonged exposure to low oxygen can increase stress, weaken disease resistance, and reduce growth.

Adequate aeration, circulation, and regular oxygen monitoring help maintain conditions in which fish can feed normally and use nutrients efficiently.

Oxygen requirements vary according to species, water temperature, fish size, stocking density, and production system. Farmers should therefore establish operating targets that are appropriate for the fish being raised.

pH Affects Fish and the Entire Aquatic System

Water pH affects fish physiology, microbial activity, mineral availability, and the behavior of other chemicals in the water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s guidance on pH explains that pH influences many chemical and biological processes and can change the toxicity and availability of other substances.

Sudden pH changes can stress fish even when the final measurement falls within a generally acceptable range. Stable pH supports healthy biological processes and helps beneficial bacteria function effectively.

Because different fish species have different pH requirements, producers should manage pH according to the species, life stage, and production system involved.

Ammonia Can Reduce Appetite and Damage Fish

Ammonia enters aquaculture systems through fish waste, decomposing organic matter, and uneaten feed. Beneficial bacteria normally convert ammonia into less harmful nitrogen compounds, but this process can become overwhelmed when stocking density, feeding, or waste production increases.

According to the EPA’s aquatic-life guidance on ammonia, ammonia can produce direct toxic effects in aquatic organisms. Its toxicity is also influenced by environmental conditions, particularly pH and temperature.

Elevated ammonia can damage fish tissues, reduce appetite, interfere with respiration, and limit growth. Effective biological filtration, careful feed management, water exchange, and routine testing are essential for keeping ammonia under control.

Temperature Determines How Efficiently Fish Grow

Fish are cold-blooded animals, which means their body temperature and metabolic activity are strongly influenced by the surrounding water.

Each species has a preferred temperature range in which digestion, feeding, immune function, and growth operate most efficiently. When the water becomes too warm or too cold, fish may consume less feed and grow more slowly.

Temperature also affects dissolved oxygen and ammonia toxicity. For this reason, it should never be evaluated by itself. A temperature change may alter several other parts of the aquaculture system at the same time.

Hardness, Alkalinity, and Mineral Balance Support Stability

Calcium, magnesium, carbonates, bicarbonates, and other dissolved minerals influence water hardness and alkalinity. These conditions can affect fish physiology while also helping stabilize pH.

Mississippi State University Extension’s guidance on pH and alkalinity explains that alkalinity represents the water’s buffering capacity. Water with insufficient buffering capacity may experience larger daily pH fluctuations.

Extremely soft water or rapidly changing mineral conditions can create additional stress. Monitoring hardness and alkalinity helps producers maintain a more stable environment, particularly in intensive ponds and recirculating aquaculture systems.

Carbon Dioxide Affects Respiration

Fish and microorganisms release carbon dioxide through respiration. Carbon dioxide can accumulate in systems with high stocking densities, high biological activity, insufficient water movement, or inadequate gas exchange.

When carbon dioxide concentrations become excessive, fish may have more difficulty exchanging gases through their gills. They may then use more energy for respiration and have less energy available for growth.

Proper aeration, degassing, circulation, and ventilation can help control carbon dioxide. The Mississippi State University overview of catfish-pond water quality provides additional information about the relationship between dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, ammonia, feeding, and fish production.

Stability Is as Important as Individual Measurements

Fish generally respond better to stable conditions than to frequent and dramatic changes. Rapid adjustments in pH, temperature, oxygen, or mineral balance can create stress—even when the final measurement falls within the desired range.

Regular monitoring allows producers to identify trends before they become serious problems. When corrections are necessary, gradual adjustments are generally safer than sudden changes.

Monitoring should also account for daily cycles. Dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH may change between daytime and nighttime, especially in ponds with high biological activity.

Water Chemistry Should Be Compared With Growth Data

Water-quality measurements become more valuable when they are evaluated alongside production results. Important growth-performance indicators include:

Weight gain
Specific growth rate
Feed intake
Feed conversion ratio
Survival rate
Size uniformity
Changes in behavior or appetite

For example, reduced growth may appear to be a feeding problem when the underlying cause is low dissolved oxygen, elevated ammonia, unstable pH, or an unsuitable temperature.

Tracking feed use and periodically measuring fish growth also makes it possible to calculate feed conversion and evaluate production efficiency. Connecting water-quality records with growth data helps farmers identify the real cause of poor performance and avoid wasting feed or treating the wrong problem.

Better Monitoring Supports Better Decisions

A single water test only shows conditions at one moment. Consistent recordkeeping reveals patterns and helps producers understand how water chemistry changes throughout the day, across seasons, and during different stages of production.

This information can guide decisions about:

Aeration
Stocking density
Filtration
Feeding schedules
Water exchange
Fish grading
Harvest timing

Environmental monitoring also supports responsible aquaculture development. NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science describes monitoring as an important tool for identifying environmental trends around aquaculture operations.

Conclusion

Successful aquaculture depends on more than monitoring one water-quality parameter. Dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia, temperature, mineral balance, and carbon dioxide interact to shape the environment in which fish grow.

Evaluating these conditions together—and comparing them with growth, feeding, and survival data—gives producers a clearer picture of system performance. Stable water chemistry supports healthier fish, more efficient feed use, predictable growth, and better production outcomes.

For more practical information about aquaculture, sustainability, and planet-positive business opportunities, visit the EAT Community and discover new ways to make a little money while making the planet better.

Conceptual Foundations of the Water Footprint: Components, Scope, and Application in Water Management

Edusehat — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:35:04 +0700

* By Juan Diego Rodriguez Triana

In an era of global environmental strain, efficient resource management dictates aquaculture sustainability. Juan Diego Rodriguez Triana establishes the conceptual foundations of the aquaculture water footprint. By decomposing usage into blue, green, and gray components, this analytical framework maps direct farm consumption alongside indirect supply chain pressures, offering stakeholders a robust, lifecycle-based tool to maximize water-use efficiency and protect local watersheds.

Water Footprint

Conceptually, this approach is divided into three main components: blue water footprint, green water footprint, and gray water footprint (Figure 1).

Blue water footprint

Green water footprint

Gray water footprint

Direct and Indirect Water Footprint

Conclusion

* Juan Diego Rodriguez Triana
Clima Soluciones SAS Coordinador
Phone: +57 3219782480
Bogotá, Colombia

Eumofa Analyzes the Causes of the Downward Trend in Consumption of Fish and Aquaculture Products in the EU

Edusehat — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 04:20:10 +0700

✓ Consumption fell from 12.94 million tons in 2014 to 10.25 million tons in 2023, representing a 21% decrease.

✓ Spain, along with Portugal, leads in the consumption of these products.

✓ In countries like Italy and Poland, on the other hand, there has been a slight increase.

The latest report from the European Fisheries and Aquaculture Market Observatory (EuMOFA), ‘Consumption of Fisheries and Aquaculture Products in the EU,’ analyzes the downward trend in the consumption of fisheries and aquaculture products in the EU in recent years and its possible causes. Consumption fell from 12.94 million tons in 2014 to 10.25 million tons in 2023, representing a 21% decrease. Per capita consumption in 2023 was 22.9 kg, its lowest level in a decade.

The study provides a comprehensive assessment of the evolution of fishery and aquaculture product consumption in the EU, examining changes in consumption patterns, consumer behavior and preferences, and the main economic and structural factors shaping demand.

EU apparent consumption declined from 12.94 million tons in 2014 to 10.25 million tons in 2023, while per capita consumption fell from 25.5 kg to 22.9 kg, its lowest level of the decade. Trends varied considerably across Member States: consumption decreased in countries including Spain, France and Lithuania, while it increased in Italy, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Portugal and Spain remained the EU’s largest per capita consumers.

From Frequent At-Home Consumption Towards Occasional Patterns

The study identifies a gradual shift from frequent at-home consumption towards more occasional patterns and greater out-of-home consumption. This trend is particularly pronounced among younger consumers, who tend to have lower familiarity with fish preparation and stronger expectations regarding convenience. Demand is increasingly oriented towards portioned, prepacked, ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products.

Price and product appearance remain the main purchasing criteria, although origin, convenience and sustainability are gaining importance. At the same time, EU supply also shape consumption patterns. The EU market’s reliance on imports and retail strategies favoring stable, predictable supplies are contributing to a concentration of consumption around a limited number of species, such as salmon, tuna and shrimp.

The report also provides detailed analyses of Spain, France, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands and Austria, showing how cultural traditions, income, retail structures, product availability and price sensitivity influence consumption differently across national markets.

Special Cases

Spain, along with Portugal, leads in the consumption of these products, although from 2014 to 2024 the first one experienced a 32% decrease in average per capita household consumption. Thus, while in 2014 each household consumed 26.4 kg of fish and aquaculture products, in 2024 this figure fell to 17.9 kg per capita.

In countries like Italy and Poland, on the other hand, there has been a slight increase, although the most significant rise has been in Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Hungary, although it should be noted that these countries also started from lower per capita consumption levels.

Determining Factors

The report indicates that, in the case of Spain, the consumption of fish and aquaculture products has shifted from frequent to occasional. The determining factors are price (the most significant aspect), product appearance, and supply structure. Regarding the latter, the report notes that “the growing dependence on imports, the decline in domestic production, and retail strategies have contributed to changes in the products offered to consumers, ultimately influencing consumption patterns.”

Another key factor is convenience: consumers prefer to buy products that are easy to prepare, in portions, pre-packaged, ready to cook and ready to eat, which are increasingly in demand.

Regarding the type of product, consumers prefer those from wild-caught fish over those from aquaculture, although in Spain the consumption of farmed species such as salmon, sea bass, and gilthead seabream has increased. Specifically, gilthead seabream consumption grew by 5%, sea bass by 29%, and smoked salmon by 18%.

In contrast, the decline in consumption of hake, fresh sardines, anchovies, tuna and bonito from extractive fishing in Spain has been very pronounced, especially that of hake, which has decreased by 49% in the last decade.

Market Intelligence Tool

The European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EuMOFA) is a market intelligence tool on the European Union fisheries and aquaculture sector, developed by the European Commission. It aims to increase market transparency and efficiency, analyses EU markets dynamics, and supports business decisions and policy-making.

EuMOFA enables direct monitoring of volumes, values and prices of fisheries and aquaculture products, from the first sale to retail stage, including imports and exports. Data are collected from EU countries, Iceland, Norway, United Kingdom and from EU institutions and updated every day.

FoodTechBangladesh Inaugurates Aquaculture Centre of Excellence in Mymensingh

Edusehat — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 04:20:09 +0700

The entity aims to bring farmers, researchers, businesses and public institutions closer together.

The five-year public-private partnership was co-funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh and co-implemented by Larive International and LightCastle Partners.

FoodTechBangladesh inaugurated some days ago its third Aquaculture Center of Excellence (CoE) in Mymensingh. The inauguration marks an important step toward expanding the practical use of advanced technologies for productive, commercially viable, and sustainable aquaculture in Bangladesh. The center has been designed as a learning, research, and demonstration platform for modern aquaculture production. It includes both in-tank and in-pond Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS).

Through this Center of Excellence, FoodTechBangladesh aims to bring farmers, researchers, businesses, and public institutions closer together. As a result, aquaculture technologies can move beyond demonstration and contribute to wider adoption, improved productivity, and sustainable sector growth.

FoodTechBangladesh (FTB) is a five-year public-private partnership (PPP) co-funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh. Co-implemented by Larive International and LightCastle Partners, the program aims to enhance Bangladesh’s aquaculture sector through sustainable and scalable interventions. FTB focuses on improving technical performance, reducing post-harvest losses, and strengthening market linkages. Key initiatives include establishing Centers of Excellence across regions, training thousands of farmers, and promoting innovative aquaculture technologies.

Combining Government Support with Appropriate Technology

Addressing the event, Khaled Kanak, Director General of the Department of Fisheries, who attended as Chief Guest, emphasized the importance of combining technology with institutional support. “The Netherlands has demonstrated how Bangladesh can achieve high productivity from limited land. By combining government support with appropriate technology, we can create greater opportunities to advance the fisheries sector,” he said.

The inauguration brought together representatives from government organizations, private companies, research institutions, and academia, such as Kanak, Joris van Bommel, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, attended as Guest of Honour; Rezaul Karim, as Director of Administration from the Department of Fisheries. Ataul Karim Bhuiyan, Managing Director of FishTech, joined as Special Guest.

Technology Transfer, Farmer Training, Applied Research…

Following the welcome remarks by Ataul Karim Bhuiyan, Rogier Becker, Senior Project Manager at Larive International, presented an overview of the FoodTechBangladesh program. He explained how the CoEs support technology transfer, farmer training, applied research, and stronger market linkages.

For his part, Võ Nguyên Khánh (Kaidan), Aqua Researcher at De Heus Asia, discussed the experience and future prospects of the technology partnership in Bangladesh. He also highlighted technical training, research trials, and continued support for advanced aquaculture systems.

The technical sessions continued with Imran Hossain, Technical Officer (R&D) at FishTech. He presented research findings and success stories from the in-tank and in-pond RAS facilities. Furthermore, he highlighted the potential of RAS to improve water management, fish health, production efficiency, and commercial performance.

Meanwhile, Ariful Islam, Assistant Manager (R&D) at FishTech, presented outcomes from In-Pond Raceway System trials. He demonstrated how the technology can support higher productivity, improved feed efficiency, better fish survival, and stronger financial returns than traditional production systems.

Van Bommel, for his part, highlighted that the long-term value of the center would depend on how effectively its knowledge and technologies reach farmers and entrepreneurs. “The true success of these centers will be measured by the farmers who adopt better practices, the entrepreneurs who invest with confidence, and the young people who develop new skills,” he stated.

In his closing remarks and vote of thanks, Farhad Hossain acknowledged the collective contribution of the program’s partners, technical teams, government representatives, and farming communities.

Touring the RAS Facilities

Following the formal program, the guests toured the RAS facilities and observed the systems in operation. The FishTech team explained the design and operational processes of the facility. Finally, the inauguration concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, fish feeding, and live demonstrations of the center’s aquaculture technologies.

New GFCM Publication Showcases Results of Research Program on Red Coral in the Mediterranean Sea

Edusehat — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 04:20:08 +0700

By GFCM/FAO

Red coral (Corallium rubrum) is an emblematic species of the Mediterranean Sea, long valued and harvested in the region for millennia. In the past, its shallow populations were nearly depleted in some areas due to excessive fishing pressure.

To improve knowledge on the species and strengthen the management of red coral fisheries in the region, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) conducted a research programme on red coral. Funded by the European Union, the program was implemented from 2020 to 2023 by research institutes and universities, in cooperation with national administrations across the Mediterranean.

“The research program enabled data collection on the status of red coral stocks, including colony demographic structures, catches by fishing ground, observer data, socioeconomic aspects, growth and habitat conditions, providing valuable knowledge to managers and fishers,” said Adel Gaamour, researcher at the National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies of Tunisia.

The detailed findings of the research program have now been released in a new GFCM publication. The report presents the results of data collection activities conducted in Croatia, France, Greece, Italy and Tunisia and provides insights into the population genetics of red coral across Mediterranean subregions, the stock assessments carried out, as well as the socioeconomic dimensions of red coral harvesting. It also highlights the results of targeted training and capacity-development activities conducted with other partner countries, including Algeria, Malta and Morocco.

The results of the research program informed the development and subsequent adoption of a GFCM recommendation on long-term measures for the sustainable exploitation of red coral. Positive developments are already seen at country level.

“This research program has allowed us and will hopefully allow us to continue collaboration with countries that were previously more difficult to reach,” said Federica Costantini, associate professor in marine ecology, BiGeA, University of Bologna, Italy. “And above all, from a practical point of view, it enabled us to create protocols (for molecular analysis and for data analysis) that can then be used in the future by these countries for the management and conservation of this species.”

“Based on the findings of the research program, Tunisia is currently developing legislation to regulate red coral fisheries,” explained Gaamour. “The proposed framework includes provisions on designated fishing areas, authorized fishing gear and the minimum harvestable size of red coral. In parallel, we have developed an operational manual for red coral harvesting and marketing in close collaboration with coral divers, relevant ministries, fisheries authorities, observers and inspectors to promote sustainable harvesting and ensure the effective implementation of the new regulatory framework.”

Check out this video for more details on the GFCM research program on red coral: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlr4MkkVPSs

About the GFCM

The GFCM is a regional fisheries management organization operating under the framework of FAO, whose competence extends over all marine waters of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Its main objective is to ensure the conservation and the sustainable use of living marine resources, as well as the sustainable development of aquaculture.

GFCM Members include 24 contracting parties (Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, European Union, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine) and five cooperating non-contracting parties (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Jordan, Moldova, Saudi Arabia).

UAPB Researcher: Arkansas Can Grow Shrimp in Fresh Water

Edusehat — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 04:20:07 +0700

By Steve Brawner

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) researcher is studying how Arkansas freshwater aquaculture farms could grow white leg shrimp, a saltwater creature.

The product is currently imported into the United States. But Dr. Yathish Ramena, director of UAPB’s Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Center of Excellence, is leading research aimed at raising the shrimp by acclimating them to indoor freshwater production in Arkansas.

Ramena said the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission permits growing Litopenaeus vannamei, or white shrimp, as an approved conditional species. The raising must occur in an indoor, enclosed system without any water exchange or discharge to protect the native species.

The project is being funded by the Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA), a nonprofit organization founded in 2008 by chancellors from Arkansas research universities and private company chief executives.

Bryan Barnhouse, the Alliance’s president and CEO, said the ARA invests in job-creating opportunities in seven areas where the state’s private sector needs match university research competencies. Its ARA Academy includes roughly 35 active research leaders from the University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas State University, and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Ramena was recently inducted into the academy.

In an online webinar July 22, he said Arkansas is a “birthplace” of U.S. warm water aquaculture, with the first commercial goldfish farms established in the 1940s followed by baitfish, and catfish following in the 1950s.

The industry has a total value of USD 67.7 million. The state leads the nation in baitfish production and sport fish production and is No. 4 in catfish production.

Ramena said the United States is the world’s largest shrimp importer. “And so, we have a big market, and we don’t have producers here,” he said. “So, this would be a great opportunity to start as a supplemental income apart from our other native species.”

The main challenge in raising the shrimp is its need for a high-protein diet. Researchers are trying to replace fish meal with plant-based products, but these cause problems.

Ramena discussed how feeding the white shrimp with early-stage artemia shrimp could improve the white shrimp’s gut microbiomes and protect them against disease. Worldwide, shrimp losses have reached almost USD 10 billion every year since 2010.

He also said the researchers are using artificial intelligence to assess the results of the study.

Discover the Latest Trends in Intensive Shrimp Farming at LACQUA26

Edusehat — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 04:20:06 +0700

By LACQUA26 Organizing Committee

Renowned international shrimp farming expert David Kawahigashi to present innovative intensive production systems.

San Salvador, El Salvador – The Latin American & Caribbean Aquaculture Congress – LACQUA26 is honored to announce the participation of internationally recognized shrimp aquaculture specialist David Kawahigashi as one of its Plenary Speakers.

With more than 40 years of technical and management experience spanning every stage of shrimp aquaculture, David Kawahigashi is the founder and director of Vannamei 101, a Hawaii-based aquaculture consulting and training company dedicated to advancing knowledge transfer and innovative technologies throughout the global aquaculture industry.

His plenary presentation, entitled: “Are Vietnam’s Circular and Multi-Phase Pond Systems the Future of Global Intensive Aquaculture?” will address one of the most relevant topics in modern shrimp farming: the evolution of intensive production systems and the potential of the innovative models developed in Vietnam to meet the industry’s growing challenges of sustainability, productivity, and operational efficiency.

After graduating from the University of Hawaii, Kawahigashi began his professional career in Hawaii (1979–1986). He later led major aquaculture projects throughout Central and South America until 2003 and, since 2004, has played a key role in the rapid expansion of Penaeus vannamei farming across Asia through technical training and technology transfer programs.

His areas of expertise include:

Design and implementation of intensive and multi-phase shrimp production systems.
Genetic improvement programs and broodstock management.
Technical management of shrimp hatcheries.
Development of sustainable high-intensity grow-out systems using circular ponds.
Application of biofloc technology and Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS).
Use of probiotics, symbiotics, and postbiotics to enhance production performance.
Technical training and capacity building for aquaculture professionals.

Today, his work focuses on developing sustainable shrimp farming models based on biofloc protocols, super-intensive circular pond systems, and water recirculation technologies—approaches widely recognized as some of the industry’s most promising solutions for improving production efficiency while reducing environmental impacts.

His extensive international experience across Latin America, Asia, and the United States makes this plenary session a unique opportunity for producers, researchers, industry leaders, students, and aquaculture professionals interested in learning about the technologies and production strategies shaping the future of global shrimp farming.

LACQUA26 will bring together leading international experts, researchers, companies, and aquaculture stakeholders to exchange knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and showcase the innovations driving the sustainable development of aquaculture in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Congress will take place October 27–30, 2026, in San Salvador, El Salvador, and is organized by the Latin American & Caribbean Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (LACC-WAS) in collaboration with the Salvadoran Blue Economy Authority (ASEA), with the support of the Government of El Salvador.

The Organizing Committee invites the international aquaculture community to participate in this premier scientific, technical, and commercial event, recognized as the leading aquaculture conference in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Participants are encouraged to register at:

https://www.was.org/Meeting/Registration/Submit/LACQUA26

LACQUA26 Organizing Committee

Sustainable Aquaculture, a Blue Future for Latin America and the Caribbean

October 27–30, 2026
San Salvador, El Salvador

Contact: carolina@was.org

Ventisqueros recovered 99% of its waste in 2025, moving closer to its “Zero Waste to Landfill” goal

Edusehat — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 04:20:05 +0700

Over the past six years, the company reduced the proportion of waste sent to landfills from 26% to just 0.6%, marking one of the most significant achievements of its circular economy strategy.

In 2025, Ventisqueros recovered 99.4% of the waste generated by its operations. This result reflects the company’s steady progress towards its goal of eliminating waste sent to landfills by 2026 as part of its “Zero Waste to Landfill” program.

During the year, the company generated 30,592 metric tons of waste, of which 30,396 metric tons were recovered, reused, or otherwise diverted from disposal. As a result, only 0.6% was sent to an authorized landfill.

The evolution of this indicator demonstrates the scale of the progress achieved. In 2019, 26% of Ventisqueros’ waste ended up in landfills. Six years later, that figure had fallen to just 0.6%, thanks to systematic efforts to strengthen circular economy practices across all its operations.

“Reducing the proportion of waste sent to landfills from 26% in 2019 to just 0.6% in 2025 reflects a profound transformation in our management practices and tangible progress toward more circular operations”, said Igor Stack, Technical Manager at Ventisqueros.

The main materials recovered in 2025 were organic salmon byproducts, totaling 23,376 metric tons, followed by 5,672 metric tons of organic sludge. The company also recovered plastics, wood, cardboard, paper, household-like waste, metal and electronic scrap, and other industrial waste.

Since 2022, the company has maintained a 100% recovery rate for dewatered sludge and, since 2025, has also achieved full recovery of liquid sludge. Ventisqueros continues to work with specialized waste management partners to expand recovery alternatives and strengthen its circular economy model.

“The challenge now lies in the remaining 0.6%. We want to continue identifying solutions that will enable us to meet our goal of sending zero waste to landfills in 2026”, Stack added.

These results are included in Ventisqueros’ 2025 ESG Report and reflect the company’s progress in circular economy practices, resource optimization, and sustainable waste management.

Enhancement of Aquaculture Performance of Cobia, Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus 1766): A Review

Edusehat — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:15:05 +0700

*By Aquaculture Magazine Editorial Team

Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) is a promising species for aquaculture, distributed in subtropical and tropical waters, yet primarily caught through recreational fishing. Notable landings occur in countries like Pakistan, Iran, Malaysia, and Brazil.

Cobia’s feeding habits are less understood for juveniles, though they are believed to consume copepods. This species exhibits traits favorable for mariculture, including rapid growth (up to 6 kg in a year), high fecundity, and a favorable feed conversion ratio (FCR). Initial culture attempts showed promising results, leading to an expansion of cobia aquaculture from 1995 to 2012 (Figure 1). However, production has since fluctuated, with challenges such as inconsistent fingerling production, larval survival rates, seasonal mortalities, and disease outbreaks hindering growth. Additionally, the adoption of alternative plant-based proteins in adult diets poses challenges. This review addresses these issues and proposes solutions to enhance cobia aquaculture performance for commercial viability.

Broodstock Selection and Improvements

Cobia broodstock for aquaculture has traditionally been sourced from wild populations, making it essential to assess natural growth rates for effective selection. Growth rates vary geographically, influencing sex ratios and maturation, which are critical for optimizing fertilized egg production (Table 1). For instance, growth rates (K) differ, with values reported as low as 0.37 in North Carolina and 0.63 in Australia. Genetic studies have identified differences among populations, such as those in the Northern Gulf of Mexico and Taiwan, highlighting the importance of careful broodstock transfer. Cobia populations in regions like the Gulf of Thailand show homogeneity, attributed to mixing and migration, suggesting regional management strategies are vital.

While genetics can enhance broodstock through trait selection — such as growth, disease resistance, and cold tolerance — these methods remain underutilized in cobia aquaculture. Lessons from Nile tilapia breeding demonstrate the potential for significant growth improvements through selective breeding and genetic analysis. Future broodstock development could benefit from selecting for traits like cold tolerance, especially as reduced temperatures hinder cobia growth. Utilizing genetic markers linked to desirable traits could lead to better adaptation and performance in aquaculture settings.

Cobia is a highly promising mariculture species thriving in subtropical and tropical waters. It exhibits rapid growth potential of up to G kg in a single year, high fecundity, and favorable feed conversion ratios

Production of Cobia Seed

Cobia exhibits extended batch spawning, with peak seasons varying by location. Reports indicate spawning intervals of 5 to 12 days, influenced by factors like temperature and habitat productivity. Understanding these conditions can enhance spawning optimization in captivity. Induced spawning methods have been explored, showing promising results. For instance, using photoperiods of 13:11 or 14:10 and maintaining temperatures between 24.5 to 28.5°C led to significant spawning activity, with hatch rates reaching 83%. Continuous spawning for up to nine months was achieved in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) at temperatures of 20 to 26°C.

Additionally, environmental manipulation has allowed for year-round natural spawning. Hormonal induction using human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has been effective, producing over 2 million eggs per female with high fertilization rates. Research indicates spawning occurs approximately 39 to 42 hours post-hormone administration. Luteinizing hormone (LH-RHa) has also been utilized successfully, yielding comparable fecundity to natural methods. Optimizing hormone dosages is essential for maximizing hatch rates. Combining hormonal and environmental methods may facilitate consistent seed production, crucial for establishing hatcheries and ensuring a year-round supply of cobia fingerlings.

Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) is a promising aquaculture species, thriving in subtropical and tropical waters with rapid growth potential of up to 6 kg in a year. Despite its advantages, the industry faces challenges like inconsistent fingerling supply, low larval survival rates, and disease outbreaks, along with difficulties integrating alternative plant-based proteins. This review examines key aspects of cobia aquaculture, proposing solutions to enhance efficiency and sustainability for commercial viability.

Rearing and Environment

Cobia can be reared in various systems, including ponds, offshore cages, raceways, and RAS, providing flexibility for farmers. In Taiwan, China, and Vietnam, cage culture is predominantly used, where environmental factors like temperature and salinity fluctuate with seasons and weather. However, cobia is susceptible to mass mortality when temperatures drop below 16°C in winter, posing a significant challenge to production. Developing a cold-tolerant strain and utilizing controlled environments like RAS are crucial for overcoming this issue.

Research indicates that RAS is suitable for cobia, with findings showing a negative correlation between stocking density and larval growth. Lower densities resulted in higher survival rates, highlighting the importance of optimal rearing conditions for cost-effective production. A study found that cobia could thrive in RAS up to 2 kg body weight at densities of ≤ 30 kg/ m*, achieving survival rates over 96% and favorable feed conversion efficiencies of 65% to 85.7%. Implementing RAS can mitigate the challenges associated with open sea culture, especially in regions with strict environmental regulations.

Nutrition

Cobia are opportunistic carnivorous feeders, consuming a diverse diet in their natural habitats, including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. However, there is currently no commercially available broodstock feed tailored for cobia. Studies have shown that dietary composition significantly affects spawning success, with a need for higher levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and controlled levels of arachidonic acid (ARA) to optimize egg quality. For larval rearing, cobia larvae initially thrive on rotifers before transitioning to Artemia, with research indicating that copepods can enhance growth due to their higher concentrations of beneficial fatty acids.

As cobia reach the juvenile stage, dietary protein requirements increase, with optimal levels around 45%. Traditional feeds often utilize fishmeal as the primary protein source, but alternatives are being explored due to rising costs and sustainability concerns. Studies indicate that cobia can utilize various plant and animal protein sources without negatively impacting growth, with specific amino acids like taurine necessary for optimal performance. Replacements such as poultry by-product meal have also shown potential for up to 60% substitution without adverse effects. Overall, optimizing nutrition through tailored feeds and alternative protein sources is vital for sustainable cobia aquaculture.

Cobia broodstock development benefits from selective breeding targeting key traits like disease resistance and cold tolerance. Utilizing genetic markers improves environmental adaptation, preventing mass winter mortalities when temperatures drop below 1G°C.

Feed Utilization in Low Salinity Conditions

Cobia culture has been successfully conducted in ponds using seawater, but research shows varying responses to low salinity levels. Atwood et al. (2004) found that juvenile cobia experienced high mortality rates as salinity decreased to 2 g/l, while Denson et al. reported significantly reduced growth rates at 15 ppt and poor health at 5 ppt. Conversely, Resley et al. (2006) noted that cobia in 5 ppt showed comparable or improved growth compared to those in higher salinities, likely due to a high-protein diet (53% crude protein) fed to satiation.

This suggests that the nutritional composition and feeding regimes play critical roles in cobia’s adaptability to low salinity. Holt et al. (2007) indicated that cobia could be reared successfully at salinities as low as 15 g/L with appropriate supplemental feeds. Understanding optimal diet composition and feeding intensity in lower salinities will be crucial for the future of cobia pond culture, which can also benefit from natural food sources available in the environment.

Nutritional composition and high-protein feeding regimes play critical roles in cobia’s adaptability to low salinity. Understanding optimal diet formulation enables successful pond rearing in salinities aslow as 15 g/L

Conclusion

As cobia farming develops worldwide through mariculture and other technologies, the diverse bottlenecks in cobia aquaculture have to be overcome. The use of genetic markers for trait selection like disease resistance, survival ability, and food utilization efficiency will be essential interventions for the improvement of cobia culture. An ability to utilize a wide range of plant and animal protein as food demonstrated by cobia signifies its promising future. Hence optimizing its inclusion with the required amino acid supplement is recommended for cost-effective production. Further understanding of larvae diet, especially for the fatty acid requirement, can be utilized to supplement life feed such that it reaches an optimal level required by cobia larvae. For the sustainability of the cobia aquaculture industry, improvements in the management of feeding strategies and a detailed understanding of the physiological basis of feed utilization in a low-salinity environment are crucial.

This is a summarized version developed by the editorial team of Aquaculture Magazine based on the review article titled “ENHANCEMENT OF AQUACULTURE PERFORMANCE OF COBIA, RACHYCENTRON CANADUM (LINNAEUS 1766): A REVIEW” developed by: Babatunde Taofi k Ademola – Department of Biology, Umaru Musa Ya’radua University, Nigeria. The original article, including tables and figures, was published on MARCH, 2024, through INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES SCIENCIES. The full version can be accessed online through this link: https://www.agriscigroup.us/articles/IJAFS-10-190.php

Dr. Luis Alejandro Vinatea to Deliver a Plenary Lecture at LACQUA26

Edusehat — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 22:40:12 +0700

Por: LACQUA 2026 Organizing Committee

The Latin American and Caribbean Aquaculture Congress – LACQUA26 is pleased to announce that Dr. Luis Alejandro Vinatea Arana will be one of the event’s Plenary Speakers, joining the scientific program of the leading aquaculture conference in Latin America and the Caribbean.

LACQUA26 will take place October 27–30, 2026, in San Salvador, El Salvador. The conference is organized by the Latin American and Caribbean Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (LACC-WAS) in partnership with the Salvadoran Authority for the Blue Economy (ASEA) and with the support of the Government of El Salvador.

Over three days, the congress will bring together researchers, producers, industry leaders, students, universities, research institutions, government agencies, and international organizations to exchange knowledge, showcase innovations, strengthen collaborations, and promote the sustainable development of aquaculture throughout the region.

Dr. Vinatea has built an outstanding academic and scientific career. He holds a degree in Biology, a Master’s Degree in Aquaculture, and a Ph.D. in Human Sciences from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brazil). He also completed postdoctoral studies in intensive shrimp farming and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for fish production.

For nearly three decades, he served as Full Professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), was a researcher with Brazil’s National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), and has been a visiting professor at universities in Colombia and Peru.

Throughout his career, Dr. Vinatea has supervised numerous undergraduate and graduate students, advised leading aquaculture companies and international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and made significant scientific contributions through the publication of 7 books, 10 book chapters, 78 peer-reviewed scientific papers, and the delivery of more than 166 lectures and training courses in several countries.

As part of the LACQUA26 Plenary Program, Dr. Vinatea will present the keynote lecture:

“Economic Efficiency of Electric Aeration in Large Aquaculture Production Units”

During this plenary lecture, he will address one of the most important challenges facing modern aquaculture: optimizing electric aeration systems to improve productivity, increase energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, and enhance the economic and environmental sustainability of aquaculture production.

His participation will further strengthen the high-level scientific program of LACQUA26, which will feature plenary lectures, specialized scientific sessions, oral and poster presentations, technical workshops, short courses, and a comprehensive commercial exhibition showcasing the latest products, technologies, and services for the aquaculture industry.

There is still time to participate in LACQUA26!

The Organizing Committee warmly invites researchers, professionals, students, universities, research institutions, producers, companies, and organizations involved in aquaculture to join this premier regional event.

Important Deadlines

Abstract Submission Deadline: July 31, 2026

Submit your abstract here:
https://www.was.org/Meeting/Abstract/Submit/LACQUA26

Early Registration Discount Available Until: August 1, 2026

Register here:
https://www.was.org/Meeting/Registration/Submit/LACQUA26

LACQUA26 offers a unique opportunity to present research findings, exchange experiences, establish new collaborations, and discover the latest scientific and technological advances shaping the future of aquaculture in Latin America and the Caribbean.

We look forward to welcoming you to San Salvador, El Salvador, from October 27–30, 2026, as we work together to advance a sustainable and innovative future for aquaculture in our region.

LACQUA26 Organizing Committee

Sustainable Aquaculture, a Blue Future for Latin America and the Caribbean

October 27–30, 2026
San Salvador, El Salvador

carolina@was.org

Dr. Foluke Areola Makes History as First African President of the World Aquaculture Society, Outlining Vision for Sustainable Global Food Security

Edusehat — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 22:40:11 +0700

Distinguished Nigerian fisheries leader steps into global governance to amplify African voices, foster youth and women empowerment, and drive innovation across international aquatic food systems.

In a historic milestone for international aquatic agricultural governance, Nigerian fisheries and aquaculture authority Dr. Foluke Omotayo Areola has officially assumed office as the President of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS). Formally inaugurated on June 2, 2026, during the World Aquaculture 2026 conference in Singapore, Dr. Areola becomes the first African professional to hold the highest executive office in the organization’s distinguished history. Her election represents a transformative moment for global aquaculture, signaling a heightened international focus on sustainable aquatic food systems, inclusive governance, and the vital role of the Global South in feeding the world’s growing population.

Dr. Areola brings to the global presidency more than four decades of exemplary leadership, academic rigor, and policy expertise. A native of Nigeria whose deep passion for aquatic resources stems from her rural upbringing where fish served as a primary dietary staple, Dr. Areola built her career on the conviction that sustainable aquaculture is essential for poverty alleviation, nutritional security, and community resilience. Her extensive professional background spans key government directorships, international consultancy, research, and non-governmental sector advocacy.

Dr. Areola sharing a delightful moment with former President of WAS, Dr. David Cline.

A Legacy of Pioneering Public Leadership and Policy Reform

Dr. Areola’s academic foundation includes advanced studies in fisheries and aquaculture sciences at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, Humberside College of Higher Learning in Grimsby, England, and a PhD in Fisheries from Lagos State University. Her technical proficiency has been further sharpened through high-level international executive trainings, including Israel’s MASHAV/CINADCO intensive aquaculture program, Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures coursework through the USDA and Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, and South Africa’s Science-Policy Lab (S-PoL) on Innovations for Sustainable Aquatic Food Systems.

Throughout her career within Nigeria’s Federal Department of Fisheries, Dr. Areola shattered administrative glass ceilings. She served as Acting Federal Director of Fisheries, Acting Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and held the historic distinction of becoming Nigeria’s first Director of Fisheries Quarantine Services. In these positions, she spearheaded regulatory reforms, fortified aquatic animal health and biosecurity protocols, and championed public-private stakeholder collaboration. She also made history as the first female National President of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), where she secured a crucial World Bank Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) grant to deliver nationwide best-practice aquaculture training programs.

Reflecting on her trailblazing administrative journey and the structural barriers she faced in traditionally male-dominated sectors, Dr. Areola noted: “Serving in a pioneering leadership role within Nigeria’s fisheries administration was both a privilege and a responsibility. The challenges included limited funding, inadequate infrastructure, weak policy implementation systems, low levels of technological adoption, and the need to overcome gender-related barriers in traditionally male-dominated leadership spaces. However, I truly appreciate the mentors who shaped me into the professional I have become over the years, and hence my strong inclination towards mentoring others.“

Empowering Africa and Mobilizing Global Communities

Following her retirement from government service, Dr. Areola transitioned into international consultancy, leading impactful initiatives with global organizations including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), WWF Norway, and the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC). Notably, she co-authored the first Aquaculture Welfare Training Guides for Nigeria, which have since been adopted as landmark educational benchmarks across the African continent.

Her commitment to elevating African expertise led her to serve as President of the World Aquaculture Society African Chapter (WAS-AC) over the past two years. Under her dynamic tenure, WAS-AC achieved a remarkable 454% membership growth within a single year. She actively expanded student access through sponsored memberships, elevated African representation on the global WAS Board, and organized flagship continental events, including the annual Aquaculture Africa Conferences (AFRAQ) and the World Aquaculture Safari 2025 in Uganda.

Dr. Areola delivering an opening remark at the Opening Ceremony of the World Aquaculture Safari, Uganda 2025.

Regarding her decision to seek the WAS global presidency and her historic election victory, Dr. Areola expressed profound gratitude and a firm commitment to collaborative stewardship: “It was both humbling and historic. My election reflected the growing global recognition of Africa’s contributions and potential in aquaculture. It also demonstrated confidence in inclusive leadership, diversity, and the importance of bringing broader global perspectives into international professional governance. For me, it was not just an individual achievement but a victory for Africa, women, and emerging aquaculture professionals across the Global South… My role is to be a leader who is humble enough to recognize the talent in others so that together we fulfill our purpose of bettering the experience of His creation.”

Addressing Sectoral Challenges and Aligning with UN Mandates

As WAS President, Dr. Areola emphasizes that unlocking Africa’s vast aquaculture potential—and ensuring global food security—requires targeted investments to solve persistent systemic bottlenecks. She identifies three primary hurdles facing producers in emerging economies: restricted access to quality seed, feed, and affordable financing; weak technical extension networks; and fragmented market infrastructure, including insufficient cold-chain logistics.

Dr. Areola advocates for robust public-private partnerships, climate-smart production technologies, and digital extension systems to bridge these gaps. Furthermore, aligning her leadership agenda with the United Nations’ declaration of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Dr. Areola is issuing a global call to action to break down institutional barriers for women in agriculture and aquatic food chains.

“Women are central to food systems, family welfare, nutrition, and community resilience. Across Africa and the world, women fish farmers and aquaculture professionals continue to make invaluable contributions despite numerous constraints. Governments and institutions must invest more deliberately to empower women by expanding access to land, financing, technology, education, markets, and leadership opportunities.”

To the rising generation of scientists and entrepreneurs, her message remains clear: “Believe in your capacity, remain committed to excellence, and never underestimate the value of persistence, integrity, and continuous learning… Africa must not only participate in global aquaculture — Africa must help shape its future.”

Looking Ahead: World Aquaculture Tanzania 2026

Dr. Areola will officially preside over the upcoming World Aquaculture Tanzania 2026 (WA26T), held in joint partnership with AFRAQ2026 from December 1 to 4, 2026, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The landmark event will gather international scientists, policymakers, industry pioneers, and small-scale farmers to discuss sustainable blue economy solutions and advance global scientific exchange.

About the World Aquaculture Society (WAS)

The World Aquaculture Society (WAS) is the premier global non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the sustainable development of aquaculture through scientific research, technical exchange, educational outreach, and international networking. With thousands of members spanning more than 100 countries, WAS connects academia, government entities, commercial producers, and development organizations to address critical global food security challenges.

Photos: World Aquaculture Society Secretariat — African Chapter

For more information:

World Aquaculture Society Secretariat — African Chapter

Email: africanchapter@was.org

Website: www.was.org/meeting/code/AFRAQ26

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global 2027 Conference Program Call for Proposals Is Open

Edusehat — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 22:40:10 +0700

By: Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global s

Experts in aquaculture, blue foods strategy and policy, processing and equipment, automation and machine learning, consumption trends and more can apply to speak at the largest seafood trade event in the world.

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global is now accepting speaker and session applications for its 2027 conference program. Professionals across the seafood supply chain and at leading NGOs, research and data institutions, foodservice, retail and technology companies can submit proposals on the most pressing and innovative topics shaping the global seafood industry. Submissions are open now through 18 September 2026, offering professionals a chance to secure a spot on the seafood industry’s largest global stage.

Taking place in Barcelona on 20-22 April 2027, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global is the world’s largest gathering of seafood buyers and suppliers from around the world coming together for three days of networking, education and business growth opportunities. Last year’s event brought more than 35,500 seafood professionals with companies exhibiting from 85 countries.

The event’s conference program is led by industry experts who share insights, case studies, research and data impacting the global seafood marketplace.

Topics of Interest

Aquaculture.
Automation/Machine Learning.
Blue Foods Strategies & Policy.
Corporate Due Diligence.
Consumption Trends.
Emerging Markets & Species.
Processing & Equipment.
Product Innovation & Marketing.
Seafood Business & Finance.
Sustainable Seafood Innovation & Responsible Management.
Supply Chain Compliance & Control.
Traceability & Transparency.

How to Submit a Proposal to Speak:

Review the submission guidelines.
Create your proposal on one of the many topics.
Use the online form to create your speaker portal login.
Submit your idea!

Read submission guidelines and submit your proposal at

Call for Proposals

For questions about the conference program or how to submit a proposal, contact the conference team at conference@seafoodexpo.com

About Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global 

Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global make up the world’s largest seafood trade show. Thousands of buyers and sellers from around the world attend the three-day annual event to meet, connect, and do business. Buyers include importers, exporters, wholesalers, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, and other companies in the retail and foodservice sectors. Exhibitors showcase the latest innovations in seafood products, processing and packaging machinery, and services for the seafood industry. SeafoodSource.com is the official media. The organizer is Diversified, the international leader in seafood events and media. www.seafoodexpo.com/global 

About Diversified

Diversified is a global B2B events and media company that strengthens business communities by fostering a space, in person and online, for professionals and businesses to connect and grow. The company serves as a trusted partner across several industries including active lifestyle, business management, clean energy, commercial marine, healthcare, seafood, technology and more. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, the global company has divisions and offices around the world in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Diversified is a third-generation, family-owned business. For more information, visit: www.divcom.com.

Leading Canadian Fish & Aquaculture Research Institute Joins Initiative to Fully Use Each Fish

Edusehat — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 22:40:09 +0700

By: Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers

Québec-based Merinov becomes first research facility and first Québec organization to sign the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge

Merinov, one of Canada’s leading fish and aquaculture research centers, has signed the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge, becoming both the first research facility or laboratory and the first organization from Québec to join the initiative. Merinov is the 46th company or organization participating in the growing binational movement to ensure that every part of each fish is fully used and not wasted.

Merinov provides research, development, and innovation services to the fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood processing sectors. With multidisciplinary expertise and world-class infrastructure, Merinov supports businesses and organizations in the design, testing, and deployment of high-performance, sustainable technological solutions tailored to the industrial and regional realities of the blue economy.

Merinov’s participation follows the recent expansion of the Pledge to include laboratories and research facilities in the Great Lakes States, Ontario, and Québec that work with fish and fish materials. These organizations commit to productively using all fish and fish parts handled through their work, rather than sending them to landfill.

As part of the Pledge, Merinov will work alongside other participating companies and organizations to promote the full use of fish. This includes raising awareness of opportunities for innovative applications of fish co-products, such as compost, fertilizer, protein, marine collagen, leather, and other new, high-value products.

“Merinov is known globally as a leader in the marine bioresource technology space, so having them become both the first research facility and the first organization from Québec to join the Pledge is a significant step forward for the initiative,” said David Naftzger, Executive Director of GSGP. “Research institutions will play an essential role in developing the technologies, products, and partnerships needed to fully use every fish. We are honored to partner with Merinov and learn from its expertise.”

Merinov lab.

The Great Lakes region is home to growing aquaculture operations and sizeable commercial fisheries, but only about 40% of each fish (the fillets) are usually eaten or productively used. In contrast, the remaining 60% of the fish is often relegated to inexpensive uses or discarded. The 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative seeks new and innovative ways to fully use each fish to reduce waste, create more value and jobs, and support rural economic development. Iceland pioneered this approach and has seen the value of products made from each cod skyrocket from $12 for just the filet to a remarkable $5,000 for products including cosmetics, medical bandages, nutritional supplements, and a range of other products.

“Finding the best possible uses for marine products and their co-products is central to Merinov’s mission,” said Laurent Girault, Project Manager and Head of Merinov’s Centre of Expertise in Marine Biotechnologies. “Joining the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge is a natural extension of that commitment. We look forward to sharing our expertise, collaborating with other participants, and helping advance innovative approaches that create value from every part of the fish.”

More information on 100% Great Lakes Fish, including a copy of the Pledge, is available at htps://gsgp.org/projects/100-great-lakes-fish/.

About the Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers

www.gsgp.org

The Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers unites the chief executives from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Québec, and Wisconsin. The Governors and Premiers work as equal partners to grow the region’s USD 8 trillion economy and protect the world’s largest surface freshwater system.

Australian Free CSIRO Program Helps Small to Medium-Sized Aquaculture Enterprises in Research and Development Plans

Edusehat — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 22:40:08 +0700

They are invited to apply for the latest “Innovate to Grow” program.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization returns to the Australian people USD 5.91 for every USD 0.70 invested

The free eight-week online program “Innovate to Grow”, delivered by Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, helps local small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) developing solutions for the aquaculture turn early-stage ideas into actionable research and development (R&D) plans while building connections with expert facilitators and researchers. Since its commencement in 2020, more than 900 SMEs have taken part in the program. The new edition of the program will commence in September and applications are now open and close on 16 August 2026.

Mat Cook, Aquaculture Research Director at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), said the field of aquaculture offers significant opportunities for Australian businesses developing new products and technologies. “Whether it’s breeding, animal health, nutrition or new production systems, good ideas often stall because businesses aren’t sure what evidence they need or where to start with R&D,” Cook said.

“Innovate to Grow connects SMEs with researchers and gives them a clear, practical process for working out what R&D their idea actually needs,” he added.

Successful Cases

Rebecca Parlett, Director of Bio Tribute Systems, participated in a previous “Innovate to Grow” program. The Australian startup develops circular innovations to support soil health and environmental recovery and joined the program seeking scientific validation and feasibility data to help transition its early-concept innovations into market-ready, scalable solutions. “The program helped me to clarify the real status of my innovation and better understand the R&D pathway required to progress it,” she said.

“It also helped me identify that my project is not simply a product-development issue, but requires regulatory clarification, claims discipline, independent validation, a funding strategy and a staged evidence pathway. The program gave me a more structured and realistic framework for deciding what needs to happen next,” Parlett added.

Applications Are Now Open

The head of the program explained that, with the initiative “CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow”, aquaculture is open to Australian SMEs developing or supplying solutions in subsectors like breeding, health, nutrition, production systems and optimization, digital and AI, sustainability and circular agri-aquaculture, packaging, enabling indigenous-led aquaculture.

Applications are now open and close on 16 August 2026. The program will commence in September.

Improving Economic and Social Performance

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization is an independent agency of the Australian federal government responsible for scientific research. Its primary role is to improve the economic and social performance of industry for the benefit of the community.

CSIRO collaborates with leading organizations around the world. From its headquarters in Canberra, CSIRO operates more than 50 sites in Australia, as well as in France, Chile, and the United States, employing approximately 5,500 people. Over 5,000 industry and government partners, including nearly 2,000 small and medium businesses.

“For a century we’ve been improving the lives of people everywhere with our science. We’ve advanced Australia with a range of inventions and innovations that have had significant positive impact on the lives of people around the world. These include fast Wireless LAN (WLAN) connectivity, polymer banknotes, the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet, and Aerogard, just to name a few,” they explain.

According to them, for every USD 0.70 invested in CSIRO, at least USD 5.91 in value is returned to the Australian people. Considering CSIRO’s 2024-25 budget, this equates to approximately USD 9.28 billion of benefit to the nation.

“We work with industry, government and the research community to turn science into solutions across six research areas: Energy and Minerals, Food and Fibre, From Wonder to Discovery, Nature, One Health and Tech Economy. We also steward research infrastructure on behalf of the nation and provide an important connecting role between science and society,” they assure.

First Water Signs USD 5.77 Million Contract to Complete Phase 1 Expansion in Iceland

Edusehat — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 22:40:07 +0700

Norwegian company First Water announced that has signed a USD 5.77 million contract with precast concrete specialist Overhalla Betongbygg for the final part of Phase 1 of its land-based salmon farming facility in Þorlákshöfn, Iceland. The contract covers approximately 4,300 tons of precast concrete elements for eight large fish tanks. Each tank will measure 28 meters in diameter and 9.5 meters in height, with a capacity of around 5,600 m³ of water. Production will take place in Norway, with delivery to Iceland scheduled for early 2027.

Completion of Phase 1 will increase First Water’s annual production capacity from 5,000 to 10,000 tons of gutted salmon. The agreement represents another major step in First Water’s phased development and supports the company’s ambition to become a leading producer of sustainably farmed salmon.

“This is an important milestone in the development of our facility in Þorlákshöfn,” said Eggert Þór Kristófersson, CEO of the company. “First Water is being developed to set new standards for sustainable land-based salmon farming. The project is planned in six phases, with a long-term target of producing 60,000 tons annually,” he assured.

Detailed Coordination

First Water and Overhalla Betongbygg have worked closely to develop technical solutions suited to the scale and complexity of the project. The delivery requires detailed coordination across engineering, production, transport and installation.

“We are pleased to support First Water in the continued development of this pioneering project,” says Arnt Ove Amdal, CEO of Overhalla Betongbygg. “The contract demonstrates the value of combining strong industrial expertise with close collaboration.”

Ideal Growing Conditions for Salmon

Some weeks before the announcement, First Water held its Annual General Meeting, where the Chairman of the Board, Orri Hauksson, and the CEO reviewed the company’s current position. In January of this year, the company began harvesting and packing 5 kg gutted land-based salmon weekly for export from Þorlákshöfn.

Last year, the company invested around USD 115.33 million in property and equipment on Laxabraut, while total investment now amounts to approximately USD 265.27 million. The company has now completed the financing of its first permanent phase and will focus on completing that work this year and next, with the continued construction of 28-meter farming tanks.

They highlighted that there was a temporary decline in salmon sales last year as the company worked on growing larger salmon. However, they said, responses from foreign and domestic buyers indicate that sales are expected to increase significantly this year, as the 5 kg salmon is rated as a high-quality, superior-grade product by buyers.

The largest market areas for the company are in Europe are the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. First Water is also working with demanding buyers in Canada and the United States that serve canteens and restaurants operated on behalf of technology giants and investment banks.

Around 40% of the fish is sold to the United Kingdom, 23% to European Union countries, and around 28% goes to North America. A smaller portion of First Water’s salmon is furthermore sold on the domestic market.

Excellent Reviews

The salmon farmed and sold by First Water has received excellent reviews and is regarded as a high-quality product. The fish thrive exceptionally well in the 25 metre tanks, growth rates are strong, and mortality rates are among the lowest known. The key to this, in addition to the size of the tanks, is the unique water quality the salmon enjoy in the tanks.

The entrepreneurs who founded First Water believed that by using subterranean seawater that has passed through 10,000-year-old lava layers, they would obtain a high-quality fluid that creates ideal growing conditions for salmon. It has now become clear that the entrepreneurs were exactly right. Measurements of samples of so-called environmental DNA, or eDNA, taken in June 2025 by ÍSOR GeoSurvey and analysed by the independent research laboratory Matís, confirm these properties of the geothermal seawater.

First Water then treats the subterranean seawater from the tanks using the latest technology, so that discharge from First Water’s operations measures cleaner than the seawater in the Atlantic Ocean itself. This creates a sustainable and environmentally friendly cycle that delivers a high-quality product to consumers.

Looking ahead, further development is planned, with the aim of completing the first phase of the project by the end of 2027. This will increase the company’s capacity from 5,000 HoG tons of salmon to 10,000 HoG tons.

No Pain, Big Gain: What Shrimp Nerves Can Teach Us About the Future of Aquaculture

Edusehat — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 06:20:03 +0700

* By FishProf

As Associate Professor Tomer Ventura’s research reveals, the definition of success in aquaculture is changing. Moving beyond traditional lagging indicators, advanced genomics allows us to decode the shrimp nervous system and map stress-response genes. This groundbreaking work establishes practical molecular welfare indicators to turn invisible stress into measurable parameters. Ultimately, prioritizing animal welfare becomes a vital business tool that directly drives farm profitability and market trust.

I had one of those “stop and think” moments at the Evoke conference in Melbourne last week.

You know the kind. You’re in yet an other session, coffee in hand, half your brain on the next panel – and then someone quietly upends one of the fundamentals you thought you understood about aquaculture.

This time it was Associate Professor Tomer Ventura from the University of the Sunshine Coast, talking about shrimp welfare and genomics. Not a new topic on paper, but the depth of what his team is uncovering made me realize how far and how fast our industry is moving.

The definition of success in shrimp farming is changing from simple harvest volume to responsible production. Consumers, retailers, and regulators now demand verifiable assurance regarding animal welfare, which is increasingly baked into international certifications, procurement policies, and market price.

For decades we’ve said, often with a shrug, “Well, prawns don’t scream.” They don’t vocalize, they don’t pull a sad face, and in a pond of millions you don’t see individuals limping around. So, we’ve used the blunt tools we had: survival, growth, feed conversion, maybe a bit of behavior. If they’re growing and not dying, they must be fine… right?

Ventura’s work suggests that this is no longer good enough – for the science, for the market, or for our social license.

Two men have now been charged for cheating.

The Silent Animals That Are Not So Silent

Shrimp farming has exploded over the past 30 years. It’s gone from niche coastal ponds to a global protein engine, feeding local communities and international markets alike. As volumes grew, systems became more sophisticated and technology took hold: aeration, feeding systems, genetics, biosecurity, you name it.

But the definition of “success” is changing.

It’s no longer just tons harvested and cost per kilo. Consumers, retailers and regulators want assurance that those tons are produced responsibly, with genuine attention to welfare. That’s not some fluffy NGO slogan; it is increasingly baked into certifications, procurement policies and – crucially – price.

Unlike cattle or salmon, shrimp cannot be individually monitored and do not exhibit obvious, vertebrate-type pain behaviors in dense, murky systems. This has left the aquaculture sector relying on lagging indicators like mortality spikes, poor growth, and disease outbreaks to detect chronic stress.

For shrimp, this creates a practical problem. Unlike cattle or salmon, they can’t be individually monitored. They don’t exhibit obvious, vertebrate-type “pain behaviors”. They live in dense, murky systems where subtle signs are easily missed.

As Ventura points out, this has left the sector relying on lagging indicators – mortality spikes, poor growth, disease outbreaks – to tell us something is wrong. By the time those signals show up, the animal has been under stress long enough to damage performance and profitability.

The question his group asked is simple: can we listen to shrimp in a different way?

Freshwater Prawns (Courtesy: Hope Vale Foundation).

Decoding the Shrimp Nervous System

The answer, it turns out, is sitting in the genome.

For years, scientists argued about whether crustaceans even have the molecular machinery to detect and respond to harmful conditions in a way that is comparable – biologically, not emotionally – to vertebrates.

Thanks to advances in sequencing and bioinformatics, we now know that shrimp possess a remarkably sophisticated suite of sensory and stress-response genes.

Ventura’s team and others have identified:

» TRP channels – receptors that respond to heat and chemical cues.

» Piezo channels – specialist sensors for mechanical pressure.

» Acid-sensing receptors – responsive to changes in pH and acidity.

» Volta-gegated sodium channels – core components of neural signaling.

» Purinergic receptors – involved in signaling tissue damage and inflammation.

In plain language, shrimp have the “hardware” to detect when something in their environment is physically or chemically wrong. They don’t yelp, but their cells light up.

The work doesn’t stop at sequence hunting. The group is mapping where these genes are active in the body – measuring gene expression across tissues like the antennal nerves, central ganglia and gills. High activity in those areas paints a picture of where shrimp “feel” the world, and how that sensory information moves through their nervous system.

Advanced sequencing and bioinformatics reveal that shrimp possess a sophisticated suite of sensory and stress-response genes. These include TRP channels for chemical cues, Piezo channels for mechanical pressure, acid-sensing receptors for pH changes, and purinergic receptors for tissue damage signaling.

This is not armchair science. It’s the foundation for something extremely practical: molecular welfare indicators.

But the definition of “success” is changing.

By characterizing stress-response genes, researchers can identify genomic biomarkers that spike under adverse farm conditions. These markers can be built into practical diagnostic tools like qPCR assays, allowing farmers to objectively measure the stress of grading, transport, or harvest protocols.

The question his group asked is simple: can we listen to shrimp in a different way?

550 abalone, allegedly taken from the Pt Hicks Marine National Park.

Decoding the Shrimp Nervous System

The answer, it turns out, is sitting in the genome.

Thanks to advances in sequencing and bioinformatics, we now know that shrimp possess a remarkably sophisticated suite of sensory and stress-response genes.

Ventura’s team and others have identified:

» TRP channels – receptors that respond to heat and chemical cues.

» Piezo channels – specialist sensors for mechanical pressure.

» Acid-sensing receptors – responsive to changes in pH and acidity.

» Voltage-gated sodium channels – core components of neural signaling.

» Purinergic receptors – involved in signaling tissue damage and inflammation.

Freshwater Prawns (Courtesy: Hope Vale Foundation).

From Gene Lists to Farm Tools

One of the points Ventura made – and we discussed afterwards – is that full-blown welfare experiments can be ethically sensitive and expensive. Nobody wants to design a trial that deliberately hurts animals just to see how bad it gets. And smaller research groups simply don’t have the budget for elaborate, repeated challenge studies.

Genomics Offers a Different Path

By characterizing the genes, and then watching how they switch on and off under different conditions, you can start to identify “biomarkers” – genes that reliably spike when the animal is under stress.

Once those markers are validated, they can be built into practical diagnostic assays such as qPCR tests. Take a small tissue sample, run the assay, and you don’t have to guess whether the grading protocol, transport system or harvest method is stressing the stock – you see it in the expression profile.

That opens up a long list of possibilities:

» Comparing different handling or transport methods to see which is genuinely least stressful.

» Testing new technologies (aeration, lighting, feed regimes) for welfare benefits rather than marketing claims.

» Providing hard data for certification schemes that want “welfare proof”, not just a policy statement.

» Integrating those welfare indicators into digital traceability and QR-based labelling, allowing stories about “better shrimp” to be backed by real numbers.

If you are a farmer, this is not an abstract ethics seminar. Chronic stress knocks down immunity, opens the door to disease, worsens feed conversion and drags down growth. Turning invisible welfare problems into measurable parameters is another lever to improve performance.

No pain, big gain, indeed.

Welfare as a Business Tool, Not a Burden

One of the enduring myths in aquaculture is that welfare is always a cost

In reality, as Ventura’s work reinforces, welfare and profitability are tightly linked. Stressed shrimp are expensive shrimp: they get sick more, convert feed less efficiently and die more often. Every percentage point of stress you can remove from the system – by better design, handling, or technology – shows up somewhere on the bottom line.

The genomics angle simply gives us a finer lens

Instead of waiting for a crash, we can monitor early stress signatures and adjust before damage accrues. It is no different in principle to watching dissolved oxygen or pH, but with a direct line into the animal’s physiology rather than the water column.

The other side of the coin is social license. As public scrutiny of aquaculture grows, “trust me, we care” is not enough. Objective, third-party-verifiable indicators of welfare give farms a stronger story to tell retailers and consumers – particularly in premium markets that are already paying more for certifications tied to ethics and environment.

At Evoke, I was struck by how much the conversation has shifted. Ten years ago, a talk like Ventura’s might have been parked in an academic breakout. Now, welfare genomics is front-and-center in discussions about sustainability, market access and digital traceability.

Welfare is an operational business tool rather than a cost burden because chronic stress directly knocks down shrimp immunity. Monitoring early molecular stress signatures allows producers to optimize feed conversion, prevent disease outbreaks, and secure a premium competitive advantage.

Where does this leave the wider seafood world?

So, what does this mean beyond shrimp? First, it reminds us that science is moving inside the animal, not just around it. We have spent decades optimizing systems – feeds, cages, ponds, logistics. The next frontier is understanding, and optimizing, the biology of welfare itself.

Second, it shows how data can bridge the gap between ethical expectations and practical farming. Consumers increasingly want to know not just that their seafood is safe and legal, but that it was produced in a way they can live with. Genomics, if translated sensibly, can provide part of that reassurance.

Third, it challenges all of us – farmers, processors, retailers, and yes, consumer advocates like the Seafood Consumers Association – to think about how these tools get into the hands of operators, not just sit in journal articles.

Ventura’s “no pain – big gain” proposition is not about wrapping shrimp in cotton wool. It is about using the finest tools of modern biology to run better farms, make better products and build better trust. When you can read stress in a shrimp’s genes, you are a long way from the days of “if it’s alive at harvest, it must be okay”.

At Evoke, that realization was both humbling and exciting. The next time someone tells you welfare is a cost center, point them towards the emerging genomics of shrimp. The data says otherwise.

And as FishProf, I’ll be watching closely to see which producers turn that science into a genuine competitive advantage – because in the seafood world, those who listen earliest are often the ones still standing when the music changes.

References and sources consulted by the author on the elaboration of this article are available under previous request to our editorial staff.

Mediterranean Field Trial Tests Enhanced Trawl Technology to Reduce Seabed Impact While Sustaining Fishing Performance

Edusehat — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 10:25:07 +0700

By FAO

A new scientific field trial is underway off the coast of Alicante, Spain, to evaluate an enhanced fishing technology that could help reduce the environmental footprint of bottom trawl fisheries while sustaining the catch performance that commercial fishers rely on.

The project will evaluate the performance of semi-pelagic trawl doors compared with conventional trawl doors. Designed to operate slightly above the seabed, semi-pelagic doors – also known as flying doors – have the potential to reduce direct contact with the seafloor and limit sediment disturbance while maintaining the horizontal opening and stability required for efficient fishing operations.

This collaborative initiative brings together the General Secretariat for Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with the participation of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, which is leading the field activities.

©Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain.

A Step Towards Sustainable Trawling

To avoid potential discrepancies associated with comparing different vessels, a single commercial bottom trawl vessel is being used throughout the trial, first operating with semi-pelagic doors and then with conventional doors. Conducting both phases in immediate succession and in the same fishing grounds minimizes the effects of seasonal, environmental and spatial variability, ensuring a robust comparison between the two gear configurations.

The trial is particularly relevant to Mediterranean bottom trawl fisheries targeting commercially important species such as deep-water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris), European hake (Merluccius merluccius), red mullet (Mullus barbatus), broadtail shortfin squid (Illex coindetii), blue and red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus), Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus), mantis shrimp (Squilla mantis) and common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus).

“During the fishing operations, researchers will assess catch rates, catch composition, gear geometry, trawl door behavior and operational efficiency. The objective is to determine whether semi-pelagic doors can reduce environmental impacts without compromising fishing performance or the practicality of day-to-day commercial operations”, explained Sergi Tudela, Fishery Officer and Coordinator of the GFCM Western Mediterranean Technical Unit.

The fisheries and oceanographic research vessel Emma Bardán, operated by the Spanish General Secretariat for Fisheries, plays a key role in the trial. The vessel will produce high-resolution maps of the seabed before and after trawling with both door types, providing a direct comparison of their effects on the marine environment. It will also monitor water clarity during fishing operations to assess how much sediment is disturbed by each type of trawl door.

The project is carried out under the GFCM MedSea4Fish programme and directly contributes to the implementation of the GFCM 2030 Strategy by providing scientific evidence to support the adoption of lower-impact fishing technologies. Its findings will help inform future fisheries management decisions aimed at balancing healthy marine ecosystems with productive and resilient fisheries across the Mediterranean.

About the GFCM

Beyond Replacement Why Marine Ingredient Scarcity Is Reshaping the Future of Aquaculture

Edusehat — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 10:25:06 +0700

By Innovafeed

Marine Ingredient Scarcity Is Becoming Structural, Not Cyclical.

For decades, aquaculture has relied on fishmeal and fish oil as its nutritional foundation. Today, that model is under increasing pressure. Several indicators point to a structural shift:

✓ Fishmeal prices have risen sharply since May 2026, reaching the highest levels seen in years.

✓ Peru and Chile, which account for the majority of global anchovy production, have reduced catches following lower biomass assessments.

✓ Fish oil prices increased by more than 40% in one quarter, reflecting growing pressure on marine resources.

✓ Climate change and recurring El Niño events are expected to further increase supply volatility.

The question is no longer whether shortages will occur, but how the industry can adapt.

Scarcity Changes the Role of Alternative Ingredients

Historically, alternative proteins were developed to replace fishmeal. Today’s challenge is different.

The objective is no longer simply to substitute marine ingredients, but to use them where they deliver the highest biological value while complementing them with functional ingredients that improve animal performance, resilience and supply security.

This represents a shift from ingredient replacement to ingredient optimization.

Functional Ingredients Are Becoming Strategic Assets

At Innovafeed, we believe the next generation of aquafeeds will combine several complementary ingredients rather than rely on a single substitute.

Hilucia Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) ingredients naturally provide:

These compounds contribute not only to nutrition but also to gut health, immune support and animal robustness.

Key Figures

+ 44% increase in fish oil prices (Q1 2026)

– 28% global fishmeal production (IFFO).

35% lower anchovy biomass in Peru versus previous estimates.

Up to 1.8 M tons of alternative ingredients needed annually to maintain future aquaculture production under severe forage fish shortage scenarios (Nature Food).

Sources

✓ IFFO.

✓ Nature Food.

✓ World Bank

✓ IMF.

✓ Rabobank Research.

✓ Innovafeed White Paper (2026) www.innovafeed.com

Quality, Health and Trusted Certification are Reshaping Seafood Purchasing, New Global ASC Research Reveals

Edusehat — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 10:25:05 +0700

By Aquaculture Stewardship Council

Global study of almost 15,000 consumers shows growing interest in sustainable seafood, with trusted certification increasingly helping shoppers buy with confidence.

Consumer interest in sustainable food is growing rapidly, with a more than 10 percentage point increase since 2024 in consumers who say they prefer environmentally friendly products and look for sustainability claims on food. Yet when shoppers buy seafood, health, taste and quality still come first. Trusted certification is increasingly helping consumers turn their sustainability intentions into purchasing decisions.

The study, one of the world’s largest pieces of consumer research focused on seafood, surveyed almost 15,000 consumers across 14 countries. It found independent certification schemes are now the most trusted source of information about seafood and sustainability, ranking ahead of environmental organizations, seafood brands and retailers.

Consumer trust in the ASC label has continued to increase across most markets since ASC’s 2024 global consumer research. Following the introduction of the new ASC on-pack label in March 2026, awareness of both the original and new ASC labels continued to exceed that of every other farmed seafood certification program in every country surveyed. Together, these findings confirm that ASC remains by far the world’s most recognized farmed seafood certification label.

The research reveals a shift in consumer thinking. Sustainability is no longer just an environmental consideration – increasingly, it’s becoming a signal of the quality, health and confidence consumers look for when buying seafood. While taste, health and quality remain the primary drivers of seafood purchases, trusted certification helps consumers identify products that deliver those attributes.

What This Means for Retailers, Brands and Seafood Businesses

The research highlights four trends shaping seafood purchasing decisions:

✓ Consumer trust is becoming a commercial advantage, alongside traditional drivers such as taste, quality and price.

✓ Independent certification is the most trusted source of seafood sustainability information, giving businesses a credible way to build confidence with shoppers.

✓ Consumers increasingly associate sustainability with health, quality and food safety, making trusted certification relevant to mainstream purchasing decisions.

✓ Clear, recognized certification labels help shoppers make informed choices quickly, creating greater value at the point of purchase in an increasingly competitive retail environment.

Willem de Bruijn, Chief Commercial Officer at ASC, said, “Consumer expectations are changing. People still buy seafood because they enjoy it and recognize its health benefits, but they’re increasingly looking for trusted reassurance about the products they choose. Independent certification has become one of the clearest signals they use to buy with confidence.

“One of the most interesting findings is that consumers no longer see sustainability in isolation. They increasingly connect it with the things they already value most – quality, food safety and health. For retailers, brands and seafood businesses, that makes trusted, independent certification an increasingly valuable way to build consumer confidence.

“We’re delighted to see ASC maintain its position as the world’s most recognized farmed seafood certification label, with trust continuing to grow following the launch of our new on-pack label. It’s encouraging to see the collective efforts of ASC and our partners helping make certified seafood easier to recognize, understand and choose.”

Want to Know More?

ASC will share further findings from the research, including market-specific insights and commercial implications for retailers, brands and seafood businesses, during a webinar on 8 September 2026. You can find out more and register here.

About the Research

The research was conducted by the independent and awarded market research agency The Conversation Studio on behalf of ASC as part of its biennial global consumer research program. Almost 15,000 consumers were surveyed across 14 countries to better understand changing attitudes towards seafood purchasing, sustainability and certification.

About the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

ASC is setting the standard for farmed seafood. www.asc-aqua.org

Minister Launches the New Nova Scotia Seafood Sector Strategy

Edusehat — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 06:50:06 +0700

• One of its key actions is development of the Sector Innovation Hub for applied research, innovation, technology adoption and commercialization support, with a budget of USD 1.07 million for 2026-2027

Kent Smith, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Executive Council of Nova Scotia, released some days ago the new Nova Scotia Seafood Sector Strategy, at the facilities of the company Sea Star Seafoods, in Clark’s Harbour, Shelburne County. The three-year strategy aims to help seafood businesses respond to challenges including rising costs, labor shortages and global trade uncertainty. According to them, the Strategy will help the industry adapt, compete and create more economic benefit for Nova Scotians.

Nova Scotia’s new seafood sector strategy is built around four pillars: industry growth and innovation, market and product diversification, operational efficiency, and communications and collaboration, they reported.

“The seafood sector is one of our strongest natural assets and has enormous potential to grow,” said Smith. “This strategy provides a clear and practical road map to improve services, strengthen partnerships, expand market opportunities and better support businesses across the seafood sector,” he added.

For his part, Kris Vascotto, Executive Director, Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance, said: “The Nova Scotia Seafood Sector Strategy clearly moves Nova Scotia’s fish and seafood industry from the side of the table to the center of the plate. The strategy illustrates a crisp vision for the future of the sector and delivers a clear path for both government and industry to achieve prosperity for all Nova Scotians.”

Key Actions

Some of the key actions of the Strategy are launching the Seafood Sector Innovation Hub for applied research, innovation, technology adoption and commercialization support; the 2026-2027 budget includes USD 1.07 million this year and ongoing annual funding for this priority commitment; and improve of programs and funding to grow sector innovation, efficiency and resilience.

Other keys are the grow of Nova Scotia aquaculture sector; provide support for product diversification, value-added processing and full product utilization; offer expanded market diversification funding and supports; the 2026-2027 budget includes USD 2.84 million over three years for this priority commitment; improve processes, policies and workflows to support faster approvals; and improve communication of services and supports for the seafood sector too.

Four Pillars

As said, the strategy clearly defines specific roles for the government and opportunities for industry and is built around four pillars: industry growth and innovation, market and product diversification, operational efficiency, and communications and collaboration.

Research, sector analysis and input from industry representatives, partners and stakeholders helped shape the plan. It reflects a shared goal of a seafood industry that is diverse, efficient, resilient and known worldwide for premium quality and sustainability.

Creating Opportunities for the Next Generation

Seafood is Nova Scotia’s top export industry; it employed about 19,000 people in 2025, when Nova Scotia seafood exports were worth about USD 1.56 billion.

In that sense, Kerry Cunningham, sales-procurement, Sea Star Seafoods, and director of Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance declared: “This strategy recognizes that Nova Scotia’s seafood sector can’t rely on doing things the way we did 20 years ago. Investments in automation, innovation, market diversification and workforce development are essential if we’re going to remain globally competitive. The sector supports thousands of families in rural Nova Scotia, and continues creating opportunities for the next generation and ensuring Nova Scotia remains a global leader in premium seafood. Ultimately, we have to move fast and together.”

For his part, Jeff Bishop, Executive Director of the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia assured: “AANS is pleased to see the release of a Nova Scotia Seafood Sector Strategy focused on growth, innovation, diversification and efficiency. Work in these areas will help unlock the untapped potential of the aquaculture sector in our province and our region.”

Aker BioMarine Reports That Krill Oil Continues to Boom in the Second Quarter, With A 21% Increase in Revenue

Edusehat — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:35:06 +0700

Aker BioMarine reported some days ago continued momentum in krill oil sales in the second quarter of 2026, with revenues up 21% to USD 31.5 million on solid volume growth. The company also secured a new Lysoveta contract worth USD 4 million in first-year revenues and won new Superba krill oil business ranking among the company’s largest customers. The company also informed about its revenue of USD 57.9 million in the second quarter, an increase of 5% compared to the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA came in at 12.9 million USD, 4 percent below last year.

“Krill oil sales continued their strong momentum in the second quarter, with revenues up 21% year-over-year on solid volume growth. We are also pleased to have secured a new Lysoveta contract worth USD 4 million in first-year revenues, in addition to a large win for Superba Krill oil, important commercial milestones for our ingredient portfolio,” said the company’s CEO, Matts Johansen.

Human Health Ingredients (HHI) delivered revenue growth of 17% to 34.1 million. Sales of krill oil alone reached USD 31.5 million, an increase of 21%, driven mainly by solid volumes, with prices supported by product mix and a higher share of capsulated oil. Adjusted EBITDA for the segment increased 14% to USD 15.9 million, they explained

Production in Houston was lower in the quarter, impacting QHP sales, but stabilized to normal levels at quarter end.

Consumer Health

The company also confirmed that the Consumer Health Products (CHP) reported revenue of USD 26.4 million, a 6% decline compared with the previous year. Lang declined 4 percent on lower sales through key United States (US) retail chains, while Epion continues a marketing repositioning that is weighing on short-term revenues but is expected to be positive over time. Adjusted EBITDA came in at USD 1.1 million, reflecting lower revenues and gross profit.

Human Health Ingredients expects continued year-over-year growth and improved profits, supported by good underlying demand across multiple markets. Consumer Health Products is expected to return to modest growth.

The sale process for Understory is ongoing, with advanced discussions with one interested party. Aker BioMarine, a leading human health and nutrition company that develops sustainable marine-based ingredients, has engaged Jefferies and Houlihan Lokey as investment banks to explore strategic alternatives for the Human Health Ingredients business, working toward a transaction in 2026.

24/7 Renewable Energy Agreement

Some weeks before the release of that information, Aker BioMarine has signed a 24/7 renewable energy agreement with ENGIE, reinforcing the company’s long-term focus on operational sustainability and responsible energy sourcing. The agreement reinforces the company’s broader sustainability strategy and marks an important step in reducing the environmental footprint of its operations. Through the deal, Aker BioMarine expects to reduce Scope 2 emissions at its Houston manufacturing facility, while strengthening the transparency and precision of its climate reporting.

“Through this agreement, we expect to reduce our Scope 2 emissions, marking an important milestone in our broader sustainability journey,” commented Johansen. “ENGIE has delivered an affordable, innovative and transparent solution that allows us to match our electricity consumption for our Houston manufacturing facility with renewable power generation. The transparent data ENGIE provides strengthens our climate reporting while helping us continue delivering high-quality products with a lower environmental footprint.”

As an early mover in the biotechnology sector, Aker BioMarine is advancing its sustainability efforts through adopting site-specific Renewable Energy Certificates that link each unit of electricity consumed to power generated from named renewable energy projects. With approximately 90% of electricity consumption matched hourly with local renewable generation, the structure provides a more precise alignment between energy demand and clean supply than traditional renewable procurement models.

The agreement goes beyond traditional renewable procurement by providing around-the-clock, site-specific clean energy backed by a diversified portfolio of assets. The Impact Solar Project in Lamar County, Texas, along with other designated renewable assets, will anchor the supply that supports this agreement, they assured.

“Working with companies that have made sustainability a core part of their strategy is essential to delivering meaningful progress,” said Taymur Bunkheila, Regional VP and Retail Supply Lead for ENGIE’s US 24/7 product. “By aligning energy solutions with operational needs, we can help organizations improve transparency, strengthen accountability, and deliver measurable outcomes. This agreement demonstrates how companies can take practical steps today while building toward long-term sustainability objectives.”

More than a compliance measure, the agreement integrates energy accountability into Aker BioMarine’s day-to-day operations. The company continues to take a systematic, value-chain-wide approach to reducing emissions, prioritizing reductions that are technically and operationally feasible, while tracking progress toward its 2030 carbon intensity goal.

Government of Tanzania Officially Launches World Aquaculture Tanzania 2026 (WA26T)

Edusehat — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:35:05 +0700

By World Aquaculture Tanzania 2026 Conference

The government of Tanzania, through the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MLF), officially launched the World Aquaculture Tanzania 2026 Conference (WA26T). This event marks a significant step in building both national and international momentum for the conference and mobilizing participation from government institutions, private sector, development partners, academia, and other stakeholders. WA26T is scheduled to take place from December 1 to 4, 2026.

The launch event was held at the Tanzania Fisheries Corporation (TAFICO) premises in Dar es Salaam and officiated by the Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Honorable Ambassador Dr. Bashiru Ally Kakurwa (MP), along with several high-level delegates from the Ministry. The event included the signing of the conference’s hosting agreement, which outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the WAS and MLF. Additionally, the conference theme, branding, organizational arrangements, and partnership opportunities were unveiled, establishing Tanzania as a preferred destination for international conferences, investment, and sustainable Blue Economy development.

Representatives from MLF, local universities, research institutions, industry representatives—including the Aquaculture Association of Tanzania (AAT), WAS members, media, and various support entities—also attended the launch and witnessed the signing ceremony. Virtual statements of solidarity were issued by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and Aller Aqua – which is WAS African Chapter Corporate Sponsor.

The WAS’s World Aquaculture Conferences are the premier annual gatherings of aquaculture scientists, industry leaders, policymakers, investors, development partners, and other key stakeholders. Organized by the WAS in collaboration with host countries and partners, the conferences serve as leading global platforms for sharing knowledge, showcasing innovations, fostering partnerships for advancing sustainable aquaculture development.

In recognition of Tanzania’s rapid growth in aquaculture and its commitment to advancing the Blue Economy, the WAS has selected the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to host the WA26T Conference at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam, under the theme “Aquaculture Driving Blue Transformation.”

The conference is expected to attract more than 2,000 delegates from over 100 countries, placing Tanzania at the forefront of global discussions on sustainable aquaculture, food security, aquatic food systems, investment, innovation, and the Blue Economy. It will feature keynote addresses from internationally renowned experts, scientific and technical presentations, policy dialogues, business-to-business networking opportunities, and an international exhibition showcasing the latest technologies, products, and services across the aquaculture value chain. This event will be a unique opportunity for Tanzania to highlight its achievements, investment potential, research capability, and innovations while strengthening collaboration with global partners.

The launch event also included the official release of the Aquatic Foods Recipe Book – Tanzania, developed by the Government of Tanzania in collaboration with WorldFish and Aquatic BioSolutions Tanzania (ABiST) under the Program for Improving Fisheries Governance and Blue Economy Trade Corridors in the SADC Region (PROFISHBLUE). The publication aims to promote the consumption of aquatic foods, strengthen fisheries and aquaculture value chains, improve nutrition, and create new market opportunities for aquatic food products. The digital version of the book can be found [here]

The WAS is pleased to invite conference sponsors, exhibitors, presenters (abstracts), and the general aquaculture community to register and prepare to be in Tanzania on 1-4 December, for WA26T. This conference is hosted by the United Republic of Tanzania through the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy (Zanzibar), along with key sponsors such as AUDA-NEPAD, and various WAS Global Premium Sponsors.

For more information on registration, exhibition opportunities, abstract submissions, special sessions, travel details, and other relevant information, please visit the official WA26T website. https://was.org/meeting/code/afraq26. For general inquiries, contact the WAS-AC Secretariat at africanchapter@was.org.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Aquaculture Management

Edusehat — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:00:07 +0700

Artificial intelligence is changing the way aquaculture farms monitor fish, manage resources, and make daily production decisions. By combining sensors, cameras, automated equipment, and data analysis, AI can turn large amounts of farm information into practical recommendations.

Instead of relying only on periodic observations, farmers can use AI-supported systems to monitor water quality, feeding activity, fish behavior, health indicators, and environmental conditions continuously. These tools can identify patterns that may be difficult to notice through visual inspection alone.

However, artificial intelligence is not meant to replace experienced farm managers. Its greatest value comes from helping people make faster, more accurate, and better-informed decisions.

What Is Artificial Intelligence in Aquaculture?

Artificial intelligence in aquaculture refers to computer systems that analyze farm data, recognize patterns, predict potential problems, and recommend or automate specific actions.

These systems can collect information from:

Water-quality sensors
Underwater cameras
Automated feeders
Fish-behavior monitoring systems
Weather stations
Production records
Mobile applications
Internet of Things devices

Machine-learning models can then compare current information with historical data to identify unusual conditions, estimate future performance, or recommend operational changes.

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s digital aquaculture resources highlight how digital tools can support water-quality monitoring, feed management, disease tracking, and farm decision-making.

Continuous Monitoring Supports Earlier Detection

Water conditions can change quickly, especially in intensive ponds, tanks, cages, and recirculating aquaculture systems. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, turbidity, and ammonia can all affect aquatic animal health and growth.

Traditional testing provides information from a particular moment. In contrast, connected sensors can collect measurements throughout the day and night. AI can analyze these readings continuously and look for sudden changes or developing trends.

For example, the system may detect:

A gradual decline in dissolved oxygen
An unexpected increase in water temperature
Unusual pH fluctuations
Conditions associated with ammonia buildup
Differences between ponds or production units
Recurring problems during particular times of day

This can give farmers more time to inspect equipment, increase aeration, adjust water flow, reduce feeding, or take other appropriate action.

A NOAA guide to aquaculture water quality explains how temperature influences dissolved gases and other production conditions. AI does not change these biological relationships—it helps farmers monitor them more consistently.

AI Makes Feeding More Precise

Feed is one of the most significant operating costs on many aquaculture farms. Overfeeding wastes money, reduces feed-conversion efficiency, and can contribute to poor water quality. Underfeeding, meanwhile, may slow growth and increase competition among animals.

AI-supported feeding systems use underwater cameras, acoustic equipment, sensors, and behavioral data to estimate:

Whether fish are actively feeding
How quickly feed is being consumed
When feeding activity begins to decline
How much biomass is present
Whether environmental conditions are suitable for feeding

The system can then recommend or automatically adjust the feeding rate.

Research into AI-driven aquaculture technologies describes how underwater imaging and hydroacoustic tools can monitor feeding behavior in real time. When properly calibrated, these technologies can help reduce waste while supporting healthy growth.

More precise feeding can also lower the amount of uneaten feed and excess nutrients entering the surrounding environment.

Disease and Stress May Be Identified Earlier

Disease outbreaks can cause serious financial losses, particularly when warning signs are discovered only after fish stop eating or mortality increases.

Artificial intelligence can help identify early indicators of stress by analyzing changes in:

Swimming speed
Schooling behavior
Feeding response
Surface activity
Body position
Color or visible appearance
Water-quality conditions
Mortality patterns

Computer-vision systems may detect behavioral changes that are too subtle or gradual for workers to recognize during routine inspections. When combined with environmental and production data, these observations can create an early-warning system.

However, an AI alert should not be treated as a final diagnosis. It should prompt further inspection, water testing, sampling, or consultation with an aquatic animal health professional. Human expertise remains essential when determining the cause of a health problem and selecting an appropriate response.

A review of artificial intelligence applications in aquaculture discusses the use of cameras, sensors, and machine learning to monitor fish behavior, health, feeding, and water resources.

Growth Predictions Improve Production Planning

Estimating growth and biomass accurately is important for feeding, stocking, harvesting, and marketing. Conventional sampling can be labor-intensive and may temporarily stress the animals.

AI-supported imaging systems can estimate fish size and biomass from photographs or underwater video. These measurements can then be combined with feeding records, water conditions, stocking data, and previous production results.

This information can help farmers predict:

Expected growth rates
Feed requirements
Future biomass
Harvest dates
Production volumes
Stocking-density adjustments
Potential supply for buyers

Better forecasting can also help producers coordinate labor, processing, transportation, and sales more effectively.

Automation Reduces Repetitive Work

Artificial intelligence becomes especially useful when it is connected to automated farm equipment. Depending on the system and the level of human oversight, AI may help operate:

Feeders
Aerators
Pumps
Water-control systems
Filtration equipment
Lighting
Sorting and grading equipment
Alarm and notification systems

For example, a monitoring system could detect declining dissolved oxygen and send an alert. A more advanced system might automatically activate an aerator while notifying the farm manager.

Automation reduces the need for constant manual adjustment and can help maintain stable production conditions outside regular working hours. Nevertheless, farms should maintain backup procedures in case sensors, communications, software, or automated equipment fail.

AI Can Improve Resource Efficiency

Aquaculture profitability depends on using feed, energy, water, labor, and equipment efficiently. Even small inefficiencies can become expensive when repeated across large farms or multiple production cycles.

AI can compare data from different ponds, cages, tanks, or facilities to identify where resources are being wasted. It may reveal that one production unit consistently uses more feed, requires more aeration, or produces slower growth than similar units.

Farm managers can use these findings to improve:

Feed-conversion ratios
Water use
Energy consumption
Labor scheduling
Equipment maintenance
Stocking strategies
Waste management

The FAO’s discussion of sustainable aquaculture in action recognizes digitalization and capacity building as important components of future aquaculture development.

Historical Data Supports Better Long-Term Decisions

The value of AI increases as a farm develops reliable records across multiple production cycles. Instead of depending entirely on memory or isolated spreadsheets, farmers can build a searchable history of production performance.

They can compare:

Species and production batches
Seasonal conditions
Feed types
Stocking densities
Disease events
Water-quality patterns
Growth and survival rates
Harvest results

These comparisons can help managers understand why one cycle performed better than another. Over time, the farm can refine its practices using its own evidence rather than relying solely on general recommendations.

Challenges of Adopting AI in Aquaculture

Although AI offers considerable potential, successful implementation requires more than purchasing new technology.

Common challenges include:

High initial equipment costs
Limited internet access in remote locations
Poor-quality or incomplete farm data
Sensors that require regular cleaning and calibration
Systems that may not work equally well for every species
Lack of staff training
Compatibility problems between different technologies
Data ownership and cybersecurity concerns
Overreliance on automated recommendations

AI models are only as dependable as the information they receive. A damaged sensor, dirty camera, incorrect calibration, or poorly trained model can produce misleading results.

Therefore, farms should introduce AI gradually, test it under local conditions, and compare its recommendations with professional judgment.

How to Begin Using AI on an Aquaculture Farm

Farmers do not need to automate an entire facility at once. A smaller, carefully measured pilot project is usually a practical starting point.

1. Identify the most expensive or recurring problem

Begin with a specific challenge, such as excessive feed use, low nighttime oxygen, inconsistent growth, or delayed disease detection.

2. Improve data collection

Make sure sensors and production records are reliable before introducing advanced analysis.

3. Start with one pond or production unit

Testing the technology on a limited scale makes it easier to evaluate results and correct problems.

4. Establish human oversight

Decide which actions require manager approval and which low-risk adjustments may be automated.

5. Measure performance

Track indicators such as feed-conversion ratio, growth, survival, labor hours, energy use, and operating cost.

6. Expand only after proving the value

Once the system produces dependable results, it can be adapted to other parts of the operation.

The Future of AI in Aquaculture Management

Artificial intelligence is helping aquaculture become more predictive, efficient, and data-driven. It can strengthen water-quality monitoring, improve feeding decisions, detect potential health problems, estimate growth, automate routine operations, and support long-term planning.

The technology is most effective when it combines reliable data with the knowledge of experienced farmers, technicians, scientists, and aquatic animal health professionals.

AI should not replace human expertise. Instead, it should extend that expertise by providing faster analysis, earlier warnings, and clearer information. When used responsibly, artificial intelligence can help aquaculture businesses improve profitability while reducing waste and supporting better environmental outcomes.

Join the Ecolonomic Action Team

Would you like to learn more about artificial intelligence, aquaculture, sustainable business, and innovative ways to make a positive environmental impact?

Join the Ecolonomic Action Team Community. EAT connects entrepreneurs, growers, landowners, environmental professionals, and lifelong learners who want to create practical solutions that benefit both people and the planet.

Explore new ideas, learn from experienced professionals, and discover how innovative technologies can help you make a little money while making the planet better.

References and Related Resources

The post Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Aquaculture Management first appeared on WorldWide Aquaculture.

Ten Years of Shrimp Postlarvae in Mexico: Growth, Consolidation (2016–2025)

Edusehat — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 19:45:05 +0700

Editorial Staff | Aquaculture Magazine

Source: Aquaculture Health Committees / ANPLAC · Data 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary) · Own statistical analysis

A decade of records allows us to trace, for the first time, the complete trajectory of Mexico’s shrimp larval industry: a sector that grew 27.5%, remapped its geography, and set a historic production record in 2025 — with internal dynamics that foreshadow fundamental change.

19,805 M

PLS produced in 2025
Historic period record

+27.5%

Total growth
2016 → 2025

2.74%

Annual compound growth rate
(CAGR) 2016–2025

The Underlying Trend: Moderate Expansion with Inter-Annual Volatility

Between 2016 and 2025, shrimp postlarva production in Mexico grew 27.5% in absolute terms, rising from 15,529 million units to 19,805 million. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the period was 2.74% — real expansion, but at a moderate pace that contrasts with the perception of an industry in rapid acceleration.

The series is not linear. The 2016–2025 period describes a stair-step pattern of advancement, with two significant contractions and two major recovery cycles. The first decline occurred in 2017 (−5.0%); the second, in 2024 (−5.7%), the most pronounced of the period and the only one to interrupt a three-consecutive-year growth streak (2021–2023). In both cases, the industry recovered the following year with growth exceeding 6%, indicating resilience — though also some vulnerability to factors that the available statistics do not allow direct identification of.

The two years of greatest expansion were 2019 (+11.0%) and 2021 (+10.8%). The 2021–2023 triennium constituted the longest growth cycle of the period. The year 2025 closed with a +6.2% increase, setting a new all-time record for the series.

ANPLAC Members vs. Independent Shrimp Hatcheries: The Narrowing Gap

In 2016, ANPLAC members accounted for 89.5% of Mexico’s production with 19 active shrimp hatcheries. In 2025, that share fell to 85.1%, with 18 shrimp hatcheries. The difference seems small in percentage terms, but in market dynamics it is significant.

Independent shrimp hatcheries — those not affiliated with ANPLAC — went from producing 1,630 million PLS in 2016 to 2,948 million in 2025, an increase of 80.9% over ten years. Their CAGR was 6.81%, nearly three times the 2.17% recorded by the affiliated segment. The number of active independent shrimp hatcheries grew from 16 to a peak of 29 in 2024, though in 2025 it dropped to 24, which may indicate a consolidation process among smaller operators.

In 2023 and 2024, non-affiliated shrimp hatcheries reached their peak share of the period: 19.2% and 19.6% of Mexico’s total production respectively. In 2025 that figure fell back to 14.9%, partly because several smaller independent shrimp hatcheries reported declines. Even so, the long-term trend of the independent segment is unambiguously upward.

The ten highest-producing shrimp hatcheries in Mexico in 2025 are, without exception, ANPLAC members. The first independent shrimp hatchery in the ranking appears at position eleven, with 367 million PLS (1.86% of the total). This concentration of productive leadership in the affiliated segment is perhaps the clearest indicator of the competitive advantage conferred by ANPLAC membership in terms of scale, technology, and access to high-performance genetics.

Table 1 — Historical Series of Shrimp PLS Production in Mexico (2016–2025)

Year	ANPLAC Members (M PLS)	Independent (M PLS)	Total Mexico (M PLS)	% ANPLAC	% Indep.	Total Var.	ANPLAC Labs	Indep. Labs
2016	13,899	1,630	15,529	89.5%	10.5%	—	19	16
2017	13,179	1,567	14,747	89.4%	10.6%	−5.0%	18	26
2018	12,536	2,251	14,787	84.8%	15.2%	+0.3%	19	25
2019	14,706	1,715	16,421	89.6%	10.4%	+11.0%	23	13
2020	13,590	2,562	16,152	84.1%	15.9%	−1.6%	17	21
2021	15,148	2,750	17,897	84.6%	15.4%	+10.8%	17	22
2022	15,630	2,876	18,506	84.5%	15.5%	+3.4%	17	23
2023	15,986	3,798	19,783	80.8%	19.2%	+6.9%	18	27
2024	15,001	3,652	18,653	80.4%	19.6%	−5.7%	17	29
2025*	16,858	2,948	19,805	85.1%	14.9%	+6.2%	18	24

*Preliminary 2025 data. Figures in millions of postlarvae (PLS). Source: Aquaculture Health Committees / ANPLAC. Own elaboration. Scroll horizontally to see all columns on small screens.

The Major Shift: Sonora Overtakes Sinaloa within ANPLAC

For the first eight years of the period — 2016 to 2023 — Sinaloa continuously held the production lead within ANPLAC member shrimp hatcheries. In 2024, for the first time, Sonora surpassed Sinaloa in the ANPLAC segment, with 6,963 million PLS versus 6,724 million from Sinaloa. In 2025, that gap widened: Sonora produced 8,116 million within ANPLAC versus 7,771 million from Sinaloa.

Long-term trend analysis confirms the consistency of this shift. From 2016 to 2025, production from ANPLAC shrimp hatcheries operating in Sonora grew 42.3%, equivalent to a CAGR of 3.99%. Sinaloa, in the same segment, grew only 17.9% with a CAGR of 1.84%. Nayarit recorded a slightly negative CAGR (−0.48%), meaning its ANPLAC production in 2025 was practically the same as in 2016, with no structural growth trend.

Sonora’s Shift: Key Data

2024: Sonora surpasses Sinaloa for the first time in ANPLAC production — 6,963 M vs. 6,724 M PLS.

2025: Sonora widens the lead — 8,116 M vs. 7,771 M from Sinaloa (difference: +345 M PLS).

CAGR 2016–2025: Sonora ANPLAC grows at 3.99% per year, more than double Sinaloa ANPLAC’s 1.84%.

Note: Considering all shrimp hatcheries (including independents), Sinaloa remains the state with the highest total production in Mexico: 9,965 M PLS in 2025 versus 8,335 M from Sonora. The difference is made by independent shrimp hatcheries, which operate predominantly in Sinaloa.

Sonora: Mexico’s Most Organized Market

In Sonora, only two shrimp hatcheries with reportable operational presence operate outside the ANPLAC scheme — a minimal figure given the state’s total volume. The production of those two independent shrimp hatcheries in Sonora represented just 2.6% of the state’s total output in 2025. Virtually all of Sonora’s shrimp larviculture operates under the association’s rules, protocols, and standards.

This degree of organization has implications beyond the numbers. First, it suggests that Sonora has a more homogeneous larval industry in terms of traceability, biosecurity, and genetic quality — which may represent a competitive advantage for the state’s shrimp producers when certifying the origin and quality of their seed. Second, the scant presence of independent shrimp hatcheries in Sonora indicates that the barrier to entry for operating outside ANPLAC in that market is considerably higher than in Sinaloa.

The contrast with Sinaloa is illustrative: in that state, independent shrimp hatcheries produced approximately 2,194 million PLS in 2025, equivalent to 22% of the state’s total production. In Sonora, that same proportion does not exceed 3%. Two very different market models, both with high production, but with radically distinct internal competitive structures.

In Sonora, two independent shrimp hatcheries represent just 2.6% of the state’s production, making it the most organized and homogeneous shrimp larviculture market in Mexico. Nearly all its production is carried out under ANPLAC standards, which could confer differential advantages in biosecurity, genetics, and traceability.

The Ten Highest-Producing Shrimp Hatcheries in Mexico (2025)

The productive concentration of Mexico’s larval sector is high. The ten largest shrimp hatcheries — all ANPLAC members — accounted for 74.9% of all the country’s postlarva production in 2025. Aquapacific, operating from Sinaloa, Sonora, and Nayarit, exceeded 3,540 million PLS, equivalent to 17.9% of the total. Genitech, whose main operation is in Sonora, contributed an additional 2,671 million PLS. Together, the two leading shrimp hatcheries account for more than 31% of Mexico’s total 2025 production.

The first independent shrimp hatchery in the consolidated ranking occupies position eleven, with 367 million PLS. That figure is lower than the individual output of each of the ten member shrimp hatcheries and amounts to just under 2% of Mexico’s total production.

Table 2 — Top 10 Highest-Producing PLS Shrimp Hatcheries in Mexico · 2025

#	Shrimp Hatchery	State(s)	Production (M PLS)	% Mexico	Category
1	Aquapacific, S.A. de C.V.	Sin / Son / Nay	3,540	17.88%	ANPLAC
2	Genitech, S.A. de C.V.	Sonora	2,671	13.49%	ANPLAC
3	Comercializadora de Larvas, Nauplios y Camarón	Sin / Son / Nay	1,645	8.30%	ANPLAC
4	Biomarina Reproductiva, S de RL de CV	Sin / Nay	1,594	8.05%	ANPLAC
5	Acuícola Selecta, S.A. de C.V.	Sonora	1,569	7.92%	ANPLAC
6	Larvas Gran Mar, S.A. de C.V.	Sin / Son / Nay	943	4.76%	ANPLAC
7	Larvas el Dorado, S.A. de C.V.	Sonora	787	3.97%	ANPLAC
8	SRY Laboratorio, S.P.R. de R.L.	Son / Sin	731	3.69%	ANPLAC
9	Maricultura del Pacífico, S.A. de C.V.	Sin / Son / Nay	723	3.65%	ANPLAC
10	Larvas Génesis, S.A. de C.V.	Sin / Son	626	3.16%	ANPLAC
11*	Lab. de Productos de Larvas de Camarón SA de CV	Sin / Nay	367	1.86%	Independent

*Position 11 (first independent shrimp hatchery) included for comparative reference. Preliminary 2025 data. Source: Aquaculture Health Committees / ANPLAC. Scroll horizontally to see all columns on small screens.

Shrimp Hatcheries: More, or More Efficient?

Within ANPLAC, the number of shrimp hatcheries remained relatively stable between 17 and 23 units throughout the period, stabilizing at 17–18 since 2020. This implies that the segment’s growth did not come from new entrants but from increased installed capacity at existing units. Efficiency per shrimp hatchery within ANPLAC rose from an average of 732 million PLS per unit in 2016 to 936 million in 2025 — the highest figure in the entire series.

In the independent segment, the story is different: the number of active shrimp hatcheries nearly doubled, from 16 in 2016 to a peak of 29 in 2024, but production per unit grew far less. In 2025, the retreat to 24 active independent shrimp hatcheries, combined with a 19.3% drop in total segment production compared to 2023, points to a shakeout process among the smallest or least efficient operators.

Trends, Signals, and Questions for the Industry

Integrating all elements of the analysis, four trends emerge that should be of interest not only to Mexico’s larval sector but to those following shrimp aquaculture in Latin America and other regions with organized larviculture industries.

The first is the moderate but sustained expansion of productive capacity. A CAGR of 2.74% over ten years indicates that the sector can grow without structural oversupply pressure. The question is whether that pace is sufficient to keep up with regional shrimp producer demand.

The second is the market reconfiguration toward a greater weight of independent shrimp hatcheries. Their growth rate is three times that of ANPLAC members. This is not necessarily negative, but it raises questions about the standardization of sanitary and genetic protocols among actors operating outside the association’s frameworks.

The third is the rise of Sonora as a consolidated larval hub. Its model — few shrimp hatcheries, large-scale, almost all under ANPLAC — has produced sustained and differentiated growth. The fact that Sonora surpassed Sinaloa in ANPLAC production for a second consecutive year in 2025 is not a minor data point; it could be the beginning of a leadership shift that will be confirmed in coming cycles.

The fourth is the growing concentration among leading shrimp hatcheries. The ten largest producers — all ANPLAC — concentrated nearly 75% of Mexico’s total production in 2025. The first independent shrimp hatchery in the ranking produces less than one-tenth of Aquapacific’s output. This gap suggests the market is polarizing between a group of leaders growing through efficiency and a broad base of smaller operators competing in niches or specific geographies.

The declines of 2017 and 2024 remain without a clear statistical explanation from this data. Cross-referencing these figures with whole shrimp production data in the affected states — and with the health records of the period — is a pending task that could reveal correlations relevant to larval sector risk management.

Conclusion

Shrimp postlarva production in Mexico between 2016 and 2025 describes an industry in genuine expansion — (though at a moderate pace) — with solid internal organization in the ANPLAC-affiliated shrimp hatchery segment and an independent dynamic that is systematically gaining ground. The stronger growth of the independent segment has not displaced the affiliated segment, but it has permanently reconfigured market distribution.

The most structural change of the period is the rise of Sonora as the leading ANPLAC production state in 2024 and 2025, driven by shrimp hatcheries that rank among the country’s largest and that operate in a market virtually free of independent competition. That model — consolidated, organized, and large-scale — contrasts with Sinaloa, which maintains the leadership in total production thanks in part to a broader and more active ecosystem of independent shrimp hatcheries.

Mexico’s shrimp larval industry closes 2025 at its all-time record. What matters now is understanding whether that mark is the beginning of a new expansion phase or the ceiling of a cycle. Upcoming data will tell.

Sources and Methodology

Data source: Aquaculture Health Committees of Sinaloa, Sonora, Nayarit, and Baja California Sur. Statistical compilation: ANPLAC (AsociaciÃ³n Nacional de Productores de Larvas de CamarÃ³n, A.C.). The 2025 data are preliminary at the time of this analysis. Production figures are expressed in millions of postlarvae (PLS).

Methodology: Final statistics sheets were used for each year where both preliminary and final versions existed. The number of active shrimp hatcheries corresponds to those reporting production greater than zero. Variation rates and CAGRs are calculated on the reported annual totals. The categorization “ANPLAC Members” and “Independent” corresponds to the classification used in the association’s own statistics. Statistical analysis and interpretations are the author’s own.

Aquaculture Magazine is the leading English-language publication for the global aquaculture industry. Edited by DP International, Inc., it covers science, technology, markets, and trends in aquaculture worldwide. Contact: info@dpinternationalinc.com

A Solution for Sustainable Utilization of Aquaculture Waste: A Comprehensive Review of Biofloc Technology and Aquamimicry

Edusehat — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 08:55:05 +0700

* By Aquaculture Magazine Editorial Team

Can aquaculture waste become a valuable resource instead of an environmental problem? Biofloc Technology converts organic waste into nutrient-rich microbial biomass to enhance shrimp farming sustainability. This comprehensive review highlights that for large-scale production, utilizing high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-lined ponds with central drainage is ideal. Alongside aquamimicry, these closed systems drastically reduce water exchange, suppress pathogens, and lower feed costs, presenting a highly profitable and environmentally friendly future for global aquaculture.

Aquaculture plays an increasingly important role in meeting the food demands of a global population approaching 7.8 billion people. To sustain production growth, farming systems must expand while adopting environmentally responsible management practices. Intensive aquaculture often generates large amounts of organic waste and carbon-based pollutants that can negatively affect water quality and the surrounding environment. Traditional solutions such as frequent water exchange or recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) can reduce these impacts, but RAS is often too costly for widespread adoption.

Biofloc Technology (BFT) converts fish and shrimp waste into microbial biomass. Manipulating the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio stimulates heterotrophic bacteria to assimilate inorganic nitrogen, generating microbial protein that improves water quality and lowers feed costs.

As a result, Biofloc Technology (BFT) has emerged as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative. BFT promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms that recycle nutrients, remove nitrogenous wastes, improve water quality, and produce microbial protein that can be consumed by culture species. This reduces feed conversion ratios and production costs. Since feed accounts for approximately 50% of aquaculture operating expenses, BFT offers significant economic advantages by converting waste into valuable biomass.

The reviewed study examines both Biofloc Technology and aquamimicry as sustainable approaches for increasing aquaculture productivity while minimizing environmental impacts and resource use.

Biofloc Technology

BFT was developed as a sustainable and cost-effective aquaculture system designed to improve water quality while reducing water consumption, particularly in regions where water resources are limited. The systems work by promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms that convert fish and shrimp waste into microbial biomass, known as biofloc. In conventional aquaculture, 70-80% of dietary protein can be lost as nitrogenous waste.

BFT addresses this problem by manipulating the carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio, encouraging heterotrophic bacteria to assimilate inorganic nitrogen and transform it into microbial protein. To maintain an effective system, the C:N ratio is kept above 10 through the addition of carbon sources such as molasses, starch, or wheat flour.

This process improves water quality while simultaneously generating a supplementary protein source that can be consumed by cultural species. First developed in the 1970s as the French Research Institute for Exploration of the Sea, BFT has been successfully applied to the culture of several shrimp species, particularly Litopenaeus vannamei.

Because it operates as a closed system with minimal water exchange, BFT reduces environmental impacts, prevents eutrophication, and enhances biosecurity. The dense microbial community sustainable suppresses harmful pathogen, strengthens the immune system of cultured organisms, and increases resistance to diseases such as infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) and Vibrio infections.

For large-scale biofloc fish or shrimp production, high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-lined ponds with well-prepared dikes are preferred. HDPE-lined ponds with sufficient elevation and central drainage are ideal for biofloc-based farming. The BFT can be conveniently applied in recirculatory aquaculture or raceway systems by including it in situ or producing the floc ex situ through an activated sludge system. The harvested biofloc is then put into the production system. The system is adequately agitated and aerated to keep the microbial floc in suspension.

Operating with minimal water exchange, BFT prevents eutrophication and enhances biosecurity. Its dense microbial community naturally suppresses harmful pathogens, strengthening the immune system of cultured species against lethal diseases and Vibrio infections.

These economic, environmental, and health benefits have made BFT one of the most promising technologies for aquaculture development. Biofloc formation occurs in well-aerated aquaculture systems where carbon sources such as molasses, starch, or wheat flour are added to stimulate heterotrophic bacterial growth.

These bacteria convert nitrogenous wastes into microbial biomass, improving water quality and producing nutritious bioflocs. Continuous aeration and monitoring ensure stable microbial development and system performance (Figure 1).

Approaches for Biofloc Generation

Biofloc can be generated through three main approaches: the natural transition, inoculum, and customization methods. The natural transition approach relies on the gradual conversion of autotrophic communities into heterotrophic microbial populations by adding carbon sources and maintaining an appropriate carbon-to nitrogen ration (12-15:1).

Factors such as salinity and carbon source influence both the speed and quality of biofloc formation. Although effective, this method is relatively slow and may require several days before a stable biofloc community develops. The inoculum approach accelerates biofloc development by introducing previously cultures biofloc into a new production system.

The inoculum approach accelerates biofloc development by introducing previously cultured biofloc into new systems. Fermenting carbon sources with biofloc powder reduces initialization time, stabilizing the environment and enhancing overall production efficiency.

Carbon sources such as rice bran or molasses are fermented and aerated before being combined with dried biofloc powder from an earlier culture cycle. This method significantly reduces the time required to establish biofloc and improves production efficiency. The customization approach is the most advanced technique, incorporating probiotics and beneficial microorganisms into the biofloc system.

These microbes enhance water quality, improve disease resistance, reduce ammonia and hydrogen sulfide accumulation, and stimulate immune responses in cultured species. Common probiotic groups include Bacilus, Pseudomonas, and lactic acid bacteria. The recommended water quality parameters for tropical species (e.g., Litopenaeus vannamei and Oreochromis niloticus) of BFT are shown in Table 1.

BFT: Microbial Community, Nutritional Value, Sustainability and Applications

Biofloc also provides significant nutritional benefits. It contains approximately 50% crude protein, along with lipids, fiber, minerals, and energy, making it a valuable supplementary feed source. Its nutritional composition varies according to particle size, microbial composition, and carbon source used. Studies have shown improvements in feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed efficiency, growth performance, survival, reproductive success, and egg quality in several cultured species when biofloc is present.

One of the major advantages of BFT is its ability to drastically reduce water consumption and nutrient discharge. Compared with conventional aquaculture, BFT requires minimal water exchange, decreases nitrogen and phosphorus waste, improves biosecurity, and enhances disease resistance. Beneficial microbial communities suppress harmful pathogens while promoting animal health.

Nutritious bioflocs provide up to 50% crude protein alongside essential lipids and minerals. Cultured species show significant improvements in feed conversion ratios, growth performance, reproductive success, and egg quality when biofloc is present.

The technology has been successfully applied to shrimp, tilapia, carp, prawns, ornamental fish, and several other commercially important species. Although BFT requires continuous aeration and careful management, studies demonstrate higher productivity, reduced feed costs, improved profitability, and greater environmental sustainability. Furthermore, integrating BFT with multirophic aquaculture systems allows waste recycling among species, enhancing nutrient utilization and supporting sustainable aquaculture development.

Aquamimicry and Waste Utilization in Aquaculture

Aquamimicry is an aquaculture approach that mimics natural estuarine ecosystems by promoting blooms of copepods, zooplankton, and beneficial microorganisms through the addition of fermented rice bran and probiotics. Unlike conventional biofloc systems, it requires less aeration while providing natural supplemental nutrition that improves shrimp growth, survival, and water quality.

Copepods serve as efficient nutrient recyclers and high-quality feed organisms. Both aquamimicry and biofloc systems enhance waste utilization by converting uneaten feed and nitrogenous wastes into valuable biomass, improving nutrient recovery, reducing water exchange requirements, increasing biosecurity, and supporting more sustainable and environmentally friendly aquaculture production.

Aquamimicry vs. BFT

Both aquamimicry and BFT rely on external carbon sources to improve water quality and nutrient recycling. BFT maintains a strict carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and depends on continuous aeration to support bacterial protein production. Aquamimicry, developed in Thailand, uses fermented rice bran to stimulate natural blooms of zooplankton, microalgae, and beneficial bacteria, creating conditions similar to estuarine ecosystems. While aquamimicry requires less pond preparation and no antibiotics, it is difficult to implement indoors, requires large treatment ponds, and generates sediments that cannot be recycled as efficiently as in BFT.

Aquamimicry mimics natural estuarine ecosystems using fermented rice bran and probiotics. This practice promotes blooms of zooplankton and copepods, which recycle nutrients, require less artificial aeration, and provide high-quality supplemental nutrition.

Conclusion

BFT offers a sustainable solution to increasing seafood demand by improving productivity, reducing water use, lowering feed costs, and enhancing biosecurity. Aquamimicry complements this approach by mimicking natural ecosystems through copepod production. Both technologies support environmentally friendly, cost-effective aquaculture and hold significant potential for future industry growth.

This article is sponsored by: REEF INDUSTRIES INC.

This is a summarized version developed by the editorial team of Aquaculture Magazine based on the review article titled “A SOLUTION FOR SUSTAINABLE UTILIZATION OF AQUACULTURE WASTE: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF BIOFLOC TECHNOLOGY AND AQUAMIMICRY)” developed by: NISAR, U., PENG, D., and MU, Y. – Ocean University of China and SUN, Y. – Qingdao Agricultural University. The original article, including tables and figures, was published on JANUARY, 2022, through FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION. The full version can be accessed online through this link: 10.3389/fnut.2021.791738

Proximar Seafood Initiates Its Strategic Review

Edusehat — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 02:01:33 +0700

Japan-based Proximar Seafood reported that they contemplate a private placement of a convertible bond with an initial tranche of minimum USD 10.33 million. The first tranche will comprise of at least NOKUSD 7.75 million in new subscriptions and USD 2.58 millions of rollover from the company’s existing convertible bond. The net proceeds will be used to fund working capital and operations and to strengthen the Company’s liquidity buffer as it continues to build biomass and harvest volumes. The convertible bond also supports extensions to the Company’s debt maturity profile.

“We are pleased with the continued support from our banks and investors, which secures our near-term liquidity and allows us to keep full attention on operations. Our priority remains a stable supply of fish above 3 kilos, which together with our attractive investment cost and operating cost advantages leaves us well-positioned for strong margins. We are confident that our recent positive operational development keeps us well on track to reach profitable operations,” said Proximar Seafood’s CEO Joachim Nielsen.

They declared that Proximar intends, as far as practically possible, to invite all shareholders and existing bondholders not invited to subscribe for further tranches of the Convertible Bond on equal terms within the next one to two months, subject to applicable law, stock exchange rules and market practice.

Strengthening the Cash Position

While ABG Sundal Collier is acting as manager for the convertible bond offering, the bond issue is supported by several of the company’s largest shareholders and bondholders, but remains subject to a number of conditions, including final subscription orders, approval by the Company’s general meeting, approval by bondholders of the Company’s existing convertible bond, and an acceptance of certain conditions by Grieg Kapital AS, as guarantor and creditor in the Company.

Part of the proceeds will address a request from the company’s banks to strengthen its cash position in conjunction with a waiver of the sales covenant under Proximar‘s syndicated bank loan for the second quarter of 2026. The waiver relates to two-month running sales for the second quarter of 2026, as described in the first quarter 2026 report published on 29 May 2026.

Proximar, they reported, is experiencing constructive dialogue and support from its banks and remains proactive in assessing future funding and financing options, including a potential 12-month extension of its USD 60.53 million syndicated bank loan maturing in August 2026.

Strengthening Capital Structure

With reference to the company’s first quarter 2026 report, published on 29 May 2026, the board has engaged Nomura International Plc, a leading Japanese investment bank, to conduct a strategic review of the company. The review aims to strengthen and position Proximar for the future and address the longer-term refinancing of the Company’s balance sheet.

The review will consider a broad set of solutions, including seeking a long-term industrial investor for its Japan business, building on the strong investor interest for the Company in Japan.

Following a period of improved operational and biological performance and a positive outlook, the Board considers this is the right time to initiate this process to support the Company and its prospects.

The Key Terms of The Convertible Bond

The key terms of the convertible bond are: minimum USD 10.33 million; Maturity for July 2029; conversion price: USD 0.062 per share (non-convertible first 6 months); coupon: first year: 13% payment in kind (PIK), and thereafter: 15% PIK or 7% cash p.a.; holders of the company’s existing convertible bond who subscribe in the new issue may roll existing holdings into the new bond at a ratio of 1:2; existing investments rolled into new bond issue shall be non-convertible for 12 months, have a lock-up for 12 months and be callable at 130% for 12 months; and existing convertible bond not rolled shall extend maturity to the same date as the new convertible bond.

Short Story

Proximar Seafood is a Norwegian land-based salmon farming company with its first production facility and production at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan. The company inserted its first batch of eggs in October 2022 and carried out its first harvest on 30 September 2024. Proximar’s brand and logo (Fuji Atlantic Salmon) were officially launched in October at their partner Marubeni Corporation’s head quarter in Tokyo.

Through land-based salmon farming, using high-quality groundwater secured close to Mount Fuji, the company produces fresh Atlantic Salmon, harvested the same day. Proximar‘s location, near one of the world’s most important fish markets, implies significant advantages, both in terms of reduced cost and carbon footprint.

The Atlantic Canada Aquaculture Innovation Studio Opens in St. John’s, Newfoundland

Edusehat — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 02:01:30 +0700

• The nine-month program brings together ten early-stage companies from the aquaculture, aquatic technology, and marine biotechnology sectors across the region.

• The goal is to help turn promising technologies into investment-ready businesses that are ready to enter the market.

The nine-month program Atlantic Canada Aquaculture Studio has launched in Saint John’s (Newfoundland), bringing together 10 early-stage aquaculture, aquatech and marine biotechnology companies from across the region to help transform promising technologies into investable, market-ready businesses. Run by Hatch Blue with Oceans Advance, it has the support from the Government of Canada through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, together with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The program began with a two-week intensive in St. John’s before continuing with structured support throughout the year. Participation is free, and no equity is taken. Across the program, founders receive one-to-one support from Hatch Blue’s team and mentors drawn from its global aquaculture network.

The focus is on strengthening commercial strategy, building industry partnerships and preparing companies to raise investment. Through direct engagement with producers, technology and feed partners, investors and local delivery partners, the Studio will help companies accelerate commercialization and build the relationships needed to scale.

“The launch of the Atlantic Canada Aquaculture Studio marks a pivotal moment for our region. We are creating the conditions for company founders to accelerate their ideas, attract investment and build scalable companies right here at home. This studio is about more than supporting entrepreneurs – it is about positioning Atlantic Canada as a global center for aquaculture technology,” said Shelly Petten, CEO of Oceans Advance.

For his part, Wayne Murphy, Co-Founder & Partner of Hatch Blue, said: We’re delighted to launch this innovation studio in Atlantic Canada. Given the region’s rich blue economy heritage, we see fertile ground here for both aquatech innovation and top talent to scale it. The timing is perfect, given the Canadian federal government’s recent food security strategy to drive local, sustainable production and consumption. Looking forward to supporting this cohort of 10 high-potential Canadian companies.”

Innovation Across the Aquaculture Value Chain

The inaugural cohort represents innovation across the aquaculture value chain, from feed and animal health to emissions reduction, water treatment and marine circularity, the Studio informed.

One of the ten aquaculture, aquatech and marine biotechnology companies from across the region is Smallfood (Nova Scotia), which specializes in precision-fermentation producing protein- and DHA-rich microalgae biomass as an aquaculture feed ingredient, offering a replacement for fishmeal and fish oil.

The others are Atlantic BioCorp (Newfoundland and Labrador), which is developing a pigmented protein feed additive from Northern shrimp biomass as a natural alternative to synthetic astaxanthin, the pigment behind farmed salmon’s colour; EVAH Atlantic (Prince Edward Island), dedicated to developing RESETtx, a first-in-class in-feed treatment for sea lice in farmed Atlantic salmon, now in field trials.

The fourth one is Acuicy (Nova Scotia), a climate-fintech software platform that turns aquaculture operators’ asset-level emissions data into costed decarbonization pathways, modelling CAPEX, payback and savings. The fifth one, Clean Valley (Nova Scotia), an algae biofilter that treats wastewater from land-based aquaculture, absorbing nutrients from farm effluent while producing algae that can be reused, including as oyster feed.

Others are Mekapisk EnviroBlu Solutions (Newfoundland and Labrador), company that is developing a water-based, biodegradable, non-corrosive industrial cleaner and degreaser for marine, energy and industrial sectors, with aquaculture as an emerging application; and FinLeaf Technologies (Nova Scotia) – converts solid waste from land-based aquaculture into phosphorus-rich biostimulant fertilizers for crop growers

Finally, NL Marine Organics (Newfoundland and Labrador), which biorefines liquid fish-hydrolysate fertilizer from aquaculture mortality and wild fish processing waste, stabilized close to source by dockside ensiling; HoldfastNL (Newfoundland and Labrador), that produces kelp-based liquid agricultural biostimulants from cultivated sugar kelp; and BioLabMate (Newfoundland and Labrador), company that converts seaweed into thermoplastic bio-resins that replace petroleum-based plastics in laboratory and medical consumables such as weigh boats and tube racks.

Solutions Shaping the Future

The studio closes with “Innovate Aquaculture: the solutions shaping the future,” an invitation-only forum on 23 July 2026 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. It brings the people driving the sector’s future into the same room: producers across salmon, shellfish and the wider value chain, the feed and technology companies supplying them, the investors backing the sector, and the early-stage ventures shaping what’s next.

The morning features keynotes, a panel on Atlantic Canadian aquaculture innovation, and a showcase where the 2026 Studio companies present what they’re building.

“Atlantic Canada has every ingredient needed to lead the next wave of global aquaculture innovation – world-class science, deep ocean expertise and a growing community of ambitious technology companies,” finished the CEO of Oceans Advance.

Family-Run Trout Farm Modernizes Operations with Ace Aquatec Technology to Meet Retail Demand

Edusehat — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 22:25:10 +0700

By Ace Aquatec

Britford Trout Farm has successfully upgraded its harvesting operations enabling it to meet demand for quality trout from high profile retail partners. Shifting from outdated manual processes to industry-leading stunning technology supplied by Ace Aquatec, Britford now supplies high grade trout fillets to Waitrose.

Opened in 1983 by Mark Heaven, Britford soon positioned itself as a leading provider of quality trout. Over 40 years later and with a new retail partnership to supply, an upgrade to existing harvesting systems was needed to meet increasing welfare and traceability demands.

Ace Aquatec’s Humane Stunner Universal (A-HSU®), specifically designed for trout, provided the ideal solution and, with the ability to process up to 15 tons per hour, presented a significant uplift to the farm’s ability to meet demand in an efficient and humane manner.

Since the installation of the A-HSU® system, Britford has seen a significant improvement of 5 – 6% in fillet yield alongside marked improvements in texture and shelf life and enhanced welfare and traceability compliance. The farm is now planning to scale tonnage from 200 to 350 tons annually and is in talks around upcoming commercial opportunities with other UK supermarkets.

Additional support from the British Trout Association and a USD 40,401.75 Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FAWSS) grant helped make this vital capital investment viable for a small family business like Britford.

Jack Heaven, Business Partner at Britford Trout Farm, said: “We’ve been in the trout business for a long time, but our own methods of stunning were not sufficient for future demand so we needed a harvesting solution that reflected the high standards we set for our business and our customers. Since installing Ace Aquatec‘s humane stunner, we’ve seen significant improvements in both efficiency and product quality. The harvesting process is smoother and more streamlined, and we’ve received extremely positive feedback from our processor, including reported fillet yield improvements of five to six percent, alongside excellent shelf life and firm texture. With Ace Aquatec on board and their humane stunning device in place, our family business has greater confidence in our operation and the product we bring to market.

Tara McGregor-Woodhams, CSMO at Ace Aquatec said: “Britford’s story is one of a successful family business operating on a global scale. Our award winning humane stunning technology has already delivered significant improvements in the volumes and quality of trout fillet supplied by the farm and will help Mark and Jack to continue to grow and supply some of the UK’s largest supermarkets while meeting strict welfare and traceability requirements.”

About Ace Aquatec

Ace Aquatec is a cutting-edge aquaculture technology company focused on creating welfare-first products to make fish farming more efficient and sustainable. Backed by bluegrowth fund Aqua-Spark, Chroma Ventures (who brought Minecraft to console), deeptech fund Earth Capital, Stolt Ventures and Scottish Enterprise, we are on a mission to accelerate global adoption of sustainable and welfare-focused aquaculture practices.

For more information about Ace Aquatec, visit www.aceaquatec.com

After 8 Years, Final Permit Issued for Velella Epsilon Offshore Aquaculture Demonstration Project in the Gulf

Edusehat — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 22:25:09 +0700

By Ocean Era, Inc.

• First-ever demonstration fish grow-out in Federal waters in the Gulf will be a single, small batch of red drum, over 40 miles offshore of Sarasota

• “One of the primary goals of this demonstration project is to show the Florida fishing and boating communities that offshore aquaculture will be something that they will love. We now, finally, have our chance to do that.” – Neil Anthony Sims, Ocean Era Founder and CEO

Ocean Era, Inc. and GulfStream Aquaculture, LLC. have announced that the final, remaining permit has been issued for their offshore aquaculture demonstration net pen project. This now allows the project – dubbed “Velella Epsilon” – to move forward.

“Barring the unforeseen, the project – supported by the National SeaGrant Program, and in partnership with University of Miami – should now be able to move forward by early 2027,” said Ocean Era’s Founder and CEO, Neil Anthony Sims.

“One of the primary goals of this demonstration project is to show the Florida fishing and boating communities that offshore aquaculture will be something that they will love. We now, finally, have our chance to do that,” said Sims.

“A further goal was to pioneer the permitting process for offshore aquaculture in Federal waters in the Gulf. So, as a demonstration project, it has been tremendously successful, in that it has demonstrated with abundant clarity that regulatory reform is sorely needed.”

Sims listed the underlying imperatives for offshore aquaculture:

“The USA has a seafood trade deficit of over USD 20 billion per year. We believe that Americans should be growing our own fish, instead of putting all of our eggs in other country’s baskets. We believe that we can create good-paying aquaculture jobs here, in the USA, rather than shipping jobs overseas. We believe that Americans want the food safety and environmental safety assurances that come from a local seafood industry, that we manage to our own standards. But to be able to make this happen, the current regulations around offshore aquaculture clearly need to change.”

The project faced a protracted 8 year permitting process that involved navigating through nine different Federal and State laws, and engaging with twelve different federal and state agencies, as well as responding to anti-aquaculture activist appeals that were consistently rejected as baseless by the EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board.

“This proposed project is a very small-scale, temporary demonstration – just a single, small batch of fish. The project will be closely monitored for environmental and social impacts, and the results will all be made publicly available,” said Sims.

Sims expressed hope that Congress could help resolve the current constraints: “There is presently moving through Congress – with strong bi-partisan support – the Marine Aquaculture Research for America Act (the MARA Act), that would authorize NOAA to proceed with permitting additional demonstration offshore projects around America’s coastlines. This would then expand the opportunities for communities, scientists, and regulators to better understand the actual benefits that would spring from this industry, and where the real issues lie. We hope that the challenges that our Velella Epsilon project has faced will help our legislators understand the very real costs of continuing the status quo.”

Ocean Era’s prior Velella Beta-test demonstration project in Hawai`i attracted an abundance of pelagic fish species around the array. The project cultured a single cohort of fish, over an 8-month period (Photo credit: © Rick Decker).

GulfStream Aquaculture, LLC. – a Florida-based environmental consulting company – led the project’s permitting process, as a largely pro-bono effort. Dennis Peters – GulfStream’s principal – provided over USD 450,000 worth of environmental and technical expertise and advice to the project over the 8 years.

“I have been fishing and boating in the Gulf for almost all of my life. I have also worked in aquaculture projects throughout the Americas, and I am honored and excited to help bring this opportunity to fruition,” said Peters.

Sims was one of the original founders of what is now the Blue Ocean Mariculture farm, offshore of Kona, Hawai`i. This farm has been producing up to 900 tons/year of sashimi-grade Hawaiian Kanpachi® for over 20 years. Extensive environmental monitoring has shown no significant impact on water quality, or on the seabed beneath the net pens, or the pristine stretch of coral reef located a mere half mile inshore of the farm site.

Earlier iterations of the Velella Projects were located in Federal waters offshore of Kona. These proved to be spectacular fishing hot-spots, with the net pen acting as a Fish Aggregating Device (FAD), attracting wahoo, mahimahi, tuna, and marlin. The plan for the Velella Epsilon is to now bring this experience to the Gulf fishing community.

“We want Florida folks to see for themselves, rather than have their decisions made for them by activist groups who blithely ignore the evidence in the water. That’s the whole point of a small-scale demonstration project,” said Sims.

Sims also noted that the world’s leading, science-driven environmental NGOs, such as Environmental Defense Fund, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Conservation International, and The Nature Conservancy all now advocate for expanding the world’s supply of seafood through aquaculture.

“The Environmental Defense Fund – through the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture – is leading the advocacy for the MARA Act. That speaks volumes.”

“The environmental arguments all now underscore the need for increasing aquaculture production – it is one of the least impactful forms of animal protein production. We in America need to be developing innovative, sustainable ways to do this here, in our waters, and to be creating jobs and maintaining working waterfronts in our towns. That is the very essence of food security.”

About Ocean Era, Inc.

Ocean Era, Inc. (www.ocean-era.com) is an aquaculture research and development company, based in Kona, Hawai`i, with experience in permitting and growing fish, shellfish, and seaweeds in Hawai`i, the South Pacific, Mexico, and the Gulf. The company’s mission is to soften humanity’s footprint on the seas. Current research work focuses on marine fish hatchery production, farming of herbivorous reef fish (such as kyphosids, or chubs), and culture of seaweeds (with commercial production of a range of native Hawaiian limu, under the “Kona Limu Company” brand). Previous Velella demonstration projects in Hawai`i were featured in Time magazine (as one of the “Best Inventions of the Year” for 2012), and on Bob Ballard’s National Geographic TV Special “Alien Deep”.

Website: www.ocean-era.com
Instagram: ocean_era_inc
Email: neil@ocean-era.com
Gulfstream Aquaculture
Email: dennis@gulfstreamaquaculture.com
Principal photo: Ocean Era’s prior Velella Beta-test demonstration project pioneered the permit process for aquaculture in Federal waters, offshore of Kona, Hawai`i. The array acted as a superb FAD (Fish Aggregating Device), and proved very popular with the Kona fishing community (Credit: © Rick Decker).

Wellfish Tech and Salmon Group Enter Partnership to Bring Systematic Fish Health Monitoring Across Norwegian Salmon and Trout Production

Edusehat — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 22:25:08 +0700

By WellFish Tech and Salmon Group

WellFish Tech has entered a commercial partnership with Salmon Group. Headquartered in Bergen, Salmon Group represents 40 owner companies and 62 food-producing companies along the Norwegian coast. Together, the network produces more than 220,000 tons of salmon and trout annually, equivalent to more than one billion meals each year. The agreement is the largest commercial contract in WellFish Tech‘s history to date.

Under the partnership, WellFish Tech will work with Salmon Group and its owners’ companies to provide systematic blood biomarker analysis based on blood biochemistry across sites and companies within the network, generating fish health data that gives the group a consolidated overview of biological status across its production base. The data will serve both operational and regulatory purposes, supporting member companies’ fish health reporting as well as their own biological decision-making.

A central element of the partnership is the group-level view developed specifically for Salmon Group: a consolidated overview of fish health data across all owner companies in the network. Where individual companies today have visibility into their own biological status, the group view gives Salmon Group a complete picture of conditions across its entire production base at once.

The value of this becomes particularly clear where member companies share fjord systems. Consolidated biological data provides a shared factual basis for coordination between neighboring sites, structured experience-sharing between companies, and coordinated contingency and response plans for biological challenges such as sea lice or disease. This gives Salmon Group a collective resource that no individual member company would have access to on its own.

“We need solutions that actually tell us what is happening inside the fish, not just what we can observe from the outside,” says Jan Olav Langeland, CEO, Salmon Group. “Blood biochemistry gives us that. And when we can see the fish health status across sites and fjord systems, it opens up a completely different level of coordination and joint preparedness. That is what this agreement is about.”

“Bringing systematic blood biomarker monitoring to a network of this scale is a significant step, not just for WellFish Tech, but for what evidence-based fish health management can look like across the industry,” says Charlie Granfelt, CEO, WellFish Tech. “It shows that clinical biochemistry monitoring can scale from a single site to an entire network, and that is exactly the direction we believe the industry is heading. We are looking forward to working with the central administration and the companies of Salmon Group.”

About Salmon Group

Salmon Group is one of the world’s largest networks of locally owned, family-operated salmon and trout farming companies, headquartered in Bergen, Norway. The company is owned by more than 40 locally owned aquaculture companies located along the Norwegian coast and represents an annual production equivalent to more than one billion salmon and trout meals. www.salmongroup.no

About WellFish Tech

WellFish Tech gives fish farmers a 28-day mortality forecast built from blood biochemistry – detecting early physiological signs of disease and stress weeks before visible symptoms, at an accuracy no environmental or production data alone can match. The method is built on the company’s own patents and non-lethal sampling methodology in line with Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) regulations. Headquartered in Paisley, Scotland, WellFish Tech employs 26 people and operates in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Norway, and Canada. www.wellfishtech.com

Cooke Enters into Share Purchase Agreement to Acquire Mowi Canada East

Edusehat — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 22:25:07 +0700

• The company’s plans to relocate concessions are moving forward in Chile

Cooke announced a few days ago that the company has entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) to acquire the salmon farming operations of Mowi Canada East. The transaction, valued at USD 160.24 million, excluding debt, and involving a business with an annual production of 9,000 metric tons, is expected to be completed during the second half of 2026. The acquisition remains subject to due diligence and customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

“This is an exciting growth opportunity for our Atlantic Canada operations. We look forward to welcoming Mowi Canada East’s 250 employees to Cooke, and to working together to grow the sector and sustainably farm Atlantic salmon for customers in this region and beyond,” said Glenn Cooke, CEO of Cooke, after the announcement.

Mowi has operations in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, including freshwater hatchery facilities, sea farming sites and two processing plants. Standing salmon biomass was 9k GWT as of the end of June. As a result of this divestment, Mowi has lowered its production forecast for 2026 to 600,000 metric tons, down from the previously estimated 605,000 metric tons.

Committed to Growing the Sector

Atlantic Canada’s finfish aquaculture sector employs over 9,400 people, generates USD 3.2 billion in economic output, produces more than 356 million meals annually and supports more than 1,400 local businesses, contributing over USD 600 million in additional economic activity, highlighted Cooke.

“Cooke is committed to growing the sector and continuing to invest in the region’s rural coastal communities,” says Cooke. “Our immediate objectives will be to stabilize and reinvest in the operations through synergies with our existing farming operations across Atlantic Canada.”

The Largest Private Family-Owned Seafood Company

Cooke Inc. was established in 1985 by the Cooke family in New Brunswick, Canada. From humble beginnings of one farm site and 5,000 salmon, Cooke Inc. is the largest private family-owned seafood company in the world employing 15,000 people in 16 countries. The Cooke family of companies operate global aquaculture and wild fishery divisions providing a sustainable seafood source reaching tables all over the world.

“Cooke’s core purpose is to cultivate the ocean with care, nourish the world, provide for our families and build strong communities,” they say.

Relocation of Concessions in Chile

A few days later, and although the National Reconstruction Plan has not yet been approved by the Chilean Congress, Cooke Chile reported that they had submitted a new proposal for the relocation of its concessions, involving the division, merger, and relocation of a salmon farm, in accordance with the provisions of the General Law on Fisheries and Aquaculture.

The objective of the project, which involves an investment of USD 6 million, is the construction and operation of a salmon farm through the Aquaculture Concession Relocation procedure, specifically via the division and merger of a farm — referred to as “original concessions.” The concessions will be relocated to a new sector, or “replacement concession,” northwest of Estero Iclai, located in the municipality of Aysén, Aysén Region.

There, a salmon farm will be established and operated within an Area Suitable for Aquaculture and in accordance with regional coastal zoning regulations. According to Cooke Chile, the project’s location will comply with all regulatory requirements.

A salmon farm will be established and operated there, in an Area Suitable for Aquaculture and in accordance with regional coastal zoning regulations. According to Cooke Chile, the project’s location will comply with all regulatory requirements.

The project will be developed at sea, covering an area of 3.2 hectares, and will include a farming module and 10 square net pens measuring 40x40x15 meters, with the goal of producing a maximum of 7,000 metric tons of Atlantic salmon over a total cycle of 15 months.

Alternatively, the facility could operate with coho salmon, with an estimated maximum production of 3,220 metric tons over a cycle of approximately 8 months.

In addition to complying with the regulatory framework governing aquaculture, this project aims to contribute to regional development through sustainable practices, as detailed by Cooke Chile in the Environmental Impact Statement.

Investment Firm Bluefront Invests Acquired 55% of Cleaning Specialist Meox

Edusehat — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 22:25:06 +0700

• They build underwater cleaning robots and ROVs that improve fish welfare and support a more sustainable aquaculture environment.

• They are the market leader of the industry in Chile.

Bluefront Equity (Bluefront), an investment firm in the fishing industry, revealed a few days ago that it has acquired a majority stake in Meox, a rapidly growing company that offers proprietary robotic cleaning solutions for the aquaculture and maritime industries. Through Bluefront Capital II, they have acquired 55% of Meox from Jaras Invest, which remains the second-largest shareholder. Let’s remember that this is the third transaction between Bluefront and companies associated with Jaras Invest, which is part of Trøndelag-based JarasGruppen.

Headquartered in Namsos, Meox builds underwater cleaning robots and ROVs that improve fish welfare and support a more sustainable aquaculture environment – powered by a patented cavitation-based method that cleans effectively while reducing wear on equipment.

“Achieving an average annual growth rate of around 20 percent over the past five years clearly shows that the team that is doing many things right. Fish farming companies in Norway and internationally have increasingly adopted Meox’s solutions in recent years. We look forward to contributing with capital and competence to further strengthen and expand the products and services that Meox offer its customers,” comented Simen Landmark, partner and chief investment officer at Bluefront.

Underwater Robotic Systems

Meox develops and delivers a range of proprietary underwater robotic systems that contribute to improved fish welfare and a more sustainable aquaculture environment. The company’s core products include specialized cleaning robots for net cleaning, as well as robotic solutions for cleaning of mooring lines and ropes, lice skirts, cage collars, vessel hulls and land-based aquaculture facilities. In addition, Meox supplies remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for inspection of nets, hulls and other technical equipment. The company also offers robotic solutions for retrieval of dead fish and sludge handling.

A key component of Meox’s cleaning technology is its patented cavitation-based method, where air bubbles are pulsed into the water jet. This significantly reduces mechanical wear on the equipment that is being cleaned as the air bubbles perform most of the cleaning by effectively dislodging biofouling from nets and other surfaces.

Ambition to Expand

The headquarter of Meox and its manufacturing facility is located in Namsos in Trøndelag county, Norway. The company, that has a team with 11 people, reported revenues of approximately USD 4.55 million in 2025. Since inception, the company has delivered an average annual revenue growth of around 20 percent and positive operating result each year.

According to Kristian Kåre Hjertvik, managing director of Meox: “We are the market leader for provision of cleaning robots to the aquaculture industry in Chile, and our market share is growing rapidly in Norway. A key reason for bringing Bluefront on board is to strengthen our service and aftermarket capabilities, including further expanding our capacity and footprint to provide even closer customer support. In addition, we share an ambition to expand internationally, including into Scotland and Canada.”

History

Regarding Bluefront Equity, they raised USD 113.63 million for its second fund in 2025, with recent investments including proptech company Piscada and aquaculture advisory firm Aqua Kompetanse.

In the autumn of 2023, Bluefront-owned Seaqloud acquired the environmental monitoring software and products, including the ‘Guardian’ product portfolio, from Meox, which has Jaras as shareholder. Moreover, in September last year Bluefront acquired shares from Jaras Invest, via Havbruksparken Utvikling, when it became majority owner of fish health company Aqua Kompetanse.

Now, they say: “We look forward to supporting Kristian K. Hjertvik and the Meox team in the next phase of growth,” they said. Simen Landmark and Maria Benedicte Færevaag will join Meox‘s board of directors. In that sense, Færevaag commented: “A core part of our investment mandate is to back companies that promote sustainability through improved fish welfare and ocean health. This is exactly what Meox’s product portfolio does.”

The Next Outbreak in Aquaculture Won’t Be Biological

Edusehat — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 09:00:06 +0700

By Sandra Silva | Guest Columnist | Aquaculture Magazine

Regulatory outbreaks reach the aquaculture sector with the same logic as sanitary ones: no warning, a clearly identifiable causal agent, and a predictable propagation map. Five algorithmic governance regulations are landing on Latin American aquaculture operations at the same time, driven both by local regulators and by European buyers. Having a protocol in place before the first case is what separates the companies that absorb the change from those that pay for it.

A year ago I began documenting how the European algorithmic regulation regime is reaching Latin American aquaculture producers by way of contract. The scene keeps repeating itself: a European buyer asks its supplier for things it did not ask for in 2023. Algorithmic traceability in supplier selection. A written declaration on the use of artificial intelligence at the plant. Documentary evidence of human review over automated decisions. These are not tariff or sanitary requirements. They are something else. They arrive unannounced, in a new clause.

The phenomenon has all the features of a regulatory outbreak: symptoms, a causal agent, a propagation map, and a possible treatment. Five regulations are reaching the aquaculture sector at the same time, uncoordinated with one another. The European Artificial Intelligence Act applies as of August 2, 2026. The European Deforestation Regulation, after the second postponement approved by the European Parliament on December 17, 2025, takes effect for large and medium-sized companies on December 30, 2026. Chile activates Law 21.719 on December 1, 2026. Brazil has applied the LGPD since 2020, with the ANPD’s sanctioning regime in force since August 1, 2021. Peru activated the operational regulations of its Artificial Intelligence Law on January 22, 2026, through Supreme Decree 115-2025-PCM. They all push in the same direction: the European client faces regulatory pressure of its own and passes it on to Latin American suppliers by contract.

Five regulations are reaching the aquaculture sector at the same time, uncoordinated with one another. The European client faces regulatory pressure of its own and passes it on to Latin American suppliers by contract.

Chile as Ground Zero

Chile is not the first country on the continent to regulate. But it is the first to assemble the complete package: a demanding law, a new agency, enforcement from day one, and real penalties. Law 21.719 requires that every algorithmic decision affecting people have documentary traceability, meaningful human review, and auditable criteria. “Decisions affecting people” means how suppliers are selected, how plant staff performance is evaluated, how shifts are assigned to seasonal workers, and how prices or commercial penalties are set for a mid-sized fish farmer. These are not laboratory decisions. They are everyday operations.

Fines scale with severity. For the most serious infractions with recidivism, the ceiling is 20,000 UTM (Chilean monthly tax units) or 4% of annual revenue, whichever is greater. For a mid-sized Chilean salmon farmer, that ceiling amounts to several million dollars for a single infraction. Over the coming year, regulators and executive teams across the rest of the continent will be watching Chile closely. It is either a window for learning or a window for repetition.

For the most serious infractions with recidivism, the ceiling is 20,000 UTM or 4% of annual revenue, whichever is greater. For a mid-sized Chilean salmon farmer, that ceiling amounts to several million dollars for a single infraction.

The Map, Country by Country

Chilean salmon farmers: fully within the scope of the 21.719 regime. The large companies with European buyers already received their first documentation requests in May and June. Mid-sized companies are moving at a different pace, still in the early stages.

Ecuadorian shrimp farmers: since February 12, 2026, when the Superintendency for Personal Data Protection issued Resolution SPDP-SPD-2026-0009-R, a general rule has been in force on the use of artificial intelligence systems and personal data, with obligations on transparency, risk assessment, and auditing. The additional pressure arrives through European commercial contracts, not from the Ecuadorian authority — indirect, and therefore harder to detect: it shows up in the buyer’s email, not in the official gazette.

Brazilian tilapia farmers: double exposure. They have had the LGPD in force since 2020, with the ANPD’s sanctioning regime since August 2021, and they have European clients who make demands as well. Those that went through the first LGPD wave are better prepared.

Peruvian producers (whiteleg shrimp, paiche, trout): Law 29733 on data protection is in force with partial enforcement, and since January 22, 2026, the operational regulations of Law 31814 on the use of artificial intelligence apply as well. Large producers are already adapting; mid-sized ones are not yet reading the issue.

Spain, a dual role. As a producer (Galician mussels, Mediterranean sea bream), it has complied with the GDPR since 2018 and applies the European AI Act directly. As a demanding client, it passes its legal obligations on to Latin American suppliers by contract. That is what the Latin American reader is feeling, even without ever having read a Spanish regulation.

Two Recurring Patterns

One. The companies making the best progress are those treating the issue as an operational adjustment, not as an exclusively legal task. If an inspection detects an algorithmic gap at the plant or along the supply chain, what gets evaluated is the production process, not the signed paperwork.

Two. Generic international certifications — ISO 27001, ISO 27701, sector frameworks such as GLOBALG.A.P. — do not match the Chilean regime point by point. They serve as a technical floor, not as a complete legal answer. The difference is paid on the day the regulator asks for the specific matrix the law requires and the consultancy delivers its generic one.

Generic international certifications serve as a technical floor, not as a complete legal answer. The difference is paid on the day the regulator asks for the specific matrix the law requires and the consultancy delivers its generic one.

What Comes After the First Regulation

Law 21.719 is the current trigger, not the endgame. Others are coming behind it: the European AI Act, with high-risk systems fully enforceable on December 2, 2027; the Chilean artificial intelligence bill making its way through the legislature; and the sector-specific rules that the SMA, Sernapesca, and SAG have yet to issue. Each one will rest on the governance infrastructure a company builds for 21.719 — or the work starts from zero every time.

Producers who treat the law as a one-off project — we solve this and get back to business — will find themselves in 2027 redoing the same work with the AI Act bearing down on them. Those building permanent internal capacity — a committee, a protocol, a decision log, periodic review — will absorb the next regulation without starting over.

Biological outbreaks taught the aquaculture sector to have sanitary protocols ready before the first case. Regulatory outbreaks have not yet taught it anything equivalent, because the sector remains convinced they do not apply to it. They do. They already are.

Biological outbreaks taught the aquaculture sector to have sanitary protocols ready before the first case. Regulatory outbreaks have not yet taught it anything equivalent. They do apply. They already are.

For the Latin American producer reading this from Guayaquil, Florianópolis, La Paz, or Mazatlán: what is happening in Chile is not a Chilean problem. It is a live rehearsal of a regulatory shift reaching the region at different speeds by country. Watching it now is what it takes for the European buyer’s email, when it arrives, not to arrive as a surprise.

References

Law 21.719 (Chile). National Congress Library of Chile.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 · AI Act. European Commission AI Act Service Desk.
Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 · EUDR and December 2025 amendment. European Commission · Deforestation Regulation.
LGPD Brazil · sanctioning regime since August 1, 2021. Autoridade Nacional de Proteção de Dados.
Peru · Supreme Decree 115-2025-PCM (Regulations of Law 31814). Official Gazette El Peruano.
Ecuador · Resolution SPDP-SPD-2026-0009-R. Superintendency for Personal Data Protection.

Sandra Silva is a consultant in algorithmic governance and international market development for regulated industries. Author of the whitepaper Compliance with Law 21.719 in the Chilean Salmon Farming Industry (Registration DDI 2026-A-6405 with Chile’s Department of Intellectual Rights · certificate available upon request). Columnist for Diario Lechero and Salmonexpert. Contact: contacto@sandrasilvaautora.com · linkedin.com/in/sandrasilvaautora

International Seafood & Health Conference 2027 in Vietnam to Address Global Nutrition and Sustainable Aquaculture

Edusehat — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:45:08 +0700

By: International Conference on Seafood & Health 2027

The International Conference on Seafood & Health 2027 will take place in Vietnam from September 21–23, 2027. This premier international event is dedicated to advancing the role of seafood in global nutrition, public health, sustainable food systems, and economic development. Serving as a unique and collaborative platform, the three-day conference will bring together leading minds from academia, the seafood industry, healthcare, aquaculture, government agencies, and international organizations to discuss the future of aquatic foods.

With the global population rising and the demand for sustainable, nutrient-dense food sources at an all-time high, the 2027 edition will focus heavily on strengthening the connection between seafood production and human health. Through evidence-based approaches, participants will explore innovative strategies that promote sustainable seafood consumption, enhance food security, prevent chronic diseases, and drive responsible aquaculture practices worldwide.

A Global Gathering of Experts and Innovators

The Seafood & Health 2027 conference is expected to convene more than 250 delegates from all corners of the globe. The comprehensive three-day program features international keynote speakers, expert panel discussions, scientific sessions, research presentations, and an industry innovation showcase.

Designed to foster cross-sectoral collaboration, the event targets a wide array of professionals, including:

Producers & Operators: Seafood processors, exporters, aquaculture farmers, hatchery operators, and fisheries professionals.

Health & Science Experts: Nutritionists, dietitians, healthcare practitioners, food scientists, and seafood technology specialists.

Regulators & Advocates: Government agencies, policymakers, environmental NGOs, and sustainability organizations.

Market Leaders: Retailers, food service companies, seafood buyers, and investors driving food innovation.

By breaking down silos between food production and medical science, the event aims to build healthier, more resilient food systems that benefit both people and the planet.

Flexible Participation Options

To ensure global accessibility, the organizers are offering both on-site and online participation pathways:

On-Site Participation: Attendees traveling to Vietnam will enjoy full access to all conference sessions, networking functions, and exhibition activities. On-site registration also includes conference catering during event hours, direct opportunities to meet speakers, and post-event access to presentations.

Online Participation: Virtual attendees can access selected live-streamed conference sessions as well as approved presentation recordings after the event, allowing global stakeholders to participate without travel constraints.

Elite Sponsorship and Exhibition Opportunities

Seafood & Health 2027 offers an array of tailored sponsorship packages designed to provide organizations with maximum visibility, corporate prestige, and direct engagement with global decision-makers.

About the Conference

The International Conference on Seafood & Health 2027 is the leading global forum bridging the gap between aquatic food production and human well-being. By highlighting the latest scientific breakthroughs in nutrition and balancing them with practical sustainability and food safety solutions, the conference serves as a catalyst for policy change, industry innovation, and healthier consumer trends.

For more information regarding registration, full event scheduling, or to secure a customized sponsorship package, please visit the official website or contact the coordination team directly.

Contact Information:
Website: https://seafoodconference.com/
Email: info@seafoodconference.com

Khyber Group Launches India’s Largest RAS-Based Himalayan Trout Farming Facility

Edusehat — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:45:07 +0700

By Khyber Group

Khyber Aquaculture to reach maximum capacity of 7,000 metric tons for year-long trout production

Jammu & Kashmir’s leading business conglomerate, the Khyber Group, has launched Khyber Aquaculture. India’s largest, fully integrated, sustainable Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) based Himalayan trout farming facility in Kashmir, aimed at transforming the region’s trout industry into an integrated, export-oriented ecosystem by linking advanced aquaculture technology with local farming communities.

Located on the banks of the River Sindhin Akhal, Kangan, in the Ganderbal district of Kashmir. Khyber Aquaculture is spread over 8 acres and has been built with an investment of over USD 10.5 million. It isa technology-driven trout farming model designed to reuse & recycle water, allowing year-round trout production in a climate-controlled environment. Khyber Aquaculture, currently with a 1,500 metric ton capacity, will reach an annual production capacity of 7,000 metric tons within 3 to 5 years. The hatchery of the unit is capable of producing up to 20 million fingerlings annually.

Mr Umar Tramboo, CMD, Khyber Aquaculture, “Our technologically superior facility is an expansion of cold-water aquaculture in Jammu and Kashmir. Our cluster model is designed to integrate production, hatcheries, processing and supply chains while supporting more than 300 local farmers under the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP), through modern aquaculture systems and market access”

With in-house production, processing and packaging units, the initiative is expected to support more than 3,000 indirect livelihood opportunities across the region.

Khyber Aquaculture combines modern aquaculture technology with local environmental conditions and clean production methods that contribute to climate-resilient fish farming in Jammu & Kashmir.

“It has taken us over 5 years to be completely ready. But the wait was worth it. With this launch, we plan to revolutionize India’s aquaculture sector, introducing new standards for fish health and operational control. We want to be known as a platform for scaling trout farming with data-driven systems and localized adaptation,” further continued Mr Tramboo.

Khyber Aquaculture uses American and Danish – bred eyed ova (eggs) along with Danish, French and German precision-controlled systems designed to increase survival rates by 25–30%, lower feed conversion ratios (FCR), and reduce pathogen exposure. It has been designed specifically for international quality and export standards. The fully vertically integrated operation utilizes hyper-hygienic cleaning lines and Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) to achieve a 10-day chilled shelf-life and a 6-month frozen shelf-life making both Fresh/Chilled & Frozen stocks readily available from FY Q3 2025.

The unit’s precision chilling systems maintain an exact 10-14°C water temperature.

Continuous injection maintains high dissolved oxygen levels (8-12 mg/L) required by trout.

The company has adopted a comprehensive sustainability framework encompassing water recirculation, biosecurity management, responsible feed practices, waste management, and environmental monitoring. Through RAS technology, the facility significantly reduces freshwater requirements while ensuring optimal fish health and production efficiency.

As global demand for premium, traceable, and sustainably farmed seafood continues to rise, Khyber Aquaculture plans to develop strong domestic and export market linkages, leveraging the unique geographical and environmental advantages of the Kashmir Valley.

The Khyber Aquaculture processing facility blends Himalayan Glacial water with Danish, French, and Swedish technology, featuring IoT-enabled, zero-waste farming and advanced cold-chain infrastructure.

The India trout market size reached 4,698.7 tons in 2025. IMARC Group expects the market to reach 7,964.7 tons by 2034, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.86% during 2026-2034. The increasing consumer awareness of its high protein content, omega-3 fatty acids, rising consumption among individuals, and government initiatives promoting aquaculture activities to enhance the local economy represent some of the key factors driving the Indian trout market share.

About Khyber Aquaculture

Khyber Aquaculture is a leading player in cold-water fisheries business. Founded in 2022, Khyber Himalayan Trout brings premium, nutrient-rich trout from the pristine Himalayan mountain waters of Kashmir. The company integrates scientific farming practices, modern infrastructure, and environmental stewardship to deliver premium-quality aquaculture products for domestic and international markets. www.khyberaquaculture.com

About the Khyber Group

The Khyber Group is Jammu & Kashmir’s leading business conglomerate with interests spanning luxury hospitality, cement, real estate, healthcare and sustainable aquaculture. Established over 50 years ago in the heart of the Kashmir Valley, the group is known for its commitment to regional economic development. The group has consistently invested in ventures that create long-term value, that generate employment, and contribute to the socio-economic advancement of the region.

From Sea to Fryer: Why Provenance Is Becoming One of the Fish and Chip Sector’s Strongest Tools

Edusehat — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:45:06 +0700

By: Norwegian Seafood Council

Norwegian Seafood Council and industry partners highlight how verified origin, traceability and supply chain transparency are giving operators stronger proof points behind the seafood they serve.

Provenance is becoming more than a sourcing message, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC). For fish and chip shops, it is becoming one of the sector’s strongest commercial assets, helping operators build consumer trust, communicate quality, demonstrate consistency and reinforce value at a time when customers are increasingly value conscious.

With research showing that 76% of UK consumers find dishes and ingredients with provenance appealing¹, the opportunity for fish and chip shops lies in turning origin into a clearer customer story. By showing not only where their seafood comes from, but what that origin represents – from responsible harvesting and traceability to the care taken to protect quality – operators can justify quality, differentiate from competitors and help customers better understand the value of the seafood they are served.

Bjørn-Erik Stabell, UK Director at the Norwegian Seafood Council, said: “Fish and chip shops have always been built on trust. Customers may not always ask directly where their fish comes from, but they rely on operators to make the right choices on quality, sourcing and value.

“As consumer expectations evolve, provenance gives operators an opportunity to demonstrate quality, responsibility and consistency through the seafood they choose.

“By understanding not only the origin of seafood, but also the systems, standards and people behind it, operators can communicate with greater confidence, helping customers feel reassured about what they are eating and the value it represents.”

To demonstrate this in practice, NSC brought this year’s National Fish & Chip Awards winners to Western Norway for a three-day study trip, hosted in partnership with the Norwegian Frozen at Sea industry, as part of NSC’s principal sponsorship of the awards.

During the visit, operators experienced every stage of the Norwegian whitefish supply chain first-hand – from catching, handling and frozen-at-sea processing aboard Geir, a Norwegian Frozen at Sea industry vessel owned by HP Holmeset AS, to discussions with fisheries scientists, regulators and industry organizations about stock management, sustainability and traceability. The program showed how country of origin can be supported by practical, customer-facing detail, giving operators clearer insight into where their fish was caught, how it was handled and how quality is protected from sea to fryer.

NSC ©JodiHinds Norwegian Seafood.

Gavin Dhesi, co-owner of The Scrap Box in York, winner of Fish & Chip Takeaway of the Year at the 2026 National Fish & Chip Awards, said:“Knowing where your fish has come from allows you to extend that story to your customer. It gives us another way to bring that provenance story to life and help customers understand the process behind the fish we serve.

“When we open a case of fish now, we understand exactly where it has come from and the process that has gone into it, and our customers appreciate what we are serving a lot more when this is communicated.”

Andrew Crook, President of the National Federation of Fish Friers, said: “The value of this trip is that it helps operators understand the full journey behind the fish they serve. When you see the vessel, meet the crew and understand the care that goes into catching, processing and freezing the fish, you look at the product differently.

“That knowledge matters because it gives shops a stronger story to tell. It helps explain why consistency is so important, why provenance matters and why strong relationships across the supply chain make a real difference to the end product.”

The activity forms part of NSC and the Norwegian seafood industry’s wider work with the UK fish and chip sector, including Seafood from Norway’s role as principal sponsor of the National Fish & Chip Awards. By connecting operators directly with the people, processes and systems behind Norwegian seafood, NSC aims to support greater supply chain understanding and help shops communicate provenance, quality and value with confidence.

About the Norwegian Seafood Council

The Norwegian Seafood Council works with the Norwegian fisheries and aquaculture industries to develop markets for Norwegian seafood through local market intelligence, market development and reputational risk management. The Seafood Council is headquartered in Tromsø and maintains local representatives in thirteen of Norway’s most important international markets. The Norwegian seafood industry finances the activities of the Norwegian Seafood Council via a tariff on all Norwegian seafood exports. The Norwegian Seafood Council is a public company owned by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries.

For more information about the Norwegian seafood industry and the work of the Norwegian Seafood Council, visit https://en.seafood.no. For more information, contact the NSC press office on nscpr@williammurray.co.uk

Fiskarna Aqua and Globaq Solutions Sign an Agreement to Develop Algeria’s First Integrated Aquaculture Ecosystem

Edusehat — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 08:20:08 +0700

Fiskarna Aqua and Globaq Solutions announced the signing of a General Service Agreement (GSA) in Copenhagen, Denmark. The agreement marks the beginning of a long-term strategic partnership dedicated to developing Algeria’s first integrated aquaculture ecosystem—a project that combines international expertise, innovative technologies, and a shared commitment to sustainable food production. This milestone comes at a pivotal moment for Algeria.

The project of Fiskarna Aqua has recently reached several important milestones, including its designation as a National Aquaculture Strategic Pilot (NASP) and the preliminary approval of dedicated land and marine concessions in the Wilaya of El Tarf. According to them, those achievements reinforce their confidence that Algeria has all the ingredients required to become one of the leading aquaculture hubs in the Mediterranean and Africa. “Fiskarna Aqua is honored to contribute to this national vision”, they said.

Clear Commitment

Over the past few years, the Algerian Government has demonstrated a clear commitment to accelerating the development of the aquaculture sector through ambitious reforms, investment-friendly policies, and strong institutional support. As part of its vision for food security, economic diversification, and the Blue Economy, Algeria is creating the conditions for strategic projects capable of transforming the sector.

Building Far More Than Fish Farms

Together with Globaq Solutions and the Fiskarna Aqua’s network of international partners from Denmark, Norway, Spain, and Italy, they are building far more than fish farms, they assure.

They are designing an integrated ecosystem that will encompass freshwater RAS Aquaculture; offshore marine aquaculture; hatchery development; fish feed and biomass production; and research, innovation, and skills development.

“Our ambition is to establish a model that delivers long-term value for Algeria by promoting technology transfer, developing local expertise, creating highly skilled employment, strengthening food security, and attracting international investment”, they said.

A Unique Opportunity

Their vision is that Algeria’s geographic position, expanding infrastructure, and industrial capabilities provide a unique opportunity to develop a regional center of excellence for sustainable aquaculture technologies and seafood production. “This partnership reflects our shared belief that the future of aquaculture lies in collaboration across borders, innovation, and long-term commitment,” they added.

After the announcement, Fiskarna Aquawould thanked they partners at Globaq Solutions for their trust and professionalism throughout this journey, and also to Christian Sørensen, Kristoffer Lund, Mohamed Ali-Bouacha and Cizar Bachir Brahim. “Together, we are building the foundations of a more resilient, innovative, and sustainable aquaculture industry for Algeria and the African continent”, they finished.

A Young Company

For their part, Globaq Solutions, a company focused on setting new standards in land-based fish farming through advanced recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), was presented in society in 2024. Founded by Christian Sørensen -the former founder of Billund Aquaculture- and a team with decades of experience in RAS technology and project development, Globaq Solutions builds on the foundation introduced in late 2024. “We move forward with a clear purpose: to deliver cutting-edge, sustainable, and efficient aquaculture solutions, while advancing RAS technology and sustainability in global aquaculture,” they assured.

Globaq designs and delivers RAS that support responsible fish farming. With a dedicated and experienced team, they work side by side with our clients to develop tailored solutions that improve operational efficiency, protect the environment, and help shape the future of a more sustainable aquaculture.

“We are ready for what’s next and proud to move forward under the Globaq Solutions name,” said at that moment Christian Sørensen, Founder of the company. “This new chapter marks our continued commitment to responsible aquaculture and to delivering value for our clients through deep expertise and innovation.” In a few months they built a strong foundation, putting in place the right organization and processes. This allows them to offer a full range of services, including RAS design, turnkey project execution, retrofits, and system upgrades.

The More Than 20-Year Collaboration Between Benchmark Genetics and Avramar Achieves a 76% Genetic Improvement in Its Sea Bream Breeding

Edusehat — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 08:20:07 +0700

Conducted by Benchmark Genetics in collaboration with the Greek-Spanish company Avramar, a new study documents a 76% genetic improvement in harvest weight in gilthead seabream over more than twenty years of selective breeding, one of the most comprehensive long-term assessments of genetic progress ever conducted in a marine aquaculture species. According to Benchmark Genetics, beyond documenting long-term genetic progress, the findings demonstrate the broader value of selective breeding in modern aquaculture.

The study reflects more than two decades of partnership between Benchmark Genetics and Avramar in developing one of the Mediterranean’s longest-running commercial seabream breeding programs.

The study analyzed data between 2002 and 2023 and the research provides rare, large-scale evidence of the long-term value of sustained investment in breeding. production and pedigree data from almost 124,000 gilthead seabreams (Sparus aurata) representing 1,843 families produced between 2002 and 2023. Over more than twenty years of selective breeding, the program achieved a cumulative 76% genetic improvement in harvest weight, equivalent to approximately 15% genetic gain per generation (an average annual gain of 3.6%), while maintaining low levels of inbreeding and preserving genetic diversity.

Strong Scientific Evidence

The findings demonstrate the broader value of selective breeding in modern aquaculture. Improved growth rates have the potential to shorten production cycles, improve resource utilization, reduce biological risk and strengthen the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of aquaculture production. Although this study focused on harvest weight, the breeding program has applied multi-trait selection to improve a range of commercially important characteristics, including robustness, survival and product quality.

“Long-term datasets of this quality are exceptionally rare in aquaculture,” said Ingunn Thorland, Senior Geneticist at Benchmark Genetics and lead author of the study. “This study demonstrates that well-designed breeding programs can deliver sustained genetic improvement over decades while maintaining the genetic diversity needed for future progress. It provides strong scientific evidence of the long-term value of selective breeding for aquaculture.”

“This publication reflects more than two decades of continuous development of our breeding program,” says Nikos Katribouzas, Group Genetics & R&D Manager, Avramar. “The documented genetic gains confirm the value of long-term investment in selective breeding and provide a strong foundation for the continued development of the program.”

Commercial Farming Conditions

Called Sustained genetic gain for harvest weight in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) over more than twenty years of selective breeding, the study also provides one of the clearest examples to date of realized genetic gain achieved under commercial farming conditions, demonstrating that sustained genetic progress can be achieved alongside responsible management of genetic diversity.

As global demand for sustainable seafood continues to grow, the findings reinforce the role of selective breeding as one of the most effective and sustainable technologies for improving biological performance, production efficiency, and long-term competitiveness in aquaculture, said the members of Benchmark. The findings also provide a strong foundation for integrating genomic technologies into commercial breeding programs, enabling even greater improvements in productivity, health and resilience in future generations.

Collaboration in Shellfish Genomics

Some days before the publication of the study, Benchmark Genetics reported that researchers of the company and six leading European research institutions have developed the first high-density SNP array for the Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) and the grooved carpet shell clam (Ruditapes decussatus), providing a powerful new genomic resource to accelerate selective breeding, strengthen conservation efforts, and support the long-term sustainability of shellfish aquaculture.

Benchmark Genetics scientists played a key role in developing and validating the dual-species 63K SNP array, which contains 49,392 markers for Manila clam and 14,193 markers for grooved carpet shell clam. The platform is now available to researchers, breeding programs and industry partners seeking to improve productivity, resilience and population management through advanced genomics.

The achievement has been published in the journal Aquaculture in the paper “A dual-clam species 63K SNP array for sustainable production and conservation of wild resources”.

A New Era for Hospitality: VIITE and Seafood Consumers Association Sign Landmark Agreement to Champion Supply Chain Integrity and Consumer Trust

Edusehat — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 08:20:06 +0700

By Seafood Consumers Association Limited

The future of Australia’s hospitality and culinary sectors has received a major boost with the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Victorian Institute of International Training and Education (VIITE) and the Seafood Consumers Association (SCA). Signed, June 16, 2026, this strategic partnership marks an exciting step forward in bridging world-class vocational training with robust consumer advocacy, food safety, and marketplace transparency.

The collaboration creates a unique framework designed to embed supply-chain traceability, accurate labeling, and consumer first principles directly into the training of the next generation of hospitality leaders. As younger professionals enter the commercial cookery, hospitality management, and professional development streams, they will now be uniquely equipped with the tools necessary to champion fair market practices and authentic food systems.

Transforming the Training Landscape

Modern hospitality professionals require skills that stretch far beyond traditional culinary techniques. Today’s landscape demands an in-depth understanding of food origins, regulatory compliance, and cross-cultural communication. By combining VIITE’s excellence in vocational education with SCA’s deep expertise in consumer protection and seafood integrity, this alliance ensures that future chefs and managers are prepared for the regulatory and ethical realities of tomorrow’s commercial kitchens.

Under the new agreement, both organizations will investigate integrating cutting-edge seafood integrity modules into VIITE’s existing curriculum. Students will gain vital exposure to advanced educational frameworks—including SCA’s specialized I-CADMUS program—enabling them to identify and mitigate industry challenges such as mislabelling, species substitution, and food fraud on the shop floor.

Quotes Attributable to Leadership

Dr. Daman Shrivastav, CEO of the Victorian Institute of International Training and Education (VIITE), expressed his immense enthusiasm for the educational pathways this agreement unlocks: “At VIITE, we are completely dedicated to equipping our local and international students with industry-ready technical skills and global career pathways. Partnering with the Seafood Consumers Association allows us to elevate our professional development and commercial cookery programs to the absolute forefront of modern culinary education. By teaching our students the critical importance of clear, transparent language, accurate labeling, and compliance with rigorous national standards, we are not just training chefs—we are shaping responsible industry champions who respect both the consumer and the raw ingredients they present.”

Roy Palmer, CEO of the Seafood Consumers Association (SCA), highlighted the profound long-term impact of influencing the sector from the ground up: “We are thrilled to partner with an institution as forward-thinking as VIITE. Everyday seafood consumers are the quiet majority, yet they have historically been under-represented in broad food policy. This MoU provides a magnificent opportunity to expand our educational profile and install consumer-centric values at the very root of the hospitality pipeline. Training young professionals in critical frameworks like the Australian Fish Names Standard AS5300 and the incoming Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) regulations ensures that transparency and fair market practices become the default setting for tomorrow’s dining tables.”

Pioneering a Transparent Future

The partnership comes at a critical time, with significant regulatory updates transforming how food provenance is communicated to the public. The alliance will focus on co-developing specialized post-graduate short courses, micro-credentials, and technical masterclasses aimed at ongoing workforce capability.

Furthermore, the collaboration will explore innovative cross-cultural communication tools. Hospitality and culinary students will have the opportunity to trial cutting-edge digital toolkits—including bilingual infographics, QR-linked provenance explainers, and visual storytelling methods. These tools are designed to break down language and cultural barriers on the retail and restaurant floor, ensuring that diverse communities can access clear, sound nutritional guidance and trusted information seamlessly.

By moving beyond traditional silos, VIITE and SCA are setting a new national benchmark for vocational unity. The three-year agreement lays the groundwork for permanent, scalable education infrastructure, creating a direct line of sight between the student classroom, the restaurant counter, and a highly informed public consumer base.

About VIITE

The Victorian Institute of International Training and Education (VIITE) is a leading vocational education provider delivering premier, specialized training in commercial cookery, hospitality management, and professional development, dedicated to training excellence and global career readiness.

Website: www.viite.edu.au

About Seafood Consumers Association (SCA)

The Seafood Consumers Association (SCA) is an independent, consumer-first charity organization established to improve trust, transparency, nutrition, and food security across seafood markets, representing millions of consumer-stakeholders nationwide.

Website: www.seafoodconsumers.global

Wellfish Tech Has Appointed Erik Tveteraas as Group Finance Director, as The Company Sharpens Its Commercial Position and Prepares for the Next Phase of International Growth

Edusehat — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 08:20:05 +0700

By WellFish Tech

Tveteraas brings a career built at the intersection of aquaculture investment and growth-stage finance. He spent five years at NuFrontiers, the corporate venture capital arm of Nutreco, parent company of global feed business Skretting, where he managed investments across aquaculture farming technologies, fish health, data-driven precision farming, and alternative proteins. He joins from his role as CFO at Norwegian Mycelium (NoMy).

What drew Tveteraas to WellFish Tech, he says, is a combination of solvable problem scale, product maturity, and structural defensibility. “The salmon paradox is a real phenomenon,” says Erik Tveteraas, Group Financial Director, WellFish Tech. “This is the most industrialized, technologically advanced species in aquaculture, and yet mortality rates remain at a level that would not be tolerated in any other protein category. The direction of travel from regulators, from consumers, and from capital markets towards improving fish welfare is clear, and that shift has direct implications for how producers manage health.

WellFish Tech has built the right product for this moment. The value proposition of near-instant biological intelligence seamlessly integrated with customers’ farming operations, a well-structured subscription-based, recurring revenue model, and the physical component of the service – the proprietary blood sampling and analytics – creates a barrier to entry that pure software or AI-based competitors simply cannot replicate. That combination is rare, and it is what brought me here.”

“Erik has seen the aquaculture technology space from the inside, as an investor and as an operator,” says Charlie Granfelt, CEO, WellFish Tech. “He has seen what separates companies that scale successfully from those that do not. That perspective is exactly what we need at this stage of WellFish Tech‘s development. Having someone of Erik’s caliber help us capitalize on that position is a significant step forward for the company. We are very pleased to have him joining the team.”

About WellFish Tech

WellFish Tech is a data-led decision-support company rooted in fish-level biochemistry, providing predictive modelling for aquaculture. Headquartered in Paisley, Scotland, WellFish Tech currently employs 26 people, and operates in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Norway and Canada while supporting customers beyond those borders.

Web: www.welfishtech.com

Celebrity Chef Mindy Woods and the ASC Launch Free Recipe Booklet Celebrating Sea Country, Indigenous Food Culture and Responsible Seafood

Edusehat — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:45:08 +0700

By Aquaculture Stewardship Council

**Free print copies available at the Australian National Maritime Museum, with selected dishes featured at HarbourWatch Café during NAIDOC Week**

Acclaimed Bundjalung chef, restaurateur and author Mindy Woods and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) have partnered to launch Celebrating Sea Country, a free recipe booklet showcasing Indigenous ingredients and responsibly farmed Australian seafood during NAIDOC Week.

Available to download throughout July via the ASC website, the recipe collection features dishes created by Woods using native ingredients alongside ASC labelled barramundi, salmon and prawns available in Australian supermarkets.

Visitors can also continue their Celebrating Sea Country journey at the Australian National Maritime Museum, where complimentary printed copies of the booklet will be available throughout July until they run out. During NAIDOC Week, guests can experience a selection of recipes firsthand at HarbourWatch Café, with the Prawn Sando and Barramundi Fish and Chips with Moray available as limited time menu specials.

Mindy Woods said food provides a powerful platform for sharing culture and connecting people to the stories behind the ingredients they enjoy. “NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to honor First Nations culture, knowledge and connection to Country. Through this collaboration, we want Australians to explore the native foods on their doorsteps and think about the impact of the choices they make every day.”

Sustainable seafood isn’t just about preserving our oceans; it’s about honoring the deep connection between land, sea, and culture. I strive to champion responsible aquaculture that respects both the environment and the communities it supports.”

Ellie Dixon, ASC Australia’s Market Development Manager, said the partnership highlights how cultural knowledge and responsible seafood production can come together to inspire more informed food choices.

“Choosing change is a collective responsibility. When producers, chefs, retailers, food service providers and seafood lovers work together, we can help drive meaningful and lasting impact for people and the planet.”

“The ASC label provides assurance to consumers that their seafood comes from farms that have met the ASC’s robust social and environmental standards.”

Ms Daryl Karp AM, Director and CEO of the Australian National Maritime Museum, said the initiative aligns with the museum’s commitment to ocean health and sustainability. “As a maritime museum, we seek to champion the importance of healthy oceans not only through our exhibitions and programs, but through the choices we make every day. This collaboration brings together culture, food and sustainability in a way that is engaging, accessible and meaningful for visitors.”

HarbourWatch Café recently achieved ASC Chain of Custody certification, ensuring ASC labelled seafood served at the venue can be traced through every stage of the supply chain back to responsibly certified farms and fisheries.

Alessandro Intini, Food & Beverage Director at SRG Hospitality, said transparency and traceability are increasingly important to diners. Humpty Doo Barramundi from NT will be featured on their new menu.

“Understanding where ingredients come from and how they are sourced helps support responsible producers, protect marine ecosystems and gives our customers confidence in the food they enjoy.”

For home cooks, there are now more than 100 ASC labelled seafood products available in Australian supermarkets across chilled, frozen and ambient categories.

Celebrating Sea Country can be downloaded throughout July via the ASC website, while complimentary printed copies will be available at the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Download the recipe booklet: https://au.asc-aqua.org/mindy-woods-cookbook/

About Aquaculture Stewardship Council

ASC certification delivers measurable impact in aquaculture through science-based requirements — developed and revised through multi-stakeholder processes — covering biodiversity, animal welfare, greenhouse gas emissions, feed ingredient sourcing and human rights, all independently verified.

ASC is setting the standard for farmed seafood. www.asc-aqua.org

About Australian National Maritime Museum

The Australian National Maritime Museum is Australia’s museum of the sea. We are the national center for maritime collections, exhibitions, research, and archaeology – a Federal Government National Collection institution, based in Pyrmont, in Sydney, New South Wales. As an island, the ocean and our waterways have been central to our stories throughout time, shaping a sense of what it means to be Australian. Our purpose is to excite people about their connection to the sea, and we are committed to sharing the national maritime story throughout the whole of Australia.

About HarbourWatch

HarbourWatch is a café and events venue set within the Australian National Maritime Museum precinct. HarbourWatch holds ASC Chain of Custody certification, reflecting a commitment to sustainable seafood sourcing and responsible fisheries practices.

HarbourWatch is operated by SRG Hospitality (formerly Sydney Restaurant Group), one of Sydney’s most respected hospitality portfolios. Founded in 2000 by Bill Drakopoulos and overseen by siblings Anastasia, Nicola, Daniel and Perry Drakopoulos, SRG Hospitality has grown from its original flagship Aqua Dining to an impressive collection of waterfront and neighborhood restaurants, cafés, kiosks, event spaces and hotels — all united by a commitment to outstanding food, genuine service and spectacular locations.

Hendrix Genetics Strengthens Salmonids R&D Team to Drive Next-Generation Innovation

Edusehat — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:45:07 +0700

By Hendrix Genetics

Hendrix Genetics’ Business Unit Salmonids is entering a new phase of growth with a reinforced R&D team whose diverse expertise is shaping the future of salmon and trout breeding. This strengthened group not only drives scientific innovation but also reinforces the company’s leadership and deepens trust with customers who rely on robust, data driven breeding solutions.

The team brings together specialists from around the world and across species. Vera van der Heijden, with an MSc from the Wageningen University, has been a key contributor to salmon breeding programs since 2016. Dr. Aqeel Ahmad, who completed his PhD from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences on digital phenotyping and feed efficiency in salmon, now supports genetic operations for salmon. Dr. Katharina Correa, a genomic disease resistance expert with a PhD from the University of Chile, supports Troutlodge operations and product management in Chile.

Cross species experience further strengthens the group. Dr. Britt de Klerk, who completed her PhD in cattle genetics and worked years in broiler breeding, brings valuable insights to salmonid R&D. Dr. Rayner Gonzalez-Prendez, whose PhD focused on genomic analyses in pigs, now leads bioinformatics for the business unit after years in dairy cattle genetics. They are supported by Dr. Marco Bink an experienced quantitative geneticist contributing part time from Hendrix Genetics’ Central R&D team.

The group is led by Dr. Kasper Janssen, R&D Director of BU Salmonids. Kasper completed his PhD on the economic optimization of aquaculture breeding programs. He joined Hendrix Genetics in 2019 as a geneticist working primarily on Atlantic salmon breeding programs. Building on this foundation, he transitioned into the role of R&D Director in December 2024, where he now oversees the strategic direction and scientific development of the salmonid’s portfolio.

With this team in place, BU Salmonids is well positioned to support both internal and client breeding programs through both day-to-day support and continuous operational improvement. The expanded capacity enables a stronger push into advanced phenotyping, combining innovative measurement methods, improved equipment, and AI-powered tools.

In genomics, the team is refining the in-house SNP chip to include more informative QTL linked markers and developing new evaluation methods that better capture QTL effects. These innovations will increase the accuracy of breeding value predictions and accelerate genetic progress across salmon and trout.

By investing in people and technology, Hendrix Genetics reinforces its commitment to leadership in aquaculture genetics; delivering reliable, forward-looking solutions that strengthen customer confidence and the company’s global brand.

SUBPESCA Confirms Sponsorship of SRS2026 and Strengthens the Link Between Science and Public Policy in Aquaculture

Edusehat — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:45:06 +0700

By INCAR²

The international meeting, to be held in Puerto Varas in November, will bring together key stakeholders to address the main health challenge in salmon farming: Salmon Rickettsial Syndrome.

The Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA) has confirmed its sponsorship of the first International Conference on Salmon Rickettsial Syndrome (SRS2026) – Integrating Science, Industry and Policy for Sustainable Salmon Aquaculture, which will take place from November 9 to 11, 2026, in Puerto Varas, Los Lagos Region.

The conference, to be held at the Wyndham Petra Hotel in Puerto Varas, will bring together researchers, producers, regulatory authorities, supplier companies, and representatives from civil society to discuss scientific and technological advances related to the prevention, diagnosis, and control of piscirickettsiosis.

According to the event’s Scientific Committee, “Having the sponsorship of the Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture at SRS2026 is essential to strengthen the link between the generation of scientific knowledge and decision-making at the national level. SUBPESCA plays a key role in defining evidence-based policies and regulatory frameworks, which are essential to move toward more sustainable aquaculture. Likewise, as INCAR² Center, we deeply value its support for this initiative, as it reinforces the need to address complex challenges such as SRS from an integrated perspective, where science, industry, and public policy work together in a coordinated manner for the benefit of the sector.”

SUBPESCA’s support for SRS2026 underscores the importance of this international meeting, which seeks to coordinate efforts among science, industry, and public policy to address one of the main health challenges in salmon farming.

The Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA), an agency under the Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism, is responsible for regulating and managing fisheries and aquaculture activities through policies, regulations, and management measures based on the precautionary principle and an ecosystem approach, supported by the best available scientific evidence. It also promotes the sustainable development of the sector, with an emphasis on transparency, equity, and the participation of men and women involved in fisheries and aquaculture.

From the organizing team, it was highlighted that SRS2026 will mark a milestone as the first international conference devoted exclusively to piscirickettsiosis—better known as Salmon Rickettsial Syndrome—bringing together experts, companies, authorities, and research centers from around the world. In this regard, they extended an open invitation to all stakeholders in the aquaculture ecosystem to take part in the event. “We invite institutions, companies, and organizations to be part of this unique global initiative, which aims to strengthen collaboration among science, industry, and public policy. SRS2026 is an unprecedented opportunity to share experiences, showcase advances, and build joint solutions to one of the main health challenges in salmon farming,” stated the organizing team.

The conference is currently sponsored by Vaxxinova, Alianza Yelcho, Mowi, and Virbac, and supported by SUBPESCA, SERNAPESCA, INTESAL and the industry associations SalmonChile, the Salmon Council, and the Magallanes Salmon Farmers Association. In addition, SRS 2026 Conference will have the participation and support of media partners including Medios AQUA, InfoSALMON, Mundo Acuícola, Partnerfish, AquaHoy, Panorama Acuícola, and AquaFeed.com.

The conference program will include keynote speeches, thematic sessions, scientific presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, featuring national and international experts. Interested institutions and organizations can explore different sponsorship and participation options by contacting the organizing team at eventosincar2@udec.cl, where they can learn about visibility opportunities during the event.

More information and registration: www.srs2026conference.cl

Participant registration: https://puentecientifico.cl/congresses/srs-2026/registration/

Submit Your Abstracts: https://www.srs2026conference.cl/abtract

Aquaculture 4.0 and the Last Mile of Growth A Conversation with Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta

Edusehat — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:05:05 +0700

* By Aquaculture Magazine Editorial Team

In this discussion, Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta outlines Aquaculture 4.0 as the shift from fragmented farming to integrated, data-driven systems. By connecting infrastructure, data, and value chain integration, the industry can eliminate operational uncertainty, reveal unseen biological risks, and unlock large-scale structured finance. This framework provides an essential roadmap for scaling global aquaculture through visibility and understanding.

Few professionals in global aquaculture have operated across as many dimensions of the industry as Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta, from production and consulting to academia, public policy, and international leadership, from working directly with farms to shaping national strategy in Mexico and leading global dialogue as President of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS).

He built his foundation at the farm level, then broadened it through consulting across regions and species, where the same patterns of variability and unpredictability consistently emerged regardless of geography. At Auburn University, he created the Certification for Aquaculture Professionals (CAP), reflecting his belief that technology alone does not transform aquaculture, people do. Later roles at CONAPESCA and as Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Tamaulipas, Mexico (SEPESCA) positioned aquaculture as a strategic sector tied to food security and economic development.

Today, based in Australia and engaged across Southeast Asia through Intelligon, he operates globally, working with producers, governments, and financial and technology stakeholders to translate innovation into scalable, integrated aquaculture systems.

In this conversation with Salvador Meza, Aquaculture Magazine explores his central thesis: aquaculture will not scale sustainably until it evolves from a fragmented activity into an integrated, data-driven system, a concept he frames as Aquaculture 4.0.

The Making of a Global Aquaculture Leader

Salvador Meza: Antonio, you have worked across nearly every layer of aquaculture. How has that shaped your understanding of the industry?

Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta: It has shown me that aquaculture cannot be understood in isolation. I started at the farm level, aquaculture is biology, and biology defines your limits. Consulting across countries and species allowed me to see patterns, variability, lack of control, and limited predictability exist everywhere.

At Auburn University, that perspective led to the creation of CAP. Human capital remains one of the most underestimated variables in aquaculture.

Moving into policy at CONAPESCA and SEPESCA changed the scale at which I was thinking, from solving problems for a farm to designing systems for entire sectors. My work with WAS reinforced that aquaculture only advances when science, industry, and policy align.

So today I do not see isolated issues, I see a system that has evolved, but not yet integrated. The limitations are structural, not technical, improve production but ignore finance, and you limit scale; improve technology but ignore training, and you limit adoption. The next phase will come from connecting these elements, not optimizing them individually.

The Industry at Its Limits

Salvador Meza: Aquaculture has grown enormously over recent decades. Why do you believe it is reaching a structural limit?

Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta: Because despite that growth, the system remains fundamentally unstable.

We have made major advances in genetics, nutrition, and production technologies, but there is a contradiction:

Improved performance, but not reduced uncertainty.

Production cycles still show high variability because we continue to operate under a reactive model.

Salvador Meza: What drives that instability, and how does it connect to what you call the “black box”?

Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta: Lack of visibility. Aquaculture is driven by biological processes that change continuously, oxygen, feeding response, biomass development, but in many systems these variables are not monitored in real time.

Decisions are based on delayed information or experience alone, and reactive decision-making makes instability inevitable.

We understand inputs and measure outputs, but the process in between remains unseen. That is the black box. When the core of your system is not visible, you cannot stabilize it.

Salvador Meza: How does that connect with finance?

Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta: Directly. Finance depends on measurable risk.

If you cannot observe what is happening inside the system, risk remains opaque, and opaque risk makes capital cautious. That is why aquaculture, despite strong fundamentals, still faces limitations in accessing large-scale structured finance.

From the perspective I have built working across multiple regions with producers, technology companies, and financial stakeholders, the transition is clear:

From uncertainty to visibility, from reactive to predictive systems, from fragmented operations to integrated ones, and most importantly, from unmeasured risk to financeable risk.

Aquaculture 4.0: Unlocking the Last Mile of Growth

Salvador Meza: What is Aquaculture 4.0 for you, in practice?

Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta: At its core, a simple premise:

We cannot manage what we cannot see

Aquaculture has evolved by improving inputs, genetics, feed, and infrastructure, but visibility into what is happening inside the production system has remained limited. The first step is not adding more technology for its own sake, but making the system visible in a continuous and structured way.

I break this transformation into three pillars that only create value together:

Infrastructure, data, and systems integration

Infrastructure, both physical and digital, allows you to see the system.

Data allows you to measure it consistently and transform observations into structured information.

Systems integration connects that information across the value chain.

When these three elements work together, you move from a reactive model to a managed biological system, where decisions are based on what is happening and what is likely to happen next.

At the farm level, this improves stability and efficiency.

At the value chain and institutional level, it improves coordination, predictability, and visibility.

Feed mills understand demand and risk more clearly.

Governments can monitor production dynamics in real time.

And financial institutions can finally assess risk in a structured way.

Salvador Meza: And this is where finance becomes central?

Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta: Yes. This is what I describe as the last mile of growth.

The industry has made real progress in production and technology, but scale is constrained by capital, and capital requires clarity on risk.

Once you have continuous data, you move from assumptions to measurable performance. That allows risk to be structured, understood, and financed.

Infrastructure allows you to see risk.

Data allows you to measure risk.

Systems integration allows you to manage risk.

And that is what converts uncertainty into investable opportunity.

What emerges is a reinforcing cycle:

Data → Risk → Finance → Adoption → Data

Once that flywheel begins to move, transformation accelerates.

Salvador Meza: Where does Intelligon fit into this transformation?

Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta: Intelligon operates precisely at that intersection.

By integrating sensors, feeding systems, satellite information, and environmental data into a unified platform, we are not only improving farm performance, but enabling the translation of that data into actionable intelligence across the entire value chain, including producers, feed companies, governments, and financial institutions.

The objective is not just efficiency.

It is to enable scalable, financeable aquaculture systems at industry level.

Sustainability becomes a natural outcome of this visibility. Better feeding reduces waste, improved oxygen management reduces stress and mortality, and better data reduces environmental variability.

It emerges from better system management, and increasingly, it is directly linked to access to capital.

In one idea:

Aquaculture 4.0 is the transition from producing with uncertainty to producing with understanding.

And once you understand the system, you can manage it.

Once you can manage it, you can finance it.

And once you can finance it, you can scale it.

That is the last mile of growth.

Global Deployment and Validation

Salvador Meza: Where are you actually seeing this transformation happening?

Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta: This is no longer theoretical; it is already happening across multiple regions.

Having worked across these regions over nearly three decades, what stands out is that despite differences in geography, species, and production models, the same patterns are emerging.

In Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, export requirements are driving a strong push toward real-time monitoring, automated feeding, and data-driven decision making. Once these systems demonstrate consistent results, adoption accelerates rapidly.

In Latin America, especially Ecuador, we see a more advanced stage of implementation. Producers are not only improving productivity, but integrating data, traceability, and system-level thinking into their operations.

Across Central America and other emerging regions, the conversations are also evolving, shifting from production techniques to resilience, competitiveness, and long-term positioning.

At the global level, what is most relevant is convergence.

Through platforms like FAO and AQUACON, governments, international organizations, and industry leaders are increasingly aligned around the same structural questions, how to operationalize transparency, improve system-level visibility, and enable access to capital.

This is clearly reflected in initiatives such as the FAO Global Conference on Smart Farming, where the integration of digital technologies, data systems, and sustainability is no longer theoretical, but part of a global food system agenda.

When these themes emerge consistently across Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East, it becomes clear that this is not a regional shift.

It is a global transition.

What Comes Next

Salvador Meza: What should the industry focus on now?

Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta: The priority is scaling.

We already know these systems work. The challenge is how quickly we can deploy them across different regions, species, and production environments.

Salvador Meza: What is holding that back?

Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta: Three things.

Fragmentation, the industry is still segmented.

Access to capital, financial structures are not yet fully aligned.

And mindset, many still prioritize short-term output over long-term system stability.

Salvador Meza: So, this is not just a technical shift?

Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta: No. It is a structural shift.

It requires thinking about aquaculture not as individual farms, but as integrated systems.

Because the next phase of growth will not be defined by how much we produce, but by how well we understand, manage, and connect the systems behind it.

And the speed at which we make that transition will determine who leads the future of aquaculture.

Conclusion

As aquaculture enters its next phase, the question is no longer whether it can grow, but whether it can do so with stability, transparency, and scale.

The answer will depend on how quickly the industry moves from fragmented operations to integrated, data-driven systems.

*Salvador Meza
Editor & Publisher of Aquaculture Magazine.

Evolving Aquaculture Paradigms: Essential for Sustainability

Edusehat — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 07:35:05 +0700

* By Ph.D. Stephen Newman

As global aquaculture surpasses 100 million metric tons, the shift toward evolving production paradigms is no longer optional but essential for sustainability. This analysis explores how traditional methods are giving way to advanced technological frameworks, including precision genetic selection and automated husbandry. By redefining these core operational standards, the industry can ensure long-term ecological balance while meeting the rising global demand for seafood.

Global aquaculture production has grown exponentially over the last 5 decades. In 1990, aquatic animal production was around 17 million MTs contrasted with 2022 farmed production of almost 95 million MTs. Today in 2026, it is over 100 million MTs with no end apparently in sight. Although not all sectors have grown at the same rate, bivalve culture, salmon, tilapia and shrimp farming are currently the leaders.

Focusing on shrimp farming, there are many countries where paradigms that are little changed from what would have been in use a hundred years ago are still the norm. The common example of this would be non-aerated gravity fed, stocked with wild seed, dirt ponds with hand feeding and harvesting via nets.

Technological advances are ensuring greater control and for some systems may ultimately lower overall costs, resulting in greater returns on investment (ROIs) and more consistency. Aeration, the use of automatic feeders and engineered feeds, as well as genetic selection of stress and pathogen tolerant lines, pond design and advanced animal husbandry are all elements of this.

These advances, while not being adopted universally, I believe are largely inevitable in the long run to ensure sustainable production. Some will not agree although I think that ultimately the largest consumers, which will be those that are buying imported products, will want assurances regarding the manner in which the animals are being produced that include not just animal welfare but owner welfare as well.

Efficiency of farming is essential for shrimp to be priced as large volume consumed commodities. Sustainable, responsible aquaculture will reduce the pressure of a burgeoning human population on the wild fisheries, many of which, if not all, are at risk from over exploitation and environmental variability.

Advances in aeration, automatic feeders, and genetic selection for stress tolerance are transforming aquaculture paradigms. These elements ensure greater control, lowering costs and increasing ROIs for sustainable, large-scale production.

Environmental stewardship, ensuring that the impact on the environment is minimal and properly managed, is an essential element of sustainability. How best to approach this is not necessarily always straight forward and there are many disparate ideas as to what is needed. As Earth’s population continues to grow at what does not appear to be a sustainable pace, a continually changing environment along with the impact of human activities is squeezing and jeopardizing abundant food production on the land and in the sea.

There are challenges that humanity must deal with as a result of the complexities created by high population levels and the pressure this places on resource utilization. The concept that by altering an environment one can impact the need for a species to evolve or die is important. This can happen slowly or quickly.

A naturally occurring equilibrium in the aquatic microbiome is essential. Nonpathogenic Vibrio species stabilize the environment, helping control virulent strains and ensuring the balance necessary for successful monoculture systems.

Humanity has at best incomplete models of how all the pieces of what is a very complex jigsaw puzzle fit and act together. We are still unraveling the layers and while the progress in some areas is nothing short of astonishing, we are still far from having a comprehensive, cohesive model. AI could change this, but will it shape it positively?

In ecology there is a concept that as a population modifies its environment it can create changes that make it problematic for the environment to continue operating in a manner that ensures that a dependent population can thrive. There are innumerable examples where the outcome is extinction. Changes in the environment create a negative feedback loop that further weakens environmental integrity and displaces those animals, plants, bacteria, etc. that rely on the stability.

Even apparently minor disruptions in this chain can have dire impacts. There are some who believe that this is where humanity is headed unless some form of progressive change is not mandated and enforced. Not simple either.

Aquaculture is an essential element of mitigating the impact of our activities on a renewable resource that is fragile (the fishery). Climate is not something that is always the same and human activities can, do and will impact this with a myriad of environmental impacts that are potentially detrimental.

Recognizing that aquaculture, when practiced in a responsible fashion must be a component of the long-term ability of sustainable production to result in positive impacts is critical. Resource depletion is an ever-present sword of Damocles. While there are steps being taken in the right direction, there is not a framework that is universal and that everyone will agree is sustainable. There must be constraints placed on how aquaculture outputs are produced that considers the limits placed on what sustainable methods demand. Not simple either.

Disease is a natural phenomenon. It is an “inconvenience” for humans that are impacted by it. Growing any organism in artificial environments will invariably face disease challenges. The normal balance that complex highly evolved ecosystems have is not there. The risks can be reduced and in some production paradigms, at a cost, appear to be able to be largely eliminated.

Efficiency is critical for shrimp to remain a high-volume commodity. Sustainable methods must balance environmental impact with the cost-effective production required for global market accessibility and food security.

For day-to-day production on a massive scale in open to the environment systems, generally felt to be essential to ensure that shrimp are a commodity that can be sold at a price point that encourages wide spread consumption, the challenges are different than for partially and totally closed systems.

I am of the opinion that the path to sustainability requires an indepth audit by cooperating, non-conflicting, third parties with no stake in the outcome of every phase of each component of the process. Only then can a full picture evolve. Some things are much important than others and what matters is that entire ecosystems are considered with risk benefits and overviews of a spectrum of economic, social and environmental impacts. Bias and capitalist overtones limit this. This is not a onetime thing but requires adapting to change.

The aquatic microbiome is highly complex and variable. Aquaculture has been impacted significantly by elements of this. Vibrios are universally seen as problematic along with a few other genera that also can cause great harm. There are a vocal few who advocate extreme control of the entire genus among others. In my opinion, elimination of any given genus of bacteria is a fool’s errand.

Bacteria are everywhere and as we slowly unravel the pieces of this huge jigsaw it becomes increasingly obvious that they are instrumental in success and not at the root of all failures. Taking a closer look at vibrios, the nonpathogenic vibrio species (of which there are well over a hundred) are important in stabilizing the microbiome which helps to control the levels of virulent strains and ensures a balance (Figure 1). The reality is that there is a naturally occurring equilibrium that the very nature of monoculture can disrupt.

The Figure 1 demonstrates that the spectrum of vibrios present in a production system are critical for stability. Modifying the environment and how the animals are being produced can result in production systems where susceptibility is reduced to those few pathogens that are obligate. Obligate pathogens in this case being defined as specific strains of many different bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc. that will produce disease in healthy animals.

Typically, this is because of the production of virulence factors that overwhelm the ability of a healthy host to fight a given pathogen at the levels that are present in the production environment. Note that this is rarely an all or nothing phenomenon. There are examples where obligate pathogens only produce limited disease and even in some instances although animals are affected, they are able to survive without losses that reduce the value of the crop to the point where money is lost. Opportunistic pathogens abound in aquatic environments. They take advantage of weakened animals. In some instances, they even can become obligate pathogens.

Understanding factors that disrupt homeostasis is vital for sustainability. Minimizing sudden water quality changes and accumulated waste prevents immune responsiveness failure, protecting weak animals from opportunistic pathogen infections.

Stress reduction, understanding what factors negatively impact the homeostatic mechanisms needed for animals to thrive in the artificial environments we need to use to farm them economically, is essential if we are going to be able to truly consider what we are doing is sustainable. This is a fancy way of saying that when you do things that force the animal to use resources that you want geared towards converting food into biomass it comes at an expense. There are many examples of this.

A few, sudden changes in salinity or certain other water quality parameters including temperature, low or no DO, inadequate water depth, large amount of accumulated waste streams from the process itself, etc. Weak animals are susceptible to infection with opportunistic pathogens, which can jump in when obligate pathogens set the stage or they overwhelm enfeebled immune responsiveness.

Exclusion is an important principle and properly operated brood-stock programs reduce the risk of known pathogen transmission. However, unfortunately, the firewalls in some of these facilities are often breached. Some are profiting from these breaches even though a very few changes are all that is needed to minimize these risks. Technological advances can minimize these. No tool will allow farmers to take short cuts with pathogen control and stress reduction and inevitably avoid negative consequences.

Successful aquaculture relies on robust biosecurity elements, including pathogen exclusion and judicious use of disinfectants. Maintaining these protocols avoids economic catastrophes and ensures long-term profitability as production tonnages increase globally.

While populations might indeed be free of specific pathogens at the time that they are placed into hatchery systems these are rarely operated at the same level of biosecurity that a nucleus breeding facility would be. Insects, birds, the wind, water vapor, etc. are all able to enter these facilities even with tight biosecurity of personnel. Disinfectants play a role in this although much as with antibiotics they are best used judiciously when they are needed and work, leaving no discernable negative impacts.

The Figure 2, essential biosecurity elements for healthy farmed shrimp and fish, summarizes many of the various elements of biosecurity that are crucial for success, although they do not guarantee it. Failure to appreciate these can increase the odds of economic catastrophes. Profitability becomes elusive and the costs of ensuring that these elements are part of standard operating procedures results in taking short cuts which further increases the risk.

In summary, a cold hard non biased look is needed to ensure that sustainable elements of production are in place. These vary with the animal being produced, the environment it is being produced in and how things change as production systems mature. While some would argue that frameworks are in place, I see it as being a process that is evolving much as the production paradigms are. This will continue as the tonnage increases and both old and new challenges arise.

* Stephen G. Newman has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in Conservation and Resource Management (ecology) and a Ph.D. from the University of Miami, in Marine Microbiology. He has over 40 years of experience working within a range of topics and approaches on aquaculture such as water quality, animal health, biosecurity with special focus on shrimp and salmonids. He founded Aquaintech in 1996 and continues to be CEO of this company to the present day. It is heavily focused on providing consulting services around the world on microbial technologies and biosecurity issues.
sgnewm@aqua-in-tech.com
www.aqua-in-tech.com
www.bioremediationaquaculture.com

ASC Responds to U.S. Senate Inquiry, Highlighting Transparent and Independent Assurance of the ASC Program

Edusehat — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 04:20:22 +0700

By Aquaculture Stewardship Council

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has responded to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, outlining the robustness of its certification system, which is built on stringent standards, independent third-party audits, full supply chain traceability, and public transparency to provide credible assurance for certified seafood products.

ASC-certified products are available in markets worldwide, including the United States, which is a strongly growing market for ASC, and provide assurance to retailers and consumers that seafood has been produced in accordance with ASC requirements.

As outlined in the response sent to the US Senate Committee, ASC is an environmental and social aquaculture certification and labeling program that operates through rigorous standards, independent third-party audits, accreditation oversight, public transparency, traceability requirements, and continuous improvement mechanisms.

While ASC is not a food safety certification scheme or regulatory authority, the program includes requirements related to legal compliance, supply chain integrity, antibiotic stewardship, social responsibility, and independent assurance that provide measurable oversight of certified operations and transparency throughout the seafood supply chain.

ASC takes concerns relating to imported seafood seriously and actively monitors regulatory alerts and other credible reports relating to ASC-certified entities and supply chains. As noted in this response, no ASC-labeled shrimp products were implicated in the FDA’s 2025 Cesium-137 contamination alerts relating to imported shrimp. While food safety oversight remains the responsibility of regulators and food safety certification systems, ASC requirements for traceability, supply chain integrity, veterinary medicine controls, transparency, and independent assurance provide additional safeguards and accountability mechanisms throughout the supply chain.

ASC’s Robust Program Assurance

ASC standards are developed through a structured, multi-stakeholder process that brings together producers, industry representatives, non-governmental organizations, academics, regulators, and other stakeholders. This process includes formal public consultations and targeted engagement to ensure that standards reflect a wide range of expertise and perspectives and are not driven by any single interest group.

At the core of the ASC program are transparency, accountability, and consumer trust. ASC standards set measurable requirements across environmental performance, social responsibility, and animal welfare. Compliance with these requirements is verified through independent third-party audits conducted by accredited certification bodies. Independence is embedded throughout ASC’s governance and assurance systems to safeguard impartiality and prevent conflicts of interest.

Together, these elements ensure that ASC operates a robust, independent, and transparent certification system that supports responsible aquaculture practices and provides credible assurance to markets, stakeholders, and consumers globally.

ASC’s full response to the U.S. Senate HELP Committee can be found here.

About the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

ASC certification delivers measurable impact in aquaculture through science-based requirements — developed and revised through multi-stakeholder processes — covering biodiversity, animal welfare, greenhouse gas emissions, feed ingredient sourcing and human rights, all independently verified.

ASC is setting the standard for farmed seafood. www.asc-aqua.org

ASC Joins Global Call for Ocean-Centred Climate Action at COP31

Edusehat — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 04:20:17 +0700

By Aquaculture Stewardship Council

As momentum builds toward the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), the “BlueCOP” agenda is highlighting the ocean’s critical role in addressing the climate crisis. Reflecting this growing global call to action, Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) CEO Chris Ninnes joined more than 150 global leaders and experts in signing an open letter to COP31 hosts Australia and Türkiye, urging them to place the ocean at the heart of global climate action.

The letter urges COP31 leadership to make ocean-climate solutions a core political priority, including a dedicated World Leaders Summit focus with clear outcomes on political commitment and climate finance. It also calls for strengthened integration of ocean and coastal priorities across COP31 negotiation streams, including mitigation, adaptation, and finance, alongside dedicated high-level sessions to advance implementation of existing initiatives such as the Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge Implementation Taskforce and the Action Agenda Blue Package launched at COP30.

ASC CEO Chris Ninnes said, “The health of our oceans is inseparable from the future of sustainable aquaculture, global food and nutritional security and protein supply. Our oceans have enormous influence on global weather systems, aquatic and terrestrial, so ocean and planetary health are intrinsically intertwined.

“We are fortunate that seafood farming’s vital and increasing role regards these benefits can also do this with less impact than terrestrial animal protein supply. To put it simply: seafood farming provides more with less impact. But to secure all of these benefits into the future we must do more to ensure blue foods are sustainably farmed and fished and that the ecosystems that deliver this comprehensively managed. If we do that then the ocean will continue to sustain communities, livelihoods and provide planetary resilience for generations to come.”

Putting Oceans at the Heart of Climate Discussions at COP31

The signatories emphasize that the ocean is central to climate stability, absorbing over 90% of excess heat and around a quarter of global CO₂ emissions, while supporting billions of people through food security, livelihoods, and coastal resilience. Yet despite its critical role, ocean-based solutions remain significantly underrepresented in climate policy and finance. Scaling solutions such as sustainable blue foods, decarbonization of shipping, offshore renewable energy, and protection and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems could deliver up to 35% of the emissions reductions needed to meet the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal.

The letter calls for COP31 to mark a turning point, embedding ocean-climate action across all relevant negotiation areas.

The full letter with over 150 signatories can be found here.

The summit will be held at the Antalya Expo Center in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20, 2026.

About the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

ASC certification delivers measurable impact in aquaculture through science-based requirements — developed and revised through multi-stakeholder processes — covering biodiversity, animal welfare, greenhouse gas emissions, feed ingredient sourcing and human rights, all independently verified.

ASC is setting the standard for farmed seafood. www.asc-aqua.org

AtlantiCan Growth Partners Launches with the Goal of Creating a Blue Economy Fund Worth USD 70.46 million

Edusehat — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 04:20:12 +0700

• The capital platform initial investment focus leverages Atlantic Canada’s global credibility and highly skilled talent pool in aquaculture, marine technology, fisheries, and ocean innovation

• They are actively seeking connections with founders and operators building scalable businesses, co-investors, and institutional partners interested in the Maritime opportunity, and ecosystem leaders aligned with long-term regional growth

AtlantiCan Growth Partners (AGP) just officially announced its launch as a long-term investment platform dedicated to scaling high-potential businesses across Atlantic Canada. Operating with an operator-led model, the firm partners with founders, operators, and ecosystem leaders in sectors where the region holds a distinct global competitive advantage. AGP was established with a long-term vision of launching three dedicated funds–beginning with a USD 70.46 M–105.69 million fund focused on the Blue Economy.

According to them, Atlantic Canada represents a major growth opportunity within Canada’s venture capital landscape. “Over the past five years, the region has attracted just 2% to 3% of national venture capital, with Ontario and Quebec capturing the vast majority of deployment. AGP was established to bridge this systemic funding gap by building on the region’s existing funding ecosystem”.

The firm’s initial investment focus leverages Atlantic Canada’s global credibility and highly skilled talent pool in aquaculture, marine technology, fisheries, and ocean innovation. While the blue economy serves as a natural, advantage-rich starting point, AGP is designed as an expandable platform that will scale to include additional sectors over time.

“Atlantic Canada has always punched above its weight. This region is home to exceptional companies, driven founders, and a strong support system that is often understated,” assured Alex McCallum, President and CEO of AtlantiCan Growth Partners. “What we see now is an opportunity to build on that foundation with more dedicated growth-stage capital for companies ready to scale. AGP brings the capital, experience, and hands-on support required to build the next generation of Atlantic Canadian anchor companies.”

Deep Regional Roots and Strong National Networks

AGP is backed by an experienced management team and a powerhouse Board of Directors with deep regional roots and strong national networks across capital markets, governance, entrepreneurship, and ocean innovation. The platform was developed based on the long-term vision of Executive Chairman Telfer Hanson, leveraging his three decades of international financial and investment banking expertise to establish a dedicated growth capital vehicle for the region.

“Having spent over three decades in the investment space, I know the incredible potential of Atlantic Canada’s businesses and the challenges they face when scaling. AGP is the realization of a long-term goal to bridge the region’s funding gap. We are providing the dedicated growth capital, strategic governance, and hands-on support our entrepreneurs need to drive long-term regional value,” said Hanson.

Joining Hanson on the Board of Directors are notable regional leaders including Kendra MacDonald, Karl Van Waldow, Houston Barnaby, and Ed Barrett of Barrett Corporation in New Brunswick. Kyle Tomlin from Imperium Blue in Atlanta joins the Board, bringing extensive fund and portfolio management experience.

“Atlantic Canada has long been home to world-class operators, innovators, and industry expertise. What the region needs now is more dedicated growth capital to help those companies scale,” highlighted MacDonald. “AGP is built to support that next stage of growth, starting in the blue economy, where the region has both deep roots and global opportunity.”

AGP informed that is actively seeking connections with founders and operators building scalable businesses, co-investors, and institutional partners interested in the Maritime opportunity, and ecosystem leaders aligned with long-term regional growth. The leadership team recently participated in the Atlantic Venture Forum in Halifax and looks forward to engaging with potential partners and portfolio companies.

Ace Aquatec, Winner of the Scotland Business of the Year

Edusehat — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 04:20:06 +0700

The pioneering aquaculture technology company Ace Aquatec was recognized a few days ago for its revolutionary fish monitoring technology in the Innovation category of the Scotland Business of the Year awards. The company, based in Dundee, Scotland, develops advanced hardware with AI-driven software to improve fish welfare, optimize production, and reduce operating costs.

“This award is recognition of the innovation, expertise and ambition that drives everything we do at Ace Aquatec. A-BIOMASS demonstrates how cutting-edge AI and imaging technology can help producers make better decisions, improve fish welfare and operate more sustainably,” said Tara McGregor-Woodhams, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of Ace Aquatec.

And she added: “As global demand for responsibly produced seafood continues to grow, farmers need smarter tools that deliver both economic and environmental benefits. We are proud to be developing world-leading technology in Scotland that is solving real challenges for producers around the world, while strengthening the future of sustainable aquaculture.”

By embedding AI and machine learning throughout fish production, their systems lower cost per kilo, enhance welfare outcomes, and support sustainable protein growth worldwide, they explain.

Trusted by Producers Worldwide

The members of Ace Aquatec assure that their A-BIOMASS camera is a leading example of how AI and advanced imaging technology are transforming aquaculture. Designed to accurately measure the length and weight of individual fish in challenging, low-light underwater environments, the system continuously captures and analyses large volumes of data in real time.

They say this enables farmers to make more informed, data-driven decisions around feeding, stock management and harvesting, improving operational efficiency, sustainability and fish welfare.

Ace Aquatec has also developed several tools to improve welfare across the aquaculture and marine sectors including its award-winning Humane Stunner Universal (A-HSU), a cutting-edge fish stunning system that enables efficient, high-quality harvesting while supporting the highest standards of fish welfare. Trusted by producers worldwide, it delivers a fast, reliable and humane process that sets a benchmark for the industry

[FOTO2]

Indonesian Shrimp Producer

Some weeks before receiving the award, the company PT Brother announced they chosen Ace Aquatec’s portable stunner system for its site in Cilacap, Indonesia, as the company begins a program of welfare and harvesting improvements. With long distances between pens and processing creating potential transit times of up to 12 hours, the shrimp breeder identified that the longer specimens were transported before harvest, the more stressed they became, with quality also significantly reduced.

The solution was the A-HSU for Shrimp in-water electric stunning system from award-winning aquaculture technology company Ace Aquatec. The mobility of the portable unit, meaning it can easily be maneuvered between locations on the company’s 3.5-hectare site, was a key factor in the decision to install.

“We chose Ace Aquatec‘s portable stunner to support our ambition to become a market leader in shrimp welfare. The system will dramatically cut transit time between our pens and processing operations, and Ace Aquatec will be key to helping us scale. Once rolled out across all three of our main sites, we expect to grow harvest volumes from around 350 tons per year at our Cilacap site to almost 2,150 tons,” said Riza Nugraha, president director at PT Brother.

As well as improving shrimp welfare during harvesting and supporting PT Brother’s ambition to raise welfare standards in the region, the system is expected to significantly increase both harvest volume and product quality. Manual harvesting currently delivers an estimated one tone every 45 minutes, while the A-HSU system has the potential capacity to process up to eight tons per hour.

Tara McGregor-Woodhams, chief sales and marketing officer at Ace Aquatec, commented: “We’re proud to be working with PT Brother as they take a leadership position on shrimp welfare. Shrimp is one of the world’s fastest-growing protein sources, and producers who prioritize welfare today are building a real competitive advantage as consumer and regulatory expectations continue to rise. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to welfare-first, sustainable aquaculture, and we look forward to seeing PT Brother lead the way.”

Next Level Aquaculture Performance Through Integrated Solutions

Edusehat — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 07:55:05 +0700

* By Fabio Cervellione and Ketil Christensen

Navigating sustainability expectations and regulatory compliance in aquaculture requires a structured, multi-layered strategy. Through an integrated ecosystem of global innovation centers, veterinarians, and cutting-edge digital tools, Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health delivers validated, field-proven solutions. This unified approach transforms raw farm data into proactive execution, ensuring stronger biological resilience and sustainable business growth.

Aquaculture producers operate in an environment characterized by biological variability, rising costs, increasing sustainability expectations, and growing demands for transparency and regulatory compliance. At the same time, production systems are becoming more complex. Nutrition, animal health, farm operations, and data all influence one another more than ever before. Improving one area in isolation is often no longer enough to deliver consistent results.

As a result, producers are looking for more connected solutions — not just individual products — to help them make better decisions, improve consistency, and adapt more quickly to changing conditions.

At Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health (ANH), this integrated approach is reflected in how we work with aquaculture producers to connect science-backed nutrition, technical expertise, and digital insight into more practical, outcome-focused systems.

Aquaculture producers face rising operational costs, biological variability, and strict regulatory compliance. Modern operations require connected systems that link science-backed nutrition, farm data, and technical expertise rather than relying on disconnected standalone products.

Species-First, Science-Backed Nutrition for Modern Aquaculture

Within this integrated model, Micronutrition & Health Solutions (MHS) represents Cargill ANH’s science-based portfolio dedicated to supporting animal health, resilience, and performance through micronutrition. MHS solutions are designed with a species-first mindset and are grounded in a deep understanding of biological systems, including nutrient utilization, immune function, and the role of the microbiome. Proven animal performance. With purpose.

A defining principle of MHS is precision: the right solution, applied at the right time, and at the right inclusion level. Our solutions span the full spectrum of customer needs: from safeguarding animal health to unleashing animal potential and sustaining resources.

This disciplined approach helps ensure that micronutrition contributes effectively to performance while supporting responsible and compliant use.

Cargill ANH‘s Micronutrition & Health Solutions uses a disciplined, species-first mindset grounded in biological systems. This precise approach targets nutrient utilization, immune function, and microbiome health to safeguard animal resilience and unlock genetic potential.

Expert Guidance Across Complex Production Systems

As aquaculture systems become increasingly interconnected, expert guidance remains essential. Biological insight, nutritional expertise, operational experience, and market and regulatory understanding remain the foundation of responsible aquaculture production. Products alone do not create value; value is realized when expert knowledge is applied consistently and appropriately within the realities of commercial production systems.

At Cargill ANH, our global network of nutritionists, veterinarians, researchers, technologists, and technical service professionals work closely with customers to help solve practical challenges. This expertise is supported by an integrated research and development ecosystem, which includes global innovation and technical application centers dedicated to translating science into validated, field-proven solutions.

By combining scientific expertise with practical on-farm understanding, we help producers make more informed decisions and improve performance over time.

Value in aquaculture is fully realized when expert scientific knowledge is applied consistently to commercial production realities. A global network of nutritionists, researchers, and veterinarians translates innovative laboratory data into validated, field-proven farm solutions.

Digital Solutions for Decision-Making Confidence

The right digital platforms help connected production systems scale more effectively. These digital decision-supporting tools connect data, generate insights, and simplify execution, helping producers navigate complexity and make informed choices with greater confidence. Rather than operating as standalone technologies, platforms can help connect nutrition programs, farm operations, production data, technical expertise, and people into one practical system.

For aquaculture, Cargill ANH’s bluViu platform brings together farm-level data, production records, planning inputs, execution, and analytics within a connected environment. The platform helps producers evaluate different scenarios, track performance, and make more proactive decisions across production cycles while staying linked to nutrition programs and technical support.

By connecting biological, operational, and economic insights, a platform like bluViu helps producers shift from looking backward at performance to making more forward-looking decisions. Importantly, these digital tools are designed to complement on-farm expertise and practical experience, ensuring technology supports execution rather than adding unnecessary complexity.

The Cargill ANH’s bluViu digital platform scales modern production by combining farm-level records, analytics, and execution inputs. This data integration allows producers to run predictive scenarios and shift from historical evaluations to forward-looking operational decisions.

From Integration to Measurable Performance

Integrated solutions can help producers improve efficiency, consistency, resilience, and predictability across production cycles.

Instead of relying on disconnected tools or reacting to challenges one at a time, producers can rely on a more connected approach that supports continuous improvement over time. By combining science-backed nutrition, expert application and guidance, and digital decision support into coherent systems, Cargill ANH helps producers move from isolated interventions to more structured, informed, and continuously improving ways of operating.

The result is better decision-making, more consistent execution, and stronger long-term performance in an increasingly complex production environment.

We invite you to visit us online at Cargill Animal Nutrition – Micronutrition and Health Solutions today to learn more about how Cargill ANH supports more connected and informed aquaculture operations.

Combining specialized micronutrition, expert guidance, and digital tools moves aquaculture past isolated interventions. This continuous improvement framework drives higher productivity, predictable cycle outcomes, and a stronger ROI in a complex commercial market.

Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health delivers next level outcomes for animal wellbeing and business performance. Our integrated, science-backed solutions span nutrition, microbiome health, digital tools, and on-farm insights—designed to maximize ROI, productivity, and long-term success.

With over 1,500 nutrition science, R&D, and technical application professionals across 6 global innovation centers, proprietary technology platforms, and a deep understanding of every species, we combine cutting-edge innovation with practical application.

Our global scale and local focus help customers stay ahead, lead with confidence, and realize measurable growth where it matters most.

This is the Next Level. Realized.

This article is sponsored by: CARGILL ANIMAL NUTRITION & HEALTH

Fabio Cervellione
Micronutrition & Health Solutions, Cargill ANH
Ketil Christensen
Digital Solutions, Cargill ANH

Maximize Genetic Gain: Choosing the Right Breeding Program

Edusehat — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:50:10 +0700

Selective breeding is one of the most powerful tools available to aquaculture producers, driving improvements in growth, survival, disease resistance, robustness, and overall production performance. However, because breeding programs differ in their goals, production environments, and operational constraints, there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Choosing the right breeding strategy requires balancing breeding objectives, available resources, operational constraints, and the level of genetic gain required to achieve commercial goals. While some programs can achieve meaningful progress through simple selection approaches, others may benefit from more advanced technologies that deliver greater accuracy and faster rates of improvement.

In this poster recently presented by the team, we explore the range of breeding programme options available to aquaculture producers, from low-investment approaches such as mass selection through to family-based breeding programs and genomic selection. We examine the strengths, limitations, and practical considerations of each approach to help producers understand which strategy is best suited to their operation.

The poster also highlights the critical role of both phenotypic and genotypic data in driving genetic gain. As breeding objectives become more complex and producers seek improvements across multiple traits simultaneously, access to accurate performance and genomic information becomes increasingly important.

Whether you are establishing a new breeding program or looking to optimise an existing one, understanding the full range of available tools is essential to maximising return on investment and achieving sustainable long-term genetic improvement.

Download the poster to learn how different breeding program strategies compare and how to select the approach that best aligns with your goals, resources, and long-term vision.

The post Maximize Genetic Gain: Choosing the Right Breeding Program appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

CAT Heads to WCGALP 2026 with Three Accepted Research Papers

Edusehat — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:50:09 +0700

Next month, members of the CAT team will travel to Madison, Wisconsin, to attend the 2026 World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production (WCGALP), one of the most significant events in animal breeding and genetics worldwide.

Held only once every four years, WCGALP is often referred to as the “World Cup” of animal breeding. The conference brings together leading researchers, industry professionals, and innovators from around the globe to share the latest advances in genetic improvement across livestock, poultry, companion animals, horses, insects, and aquatic species.

This year’s event will take place from 12–17 July at the iconic Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, overlooking Lake Monona in the heart of Madison.

We’re proud to share that three CAT research papers have been accepted for presentation at the congress, highlighting our team’s ongoing commitment to advancing breeding technologies and delivering practical solutions.

Samual May presenting earlier this year.

Oral Presentation

Integrating Genome Editing into Aquaculture Breeding Programs: Achieving Commercial Scale
Presented by Samuel May

This presentation explores how genome editing technologies can be integrated into aquaculture breeding programs and the considerations required to translate scientific innovation into commercial application.

Poster Presentations

A Low-Pass Whole-Genome Sequencing and Imputation Pipeline for Cobia: Bridging Laboratory Innovation and Bioinformatics
Presented by Melissa Allen

This work examines how low-pass whole-genome sequencing can support genomic applications in emerging aquaculture species while balancing accuracy, scalability, and operational feasibility.

Pool-Seq Framework for Robust SNP Panel Design
Presented by Honggang Zhao

This study presents a scalable framework for SNP panel development and validation directly from Pool-seq data, demonstrated in a multispecies bass system comprising White Bass, Striped Bass, Yellow Bass, and their hybrids.

Events like WCGALP provide an invaluable opportunity to connect with researchers, breeders, and industry leaders from around the world, exchange ideas, and explore the technologies shaping the future of animal and aquaculture breeding.

We are honoured to contribute to this year’s scientific program.

All three papers will be available to download from our website following the conference.

The post CAT Heads to WCGALP 2026 with Three Accepted Research Papers appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Building More Resilient Shrimp Populations: Watch Diana Lagos’ Expo Larva Presentation

Edusehat — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 21:15:13 +0700

What makes a successful breeding programme?

As the world searches for sustainable ways to feed a growing population, the future does not lie only on land, but also in our waters.

For many years, genetic improvement programs in aquaculture have focused heavily on growth. While growth remains an important driver of profitability, today’s producers face a growing range of challenges, from disease outbreaks and environmental stressors to rising demands for sustainable production. As a result, survival and resilience are becoming just as important as growth when defining breeding objectives.

In this 30-minute presentation recorded at ExpoLarva, CAT’s Client Success Associate for Ecuador, Diana Lagos, explores how modern breeding programs can balance these priorities to build stronger, more resilient shrimp populations.

Drawing on a case study from our client MARSEL, Diana discusses how integrating phenotypic data, challenge testing, and genomic technologies can help identify broodstock that not only perform well under ideal conditions but also maintain productivity when faced with challenges.

The presentation highlights how multi-trait selection strategies can deliver simultaneous genetic progress in both growth and survival, helping producers build populations that are better equipped for the future.

The key message is simple: survival in maturation begins long before broodstock enter the facility. Every broodstock selected today shapes the performance of future generations, making breeding decisions one of the most powerful tools for improving long-term production outcomes.

Diana Lagos

As CAT’s on-the-ground representative in Ecuador, Diana works closely with shrimp producers to support their genotyping needs. Drawing on her extensive laboratory and shrimp operations experience, she advises clients on best practices for sample collection and shipping, helping ensure sample integrity and the delivery of reliable, actionable genetic data. She also works closely with CAT’s global laboratory operations team in San Diego to coordinate projects and support client success.

Whether you are currently running a breeding program or exploring new approaches to genetic improvement, this presentation provides valuable insights into how breeding for resilience can create long-term value for shrimp producers.

Watch the full recording, in Spanish.

The post Building More Resilient Shrimp Populations: Watch Diana Lagos’ Expo Larva Presentation appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Accelerating Genetic Gain: Why Germ Cell Transfer Is Capturing Industry Attention

Edusehat — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 21:15:12 +0700

Aquaculture breeding programs have evolved far beyond a sole focus on growth. Producers now balance a much broader set of priorities, including animal welfare, climate resilience, production efficiency, disease resilience, and long-term sustainability. As genetic tools become more advanced, there is a greater opportunity to shape breeding strategies around diverse traits that deliver real commercial value to meet industry demands.

One technology attracting growing attention is Germ Cell Transfer (GCT), where germ cells – cells that eventually become sperm or eggs – are transferred from a donor fish into a surrogate host. When transferred into a germ-cell-free host, the surrogate produces only donor-derived gametes. For breeding programs, the opportunity extends well beyond reproductive control. GCT can help amplify elite genetics, separate genetic improvement from broodstock production, strengthen biosecurity, and potentially accelerate breeding cycles.

GCT is particularly relevant in Atlantic salmon, where challenges such as parasites, disease resistance, robustness, and early male maturation continue to carry significant economic consequences. These issues can reduce harvest weights, lower fillet quality, increase mortality, compromise welfare, and reduce overall production efficiency.

The Economic Impact

Recent bioeconomic modelling in salmonids highlights the scale of the opportunity. The use of GCT to generate all-female production cohorts has been estimated to deliver approximately USD 6.89 million in additional net profit per 30,000 MT production cycle, representing a 10.1 per cent increase in profitability from the same infrastructure and smolt inputs.

The value creation is driven by recovered biomass from improved survival and reduced downgrade losses associated with early male maturation. For producers, this demonstrates how reproductive technologies such as GCT can create measurable commercial value while also improving production consistency and welfare outcomes.

The Broader Value

The major role of any hatchery or breeding program is to produce fingerlings for stocking into production systems. GCT creates several opportunities to improve how this process is managed and scaled.

By transferring germ cells into surrogate lines or related species with stronger hatchery performance or higher fecundity, producers are able to generate larger numbers of juveniles within the same space and production timeframe. In some cases, surrogate species with shorter generation intervals may also help accelerate genetic gain by reducing breeding cycle length.

GCT also creates greater flexibility within breeding programs. Rather than maintaining large populations of elite broodstock, producers can amplify valuable genetics through surrogate hosts.

High-value donor animals can be identified early using genomic tools, while surrogate animals handle gamete production at commercial scale.

The technology may also improve biosecurity and genetic transfer between locations. Moving preserved germ cells instead of live animals may reduce both transport complexity and biosecurity risk. Importantly, GCT integrates naturally with established genomic selection strategies.

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) hatchling at around 15mm

Strengthening Elite Genetics

One of the clearest applications for GCT is the amplification of elite genetics.

In traditional breeding programs, a relatively large percentage of broodstock candidates are typically retained to preserve diversity and maintain sufficient reproductive capacity to meet production requirements. With GCT, breeding programs can become much more selective.

Instead of advancing the top 20 per cent of animals, programs may be able to focus on only the very best individuals while still producing sufficient broodstock numbers through surrogacy.

This changes the pace of genetic improvement. Selection intensity increases, genetic gain accelerates, and elite traits can be scaled much more rapidly.

The impact is particularly significant in highly fecund marine species and those with long maturation timelines, where each generation incurs substantial costs and investments. In species such as cobia or seriola, a single donor line may ultimately generate very large numbers of offspring through surrogate broodstock systems.

Supporting Monosex Production

GCT also creates opportunities for producing monosex populations.

Many finfish industries already rely on monosex production because one sex often grows faster, matures later, or delivers more consistent harvest quality. Traditional approaches for generating monosex stocks can be labour-intensive, inconsistent across generations, and, in some cases, involve potentially dangerous chemicals that require careful management, use, and disposal protocols.

By incorporating germ cell transfer, breeding programs are able to establish more controlled and scalable systems for producing neo-males or neo-females in species with well-defined genetic sex determination.

For producers, this can improve production consistency and reduce biological variability during grow-out.

Preserving Valuable Genetics

Another major advantage of GCT is long-term genetic preservation.

Conventional cryopreservation methods typically rely on storing sperm. While effective for preserving partial genetics, rebuilding an identical population from sperm alone can take multiple generations, and may also result in the loss of maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA.

Germ cell preservation offers an alternative. By preserving germ cells and reintroducing them through surrogate hosts, breeding programs can potentially recreate donor populations much more accurately in the first generation. Unlike sperm cryopreservation, these donor populations may include both males and females.

For valuable breeding lines, rare genetics, or insurance against disease outbreaks and catastrophic loss events, this represents a significant strategic advantage.

A Practical Tool, Not a Replacement

Importantly, GCT is not intended to replace selective breeding. Instead, it acts as an enabling technology that strengthens existing breeding strategies.

Modern aquaculture breeding programs are increasingly combining multiple tools:

selective breeding for long-term gain,
genotyping for improved accuracy,
genomic selection for difficult traits,
genome editing for sterility and trait advancement,
and advanced reproductive technologies like GCT to improve operational efficiency.

The most successful programs are unlikely to rely on a single technology. Instead, competitive advantage will come from integrating these approaches into practical, commercially scalable systems.

Looking Ahead

Industry interest in Germ Cell Transfer is increasingly shifting beyond sterility alone and toward the broader value the technology can deliver within breeding programs. While reproductive control remains important, the larger opportunity lies in how GCT can improve the deployment of elite genetics, increase selection intensity, support monosex production, strengthen biosecurity, preserve valuable genetic resources, and potentially accelerate breeding cycles.

For commercial producers, these benefits translate directly into measurable operational value: improved production consistency, faster genetic progress, reduced biological losses, and stronger overall profitability.

As aquaculture breeding programs continue to evolve, integrating technologies that improve both biological performance and operational efficiency are likely to play an increasingly important role.

The post Accelerating Genetic Gain: Why Germ Cell Transfer Is Capturing Industry Attention appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Maximise Genetic Gain: Choosing the Right Breeding Program

Edusehat — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 21:15:11 +0700

Download the poster to learn how different breeding program strategies compare and how to select the approach that best aligns with your goals, resources, and long-term vision.

The post Maximise Genetic Gain: Choosing the Right Breeding Program appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

AT Heads to WCGALP 2026 with Three Accepted Research Papers

Edusehat — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 21:15:09 +0700

This year’s event will take place from 12–17 July at the iconic Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, overlooking Lake Monona in the heart of Madison.

Samual May presenting earlier this year.

Oral Presentation

Integrating Genome Editing into Aquaculture Breeding Programs: Achieving Commercial Scale
Presented by Samuel May

Poster Presentations

A Low-Pass Whole-Genome Sequencing and Imputation Pipeline for Cobia: Bridging Laboratory Innovation and Bioinformatics
Presented by Melissa Allen

This work examines how low-pass whole-genome sequencing can support genomic applications in emerging aquaculture species while balancing accuracy, scalability, and operational feasibility.

Pool-Seq Framework for Robust SNP Panel Design
Presented by Honggang Zhao

We are honoured to contribute to this year’s scientific program.

All three papers will be available to download from our website following the conference.

The post AT Heads to WCGALP 2026 with Three Accepted Research Papers appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

El Niño Conditions and Risk Considerations for Ecuadorian Shrimp Production

Edusehat — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 03:15:05 +0700

* By Stephen Newman

El Niño impacts Ecuadorian shrimp farming directly through environmental changes and indirectly via fishmeal availability. Heavy rains, flooding, and higher disease risks threaten productivity. Projections suggest this could be one of the strongest events in recorded history. To ensure minimal disruption, farmers must take a measured response and spend resources to minimize preventable impacts before the storm arrives.

What Is an El Niño?

The Humboldt Current, also known as the Peru Current, is a cold-water current that flows northward along the coasts of Chile and Peru and subsequently turns westward near the equator. It is critical for ensuring upwelling of nutrients that sustain the fisheries in this part of the planet. Warmer water sinks and colder water rise, bringing with it critical nutrients for phytoplankton. Historically, this forms the base of the food chain ultimately resulting in the robust populations of small pelagic fish such as the Peruvian anchoveta being harvested routinely. These fish are converted into fishmeal and fish oil, major ingredients in aquaculture and livestock feeds.

The upwelling is year-round and non-seasonal and is a highly efficient food web. It is not without potentially challenging aspects however as it is tightly linked to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Historically, this does impact shrimp farming in Ecuador. These impacts can be direct and beneficial or harmful or indirect due to the impact on fish meal availability and subsequent pricing.

El Niño conditions alter the Humboldt Current, disrupting nutrient upwelling and Peruvian anchoveta harvests. This indirectly impacts the shrimp farming industry in Ecuador by reducing fishmeal and fish oil availability, subsequently driving up aquafeed manufacturing costs and market pricing.

What Is the Potential Impact?

The impact is global. The Figure 1 summarizes what the potential impacts could be on shrimp farming in Ecuador, both direct and indirect.

The Upsides

Moderate El Niño conditions have been noted to produce a positive effect. The major ones are outlined along with some of the potentially negative impacts in Figure 2. Pond temperatures are raised although not necessarily to an extreme resulting in faster-growing shrimp. Historically, when Ecuador relied heavily on the availability of wild seed and natural productivity this could also have benefit as the warmer climate contributed to increases. Ecuador no longer relies on wild seed from wild catch.

While moderate El Niño events historically accelerated shrimp growth due to elevated pond temperatures, today’s intensive aquaculture industry operates at higher stocking densities. This modern operational scale limits traditional advantages and amplifies ecological risks linked to microbiome shifts.

A University of Stirling study of Ecuadorian productivity during the years of 1996 to 1999 reported that El Niño periods saw increased survivals rates, lower Feed Conversion Ratios (FCRs), and higher yields. Since then, the industry has evolved and matured; it is not the same industry in many respects. Stocking densities are higher, while aeration and the use of automatic feeders are now commonplace. It has been postulated that the differences between El Niño and La Niña periods were a result of impacts on the microbiome and its subsequent impacts on phytoplankton.

The Downsides

Heavy rains that result in flooding, dike failures, extreme dilution from copious amounts of fresh water, reduced alkalinity/hardness, oxygen stress (less of a problem today because of the widespread adoption of aeration), harvest and other logistic challenges/disruptions, and higher disease risks as a result of variable water quality and the impact on stressors on animals’ immune systems, etc. are all potential increased risks during El Niño periods. Anchoveta production is generally negatively impacted with reduced fish meal/oil availability and higher prices of feed.

In 2023, the Camara estimated that half of the shrimp farms were at risk from flooding. This has the potential of seriously disrupting productivity. Those farms that are not prepared may be faced with multi-cycle repair timing and the subsequent disruptive cash flow that leads to bankruptcy and forced reorganization.

Severe El Niño downsides include torrential rains, flooding, dike failures, extreme water dilution, and reduced alkalinity. These rapid water quality fluctuations trigger physiological stress, compromise the shrimp immune system, and significantly elevate infectious disease risks across production ponds.

What Can Farmers Do?

Be prepared. Do not wait until the impact is present. Ensure that ponds are structurally able to deal with the impact of flooding. Retaining walls, dikes, warehouses holding feed and equipment need to be in good repair and able to withstand negative weather events. Stable electrical systems that are protected from extreme weather and overall education of workers as to the risks and tools available to moderate the impacts are all essential to lessen the overall risks. High temperatures are not the only issue.

The National Chamber of Aquaculture estimated in 2023 that half of Ecuador’s shrimp farms faced severe flooding risks. Unprepared facilities risk long-term structural damage, multi-cycle repair timelines, and catastrophic cash flow disruptions that can lead to industrial bankruptcy.

Projections are that this will be a very strong El Niño. Some speculate that this could be strongest seen in recorded history. It is imperative that the risks from this, where they can be addressed and mitigated, are done so. Ecuador is currently the largest producer of farmed shrimp globally and the resources are available to ensure that the preventable aspects of this are addressed. Trying to fix them in the midst of the storm is rarely effective. The time to prepare is now.

Ecuador is achieving new export records year after year. Inadequate preparation for this upcoming disruptive weather event will impact this. To ensure that the disruption is minimal without a huge, long-lasting impact requires a measured response before the weather patterns make this at best difficult and at worst impossible. Spending time and resources to minimize preventable impacts is a critical element of sustainability that when ignored is done so at industrial risk.

To safeguard productivity, shrimp farmers must proactively reinforce retaining walls, dikes, feed warehouses, and electrical systems. Allocating resources to mitigate preventable climate risks before the storm arrives is an essential element for ensuring aquaculture sustainability.

The Role of Functional Feed Additives in Enhancing Aquaculture Sustainability

Edusehat — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 23:40:05 +0700

By Aquaculture Magazine Editorial Team

Beyond every successful harvest lies a delicate equilibrium between high productivity and… ecological integrity. Functional feed additives like probiotics and prebiotics are currently redefining the industry by significantly enhancing growth, immunity, and feed efficiency. Adopting these “superfoods” allows producers to reduce reliance on wildcaught fish meal and antibiotics, securing a breakthrough for both longterm profitability and global environmentalstewardship.

Aquaculture is the fastestgrowing sector in global food production and plays a crucial role in food security protein supply, and livelihoods while reducing pressure on wild fisheries. However, its sustainability is increasingly questioned due to environmental, economic, and biological challenges. Sustainable aquaculture requires efficient management of resources to ensure longterm productivity while maintaining ecological balance.

One major issue is the heavy dependence on fish meal and fish oil in feed, much of which is derived from wildcaught fish. This not only increases production costs, with feed accounting for 40-60% of expenses, but also contradicts the goal of reducing pressure on natural ecosystems. Additionally, disease outbreaks caused by pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites pose serious threats to productivity and profitability. Environmental concerns also arise from the discharge of nutrient-rich effluents, which can damage aquatic ecosystems.

To address these challenges, several strategies have been explored. Alternative protein sources, such as plant-and insect-based ingredients, aim to reduce reliance on fish meal, although they may affect growth and nutrient stability.

Technologies like integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA), recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), and aquaponics help reduce environmental impact by recycling nutrients and treating wastewater. However, these approaches also face limitations, including technical complexity and inconsistent results.

Functional feed additives (FFAs) have emerged as a promising solution. These include prebiotics, probiotics, microalgae, and enzymes that enhance growth, immunity, and feed efficiency while reducing stress and disease susceptibility. Despite their potential, their application remains underdeveloped, and further research is needed to optimize their use and fully integrate them into sustainable aquaculture systems.

Functional feed additives (FFAs) like probiotics and phytogenics improve weight gain and nutrient utilization. Lowering feed conversion ratios (FCR) reduces production costs and nutrient waste, directly enhancing aquaculture’s economic and environmental sustainability.

Objectives and Methodology

The specific objectives of this study were:

a) Itemize some common FFAs and their contribution to aquaculture sustainability; and

b) Identify challenges associated with the use of FFAs.

Materials for this study were sourced from print books and different scholarly sites using various web browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera Browser, and Microsoft Edge. However, the literature used in this study was more webbased. The databases from which the literature was sourced include Science Direct, Research Gate, Wiley Oline Library, SABINET, and SpringerLink.

This review did not restrict literature reports on FFAs to specific locations/regions to obtain detailed information on the subject area.

Probiotics, prebiotics, and phytogenics boost immune parameters, including lysozyme activity and phagocytosis. These additives increase survival rates after pathogen exposure, offering a safe, preventive alternative to traditional antibiotics in intensive systems.

Some Common FFAs in Aquaculture

FFAs play a key role in improving aquaculture sustainability by enhancing growth, health, and feed efficiency in aquatic organisms. Among the most common additives are probiotics, prebiotics, and phytogenics, each contributing differently to host performance and environmental balance.

Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms that benefit aquatic animals by improving microbial balance, nutrient utilization, disease resistance, and environmental quality. Unlike terrestrial systems, their interaction with aquatic species occurs both in the gut and in the surrounding water. They can be administered through feed or directly into the water and must be nonpathogenic, resistant to digestive conditions, and capable of colonizing the host.

Probiotics enhance immune response, growth, digestion, and nutrient production such as vitamins. They include bacteria, microalgae, and yeasts and can be classified based on origin, composition, and function.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are non-digestible compounds, mainly oligosaccharides, that stimulate beneficial gut microorganisms. They function as energy sources for probiotics and must resist digestion to reach the colon. Their benefits arise from fermentation by gut bacteria, improving immunity and overall health. However, their effectiveness depends on the presence of compatible microbiota, making mixed formulations preferable.

Common prebiotics include mannan oligosaccharide (MOS), fructooligo-saccharides (FOS), galactooligosaccharide (GOS), arabinoxylan oligosaccharide (AXOS), inulin, and β-glucan. They are widely found in natural sources such as plants and microalgae and face fewer regulatory restrictions than probiotics.

Phytogenics

Phytogenics are plant-derived additives used in various forms, including extracts and essential oils. They stimulate appetite, improve gut health, and provide antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiparasitic effects. Their bioactive compounds, such as phenols and flavonoids, contribute to these benefits. Examples include garlic, thyme, oregano, and neem. However, their effectiveness varies depending on plant source, extraction method, and dosage, requiring careful application to avoid toxicity.

FFAs enable the replacement of wild-caught fish meal with alternative proteins like soybean meal. Improving digestibility and nutrient absorption reduces dependence on natural ecosystems, promoting a circular and sustainable protein supply.

Aquaculture and Its Sustainability Issues

Aquaculture sustainability includes economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Challenges include high production costs, disease outbreaks, environmental pollution, and resource overexploitation. Additionally, habitat conversion and ecosystem disruption raise social concerns. Addressing these issues is essential for ensuring long-term viability and responsible aquaculture development.

FFA and Their Sustainability Roles

FFA contributes significantly to aquaculture sustainability by improving feed efficiency, supporting resource utilization, enhancing immunity, controlling parasites, and improving water quality. These roles collectively reduce environmental impact and increase productivity.

Feed efficiency improvement

Feed efficiency, measured by feed conversion ratio (FCR), reflects how effectively feed is converted into biomass. Lower FCR values indicate better performance. FFAs such as probiotics, prebiotics, and phytogenics improve growth, weight gain, and nutrient utilization. Studies show that probiotic supplementation enhances growth performance, although results depend on dosage, species, and strain.

In some case, symbiotics (probiotics + prebiotics) provide greater benefits than individual additives. Similarly, phytogenics like garlic and essential oils improve growth indicators. These improvements occur through enhanced digestion, enzyme production, appetite stimulation, and immune support. Better feed efficiency reduces production costs and minimizes nutrient waste, lowering environmental impact.

Sustainable resource utilization

Aquaculture heavily depends on fishmeal and fish oil, which are sourced from wild fish, creating sustainability concerns. FFAs enable the use of alternative protein sources, such as soybean meal (SBM), by improving digestibility and reducing antinutritional effects. Studies show that SBM supplemented with FFAs can replace fishmeal at higher levels without compromising growth (Table 1). In some cases, total fishmeal replacement is possible, though immune function may be affected. Overall, FFAs enhance nutrient utilization, reduce dependence on wild resources, and lower feed costs, promoting sustainability.

Enhanced disease resistance/ immunity

Disease outbreaks are a major challenge in aquaculture, often intensified by high stocking densities and environmental risks. Probiotics, prebiotics, and phytogenics enhance immune parameters such as lysozyme activity and phagocytosis, increasing survival after pathogen exposure. Symbiotics often provide the strongest immune benefits, although effectiveness depends on dosage and combinations (Table 1).

Antiparasitic

Parasite infestations reduce growth and increase mortality. Phytogenic additives provide natural antiparasitic effects, reducing infection rates and offering environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical treatments. Their effectiveness depends on dosage and duration of application.

Improved water quality

Aquaculture systems accumulate nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, negatively affecting water quality. FFAs help reduce waste outputs and improve water parameters, including ammonia and nitrogen compounds. Probiotic supplementation has been shown to lower nutrient concentrations in water, improving environmental conditions and animal health. This leads to reduced stress, better growth, and more sustainable systems.

FFAs help lower nutrient concentrations, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in aquaculture effluents. Probiotic supplementation improves water parameters and reduces animal stress, leading to cleaner production and minimized environmental footprints.

Adoption of FFAs

FFAs emerged to government restrictions on antibiotics, driving the need for safe and effective alternatives in aquaculture. Their development has progressed from research to field trials, followed by regulatory approval and commercialization. Today, numerous commercial products are available for different species and life stages, supporting growth, health and disease resistance.

The adoption of FFA has increased due to awareness among aquaculture practitioners through scientific research and industry outreach. Demand continues to grow, with projections indicating a steady annual increase driven by the need to improve productivity, profitability, and sustainability. These additives are widely used across species such as shrimp, carp, and catfish.

Geographically, FFA adoption is strongest in Asia, Europe, and North America, where aquaculture is well established. In countries like China, functional feeds are classified based on their purpose, including disease prevention and growth enhancement. Despite their benefits, high costs may limit adoption in developing regions.

Challenges Associated with FFAs

FFAs improve growth, health, and immunity in aquaculture but present several challenges. They increase production costs and require technical expertise for proper formulation and application. Regulatory approval for new additives can be complex and time-consuming. Stability issues due to environmental factors may affect effectiveness, though techniques like microencapsulation can help.

FFAs are mainly preventive, not curative, requiring continuous use. Palatability can also be affected, reducing feed intake if not properly balanced. Additionally, consumer perception and potential impacts on product taste may influence market acceptance. Concerns about antimicrobial resistance and overall effectiveness remain areas for further research.

Global demand for functional feeds is growing, driven by a need for productivity and profitability. Future research focuses on optimizing additive combinations and microencapsulation to overcome stability challenges and ensure consistent field performance.

Conclusions and Recommendations

This study expounds on the benefits of FFAs to aquaculture and how they help minimize the sustainability challenges associated with aquaculture. The various literature examined showed that the application of FFAs in aquaculture reduces stress, aids digestion, improves growth and water quality, increases the chances of survival of aquatic animals after exposure to infections, reduces parasitic infestation, and reduces the footprint of aquaculture on the environment.

Feed additives, which provide all these benefits, are a plus to the farmer as they increase profitability, reduce reliance on antibiotics, and mitigate the cost of purchasing antibiotics, together with other effects associated with their use.

All these benefits derived from FFAs make them superfoods. The initiative of FFAs remains a significant breakthrough for aquaculture; however, further research should be performed to determine the best FFA combination and quantity that would result in more benefits than those attained presently. FFAs are promising but not a complete solution.

Future research should explore natural disease treatments, optimize combinations, dosages, and application duration, and identify cost-effective options. Collaboration among researchers, industry, and regulators is essential to improve effectiveness and support sustainable adoption in aquaculture.

This is a summarized version developed by the editorial team of Aquaculture Magazine based on the review article titled “THE ROLE OF FUNCTIONAL FEED ADDITIVES IN ENHANCING AQUACULTURE SUSTAINABILIT)” developed by: Abigail John Onomu and Grace Emily Okuthe – Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences, Walter Sisulu University. The original article was published on MAY, 2024, through FISHES. The full version, including tables and figures, can be accessed online through this link: 167. https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes9050167

AE2026 – Aquaculture in Global Change: Our Plenary Speakers

Edusehat — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 03:25:23 +0700

By: Aquaculture Europe 2026

Previewing Aquaculture Europe 2026, this overview outlines three vital plenary sessions driving the sector’s future. Key topics analyze the shift from sustainability to climate resilience, translating scientific innovation into global digital storytelling, and overcoming policy barriers to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Plenary 1. Tuesday, Sep 29. 09.00 -10.00

“Aquaculture – from Sustainability to Resilience.”

Jurica Jug-Dujaković, MJD Consulting, Croatia.

Despite being one of the fastest-growing food sectors, aquaculture faces serious threats from global change that will inevitably affect its productivity and sustainability. Climate change will obviously have direct and indirect effects – not only on cultured species, but also on supply and product prices, including feed ingredients as well as goods and services required by aquaculture producers. Numerous reports illustrate that climate change effects on aquaculture will vary depending on geographical areas, economy, climatic zones, production systems, and cultured species.

As we move from “Sustainable Aquaculture” to “Resilient Aquaculture” the presentation will assess cultured species and the resilience of production systems. It will also review new technologies, production methods, and management strategies as a first step towards enhancing aquaculture production in response to climate change. Understanding these variables is essential for assessing the vulnerability of aquaculture systems and developing site-specific adaptation strategies that will also contribute to the food security expectations.

There are already small-scale examples combining aquaculture production with other agricultural strategies, either as integrated or separate systems, resulting in a symbiotic circularity. These technological and ecological innovations offer actionable pathways for climate adaptation and mitigation in both marine and freshwater environments and several case studies will be presented.

Jurica Jug-Dujaković is the head of the Biotechnology Department at MJD Advisory and Development. He has built a prominent career that encompasses scientific research, education, and innovative leadership in the aquaculture industry.

Jurica Jug-Dujaković, MJD Consulting, Croatia.

After graduating from the University of Zagreb, he was as a research assistant at the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries in Split before joining FAO as a country representative in MEDRAP. After 12 years working at the Institute – working as a manager in aquaculture research facilities – he moved to the USA working first as technical director and then as director of research and development for Integrated Food Technology Inc., an aquaculture technology company. He designed the first commercial closed recirculation nursery in the US and co-designed a commercial aquaponics facility that includes fish production in a closed aquaculture system, plant production based on aquaculture wastewater, and a fish processing plant. He was later elected as the representative of the state of Pennsylvania on the Technical and Advisory Council of the Northeast Regional Aquaculture Council, a body that evaluates research and development projects in aquaculture for US government institutions.

In 2005, he returned to Croatia as a Professor at the University of Dubrovnik for courses on aquaculture technology and design. He was also the director of the university’s Center for Business Innovation in Mariculture, which he co-designed. He works as a consultant for several Croatian and international companies on the design of aquaculture equipment and production systems and is a World Bank expert on aquaculture and the seafood market.

Prof. Jug Dujaković has published more than 200 scientific and professional papers and is the holder of two national patents and one internationally protected industrial design.

Plenary 2. Wednesday, Sep 30. 09.00 -10.00

“Breaking the Bubble: Making Aquaculture’s Stories Go Global.”

Larissa Lewis, SALT, UK and James Sibley, Aquaculture Creator, USA.

Despite rapid advances across farming systems, nutrition, health and technology, much of the sector’s progress remains largely invisible outside industry and research circles. As a result, aquaculture continues to face challenges around public understanding, workforce recruitment, investment confidence, social acceptance and the visibility of research and innovation. This combined presentation explores how aquaculture stories can move beyond this industry bubble – and what happens when they do.

Part 1 –Larisa Lewis: How Aquaculture Stories Travel (20 minutes)

Aquaculture research generates a vast amount of knowledge, yet much of this knowledge remains difficult for wider audiences to discover. The challenge is not simply communication, but how knowledge is structured, translated and discovered. Research outputs are typically designed for documentation: papers, reports and conference presentations. These formats are essential, but they are not designed for many of the audiences who shape the sector’s future – including entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, future workers and the wider public.

This presentation explores how aquaculture knowledge can be translated into formats designed for different audiences, from designing the user experience of knowledge platforms to producing film-led storytelling about the sector.

For research and innovation, this has growing importance. Producing knowledge is only one part of impact. Increasingly, researchers are expected to ensure their work is visible, discoverable and meaningful beyond journals, reports and conferences. Designing how aquaculture knowledge is structured and presented therefore becomes an essential part of how research and innovation reach wider audiences.

Part 2 – James Sibley: What Happens When Aquaculture Stories Reach Millions (20 minutes)

If storytelling pathways allow aquaculture knowledge to travel beyond the sector, digital media determines how far those stories can ultimately reach – and who encounters them first. For many people, platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and TikTok are now the first place they encounter aquaculture.

Through his online channels, aquaculture creator James Sibley brings global audiences directly inside farms, hatcheries and research facilities. His films translate complex farming systems, technologies and research into visual stories that reach millions of viewers and reveal how aquaculture production actually operates. Drawing on filming experiences across countries including Scotland, New Zealand, Australia and The Falklands, this presentation shares practical lessons from bringing aquaculture to large public audiences. It explores where common misconceptions about the sector tend to arise and how complex research and technologies can be explained clearly to wider audiences while maintaining scientific credibility.

These experiences illustrate how communication is becoming an increasingly important part of aquaculture’s development. When research and innovation are translated through formats that people actively engage with, they reach far beyond traditional industry channels – helping the sector become more visible, better understood and better equipped to build long-term public trust.

Larisa Lewis is a marine biologist working at the intersection of aquaculture, marketing and storytelling. Her career began in research, developing cultivation protocols for low-trophic aquaculture species across the UK, Sweden and Norway. Whilst at Seaweed Solutions, she ventured beyond the lab into the operational and market realities of commercial seaweed production. Across these roles, she saw the same challenge from different angles: aquaculture was creating real value, but too little of it was reaching the audiences, markets and decision-makers it needed. That gap led her into marketing and communications, first leading social and editorial strategy at The Fish Site, and now as Head of Operations at SALT, where she helps build purpose-led brands for the producers and innovators feeding the world.

Larissa Lewis, SALT, UK.

James Sibley is a digital storyteller specializing in global aquaculture and seafood systems. He creates short- and long-form video content that explores how seafood is produced − from hatchery to harvest − bringing transparency, science, and field-level reality to a global audience of over half a million followers across social media platforms. Originally trained in biology (B.S., Northeastern University), James has worked directly within the aquaculture industry, including a year-long role in Scotland with Mowi Scotland focused on novel communications and global engagement. His work bridges field operations and public understanding, producing documentary-style content from farms, hatcheries, and processing sites worldwide. He is currently focused on expanding his video work more globally to better tell the world’s stories in aquatic cultivation as they evolve in real time.

James Sibley.

Plenary 3. Thursday, October 1. 11.30 -12.30

“Towards Net Zero by 2050 and energy efficient EU aquaculture production”.

Callum Howard, Senior Consultant, MRAG, UK

The climate crisis poses fundamental challenges for aquaculture, reshaping not only what, how, and where we farm, but placing the sector under pressure to meet legally mandated greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets. Meeting these targets demands cross-cutting action across the entire value chain, requiring coordinated efforts from researchers, industry, and policymakers alike.

While viable solutions exist to reduce GHG emissions from aquaculture, achieving widespread adoption remains complex. High investment costs and operational demands present particular difficulties for an industry dominated, at EU level, by SMEs. Other promising solutions remain confined to pilots or research projects due to regulatory and political barriers and inadequate knowledge transfer mechanisms. Low-trophic aquaculture is frequently presented as a panacea and it can deliver genuine environmental benefits, but realizing its potential at scale requires overcoming significant barriers related to market development, spatial planning, and regulatory frameworks.

This presentation examines the pathways to achieving net zero in EU aquaculture, drawing on recent European Commission studies on emission reduction costs and pathways, and challenges and opportunities for the implementation of lower trophic production in Europe. It covers recommendations for carbon neutrality pathways as well as discussing policy, regulatory, and economic barriers that must be overcome to enable change.

Callum Howard is a Senior Consultant at MRAG, specializing in bridging research, policy, and commercial practice. His work focuses on advancing sustainable aquaculture technologies, supporting evidence-based policy, and strengthening the commercial viability of aquatic food systems.

Callum Howard, Senior Consultant, MRAG, UK.

Callum holds a PhD and MSc in Aquaculture from the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture. He has since worked across Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and the Middle East, advising clients including the World Bank, UNIDO, the European Commission, and private sector investors on projects ranging from GHG reduction pathways and digital transformation strategies to large-scale investment readiness and practical aquaculture training.

He is a committed advocate for aquaculture’s potential to generate livelihoods and address food and nutritional insecurity worldwide and is dedicated to making that potential a commercial and operational reality.

INCAR² Advances Proposal for a “Traffic Light” System for Salmon Farming Based on Ecosystem-Scale Risk Management

Edusehat — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 03:25:17 +0700

By: INCAR²

The model proposes a risk-based regulatory system for salmon farming in Chile, integrating environmental and production variables to move toward more preventive and sustainable management.

A team of Chilean researchers, led by Dr. Doris Soto, Principal Investigator at the Applied Research Center CIA‑INCAR², is proposing an innovative model to regulate salmon production in Chile by integrating environmental, sanitary, and production variables to advance toward more sustainable aquaculture.

This development is the result of a research effort that began more than five years ago, primarily funded during the FONDAP INCAR Center phase, and which continues to be further developed in its current phase as CIA‑INCAR², consolidating a line of research focused on the sustainable management of aquaculture based on scientific evidence.

The scientific article, which proposes moving toward the implementation of a “traffic light” system for salmon farming in Chile based on integrated risk assessment at the ecosystem scale and published in the journal Reviews in Aquaculture, provides a conceptual and methodological framework aimed at strengthening sector regulation under a preventive, evidence-based approach.

The research, titled “Risk Is Not Equal to Impact: The Challenges of Developing a Traffic Light System to Regulate Farmed Salmon Production on an Ecosystem Scale,” was led by Dr. Doris Soto and included contributions from specialists from various institutions: Dr. Rodrigo Montes (UdeC‑INCARr²), Dr. Renato Quiñones (UdeC‑INCAR²), Dr. Jorge León‑Muñoz (USCS‑INCAR²), Dr. Marcelo Fuentes (UdeC), Dr. Ruben Avendaño‑Herrera (UNAB‑INCAR²), Elias Pinilla (IFOP), Dr. Jessica Fuentes (PUCV‑INCAR²), and Dr. Carlos Chávez (UTALCA‑INCAR²).

The study integrates information from a decade (2012-2022), considering production, health, oceanographic, and climatic data from all salmon farming areas in the Chilean Patagonian Sea. Based on this data, researchers developed a semi-quantitative model for assessing environmental and production risks, intended to guide the design of a traffic light system to regulate salmon farming. The analysis does not include more recent information because production data from 2023 onward was unavailable; however, as the researchers emphasize, production patterns have remained consistent, making the analysis fully relevant.

Among the main findings, the model identifies that the highest levels of risk are concentrated in areas where high production pressure coincides with high environmental sensitivity, particularly in fjords in the Los Lagos and Aysén regions. This approach makes it possible to prioritize critical areas and move toward more preventive management focused on reducing impacts before they occur.

However, the team notes that significant information gaps still exist for accurately determining impacts at the ecosystem level, particularly regarding so‑called “tipping points.” Therefore, they emphasize the need to apply the precautionary principle and strengthen monitoring systems and data generation at appropriate spatial scales.

The proposal also highlights the importance of advancing collaborative public‑private processes, involving the scientific community and civil society, to validate data, define environmental risk thresholds for southern Chile’s marine ecosystems and the industry itself, and establish governance mechanisms to implement such regulatory tools. Possible measures include regulating maximum production per farming area, as well as reducing the use of antimicrobials and pesticides, where the total amount used—and its potential impact on ecosystems—is key.

Likewise, the researchers emphasize the need to review the current spatial distribution of salmon farming, considering the aforementioned risks and emerging factors such as climate change, thereby moving toward a development model that balances productivity with environmental protection and social acceptance.

Finally, the team acknowledges that implementing these measures entails social and economic challenges, and therefore calls for strengthening dialogue and collaboration among all stakeholders in the sector and in the areas where operations are located, with a view to building a more sustainable, resilient salmon farming industry with a long-term vision.

To review the full publication, you can visit it here.

“Risk Is Not Equal to Impact: The Challenges of Developing a Traffic Light System to Regulate Farmed Salmon Production on an Ecosystem Scale”.

BioMar Expands Its ASC-Certified Feed Production Capacity Through Its Subsidiary in Turkey

Edusehat — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 03:25:11 +0700

Turkey-based BioMar Sagun has achieved ASC Feed Certification, strengthening BioMar‘s ability to supply ASC-conforming feed solutions across the country and other key export markets. The certification marks another important milestone in the expansion of BioMar‘s global network of ASC-certified production facilities.

“Achieving this certification reflects the dedication of our team and our commitment to supporting customers with feed solutions aligned with recognized industry standards,” says Yasemin Issever, Managing Director at BioMar Sagun. “It strengthens our ability to serve producers in Turkey and the wider export markets while supporting their certification ambitions.”

The achievement marks another important step in BioMar‘s ongoing work to support customers supplying ASC-certified seafood, they said. As market demand for certified products continues to grow, access to ASC-conforming feed is becoming increasingly important for producers across the value chain.

BioMar Group Denmark (50%) and Group Sagun Turkey (50% established a joint venture under the name BioMar-Sagun. The company was founded to produce high-performance fish feed and to support local fish producers. BioMar-Sagun operates at its fish feed facility located in Söke Organized Industrial Zone, where it produces high-energy, highly digestible feeds designed specifically for Turkish aquaculture producers.

Demand for Certified Seafood Continues to Increase

The ASC Feed Standard sets out requirements covering environmental responsibility, social and labor rights, health and safety, and responsible sourcing practices. According to the company, certification demonstrates BioMar Sagun‘s ability to meet these requirements while supporting transparency and traceability throughout the feed supply chain.

The certification is particularly relevant for producers supplying international markets where demand for certified seafood continues to increase. By expanding the availability of ASC-conforming feed, BioMar helps customers maintain compliance with certification requirements while strengthening responsible sourcing practices throughout the value chain.

BioMar has steadily expanded its network of ASC-certified facilities in recent years, including sites in Chile, Ecuador, Spain, Costa Rica, Norway, Denmark, France and the United Kingdom. The addition of BioMar Sagun further strengthens this network and expands regional access to ASC-conforming feed solutions.

Trading Begins on Nasdaq

Some days before the announcement, BioMar officially began trading on Nasdaq Copenhagen, marking a significant milestone in the company’s history and welcoming more than 10,800 new shareholders. The first day of trading was marked by the official bell-ringing ceremony at BioMar’s headquarters in Aarhus, Denmark.

The event was attended by employees, management, IPO advisors, collaboration partners, and media representatives, while CEO Carlos Diaz, CFO Claus Eskildsen, the chair of the board Jens Bjerg Sørensen and Nasdaq all gave speeches, marking this historical moment for BioMar. More than 2,000 BioMar employees worldwide were able to follow the ceremony through a global live broadcast.

BioMar entered on the public markets as the world’s only dedicated global aquafeed solution supplier, serving customers across multiple species and regions through a combination of local expertise and global innovation. “This is not the beginning of our journey, but it is a turning point,” said Diaz. “Everything we have built becomes the foundation for what we aim to achieve next”.

The company sees opportunities to strengthen its core business, expand its global footprint and continue investing in innovation and new technologies for aquaculture. “We operate in one of the most important industries of our time,” added Biomar’s CEO. “Aquaculture plays a critical role in feeding a growing global population with healthy and efficient protein sources.”

Innovation remains at the center of BioMar’s strategy. The company continues to invest in development of feed solutions, raw material innovation, fish performance and new technologies that support the future development of aquaculture. “Innovation is not just a function within BioMar. It is our mindset. It is our culture. It is our way of working. It is what has brought us here today and it is what will take us forward,” Diaz stated.

According to the company, the event also recognized the efforts of employees across the organization who contributed to the IPO process while continuing to support customers and daily operations around the world. “Results are created by people. Behind every milestone we celebrate today are the people who made it possible,” Carlos Diaz concluded.

AquaVision 2026 Reaffirmed Its Role as a Forum That Promotes Strategic Dialogue and Decision-Making Across the Aquaculture Value Chain

Edusehat — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 03:25:06 +0700

The new edition of AquaVision was held in Stavanger, Norway some days ago, bringing together more than 400 fish and shrimp farmers, suppliers, and decision-makers from around 40 countries. The two-day conference organized by the international company Skretting offered a strong line-up of speakers from across the value chain, and was hosted by Sophie Ryan, CEO of Global Salmon Initiative. By offering global political and economic perspectives combined with practical industry insights, AquaVision 2026 has once again reaffirmed its role as a forum that promotes strategic dialogue and decision-making across the aquaculture value chain.

Against a backdrop of rising demand for seafood, geopolitical instability, feed raw material pressure, climate change and increasing use of artificial intelligence, the central question in AquaVision2026 was: How can the aquaculture industry be future-proofed, and its sustainable growth ensured?

The first day kicked off with an appearance from Tormod Losnedal, the Mayor of Stavanger, before Bastiaan van Tilburg, CEO of Nutreco, took to the stage for the official opening. Sharing his views on Nutreco and Skretting’s roles in contributing to food security, van Tilburg said “For our food system to grow, we need a free flow of knowledge, free flow of innovation, free flow of collaboration… What we don’t need is bigger walls. We need more long-term thinking and more collaboration. And I think the solution is partly in this room.”

Great Insights

On that day, the conference focused on exploring geopolitics and its implications for aquaculture, with many great insights from the speakers. Addressing the leaders in the room, Rem Korteweg from Clingendael Institute said: “You, businesses, executives, CEOs are, in fact, on the front line. And how we interact with each other and how you shape the debate, is equally important as what is being said in the corridors of power, in the larger capitals of this world.”

Among other personalities, Hiroaki Ishimoto from Mitsui & Co. contributed the investor perspective, discussing the ‘premiumization of food needs’ and the two business models which they adopted in thinking about entry into the aquaculture industry: Salmon and shrimp which are farmed with restriction and sold globally, or the ‘poultry model’ which applies to more affordable species that can be produced and sold locally.

May-Helen Holme from Skretting argued that as volatility becomes the new normal in aquaculture, the industry must shift from optimizing for efficiency to building resilience through more secure and diverse feed raw materials, precise nutrition, innovation and stronger long-term collaboration.

Shaping the Future

On day two, the conversation shifted towards technology and artificial intelligence, with speakers exploring how digital tools have been used to support business growth. For example, Anders Milde Gjendemsjø from McKinsey discussed how aquaculture is uniquely suited to unlock value from AI to drive growth, while highlighting that data only becomes valuable when it is shared as part of a collaborative value chain. “You already have the data. Go ahead and choose one or two major problems you want to solve. Make it real, connect the data, and build the conviction that you will create value,” he encouraged.

In his closing speech, Skretting’s Maarten Bijl used an AI-generated avatar to summarize the ideas from the past two days. An advocate for digital transformation, he shared how one thing that has struck him during farm visits is the general unwillingness to share data. “Progress depends on better and more consistent data being shared securely across the value chain. Let’s move away from thinking that we can optimize in isolation, and connect in order to accelerate sustainable growth.”

There were several recurring messages across this year’s presentations. Shocks and disruptions have become part of the operating environment, and there is no returning to “normal”. Global openness has given way to a landscape where lines are being drawn and redrawn, and where relationships define access. Aquaculture has become increasingly shaped by policy; food security has become a matter of national security. More than ever, collaboration across the value chain will be essential to achieving shared goals. And no matter the industry – the businesses that have built the most resilience and made the smartest alliances will be best placed to succeed. That was Skrettings vision.

And Maarten Bijl’s final words to the audience were an invitation to pause and reflect on their learnings over the two-day conference. “Because then we will be able to make better decisions together.”

Ways of Designing Aquaculture Farm Systems and Mistakes to Avoid

Edusehat — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 23:50:08 +0700

Aquaculture is the practice of raising fish , shellfish, aquatic plants, and other seafood products in ponds, cages, tanks, and controlled water systems. It has become an important part of global food production, helping supply seafood to restaurants, grocery stores, and consumers around the world. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, aquaculture continues to play a growing role in global food security.

Many aquaculture farms begin at a small scale and then expand once the system appears to be working well. However, a system that performs successfully during a pilot phase may not always work the same way when production increases. Small design problems that are easy to manage at low volume can become serious failures at a larger scale.

To build a successful and sustainable aquaculture farm, it is important to design the system with future growth in mind. Below are some common mistakes to avoid.

Overestimating System Stability in Aquaculture

One of the biggest mistakes in aquaculture design is assuming that a small system will remain stable when it is expanded. At larger volumes, small changes in water quality, oxygen levels, feed distribution, and waste buildup can become much more difficult to control.

A system that looks balanced at a small scale may become unpredictable under higher production pressure. Scaling up exposes weaknesses that may not have been visible before.

Ignoring Water Flow Design

Water movement plays a major role in oxygen distribution, waste removal, and disease prevention. Poor water flow can create dead zones where waste collects and oxygen levels drop.

At a small scale, these areas may not cause major problems. But as the system grows, poor water circulation can reduce fish growth, increase stress, and raise the risk of disease outbreaks. Good water management is one of the foundations of responsible aquaculture. NOAA provides helpful information on how aquaculture can be managed while protecting the environment through its article on marine aquaculture and the environment.

Underestimating Feeding Distribution Problems

Feeding systems that work well in small tanks or ponds may not perform effectively in larger or high-density systems. When feed is not distributed evenly, some fish may receive too much while others receive too little.

This can lead to aggressive feeding behavior, uneven growth, wasted feed, poor water quality, and higher operating costs over time. Feed efficiency is especially important because feed is often one of the largest operating costs in aquaculture. NOAA also offers useful information on feeds for aquaculture.

Weak Biosecurity Design in Aquaculture Farming

Biosecurity is essential for preventing disease and contamination. In small systems, biosecurity may rely on simple manual practices. However, as farms expand, there is more movement of people, equipment, water, and stock.

Without a strong biosecurity design, disease risks can grow faster than production. Farms should include clear entry points, equipment sanitation areas, quarantine zones, and controlled movement between system sections. Good biosecurity planning helps protect the health of the animals, the farm, and the surrounding environment.

Poor Oxygen Management Planning

Oxygen demand increases as fish biomass grows. Systems that rely only on passive oxygenation or limited aeration can become vulnerable during peak demand periods.

Even short drops in oxygen levels can cause stress, slow growth, or result in major losses. A good aquaculture design should include reliable aeration, backup oxygen systems, and emergency response planning.

Lack of Modular Thinking

Some aquaculture systems are designed as one large interconnected unit. This can create serious problems if one section fails. A disease outbreak, oxygen issue, or water quality problem in one area can quickly spread throughout the entire system.

Modular design helps reduce this risk. By separating the farm into smaller, manageable units, problems can be isolated before they affect the whole operation.

Inadequate Monitoring Infrastructure

Small systems can often be managed through visual observation. Larger systems require more advanced monitoring.

Sensors, data logging, and automated alerts can help track oxygen levels, temperature, pH, ammonia, water flow, and other important conditions. Without proper monitoring, problems may not be noticed until it is too late to prevent losses.

Smart monitoring systems are becoming more common in modern aquaculture because they help farmers make better decisions using real-time data.

Conclusion: Learn more about sustainable Aquaculture

Most aquaculture failures at scale are not caused by completely new problems. They are often caused by small design flaws that were hidden during the early stages of production.

Water flow, feeding, oxygen management, biosecurity, monitoring, and system structure all become more important as production increases. Successful aquaculture systems are not simply larger versions of small farms. They are carefully redesigned systems built with growth, resilience, and sustainability in mind from the beginning.

To learn more about fish farming, sustainable agriculture, and ecolonomic approaches to food production, visit the EAT Community.

Optimizing Tank Design for Super-Intensive Shrimp Farming

Edusehat — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:05:05 +0700

* By Brian Vinci, George Chamberlain, Robins McIntosh, Riley Krohn, Sujit Kaewchum, Antonio Santa Marta and Robert Jones

Super-intensive shrimp farming demands robust infrastructure to handle solids like uneaten feed and molts. This article explores the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to narrow down design options for 16- and 36-meter circular tanks. The results demonstrate that while self-cleaning hydraulics are technically feasible, their success depends on combining specific inlet jets with strong system management and reliable power.

Introduction

Shrimp farming has been shifting from extensive and semi‑intensive ponds to intensive and super‑intensive systems, driven by demand and the need to reduce per‑unit environmental impacts. The intensification increases waste production and the risk of solids accumulation, which can degrade water quality and lead to disease outbreaks. This project set out to define and test hydraulic designs for circular tanks with central drains that could keep tank bottoms clean through rotational and radial flow, using shrimp‑specific biological tolerances and water quality criteria as design constraints.

Background

Most shrimp production occurs in extensive and semi‑intensive ponds, but intensive and super‑intensive systems that use smaller, deeper, often lined ponds or large circular tanks (e.g., 16–36 m diameter, 1–2 m deep) are becoming more common. Circular tanks with central drains and powered circulation (e.g., paddlewheels) have already been used in some shrimp operations, with reported adherence to strict “clean” operating principles to address solid waste accumulation and disease outbreaks.

Solid wastes in shrimp farming mainly consist of uneaten feed, feces, molts, and decaying biofloc. Studies indicate that solids tend to deposit in areas with bottom velocities below 7–8 cm/s and that deposition is spatially uneven, contributing to localized anaerobic conditions. Current methods for managing solids, such as suction pumps, center drains, “shrimp toilets,” and mechanical scrapers, can be effective to varying degrees but are often labor‑intensive, improperly sized, or prone to resuspending waste solids.

Experimental data on L. vannamei indicate critical swimming speeds generally range from 28 to 47 cm/s, depending on temperature, salinity, body size, and fasting duration; higher temperatures and moderate salinities tend to increase critical swimming speeds. Endurance studies showed that shrimp could maintain position at lower velocities (5–11 cm/s) for extended periods, but endurance declined as velocity increased. These findings support keeping most tank water velocities well below critical speeds, aiming for roughly 10 to 30 cm/s to allow shrimp to hold position without exhaustion while still moving waste solids to a location for removal.

Safe total and unionized ammonia concentrations vary with salinity in Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles, showing some increased tolerance at higher salinities. Dissolved oxygen (DO) is a key limiting factor, with recommendations to keep DO above 4–5 mg/L for intensive systems and avoid prolonged periods below 3.5–4 mg/L. For solids, guidance recommends maintaining settleable solids below 20 mL/L and keeping suspended solids in biofloc systems within a range that maintains adequate primary production while minimizing gill irritation and stress.

Typical culture unit depths of 1–2 m are reported across ponds and tanks, and shrimp are characterized as benthic animals that use the bottom rather than the full water column. Limited data suggest that artificial substrates are beneficial, but this study focused on tank bottom hydraulics rather than habitat structures.

These literature findings established quantitative design targets for this project: circular tanks approximately 16–36 m in diameter and 2 m deep, with bottom velocities generally between 10–30 cm/s, solids removal sufficient to prevent buildup in zones with velocities below about 7–8 cm/s, and water quality maintained within known thresholds for ammonia, DO, and suspended solids.

Design targets for super-intensive tanks must align with the biological tolerances of L. vannamei. Research suggests critical swimming speeds range from 28 to 47 cm/s, making water velocities of 10–30 cm/s ideal for moving solids to central drains without causing shrimp exhaustion. Maintaining dissolved oxygen above 4–5 mg/L is equally vital for preventing stress in high-density environments

Self-Cleaning Tank Design and Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling

Using the identified criteria, self-cleaning tank designs were proposed and tested using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). All modeled tanks had a 2% bottom slope toward a central drain whose diameter was 10% of the tank diameter. Two tank diameters(16 and 36 m) were considered,representing typical sizes for superintensive tanks.

Seventeen scenarios were established by systematically varying:

» Water circulation method: sidewallairlifts, pumped reuse/reinjection.

» Inlet type: vertical jets, standard inverted‑L inlets, modified inverted‑L inlets with bottom jets directed at the tank center, and circular bottom rings with perimeter jets directed toward the tank center.

» Center‑drain hydraulic loading: 12–24 L/min/m².

» Equivalent hydraulic retention time (HRT): 15–90 minutes, representing the strength of circulation (shorter HRT = higher impulse momentum).

» Inlet jet velocities: 1.3, 2, and 4 m/s.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling of circular tanks shows that pumped reuse/reinjection with inverted-L inlets outperforms airlifts for generating rotational currents. Higher hydraulic loading at the center drain (18–24 L/min/m²) is crucial for reducing low-velocity zones where solids typically accumulate, ensuring the tank bottom remains clean.

Autodesk CFD 2024 was used to simulate three-dimensional velocity fields in operating tanks. Performance was assessed using bottom-velocity contour maps and histograms showing the percentage of the bottom area within specific velocity ranges (0–5, 5–10, 10–15, …, 35–40 cm/s). Successful scenarios featured a coherent rotational current around the tank, a radial flow component that directed solids toward the center drain, and a substantial portion of the bottom area with velocities between 10 and 30 cm/s.

Commercial Tank Retrofit and Field Testing

The same criteria and modeling tools were applied to a commercial shrimp production tank at Homegrown Shrimp USA (Indiantown, FL). A retrofit system based on pumped reuse and reinjection, featuring a standard inverted-L inlet and a center-drain solids treatment loop, was modeled to ensure the predicted velocities would meet shrimp swimming and solids transport criteria before installation.

The retrofit system included a side-stream pump skid with inline nanobubble oxygenation and a standard inverted-L inlet for water reinjection to generate rotational flows, a screened center-drain intake with an axial flow pump moving water to a radial-flow solids settler, a gravity return line to the tank near the perimeter from the solids settler, and a pump in the bottom of the settler to remove settled solids to a centralized denitrification loop (Figure 1)

To support super-intensive biomass densities, advanced aeration is necessary to maintain stable dissolved oxygen levels. Field testing of a commercial retrofit utilized a side-stream pump skid with inline nanobubble oxygenation, successfully keeping water quality within recommended ranges during production trials even as shrimp grew to an average of 32 g.

This project’s field work included two production trials, each starting with 32,000 post-larval shrimp (PL); regular water quality monitoring for DO, temperature, alkalinity, and nitrogen compounds; shrimp growth and harvest data collection; measurements of water velocity along tank cross-sections; and analysis of solids levels in the tank water, settler outlet water, and settled solids at the bottom of the settler.

Results Modeling

CFD modeling results showed that sidewall airlift units either produced large areas with water velocities below 10 cm/s or required very high airflow rates to reach the target velocities, limiting their effectiveness as primary water-circulation devices. Pumped reuse/reinjection setups with inverted-L inlets generated stronger rotational currents and covered more of the tank area with water velocities in the 10–25 cm/s range, especially when center-drain loading was between 18–24 L/min/m² and the effective HRT was reduced to approximately 30 minutes.

Despite improvements with inverted-L inlets and increased center-drain loading rates, most 16 m diameter tank scenarios still had a low-velocity zone with velocities below 10 cm/s near the tank center, and sometimes below 5 cm/s. These areas may allow solids to settle, challenging the goal of creating fully self-cleaning tanks. For 36 m diameter tanks, high-velocity vertical jet inlets created localized zones with velocities well above 30 cm/s, which shrimp could potentially avoid, while inlets with lower jet velocities produced large areas with velocities below target levels, highlighting trade-offs related to scale.

Effective solids removal prevents localized anaerobic conditions caused by decaying biofloc and feces. Testing demonstrated that a radial-flow settler can successfully treat center-drain effluent, concentrating suspended solids from 159 mg/L in the culture tank to over 6,000 mg/L at the bottom of the settler for removal to denitrification loops.

Introducing modified inverted-L inlets with bottom jets aimed at the tank center and circular bottom rings at the tank perimeter, with jets also directed at the tank center, improved radial flow. Configurations using perimeter bottom rings reduced the size of low-velocity zones at the tank center and increased the percentage of water velocities within the target range (15–25 cm/s), leaving only small zones below 10 cm/s in the 16 m-diameter tanks under low HRT conditions. However, when the equivalent HRT was extended to 90 minutes to decrease energy use, low-velocity zones at the tank center reappeared despite the presence of perimeter bottom rings with jets directed toward the tank center.

Overall, the modeling showed that higher impulse momentum (shorter equivalent HRT, higher pumped flows) improved self-cleaning metrics but increased energy requirements. Additionally, higher center-drain hydraulic loading enhanced water velocities near the tank’s center and reduced the size of low-velocity zones. Multiple or modified inlets provided more uniform radial flow and better solids-transport conditions than single standard inlets, especially in larger tanks.

Field testing

In the commercial tank setup, the retrofit used a simplified design featuring a single side-stream pump and a standard inverted-L inlet, along with a center-drain pump connected to a radial-flow settler with gravity return of treated water to the production tank. The installed layout reversed the location of inflows from the settler return and side-stream inverted-L inlet compared to the original design, reflecting practical constraints (Figure 2).

Water velocities measured at mid-depth along the tank perimeter showed a clear rotational current, with velocities mostly in the low to mid-teens cm/s and directions parallel to the wall. This aligns with the lower end of the modeled target water velocity range and suggests effective mixing of the culture water. Measurements also confirmed the presence of low-velocity zones below 10 cm/s near the tank center, even after flow adjustments. This behavior matches the modeling expectation that single-inlet layouts without perimeter bottom rings would have some low-velocity zones near the tank center (Figure 3).

Suspended solids analysis at peak biomass showed that the radial-flow settler effectively treated the flow from the tank center: total suspended solids (TSS) measured 159 mg/L in the tank, 100 mg/L at the settler outlet, and 6,204 mg/L at the bottom of the settler cone, with visible differences in clarity among the samples. This demonstrates that once solids reached the settler, the settler removed and concentrated solids as intended (Figure 4).

Water quality remained within the recommended ranges for intensive L. vannamei production. Dissolved oxygen was maintained at or above the minimum target levels through the use of the nanobubble oxygenation unit, while hardness and alkalinity stayed within typical industry ranges. Additionally, TAN, nitrite-N, nitrate- N, and solids levels did not indicate any water quality degradation (Figure 5).

Shrimp grew to an average weight of 32 g in 91 days, with an average daily gain of 0.35 g/day and a final biomass density of 1.97 kg/m³. However, survival was low at 19%, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was high at 3.09. Low survival and, consequently, low FCR are attributed to high PL mortality during the nursery period before the tank retrofits were implemented.

Discussion and Conclusions

The project demonstrated that self-cleaning tank hydrodynamics could be adapted from finfish RAS to intensive shrimp tanks while remaining within shrimp swimming and water quality limits. CFD modeling proved useful for assessing how design factors such as tank diameter, inlet type, center-drain hydraulic loading, jet velocity, and equivalent HRT interact to influence velocity distributions, and for narrowing down design options before starting a retrofit.

Simultaneously, modeling and field data showed that conservative, low‑complexity setups, such as a single inverted‑L inlet without a perimeter bottom ring with jets aimed at the tank center, were unlikely to achieve target velocities throughout the entire tank volume. Low-velocity zones near the tank center appeared in these designs, and although they did not compromise acceptable bulk water quality or shrimp growth, they could lead to localized solids buildup and increase the system’s vulnerability to operational disruptions. The results, therefore, indicate that future designs should incorporate:

» Higher impulse momentum (shorter equivalent HRT) within acceptable energy budgets.

» Increased center‑drain hydraulic loading to enhance radial flow velocities near the tank center.

Both higher impulse momentum and increased center-drain loading can be readily achieved by pumping water from the center-drain area for side-stream reuse/reinjection rather than from the tank perimeter.

Homegrown Shrimp USA tank CFD field testing top view.

While hydraulic design is a cornerstone of self-cleaning tanks, biological performance depends on overall system robustness. Factors such as reliable power, hardened pumps, and nursery practices for post-larval shrimp are decisive for survival and feed conversion ratios (FCR). Future designs should prioritize higher impulse momentum and increased center-drain loading to ensure consistent self-cleaning behavior.

The field trials also highlighted that hydraulic design alone did not determine biological performance. System robustness (reliable power, hardened pumps, and alarms) and early-life management (nursery practices, PL quality, timing of circulation startup) had major effects on survival and FCR. Undetected PL mortality could have been prevented by stocking nursed juveniles, but logistical issues prevented that in this study. For decision- makers, the key takeaway was that self-cleaning tank hydraulics were technically feasible and beneficial, but they needed to be combined with strong infrastructure and management.

* Brian Vinci¹, George Chamberlain², Robins McIntosh³, Riley Krohn³, Sujit Kaewchum³, Antonio Santa Marta⁴, Robert Jones⁵
¹ The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute, Shepherdstown, WV USA.
² The Center for Responsible Seafood, Portsmouth, NH USA.
³ Homegrown Shrimp USA, Indiantown, FL USA.
⁴ The Nature Conservancy, Berlin, Germany.
⁵ The Nature Conservancy, Princeton, NJ USA.

INVE Aquaculture Launches Sanolife PRO-TAB for Fish, a Next-Generation Probiotic Wafer to Strengthen Fish Health and Nursery Performance

Edusehat — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:10:16 +0700

The World Aquaculture Society (WAS) Singapore 2026 tradeshow served as the backdrop for the announcement of the global biotechnology company specialized in innovative solutions for aquaculture INVE Aquaculture, that launched Sanolife PRO-TAB, a next-generation probiotic wafer designed to enhance fish health, resilience, and survival during the critical nursery and pre-growing stages.

“Fish farmers increasingly need solutions that combine biological performance with operational simplicity,” said Thomas Raynaud, Product Manager Formulated Diets at INVE Aquaculture. “Sanolife PRO-TAB represents a new generation of probiotic delivery technology that ensures consistent intake, supports gut health, and helps farmers manage the critical nursery stage with greater confidence and efficiency.”

Sanolife PRO-TAB is formulated as slow-sinking wafers containing a high concentration of Bacillus probiotics, enabling targeted delivery directly to the fish gut. The wafers feature advanced coating technology that prevents nutrient leaching and preserves probiotic viability in water, ensuring consistent and effective probiotic intake.

The new product is available in two wafer sizes -2 mm for early nursery fish and 5 mm for pre-growing fish- supporting fish from approximately 2 g to 80 g. With excellent water stability and consistent probiotic delivery, the product supports improved survival, growth, and resilience throughout nursery cycles, they detailed. Now Sanolife PRO-TAB expands INVE Aquaculture’s Sanolife probiotic portfolio, reinforcing the company’s commitment to applying biotechnology.

Optimizing the Formulation and the Delivery System

To ensure this reliability, INVE’s R&D teams focused on optimizing both the probiotic formulation and the delivery system.

“Traditional probiotic applications in aquaculture often struggle with stability and consistent ingestion. With Sanolife PRO-TAB, we designed a delivery system that protects probiotic spores, prevents nutrient leaching, and ensures the active ingredients effectively reach the fish gut. By combining targeted Bacillus strains with a stable wafer matrix, we support microbiota balance and fish resilience in a much more reliable way,” explained for her part Barbara Hostins, R&D Lead Health at INVE Aquaculture.

The wafers also feature high attractancy, stimulating feeding behavior and encouraging fish to detect, pursue, and ingest the wafers during the sinking phase. This ensures reliable probiotic consumption while supporting improved feeding efficiency and cleaner systems.

Operational Practicality

Designed for operational practicality, Sanolife PRO-TAB requires no top-coating preparation and can be applied either manually or through automatic feeders, significantly reducing labor requirements and minimizing the risk of human error compared with traditional probiotic powders or tablets, reported INVE.

“In the nursery phase, fish are particularly vulnerable to stress events such as grading, handling, and environmental fluctuations which will cause immune depression and therefore greater susceptibility to bacterial attacks,” explained Valentina Carbone, Global Technical Expert Fish at INVE Aquaculture.

“A solution like Sanolife PRO-TAB helps farmers bridge that sensitive period by ensuring fish consistently ingest probiotics while maintaining strong feeding behavior and pathogenic bacteria resistance. In practice, this translates into healthier fish, improved survival, and more stable nursery performance,” Carbone added.

By strengthening gut microbiota and supporting fish resilience under stress conditions, Sanolife PRO-TAB complements modern health management strategies in hatcheries and nurseries. At the same time, the product contributes to improved feed utilization, reduced waste, and more stable production outcomes.

Challenges at the Hatchery and the Nursery

At the presentation, the members of INVE Aquaculture highlighted that the nursery stage represents one of the most sensitive phases in fish production. Mortality can increase during this period, and it has been scientifically proven through numerous trials that the use of probiotics in the water or better yet, mixed with feed can significantly reduce mortality.

However, applying these probiotics in feed is not always easy, and hatchery and nursery operators often face challenges such as inconsistent probiotic intake, leaching of active ingredients in water, labor-intensive preparation methods. But Sanolife PRO-TAB, explained INVE Aquaculture, addresses these challenges through a novel delivery technology that ensures reliable probiotic intake while simplifying daily farm operations.

The American NOAA Reinforces Its Commitment to Aquaculture Through CIFARM, Its New Cooperative Institute

Edusehat — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:10:10 +0700

• This year, USD 13.5 million will be available for research projects

• The University of New Hampshire was selected as host institution

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States (US) just announced the University of New Hampshire as host institution for the new NOAA Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Markets (CIFARM) to expand NOAA’s impact and strengthen efforts to boost American seafood competitiveness. Approximately USD 13.5 million will be available this year for projects following the establishment of CIFARM.

“The United States is finally recognizing aquaculture as a vital complement to our world-class fisheries,” said Neil Jacobs, NOAA administrator. “We look forward to collaborating with these exemplary partners to continue to unlock the potential of this industry in the United States,” he added.

After a highly competitive application process, this new five-year cooperative institute will harness partnerships with cutting-edge researchers to advance American marine aquaculture.

Scientific Excellence and Regional Expertise

According to NOAA, CIFARM researchers will investigate solutions that can be leveraged for industry advancement, such as marine aquaculture demonstration projects; engineering and technology development; artificial intelligence for aquaculture; environmental observations and forecasting; risk management and vulnerability analysis; and seafood markets research.

Those research priorities will also magnify scientific advancement through education, outreach, and engagement.

“We are excited to partner with NOAA on this first-of-its kind cooperative institute to advance American aquaculture. By leveraging our coalition’s scientific excellence and regional expertise, we are poised to make great strides for the aquaculture industry,” commented Elizabeth Chilton, president of the University of New Hampshire.

Extensive Experience

University of New Hampshire has partnered with a diverse suite of outstanding academic, industry, and non-governmental organization partners, including: New Hampshire Sea Grant, the University of Miami, Florida Sea Grant, University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, California Sea Grant, University of Hawaii and Hawaii Sea Grant.

For Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries: “By investing in aquaculture research and markets, NOAA Fisheries continues its commitment to improving sustainable American fisheries through science-based management. We are proud to empower the industry to produce more seafood for American plates.”

Science, Services and Policies

Americans eat USD 24.2 billion in imported seafood each year, NOAA emphasized, and about half of which is estimated to be farmed in other countries. Aquaculture creates jobs, uplifts coastal economies and complements wild-capture fisheries, while providing healthy and sustainable seafood to American families and bolstering domestic food security.

Congress directed the establishment of a new cooperative institute advancing US marine aquaculture development in Fiscal Year 2024 Congressional appropriations. By providing scientific solutions for the aquaculture industry, NOAA’s effort also helps fulfill the 2020 Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth and supports President Trump’s 2025 Executive Order Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.

Create Conditions for Opportunity and Growth

NOAA Aquaculture Program’s mission is to provide science, services, and policies that create conditions for opportunity and growth of sustainable US aquaculture. This long-term collaborative partnership will promote research, education, training and outreach aligned with this mission.

The final mission of NOAA is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. NOAA’s many assets -including research programs, vessels, satellites, science centers, laboratories and a vast pool of distinguished scientists and experts- are essential, internationally recognized resources.

They say that, from daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings, and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product. NOAA’s dedicated scientists use cutting-edge research and high-tech instrumentation to provide citizens, planners, emergency managers and other decision makers with reliable information they need, when they need it.

INCAR² and Hendrix-Genetics Strengthen Collaboration in Genomics and Disease Resistance in Aquaculture

Edusehat — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:10:05 +0700

By: INCAR²

INCAR² and Hendrix-Genetics are moving forward with a strategic alliance to boost research in genomics, bioinformatics, and disease resistance in aquatic species, with a special focus on salmon farming. The collaboration aims to develop innovative solutions that strengthen health resilience and promote a more sustainable aquaculture industry in Chile.

As part of efforts to reinforce strategic alliances between science and industry, the Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research–Applied Research, CIA-INCAR², welcomed representatives from the international company Hendrix-Genetics for a working session aimed at boosting research in genomics and aquatic species health.

The meeting took place at the center’s facilities located at the University of Concepción, where both institutions held technical discussions to address challenges and opportunities in areas such as molecular genomics, bioinformatics, and disease resistance, with a focus on key pathologies affecting salmon farming, such as SRS (salmonid rickettsial septicemia).

The Hendrix-Genetics delegation included Rayner González-Prendes, researcher in Molecular Genomics and Bioinformatics; Britt de Klerk, geneticist; and Stephen Tapping, Breeding Program Manager. Representing INCAR² were its director, Cristian Gallardo-Escárate, principal researcher Valentina Valenzuela-Muñoz, and associate researcher Diego Valenzuela-Miranda.

As part of the visit, the international representatives also toured INCAR²’s laboratory facilities in Dichato, where they learned about the center’s scientific and technological capabilities in applied aquaculture research.

The session allowed the establishment of a shared roadmap focused on developing innovative solutions to improve health resilience and productivity in the aquaculture sector.

“The collaboration between INCAR² and Hendrix-Genetics is a concrete example of how the connection between academia and industry can accelerate the development of new technologies and foster innovation. These types of alliances are essential to address current health challenges and move toward increasingly sustainable aquaculture,” emphasized University of Concepción academic and CIA-INCAR² Director, Dr. Cristian Gallardo-Escárate.

Both institutions agreed that international cooperation and the integration of scientific and productive capacities are key elements to drive genetic improvement and support the sustainable development of aquaculture in Chile.

CTN Launches a Tool That Translates Acoustic Data to Improve Decision-Making for Maritime Professionals

Edusehat — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 03:20:10 +0700

By: Marine Technology Centre

Presented at OCEANOISE 2026, the Marine Acoustics Data Knowledge Hub seeks to be an international meeting point for scientifically rigorous decision-making in the environmental management of underwater noise.

The tool connects businesses, public administrations, consultancies, offshore developers, ports, and research centers with data, technical expertise, specialized resources, and services to advance towards a more sustainable Blue Economy.

Yesterday, at OCEANOISE 2026 in Vilanova i la Geltrú, the Marine Technology Centre (CTN) presented the Marine Acoustics Data Knowledge Hub platform, a digital ecosystem designed to become an international benchmark in the environmental management of underwater noise. The launch took place during one of the leading conferences for the scientific, technical, and professional community dedicated to the study, measurement, modelling, assessment, and mitigation of ocean noise. The presentation of this platform represents a new step in the strategy of CTN, a sponsor of OCEANOISE 2026, to bring rigor, comparability, and technical criteria to a growing challenge: the management of underwater noise pollution in the context of expanding maritime activity, offshore development, port traffic, new infrastructure, and increased environmental sensitivity.

The choice of OCEANOISE 2026 as the venue to present the Marine Acoustics Data Knowledge Hub reflects the international and specialized nature of the conference, as the event has gathered the professional community currently working on the very challenges the platform aims to address: how to measure more accurately, how to interpret with shared criteria, and how to translate acoustic knowledge into useful decisions for ocean protection.

During the conference, CTN hosted a stand in the exhibition area of OCEANOISE 2026, where visitors could learn about some of its services and capabilities, as well as the international projects it is currently involved in. Furthermore, CTN also participated in this gathering by delivering various scientific-technological sessions focused on acoustic propagation, bubble curtains, metamaterials, impact assessment, and applied solutions for the marine environment.

From Acoustic Data to Technical Criteria

Underwater noise is no longer solely a scientific issue. It is a factor that dictates environmental, regulatory, and operational decisions in ports, offshore projects, environmental impact assessments, conservation strategies, maritime operations, and authorization processes. However, the main challenge is not merely to measure. The real bottleneck lies in transforming complex acoustic signals, obtained using different methodologies, equipment, and contexts, into reliable, comparable, and interpretable information.

“The Marine Acoustics Data Knowledge Hub platform was created precisely to respond to this need: to help convert acoustic data into a common technical language capable of supporting decisions with greater rigor, reducing uncertainty, and facilitating a more coordinated management of underwater noise,” states Noelia Ortega, Director of CTN. In this way, “the platform acts as a gateway to solutions, resources, technical expertise, and specialized services for those who need to measure, justify, interpret, model, visualize, validate, or reduce the impact of underwater noise in seas and oceans,” Ortega concludes.

An International Meeting Point for the Sector

CTN’s new hub is aimed at businesses, public administrations, environmental consultancies, engineering firms, offshore developers, port authorities, acoustic equipment manufacturers and integrators, universities, and research centers. Its objective is to generate an active community of users and facilitate access to technical resources, data, tools, webinars, use cases, collaborative opportunities, and specialized services relating to underwater noise management.

According to the developers of this tool, the platform is not conceived solely as a digital space, but as an international meeting point between industry, academia, public administration, and applied knowledge—a place to organize capabilities, connect needs, and enable different stakeholders to move forward using common criteria regarding an increasingly relevant environmental problem for the Blue Economy. The areas coordinated by the hub notably include the measurement and processing of acoustic signals, noise mapping, scenario modelling, marine fauna impact assessment, acoustic equipment calibration and characterization, technical consultancy, support for mitigation measures, the development of advanced materials, and access to testing capabilities and specialized infrastructure.

Measuring well to decide better

Underwater noise management increasingly demands a solid technical foundation. In practice, the lack of global standardization, the uneven calibration of equipment, the diversity of methodologies, and the complexity of models can hinder comparison between studies and weaken decision-making. Therefore, the platform focuses on a central idea: accumulating data is not enough; it is necessary to convert it into useful, comparable, and accessible information.

In this regard, CTN contributes calibration, monitoring, processing, modelling, visualization, mitigation, and technical cooperation capabilities to the ecosystem. Its contribution aims to ensure that every piece of acoustic data can become a solid foundation for assessing impacts, designing campaigns, anticipating scenarios, defining mitigation measures, and supporting environmental, regulatory, and operational decisions. Thus, the Marine Acoustics Data Knowledge Hub aspires to bridge the gap between technical data and action, making it easier for organizations of all kinds to find the resource, tool, or service they need to address their challenges regarding underwater noise.

A Tool Aligned with CTN’s Vision

With this initiative, the Marine Technology Centre consolidates its role as a meeting point for professionals from industry, academia, public administration, and the technological center itself, who cooperate to develop innovative projects and high value-added technology to address the major challenges of the Blue Economy. The platform responds to a clear vision: marine sustainability does not solely depend on having more technology, but on building collaborative spaces where knowledge, measurement, validation, and decision-making can advance under common criteria.

At a time when underwater noise pollution is gaining greater relevance in port, energy, industrial, scientific, and environmental projects, CTN is committed to a model based on technical rigor, international cooperation, and applied technology transfer.

The Marine Acoustics Data Knowledge Hub platform is now available for organizations and professionals interested in discovering specialized resources, solutions, and services related to underwater noise on the website knoisehub.ctnaval.com .

About Marine Technology Centre

The Marine Technology Centre (CTN), based in the Region of Murcia and with over 20 years of experience, aims to be the meeting point where professionals from Industry, Academia, Public Administration, and the center itself cooperate with the objective of developing innovative projects and high value-added technology to tackle the major challenges of the Blue Economy. www.ctnaval.com

Federation of European Aquaculture Producers Elects Anna Pyć as New President

Edusehat — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 03:20:05 +0700

The Polish representant is the CEO of Pustelnia Fish Farm and Vice President of the Polish Trout Breeders Association

The Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) recently held its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Limassol, Cyprus, marking a historic leadership transition. After six years at the helm of the federation, Lara Barazi-Geroulanou (Greece) officially concluded her term as President, having driven significant progress for European aquaculture during her tenure. In a unanimous vote, members elected Ms Anna Pyć (Poland) as the new President of FEAP for the next three years.

Pyć brings a wealth of hands-on experience and strategic vision to the role. She is the CEO of Pustelnia Fish Farm, Vice President of the Polish Trout Breeders Association, and now President of FEAP. Having been actively engaged in FEAP’s work for many years, including six years on its Management Committee, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing European aquaculture’s interests. Her experience, professionalism, and dedication to collaborative European dialogue make her a highly respected leader in the sector.

Over this time, Pyć’s contributions and vision have included representing Poland’s two main farmed species, carp and trout, thereby strengthening their visibility and strategic importance at both national and EU levels; building strong cooperation with key national institutions to shape sustainable aquaculture development, contributing to evidence-based policymaking and sectoral innovation; and leading a modern, continuously developing family-run company that combines tradition with innovation, implementing new technologies to improve efficiency, welfare, and sustainability.

Long Experience

Pyć’s work also involved representing farmed fish producers in strategic policy discussions, ensuring that the perspectives of Polish and European aquaculture are reflected in EU-level decision-making; and advocating for the sustainable growth of the aquaculture sector, promoting responsible production, environmental stewardship, and high-quality standards across the value chain.

Moreover, she has strengthened the professional visibility of women in aquaculture, demonstrating through her leadership that women bring effectiveness, innovation

“Every day, Anna Pyć demonstrates the strength and leadership of women in aquaculture, managing and developing her own fish farm, driving continuous improvement, and providing substantive, well-informed input on legal frameworks regulating the sector,” FEAP noted in the announcement.

For them, as a Polish aquaculture ambassador with specialized education combined with hands-on experience, she bridges scientific knowledge, practical management, and policy expertise to support the sustainable future of European aquaculture. “Moreover, the election of Anna strongly signals the relevance of freshwater fish farming throughout Europe”.

Six Years of Dedicated Service and Transformative Leadership

Outgoing President Lara Barazi-Geroulanou was thanked for her six years of dedicated service and transformative leadership, which positioned FEAP as a stronger, more unified voice for European fish farmers.

The Federation extended its gratitude to the Cypriot hosts, the Cyprus Mariculture Association, for their warm welcome and looks forward to a new chapter of innovation and collaboration under President Pyć’s leadership.

Providing Positions, Documentation and Data

FEAP groups Fish Farming Associations & is the leading consultative body for European interests. Amongst FEAP’s most important activities is its advisory role in providing positions, documentation and data on European aquaculture issues to the European Commission and the European Parliament as well as other aquaculture stakeholder organizations – this is done at both the European and global levels.

The Federation of European Aquaculture Producers is also active in both promoting and participating in research and support/coordination projects that contribute to innovation and development of the European fish farming sector. At the moment, FEAP is also increasingly involved in sectoral actions and discussions on aquaculture as well as broader issues that affect the profession.

Cermaq Implements an Amalgamation Among Its Subsidiaries in Canada

Edusehat — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 01:45:09 +0700

• Cermaq British Columbiawill continue the business as the surviving company.

• The company owned by the Japanese Mitsubishi Corporation aims to consolidates its salmon operations.

Cermaq Group, the wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation, resolved a few days ago to implement an amalgamation among its subsidiaries in Canada. As a result of this resolution, CQ Canada Holding, currently a specified subsidiary of the company, will cease to qualify as a specified subsidiary. Meanwhile, Cermaq British Columbia, a newly established company, will have capital exceeding one-tenth of the company’s capital and will therefore qualify as a specified subsidiary of the company.

The restructuring is effective from June 1 and the new company, Cermaq British Columbia, will have a capital of USD 160.52 million. CQ Canada Holding, Cermaq Canada and Cermaq Seafood BC will cease to exist, the Mitsubishi Corporation reported. Cermaq British Columbia will continue the business as the surviving company.

The purpose of this transaction, that arrives a months after completing its acquisition of Grieg Seafood’s farming assets in Canada and Norway for USD 1.08 billion, is to integrate multiple subsidiaries under Cermaq’s Canadian operations and consolidate their functions into a newly established company, thereby enhancing the efficient use of management resources and achieving functional integration.

The restructuring was reported at a particular time for salmon farming in British Columbia, where federal decisions over the past years have reduced production and increased uncertainty among the aquaculture sector.

Financial Results

According to Mitsubishi Corporation, the transaction involves amalgamation among Cermaq’s subsidiaries in accordance with applicable local laws, whereby the newly established company will succeed to all assets, liabilities, rights, and obligations of each of the merging subsidiaries.

This transaction will be carried out as an amalgamation under applicable local laws. As the rights of the shareholders of the pre-amalgamation companies are succeeded by the newly established company, the shares of the pre-amalgamation companies will be partially cancelled, and the remaining shares will be exchanged for shares of the newly established company.

Mitsubishi Corporation assured that the impact on the company’s financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027 is expected to be immaterial.

Cermaq Norway Certifies All Its Facilities

A few weeks earlier, some of Cermaq Norway’s facilities underwent ASC audits. Specifically, the facilities audited were those at Davatluft and Bergsnes, in the municipality of Alta; at Kleppenes N, in the municipality of Hammerfest; and at Vannfjorden, in the municipality of Nordkapp. The audit was carried out by the independent organization DNV.

ASC is the international environmental standard for salmon production. The ASC standard sets strict requirements regarding environmental impact, social responsibility and animal welfare, and requires us to report openly on our results. It is worth noting that the standard is a voluntary third-party certification under which we, as producers, must demonstrate that we meet the requirements for sustainable production.

“Our aim is to certify all our facilities under this standard. Cermaq Norway’s two processing plants hold ASC Chain of Custody certification, which, among other things, sets out traceability requirements,” said the representatives of the company.

Leading Company in Farming of Salmon and Trout

Cermaq is one of the world’s leading companies in farming of salmon and trout, with operations in Norway, Chile and Canada and about 4,000 employees. Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) is an integrated trading and investment company that develops and operates businesses across multiple industries together with its global network.

Analyze of Production Performance of Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei Culture and Water Quality on Earthen Pond Quality on Earthen Pond and HDPE-Lined Pond

Edusehat — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:40:05 +0700

By Aquaculture Magazine Editorial Team

As global demand for seafood continues to rise, aquaculture faces increasing pressure to optimize production systems while maintaining sustainability. Operational excellence in intensive shrimp farming is directly linked to pond design and environmental control. This study reveals that highdensity polyethylene (HDPE)-lined systems achieve a 133% performance boost over traditional earthen ponds by facilitating superior waste management and biosecurity. These efficiencies not only reduce long-term costs but also ensure the economic sustainability of the operation through consistent, high-yield harvests and improved nutrient utilization.

The white-leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) is one of the most important aquaculture species globally due to its adaptability to varying salinity and temperature, high survival rates and suitability for intensive farming. By 2020, global production reached 5.8 million tons, representing over half of total shrimp production, and demand is expected to continue increasing due to population growth and changing consumption patterns.

In Indonesia, shrimp production targets have driven the need for improved farming practices, particularly in pond selection, as ponds play a critical role in water quality control and waste management. Two main types are used: earthen ponds and high-density polyethylene (HDPE)- lined ponds. Earthen ponds are more economical and support natural processes such as nutrients cycling, mineral provision, and pH buffering through soil interaction. However, they are prone to leakage, erosion, turbidity, and depend heavily on soil quality. Over time, accumulation of organic matter and toxic compounds like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide can reduce productivity and increase the risk of harvest failure.

HDPE-lined ponds demonstrate significantly higher productivity and survival rates compared to earthen systems, with productivity reaching 9.3 tons/ha. The design facilitates efficient waste removal and better control of harmful compounds, leading to a 133% increase in performance outcomes and a 24% improvement in feed efficiency.

HDPE-lined ponds, in contrast, offer more stable and predictable production. Their design allows efficient waste removal through drainage systems and facilitates better control of harmful compounds, improving shrimp survival rates. Additionally, they tend to have lower levels of pathogens such as Vibrio. However, these systems require higher construction costs and eliminate natural soil-water interactions, increasing the need for artificial mineral supplementation, which is essential for shrimp metabolism and ecosystem balance.

Despite existing studies, most research has focused on extensive systems. These remains a lack of comprehensive analysis in intensive farming conditions. This study aims to address that gap by evaluating how pond type affects water quality, shrimp survival, production performance, and economic outcomes in intensive aquaculture systems.

Materials and Methods

This study was conducted in West Java, Indonesia, comparing three earthen ponds and three HPDE- lined ponds stocked with L. vannamei. Water, shrimp, phytoplankton, and bacterial samples were collected periodically to evaluate water quality and biological conditions. Growth performance was measured through productivity, survival rate (SR), average daily growth (ADG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Economic analysis includes costs, revenues, and profitability using benefit-cost ratios (BCR). Statistical tests (T-test, Mann-Whitney, and Pearson correlation) were applied to assess differences and relationships between variables. The methodology aimed to determine how pond type influences shrimp performance, water quality, and economic feasibility in intensive aquaculture systems.

Pond substrate directly influences water quality and phytoplankton composition. Earthen ponds are susceptible to Cyanophyta blooms, which produce toxins like microcystins that damage shrimp tissue. HDPE ponds maintain a more stable environment dominated by beneficial Chlorophyta, resulting in higher dissolved oxygen levels and better overall shrimp health.

Results

The results indicate that pond type significantly influences the production performance of L. vannamei. HDPE ponds showed superior outcomes compared to earthen ponds. Productivity and SR, were significantly higher in HDPE systems (p < 0.05) with increases of 133%. In contrast, earthen ponds exhibited higher ADG and FCR (p < 0.05), although a lower FCR in HDPE ponds (24% less) indicates better feed efficiency. Overall, HDPE ponds demonstrated the best production performance.

Water quality parameters also differed significantly between pond types (p < 0.05). Earthen ponds have higher temperature, pH, and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), while HDPE ponds showed higher salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), hardness, total organic matter (TOM), nitrite, and total bacterial count (TBC). Specifically, earthen ponds had lower salinity (21.93 psu) and DO (4.56 mg/L) compared to HDPE ponds (25.07 psu and 5.03 mg/L, respectively). Phytoplankton abundance was greater in earthen ponds, where four classes were identified: Dinophyta, Cyanophyta, Bacillariophyta, and Chlorophyta (Figure 1a, 1b). Chlorophyta dominated early stages in earthen ponds but was later replaced by Cyanophyta after day 56. In HDPE ponds, Chlorophyta remained dominant throughout the culture period.

The relationship between water quality and shrimp survival was assessed using Pearson correlation analysis. In earthen ponds, no significant correlation was observed (p < 0.05), and only weak relationships were detected (Figure 2a). This suggests that survival is influenced by multiple interacting factors or unmeasured variables. In contrast, HDPE ponds showed significant correlations (Figure 2b). Salinity and hardness were positively correlated with SR (p < 0.01; r > 0.50), while total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and nitrite were negatively correlated (p < 0.01; r < -0.50). These parameters exhibited moderate correlations with survival, highlighting their importance in intensive systems.

Economic analysis revealed that although earthen ponds had lower total operational costs, their production and revenue also lower. HDPE ponds required 17.54% higher investment but generated 57.20% higher revenue. The undiscounted BCR was 0.89% for earthen ponds and 1.72 for HDPE ponds, indicating that earthen systems were not economically feasible, while HDPE systems were profitable. Furthermore, the incremental benefit-cost radio (IBCR) for HDPE ponds was 5.67, meaning that each additional unit of cost produced 5.67 units of benefit.

In summary, HDPE ponds outperform earthen ponds in terms of productivity, survival, water quality control, and economic feasibility, making them a more efficient option for intensive shrimp farming systems.

The use of HDPE liners effectively mitigates the negative effects of declining soil quality and reduces the prevalence of pathogens such as Vibrio. Unlike earthen ponds, which suffer from low oxidation-reduction potential and anaerobic conditions that promote toxic hydrogen sulfide formation, lined systems provide a predictable environment for intensive farming.

Discussion

The study demonstrates that pond type significantly affects shrimp production performance, with HDPE- lined ponds outperforming earthen ponds. HDPE ponds achieved higher productivity (9.3 tons/ha vs. 3.92 tons/ha) and SR, while earthen ponds showed notably low survival (27.32%), likely due to disease outbreaks. FCR was higher in earthen ponds (1.88), exceeding optimal levels (<1.5), indicating inefficient feed use and possible stress-related anorexia linked to infections such as Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP). These findings highlight the critical role of environmental conditions in shrimp health and productivity.

Although HDPE-lined ponds require a 17.54% higher initial investment, they generate 57.20% higher revenue due to improved survival and productivity. Economic analysis shows an undiscounted benefit-cost ratio of 1.72 for HDPE systems, making them profitable, while earthen systems with low survival rates are no longer economically viable.

Differences in pond substrate influenced water quality through soilwater interactions, which occur only in earthen ponds. Most parameters remained within tolerable ranges for L. vannamei, except TOM, TAN, and nitrite. HDPE ponds exhibited higher TOM promoted bacterial growth, increasing TBC and accelerating nitrification. which raised TAN and nitrite levels in HDPE systems.

Phytoplankton composition also varied. Earthen ponds showed higher Cyanophyta abundance (Figure 1a, 1b), likely due to low nitrogen -to- phosphorus ratios and limited mineral availability. Cyanophyta can fix atmospheric nitrogen, giving them a competitive advantage. However, they produce toxins such as microcystins (~45 μg/L), which damage shrimp hepatopancreatic tissue, causing stress and mortality. Studies confirm toxin presence in dead shrimp, linking Cyanophyta blooms to mortality events.

Water quality influences shrimp survival through complex interactions of physical, chemical, and biological factors. Although HDPE ponds had elevated TAN and nitrite, overall conditions remained favorable due to balanced parameters. In contrast, earthen ponds showed weak correlations between water quality and survival, suggesting other factors were responsible. Poor sediment quality emerged as a key issue. Low ORP values (-191 to -109 mV) indicated anaerobic conditions, promoting hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) formation, a toxic compound linked to shrimp mortality.

For intensive Litopenaeus vannamei culture, the transition to HDPE-lined systems is a critical factor for long-term sustainability. Each additional unit of cost in an HDPE system produces 5.67 units of benefit, proving that the adoption of advanced pond designs enhances both farmer income and the resilience of the global seafood supply chain.

Economically, HDPE ponds required 17.54% higher investment but generated 57.20% higher income due to improved survival and productivity. Earthen ponds had lower costs but poor performance, resulting in a low BCR of 0.89, indicating non-viability. In contrast, HDPE ponds showed strong profitability, with an incremental BCR of 5.67, meaning each additional cost unit yielded substantial returns.

Overall, HDPE-lined ponds provide better environmental control, higher survival, and greater economic benefits, making them a more sustainable and profitable option for intensive shrimp farming.

Conclusion

HDPE-lined ponds demonstrated higher production performance compared to earthen ponds due to their more optimal water quality, particularly indicated by the lower abundance of Cyanophyta. Cyanophyta is a potentially harmful phytoplankton species that produces toxins capable of reducing shrimp survival rates. Additionally, the low SR of shrimp in earthen ponds was also influenced by poor soil quality. Earthen pond with degraded soil quality is no longer economically viable.

The use of HDPE- lined ponds can mitigate the negative effects of declining soil quality, there by creating a more stable environment for shrimp growth. Although the production costs for intensive shrimp farming in HDPE-lined ponds were 17.54% higher than in earthen ponds, this investment was proven to increase farmers’ total income by 57.20%. Thus, the adoption of HDPE- lined ponds not only enhances productivity but also contributes to the economic sustainability of shrimp farmers.

This informative version of the original article is sponsored by: REEF INDUSTRIES INC.

This is a summarized version developed by the editorial team of Aquaculture Magazine based on the review article titled “ANALYZE OF PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF VANAME SHRIMP LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI CULTURE AND WATER QUALITY ON EARTHEN POND AND HDPE-LINED POND” developed by: Zulfana Fikru Sifa, Kukuh Nirmala, Yuni Puji Hastuti and Eddy Supriyono ─ IPB University, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. The original article was published on JULY, 2025, through JURNAL AKUAKULTUR INDONESIA. The full version, including tables and figures, can be accessed online through this link: DOI:10.19027/jai.25.1.1-15

Looking Beyond the Pond: How Satellite Intelligence Is Becoming a Practical Tool for Aquaculture 4.0

Edusehat — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:40:06 +0700

By Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta

As climate variability increases, looking “beyond the pond” is no longer optional for capital-intensive production. Satellite applications provide scale and continuity, allowing stakeholders to estimate chlorophyll, nutrients, and turbidity. This digital infrastructure layer supports better feeding strategies and coordinated environmental governance, shifting the paradigm from isolated farm observations to comprehensive regional intelligence.

For decades, aquaculture has improved by looking inward. We became better at genetics, nutrition, health man, and farm design. These advances allowed the sector to intensify, professionalize, and grow. Yet, despite all that progress inside the pond, many of the decisions that define success or failure are still influenced by what happens outside it.

Temperature anomalies, rainfall concentration, watershed runoff, bloom dynamics, and coastal variability do not respect farm boundaries. They operate at larger spatial and temporal scales than ponds or cages. Traditionally, aquaculture professionals only became aware of these forces once their effects were already visible in dissolved oxygen, feeding response, growth, or survival.

Satellite imagery offers a way to close that gap. Not as a futuristic promise, but as a practical decision support tool that helps aquaculture understand what is happening around the farm and make better choices, earlier.

Satellite Intelligence Satellite imagery provides the spatial and environmental context Aquaculture 4.0 historically lacked. It helps explain why in-pond measurements behave specifically, allowing for earlier, better-informed choices regarding metabolic stress and growth.

What Satellite Imagery Actually Adds

Satellite imagery brings three capabilities that aquaculture historically lacked: scale, continuity, and spatial perspective. Satellites observe entire regions simultaneously, repeatedly, and independently of farm reporting. This allows producers, feed mills, financiers, and regulators to move from isolated observations to understanding patterns.

It is important, however, to be precise. Satellites do not measure water quality in the same way as in pond probes, and they do not provide continuous, minute by minute readings. Observations depend on satellite overpass and represent snapshots in time. The information is therefore indicative and dependent on the moment of capture.

That said, modern multispectral and thermal satellites, combined with calibrated models and algorithms, already allow the estimation of several biologically meaningful water quality variables at the pond surface. These include surface temperature, chlorophyll concentration, total suspended solids, dissolved organic matter proxies, salinity related conductivity, nutrient dynamics such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and indirect characterization of dissolved oxygen behavior through its main drivers.

This distinction matters. Satellites do not replace probes. They help explain why measurements behave the way they do.

Modern multispectral and thermal satellites estimate surface temperature, chlorophyll concentration, and nutrient dynamics. These indicators help anticipate metabolic stress and phytoplankton dynamics that drive daytime oxygen production and nighttime consumption.

What Can Be Done Today at the Farm Level

For farmers, satellite derived water quality intelligence provides context. A sudden change in feeding response or oxygen stability can be interpreted not only as a local issue, but in relation to regional temperature trends, bloom development, or hydrological events.

Surface temperature estimates help anticipate metabolic stress and oxygen solubility changes before critical situations occur. Chlorophyll monitoring provides insight into phytoplankton dynamics that drive daytime oxygen production and nighttime consumption. Turbidity and suspended solids trends indicate runoff, sediment resuspension, or organic loading that may affect water quality in the coming days.

This does not automate decisions. It supports better ones, such as whether to intervene immediately, monitor closely, adjust feeding strategy, or prepare for continued stress.

Feed Mills: From Reacting to Understanding

Feed mills operate portfolios of farms distributed across regions. Satellite imagery allows mills to assess whether challenges are isolated or systemic, seasonal or anomalous.

This enables earlier redeployment of technical teams, better prioritization of advisory efforts, and more informed management of commercial exposure. The value here is not control, but awareness. Knowing where conditions are changing allows better allocation of people, inventory, and credit.

Capital avoids aquaculture due to environmental uncertainty. Satellite-derived indicators allow financiers and insurers to contextualize production results with evidence-based risk assessments, grounding decisions in current environmental conditions rather than historical averages.

Finance and Insurance: Better Decisions, Not Blind Avoidance

Capital does not avoid aquaculture because of risk. It avoids aquaculture because of uncertainty. Satellite imagery introduces environmental visibility that helps explain variability in performance and outcomes.

When combined with farm telemetry, satellite derived indicators allow financiers and insurers to contextualize production results, calibrate exposure, and design structures based on evidence rather than assumptions. Decisions become grounded in what is happening environmentally, not only in historical averages.

Risk management improves as a consequence of better information, not fear.

Governments: System Level Awareness

For authorities, satellite imagery enables system level understanding. Instead of reacting after problems escalate, governments can observe emerging stress patterns across production zones, watersheds, or coastal areas.

This supports targeted advisories, coordinated responses, smarter zoning decisions, and more proactive environmental governance. Policy moves from reactive to preventive.

Integrating satellite imagery with inpond sensors turns isolated data into regional understanding. As climate variability rises, this external context layer becomes essential for managing metabolic response and ensuring longterm sustainability.

Why Satellite Imagery Strengthens Aquaculture 4.0

Aquaculture 4.0 is not about replacing experience with software. It is about integrating intelligence layers to support better decisions.

In pond sensors provide frequency and depth. Satellite imagery provides spatial and environmental context. Models and algorithms translate observations into indicators. Integration turns data into understanding.

Satellite imagery becomes the external context layer of digital infrastructure. It is essential, but not standalone.

Looking Ahead

Over the next decade, satellite applications in aquaculture will move from observation to prediction, and from farm level novelty to cluster and country level infrastructure. As climate variability increases and production systems become more capital intensive, understanding what happens beyond the pond will no longer be optional.

Satellites do not tell aquaculture what to do. They help aquaculture understand what is happening. And in a complex, variable environment, understanding is the foundation of good decisions and sustainable growth.

* Antonio Garza de Yta is CCO of Intelligon, Vice President of the International Center for Strategic Studies in Aquaculture (CIDEEA), President of Aquaculture Without Frontiers (AwF), Past President of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS), Former Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Tamaulipas, Mexico, and Creator of the Certification for Aquaculture Professionals (CAP) Program with Auburn University.

Your opportunity to Join in a FREE Webinar with FAO-SCA to Discuss Seafood Fraud

Edusehat — Sat, 30 May 2026 11:20:17 +0700

By: SCA

𝗔𝗾𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗱: 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲?

Thursday 18 June 2026

Aquatic food fraud covers a wide range of deceptive practices, including mislabeling, species substitution, and false claims about origin, production method, quality, sustainability, or traceability, among many others. Beyond economic losses, it can undermine consumer trust, fair competition, public health and sustainability.

As part of the FAO #GLOBEFISH Webinar Series 2026, this upcoming online session will explore how market demand, price incentives, and supply-chain complexity create conditions for fraudulent practices, and what governments, industry, retailers, researchers and standard-setting bodies are doing to strengthen transparency, traceability and authenticity. The webinar will feature:

Expert presentations.
Live polling.
A moderated panel discussion.
Audience Q&A.

Of interest for stakeholders working across fisheries, aquaculture, seafood trade, food safety and sustainability.

Participation is open upon registration: July 17^th, 2026

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 10:00–12:00 CEST (1800hrs Melbourne)

𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁: Online via Zoom

𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲: English Register here https://lnkd.in/eY_un56X

If you’ve registered, please complete a short pre-webinar survey to share your perspectives on fraud affecting fisheries and aquaculture products: https://lnkd.in/e3rjMhan

Look forward to seeing you there

Canadian Cascadia Seaweed Announces the Official Opening of an Advanced Seaweed Processing Facility in Port Edward

Edusehat — Sat, 30 May 2026 11:20:12 +0700

The Canadian company Cascadia Seaweed announced a few days ago the official opening of an advanced seaweed processing facility in Port Edward, British Columbia, marking a major milestone in the Company’s development as a vertically integrated seaweed production and biomanufacturing business.

“This facility represents a significant milestone in building a fully integrated seaweed-based agricultural inputs company in Canada,” says Michael Williamson, CEO and Co-founder of Cascadia Seaweed. “We’ve built this business step by step from cultivation through to advanced processing, overcoming the challenges of scaling within this sector. With the facility now operational, our focus shifts toward expanding market adoption and growing our presence in agriculture markets, starting with North America.”

The Port Edward processing facility emerged within a broader context as a strategic opportunity to establish northern processing capacity. The facility had completed its final stages of commissioning, with secondary processing equipment installed. The grand opening celebration took place on May 14, marking an important milestone in the development of Cascadia‘s northern processing capability. Full operational capacity is expected by summer 2026.

Long Story

The relationship between Cascadia Seaweed and the Metlakatla First Nation and the Metlakatla Development Corporation (MDC) began in 2021, as early discussions emerged around the potential for a northern hub of aquaculture and processing operations. What started as exploratory conversations has evolved over several years of sustained engagement, site visits, technical collaboration, and joint evaluation of infrastructure opportunities in the Prince Rupert region.

They explain that, from the outset, discussions with MDC have focused on exploring how existing marine infrastructure and licensed tenures could be repurposed to support a more diversified and resilient coastal economy. Over time, this dialogue has included trials, funding collaborations, environmental baseline work, and ongoing evaluation of integrated aquaculture systems, including kelp cultivation and a processing capacity.

A consistent theme throughout this period has been the shared focus on long-term opportunity rather than short-term transactions. This has included parallel progress on permitting, early-stage site trials, and technical planning for processing infrastructure capable of handling rapidly perishable seaweed biomass at scale.

Strengthened Presence

The Port Edward processing facility emerged within this broader context as a strategic opportunity to establish northern processing capacity. In 2024, Cascadia strengthened its regional presence with the appointment of Dan Pedde as Project Manager, Northern Developments.

In March 2025, Cascadia signed the lease for the Port Edward facility, formally advancing the project from planning into construction and commissioning. Since then, the facility has progressed through installation, commissioning, and early system validation, including turning on the power in January 2026 and first “practice runs” of seaweed processing in March 2026.

They explain that, as with many first-of-kind infrastructure projects, the build phase has included execution challenges with contractors, including equipment delays and resulting scope adjustments. These changes led to a revised project plan and modest budget escalation, while ultimately increasing direct control over installation and commissioning activities.

By spring 2026, the facility had completed its final stages of commissioning, with secondary processing equipment installed. The grand opening celebration took place on May 14, 2026, marking an important milestone in the development of Cascadia‘s northern processing capability. Full operational capacity is expected by summer 2026.

Importantly, Cascadia and MDC continue to explore potential joint venture structures for both farming and processing operations. The relationship continues to evolve, grounded in ongoing collaboration, shared objectives, and a long-term view of regional industry development.

Cascadia Seaweed grow local species of seaweed on marine farms in partnership with coastal First Nations. They then harvest that seaweed and manufacture liquid biostimulants for farmers across North America. “Our products enhance nutrient use efficiency while achieving the same or even better yields, providing a clear return on investment for farmers.

WellFish Tech Received Approval From the Norwegian Food Safety Authority for Its Non-Lethal Salmon Blood Sampling

Edusehat — Sat, 30 May 2026 11:20:07 +0700

Two studies demonstrated that the procedure does not compromise fish survival, growth, or welfare when executed by trained personnel using their standardized protocol

WellFish Tech, a biotechnology company based in Paisley, Scotland, has obtained regulatory clearance from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) for a non-lethal blood sampling method used on Atlantic salmon in aquaculture. According to the firm, this is the first instance in which Mattilsynet has approved such a non-lethal sampling technique, ending a restriction that had been in place for multiple years.

The company completed the required protocol revision the last May 4. The updated standard operating procedure is now the governing document for all non-lethal food sampling activity carried out under the WellFish Tech service.

“We are proud of the rigorous work that underpins this approval. This has been a collaborative effort with the scientific community and regulators, with one goal: better fish health. Having a non-lethal diagnostic method formally recognized in Norway is a meaningful step for the industry,” said Charlie Granfelt, CEO of WellFish Tech.

After the news broke, they thanked to Magnus Blø, Randi Fivelstad, Hilde R. Storhaug, “and the wider team who put in the work to get this over the line, and to Mattilsynet for a rigorous and thorough process”.

Temperatures Between 5 and 8 Degrees Celsius

The company stated that the approval followed field and laboratory trials designed to provide the animal welfare evidence required by the regulatory body. Trials conducted in Spring 2025 evaluated the method’s effect on fish in water temperatures between 5 and 8 degrees Celsius, conditions described by the company as among the most challenging for welfare and wound recovery.

A separate controlled warm-water trial carried out at AquaBioTech Group‘s facility in Malta supplied complementary data for higher temperatures. Both studies demonstrated that the procedure does not compromise fish survival, growth, or welfare when executed by trained personnel using WellFish Tech‘s standardized protocol.

Performed Under the Professional Authorized Fish Health Personnel

The development of the company becomes the first method of its kind to meet Norway’s welfare documentation requirements. The approval removes a prohibition that had been in place for several years and allows fish health personnel to collect diagnostic blood samples from live salmon and return the fish to the production environment.

WellFish Tech has created a tool that uses blood samples to deliver a range of data for salmon farmers, including mortality forecasting for the upcoming seven, fourteen, and twenty-eight days, along with other predictive insights. The non-lethal sampling method allows farmers to return the fish to the production environment, unlike current procedures that require the fish to be euthanized.

The clearance applies specifically to Atlantic salmon weighing over 500 grams. It permits a maximum sample volume of 1 milliliter per fish and mandates a minimum interval of fourteen days between repeated samples from the same individual. The company noted that the method must be performed under the professional responsibility of authorized fish health personnel.

Hidden Information

According to Wellfish Tech, their services give back to the customers time and add previously hidden information through analysis of biomarkers, just like in human blood work. By revealing the inner workings of fish not on a sporadic, but routine basis, a holistic and continued picture of the health condition of your fish emerges. “This gives your team time to plan crucial production decisions according to the condition of the fish, making sure to minimize losses and maximize resource efficiency,” they assure.

“Analysis provided by WellFish Tech is proving to be a valuable salmon health management tool by providing early warning and insights into which vital functions are affected and how fish may be supported, as well as measurements of prognosis, making a significant contribution to our fish health strategy and influencing management decisions,” commented Dave Cockerill, Director of Biology, Bakkafrost Scotland.

From Ocean Depths to Farm Ponds: How Lallemand’s Marine Microbial Treasure Is Fueling the Next Wave of Aquaculture Innovation

Edusehat — Sat, 30 May 2026 04:10:06 +0700

* By Lallemand Animal Nutrition

Evolving global aquaculture demand requires paradigm shift toward scientifically validated, preventive health solutions. Driven by a dedicated innovation ecosystem, Lallemand Animal Nutrition leverages its specialized library of over 12,500 marine microorganisms to deliver advanced solutions for gut microbiome management and mucosal immunity. This continuous cycle of cross-functional research translates deep-ocean biological assets into industrially reliable microbial products, securing long-term operational resilience and sustainable growth across intensive farming environments.

Beneath the surface of the world’s oceans lies a vast, largely untapped reservoir of microbial life, one that is increasingly shaping the future of aquaculture. At the heart of Lallemand’s field-led, marine-rooted microbial approach to aquaculture innovation is a distinctive biological asset. The Lallemand Marine Culture Collection (LMCC) is a living library of more than 12,500 marine microorganisms assembled over decades of sampling expeditions to some of the world’s most extreme and biologically rich marine environments. This collection is a key pillar of Lallemand’s aquaculture innovation strategy, complementing a broader range of non-veterinary microbial solutions derived from both marine and terrestrial sources. Notably, several strains from the LMCC are also used across other Lallemand business units beyond aquaculture, underscoring the collection’s value as a cross-functional scientific asset. Together, these capabilities position Lallemand as one of the most scientifically credible and forward-looking partners in the global aquaculture industry.

Reshaping Aquaculture Production

The urgent challenges confronting aquaculture producers today are well documented: rising production costs, tightening environmental, welfare and regulatory standards, mounting expectations for antibiotic-free production, and the persistent difficulty of maintaining animal health, water and soil quality across highly diverse production environments. Producers from Norwegian salmon fjords to Asian and Latin American shrimp and fish ponds are looking beyond conventional management approaches for biological solutions that are effective, consistent, and scalable. The question is: where will better solutions come from, and can the science behind them be trusted to deliver under real-farm conditions?

Meeting these expectations requires an approach to innovation that combines a genuine understanding of production realities with a differentiated biological knowledge base, and holds products to rigorous field- level validation before they reach the market. This is precisely the approach that defines Lallemand Animal Nutrition’s aquaculture strategy.

Innovation at Lallemand starts on the farm, where daily conversations with producers reveal the challenges that tomorrow’s solutions must solve.

The Marine-Origin Advantage

The LMCC is home to more than 12,500 strains of marine microorgan- isms — bacteria, yeasts, and molds — sourced from a wide range of habitats, including shallow coastal ecosystems, deep-sea sediments, and polar waters. Built over decades of targeted sampling expeditions, the collection represents one of the most extensive repositories of marine microbial diversity assembled for biotechnological application.

What makes marine-origin strains particularly valuable for aquaculture is precisely what shaped them: extreme and fluctuating salinity, variable temperature regimes, limited oxygen availability, and intense competition within complex aquatic microbial communities. These evolutionary pressures have equipped marine microorganisms with metabolic profiles that may offer distinct functional benefits from those of terrestrial-origin strains — properties that may confer distinct performance advantages in the aquatic environments where farmed species live.

This does not mean that all of Lallemand’s aquaculture solutions originate from the LMCC. Some well-established strains are of terrestrial origin with documented performance records. Terrestrial-origin strains remain important for some applications, while marine-origin strains broaden the functional toolbox for aquatic environments. The LMCC essentially serves as a complementary, strategically differentiated screening source that broadens the range of functional candidates available for development and opens biological avenues that terrestrial-only libraries cannot.

Field-Led Innovation: Starting Where It Matters Most

Unlike technology-push models that develop solutions in search of problems, Lallemand’s innovation cycle is largely demand-driven. A global team of aquaculture specialists — with expertise in both fish and shrimp production systems — operates across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, maintaining continuous engagement with farms, hatcheries and processing facilities. These specialists function as trained observers who translate operational pain points into precise scientific questions that directly shape R&D priorities.

This field intelligence is reinforced by Lallemand’s active participation in major international aquaculture congresses and technical forums, where the company engages with emerging scientific developments and evolving market needs. The result is an innovation roadmap continuously recalibrated to what producers actually require such as better support for gut microbiome, mucosal integrity or again animal resilience under environmental or management-related stress, reliable water and soil-quality maintenance, and microbial solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing farm management protocols. Every R&D project within Lallemand’s aquaculture portfolio traces back to a challenge identified in the field.

With over 12,500 strains collected from the world’s most demanding marine environments, the LMCC is not just a laboratory asset — it is a living atlas of microbial potential, built to anticipate the solutions that aquaculture will need tomorrow.

Scientific Rigor at Every Stage

Identifying a promising microbial strain is just the beginning. Every candidate — whether sourced from the LMCC or from terrestrial origins — is subjected to a rigorous, multistage evaluation protocol before it can advance toward product development. Functional potential criteria are defined according to the intended application: supporting gut microbiota balance, immune response, organic matter degradation, ammonia management, competitive exclusion of undesirable bacteria, or other targeted functions.

Alongside functional performance, candidates are screened for safety: absence of transmissible antibiotic resistance genes, absence of virulence factors, and demonstrated stability under the physical and chemical stresses of industrial fermentation and formulation. Industrial suitability and scalability — including the ability to survive and maintain activity during large-scale production and downstream processing — is evaluated in parallel, ensuring that only candidates with genuine commercial potential proceed.

The Oban facility in Scotland serves as the operational hub of the LMCC and a key scientific platform for this screening work. Operating at biosafety level 2 (P2 certification), the laboratory is equipped with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for the identification and quantification of microbial metabolites, and a suite of bioassays configured for high throughput functional evaluation. The collection’s long-term integrity is maintained through rigorous preservation protocols: every strain is stored in triplicate using different preservation methods and physically separate locations, ensuring full traceability and resilience against loss.

Five Lallemand Centers of Excellence contribute specialized expertise spanning fundamental microbiology to applied nutrition science, supported by a global network of academic institutions, research centers, and specialist partners. This collaborative infrastructure accelerates discovery and provides independent scientific validation, while a dedicated internal R&D team translates findings into product development pathways.

In five years, Lallemand Animal Nutrition has conducted over 30 in vivo trials across multiple countries and species, ensuring that every product reaching the market has been validated under the conditions producers actually face.

Lallemand’s innovation cycle.

From Controlled Conditions to Farm Performance

Scientific performance in controlled laboratory settings is merely a prerequisite. Lallemand’s commitment to evidence-based innovation is measured by the scope and rigor of its in vivo validation program. Two fulltime scientists are dedicated exclusively to aquaculture trial management, overseeing field and controlled experiments designed to evaluate support for gut and immune function, performance outcomes, stress resilience, and water quality management across diverse production contexts. In the field, more than 30 trials have been conducted in the past five years alone, on both fish and shrimp in multiple countries across wide- ranging production environments and factors like water temperatures, salinity regimes, biosecurity contexts, and management intensities. This geographic and biological breadth is deliberate. Having experienced the complexity of good animal health maintenance and microbial management for more than 40 years, we know that development of sustainable and efficient solutions requires a deep understanding of microbes as well as farm specificities. Only when robust results are demonstrated across varied real-world environments does a solution earn its place in Lallemand’s market-ready portfolio.

Lalsea Biorem and the LMCC in Action

Lalsea Biorem, Lallemand’s non-veterinary bioremediation solution for aquaculture pond management, offers the most concrete illustration of how the LMCC’s biological depth translates into practical, producer- level outcomes. Its development required systematic screening of thousands of LMCC strains against a demanding, specifically defined set of functional criteria.

Selected strains had to demonstrate robust microbial activity across a salinity range of 0 to 50 ppt — covering both freshwater and hypersaline production environments — and perform reliably under aerobic, anaerobic, and microaerobic conditions typical of oxygen-variable pond ecosystems. Functional screening targeted strains with broad enzymatic capacity to support degradation of the organic matter that accumulates in pond sediments, alongside demonstrated ammonium assimilation capacity to contribute to water quality management and reduce algal bloom risk. Overall microbial dynamics – including activity involving opportunistic microorganisms – were also evaluated as part of the screening framework for water quality management.

Each shortlisted candidate was validated under simulated farming conditions before the final product formulation was established. The result is a non-veterinary microbial solution with demonstrated effectiveness in both shrimp and fish ponds across multiple continents — a direct expression of both the LMCC’s unique biological diversity and the rigor of Lallemand’s end-to-end innovation and validation process.

Anticipating Tomorrow’s Challenges

What distinguishes the LMCC from a passive biological archive is the active, forward-looking scientific strategy that governs its use. Lallemand’s research agenda includes proactive screening of the collection against challenges that aquaculture is anticipated to face over the next years and decades such as the impact of non-conventional ingredients, of a warming world, of the application of One-health approach on animal and aquatic health, performance and microbial communities. Emerging production contexts — including recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and increasingly intensive pond management — also inform pre-emptive screening priorities. This anticipatory approach provides Lallemand with a structural advantage: when market needs crystallize around a new challenge, the company is ready. It draws on a collection that has been systematically characterized over decades, a scientific team already familiar with the most relevant candidates, and an industrial platform capable of scaling validated solutions in months rather than years. The LMCC is, therefore, not only a resource for today’s products — but also the strategic foundation of tomorrow’s innovation pipeline.

The ocean, long the source of life on Earth, is now becoming the source of solutions for aquaculture’s most pressing challenges — and Lallemand holds the key to that treasure.

An Innovation Ecosystem Built for the Long Term

From field insights to scientific design, from marine microbial libraries to proven farm-level products, Lallemand Animal Nutrition has built an innovation ecosystem that is both rigorous and responsive. The company’s aquaculture portfolio — addressing support for gut microbiome management, mucosal and immune function, stress resilience, hatchery performance, and water quality — reflects a consistent commitment to solutions that are scientifically validated, industrially reliable, and practically relevant.

The LMCC is one of several distinctive assets within this ecosystem, representing both the biological breadth needed to address today’s challenges and the scientific depth to anticipate tomorrow’s. Its value goes beyond the diversity of strains it contains to the decades of scientific expertise, cross-functional collaboration, and disciplined innovation process built around it. For aquaculture producers seeking solutions built on a transparent, rigorous scientific foundation, Lallemand’s integrated approach — from ocean collection to validated non-veterinary microbial products — represents a differentiated value proposition. One that is responsive to today’s production realities and designed to remain relevant as the industry evolve.

Discover how Lallemand’s innovation ecosystem — from the Marine Culture Collection to market-ready products — can support your aquaculture operation.
Visit: www.lallemandanimalnutrition.com

FAO Puts Seafood Consumers at the Centre —Why That Changes Everything

Edusehat — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:30:41 +0700

By Seafood Consumers Association

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the that could reshape the global seafood sector — if industry, regulators and consumers are paying attention. In its newly released Medium-Term Plan 2026–29 and Program of Work and Budget 2026–27, FAO identifies consumer awareness as one of four global “priority triggers” needed to transform agrifood systems. That might sound like bureaucratic language, but for seafood it represents a significant shift: consumers are no longer treated as passive end-users, but as active drivers of system-wide change.

For decades, seafood policy and market structures have been largely producer- and trader-centric. Consumers sat at the end end of the chain, expected to trust labels, menus and marketing with limited ability to verify what they were buying. FAO’s new framing challenges that model — and creates a clear mandate for reform in areas that seafood consumers have long raised: standardized naming, origin labelling, traceability and fraud prevention.

For organizations like the Seafood Consumers Association (SCA), this is not a theoretical development. It aligns squarely with the practical re- forms needed to restore trust, reward honest fishers and build a transparent, accountable seafood system. Importantly, it also presents Australia with an opportunity to lead.

Four Triggers for Transformation

FAO’s Director-General, Qu Dongyu, sets out four “priority triggers” designed to catalyze meaningful change across global agrifood systems:

Institutions and governance.
Consumer awareness.
Income and wealth distribution.
Innovative technologies and approaches.

FAO describes these as “effective starting points for transformative processes”. From a seafood consumer perspective, they also read like a checklist of the sector’s most persistent problems — and its biggest opportunities.

A quick meal of Oysters.

Consumers cannot reward well-managed fisheries or responsible aquaculture if the only information provided is “fish of the day” or a generic “battered fillet”. Environmental and health consciousness cannot be leveraged if labels and menus obscure rather than clarify.

1. Institutions and Governance: Making Transparency Non- Negotiable

FAO’s first trigger focuses on stronger, more transparent and accountable institutions. In seafood, that goes well beyond fisheries management plans and stock assessments. It cuts directly to the everyday consumer experience — and long-standing weaknesses in how seafood is governed at the point of sale.

Across retail and food service, consumers still encounter:

» Inconsistent or vague species names.

» Poor or absent country-of-origin information.

» Blurred distinctions between wild and farmed product.

» Limited visibility of production methods.

» Weak enforcement of existing naming and labelling rules.

These gaps make it easier for mislabeled, substituted or illegally sourced seafood to enter legitimate supply chains. They also place an unfair burden on consumers, who are effectively asked to “trust the system” without being given the information needed to verify claims.

From FAO’s perspective, governance is not credible unless it delivers transparency. For SCA, this reinforces a core message: standardized, enforceable seafood labelling is governance reform, not cosmetic tidying-up. When institutions require clear, consistent naming and origin disclosure, they move the system from “trust us” to “show us”.

2. Consumer Awareness: From Passive Eaters to Active Market Shapers

FAO’s second trigger — consumer awareness — speaks most directly to the seafood sector’s future. FAO explicitly recognizes that informed consumers can influence how food is produced, sourced and marketed.

In seafood, the appetite is already there. Consumers increasingly want to know:

» Is this fish legal?

» Where was it caught or farmed?

» Is it Australian or imported?

» Is it wild or farmed — and impact on shelf life?

Concern about seafood fraud, species substitution and IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) fishing is no longer confined to specialists. It is part of mainstream consumer consciousness.

The problem is not awareness; it is information failure. Consumers cannot reward well-managed fisheries or responsible aquaculture if the only information provided is “fish of the day” or a generic “battered fillet”. Environmental and health consciousness cannot be leveraged if labels and menus obscure rather than clarify.

FAO’s message is clear: consumer awareness only works if consumers are given usable, trustworthy information. This is where SCA’s long- standing advocacy — for standard names, clear origin labelling and truth in wild-caught versus farmed claims — becomes a practical expression of FAO’s global strategy.

1. Income and Wealth Distribution: Fair Value for Honest Fishers

FAO’s third trigger addresses income and wealth distribution — an area often overlooked in seafood debates. Fraud, mislabeling and IUU fishing are sometimes framed as consumer deception issues alone. They are not.

These practices directly harm:

» Commercial fishers who comply with quotas, reporting requirements and safety rules.

» Processors and retailers who in- vest in compliance and traceability.

» Communities dependent on legitimate fisheries.

Illegally or misleadingly marketed seafood undercuts honest operators, distorts prices and creates the false impression that legally caught seafood is “too expensive”. Over time, this erodes trust and demand across the entire sector.

Transparent, standardized labelling is one of the simplest ways to rebalance value. When species, origin and production method are clear, it becomes harder for non-compliant product to hide behind generic descriptions. That supports fairer returns for those who play by the rules — a point FAO’s income distribution trigger makes explicit.

From SCA’s perspective, consumer transparency is not just about informed choice; it is about market fairness.

1. Innovative Technologies: Traceability Consumers Can Actually Use

FAO’s fourth trigger focuses on in- novation — but with an important condition: new technologies must be accessible and inclusive, not just efficient for large players.

Seafood is already rich in traceability innovation:

» Digital catch documentation.

» Electronic logbooks.

» Blockchain pilots.

» DNA testing and verification tools.

Yet much of this innovation remains invisible to consumers. Traceability systems often serve regulators, auditors and corporate buyers, while shoppers and diners still see minimal information at the point of decision.

If FAO’s trigger is taken seriously, the next step is obvious: bring trace- ability to the front of the label. That could include:

» QR codes linking to verified spe- cies, origin and production data.

» Simple, standardized icons for key attributes.

» Clear, consistent digital records accessible on request.

Crucially, these systems must work for small-scale and Indigenous fishers, not exclude them through cost or complexity. Designing traceability that is both robust and inclusive is one of the sector’s biggest challenges — and one FAO has squarely put on the table.

From FAO’s perspective, governance is not credible unless it delivers transparency. For SCA, this reinforces a core message: standardized, enforceable seafood labelling is governance reform, not cosmetic tidying-up. When institutions require clear, consistent naming and origin disclosure, they move the system from “trust us” to “show us”.

What This Means for Seafood — and for Australia

Taken together, FAO’s four triggers send a powerful message:

» Transparency is foundational, not optional.

» Consumers are legitimate drivers of change.

» Fair markets depend on eliminating fraud.

» Technology must serve accountability, not just efficiency.

For the Seafood Consumers Association, this global framing strengthens our work in three ways. It aligns consumer-focused reform with UN- endorsed priorities. It reinforces that information is a governance and fairness issue, not a marketing extra. And it opens the door to collaboration — across industry, government and the supply chain.

FAO’s plan will not, by itself, stop a single mislabeled fillet. But it changes the narrative. Consumers are no lon- ger an afterthought; they are a trigger for transformation.

The task now is to turn that recognition into practice — building seafood systems that are transparent enough to earn trust, fair enough to reward honesty, and resilient enough to serve future generations.

That is a future worth working towards.

* Seafood Consumers Association www.seafoodconsumers.global

Aquaculture UK Gears Up for Largest Ever Exhibition in Glasgow

Edusehat — Mon, 25 May 2026 08:55:26 +0700

By: Aquaculture UK

The UK’s leading aquaculture show is gearing up for a bigger than ever exhibition this year as it prepares to launch at its new home in Glasgow.

With more than 250 exhibitors from over 20 countries already signed up, Aquaculture UK, to be held from June 16-17 at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), is expected to attract record crowds from across the country and around the world.

The biennial show’s move from its long-term base in Aviemore to Glasgow is proving to be popular with old and new exhibitors, providing more space and easier access, said Cheri Arvonio, event director at show organizer Diversified Communications.

“With three months to go still, the stage is set for an even more dynamic experience in what has become a highlight in the aquaculture sector’s calendar.”

“Our new base in Glasgow can offer better transport links, unlimited accommodation and legendary hospitality and our exhibitors are seizing the opportunity to reach new markets.”

“The whole team at Diversified is looking forward to a new-look show with all the familiar elements that have made Aquaculture UK such a success to date.”

The only event of its kind in the UK, the exhibition and conference bring together the entire aquaculture community to see first-hand the latest developments in the industry.

Joining national pavilions from Chile, Canada, and Denmark will be Norway, providing a platform for aquaculture pioneers such as Aquabyte, Tidal, Optoscale, Hoseth Technology, Aquapredict, OK Marine, Oceanbox, Sentec, Sensor-Globe, Lumic, Aqua-Service and Salsnes Filter.

Also new is the Ireland pavilion, featuring a broad cross-section of suppliers, including Nova Q, Seaquest, Killybegs Cluster, MMG, Celtic Sea Minerals, Ker Group, Mooney Boats, SNG, Aquamonitrix, and Impact9.

Among other first-time exhibitors, Aberdeen based Subsea Commercial Services will be showcasing its environmental DNA (eDNA) Automated Sampler, an autonomous system developed for marine and freshwater environments.

Salar Pursuits will offer updates on its Smoltscreen, a permeable lining for net pens that protects salmon against lice, jellyfish and algal blooms.

Underwater technology specialists Sonardyne will provide insights into the future of autonomous marine robotics and explore the potential for its tracking, navigation, command, control and communication systems in the aquaculture sector.

And marine engine suppliers Yamaha Motor Europe and Royston & Volvo Penta will be making their show debuts, as will Aquatic Now, Greenville, Golan Pipes Scandinavia, Seneye, Duguva, Akvapartner, and CRE & Hydro Group.

In the new Innovation Zone, Edinburgh Innovations will explore the most exciting ideas and technologies emerging from the University of Edinburgh, which produced MiAlgae, the start-up that makes fish-free omega 3 out of algae by repurposing whisky by-products.

The key suppliers that are the backbone of the sector will be out in force again, covering the spectrum of the supply chain, from feed to pharmaceuticals, and from biomass cameras to boats and barges.

Among the big names will be Inverlussa Marine Services, one of Scotland’s leading shipping companies; equipment suppliers Scale AQ, Gael Force Group, and Akva Group; pharmaceutical giants MSD Animal Health and Pharmaq; feed companies BioMar and Cargill; and the institute of Aquaculture, which has recently opened one of Europe’s most flexible and technically advanced research platforms for both RAS and flow-through systems.

As well as the exhibition, Aquaculture UK will host the Innovation Theatre, a launch pad for fledgling scientific and technical concepts and sector start-ups. And in the Keynote Theatre, a full conference program, to be announced soon, will examine the themes and challenges driving the aquaculture agenda.

The Aquaculture Awards, which celebrate the achievements of those working in the sector, will be presented at a gala dinner on Tuesday, June 16, at Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel.

Reflecting on two hectic days at the 2024 show, Lisa Glenday Murdoch of Aberdeen based Brimmond said: “Aquaculture UK is very much the right audience for us – all the people we would like to have a conversation with are here.”

NOTES

Aquaculture UK, which is free to attend, will be held at the SEC in Glasgow, Scotland, from June 16-17, 2026. Show opening times are: Tuesday June 16, 9.30am – 5pm; Wednesday June 17, 9.30am – 4pm.

For more information visit https://aquacultureuk.com/

GenoMar Strengthens Animal Welfare Through Partnership With FAI

Edusehat — Mon, 25 May 2026 08:55:22 +0700

By: GenoMar

GenoMar is strengthening its approach to animal welfare across all operations through a strategic partnership with FAI — a globally recognized organization with scientific expertise in animal welfare across multiple species and production systems.

A Science-Based Approach to Animal Welfare

FAI combines scientific knowledge with practical implementation experience across terrestrial and aquatic species. That expertise is now advancing welfare practices in tilapia production — an area where GenoMar is taking a leading role.

“FAI’s training and digital tools have been highly effective in implementing animal welfare standards across all our tilapia breeding and genetics operations. This drives stronger performance and more sustainable production,” says Marina Delphino, Fish Health & Quality Solutions Manager at GenoMar Genetics Group.

Training and Implementation: From Brazil to Asia

All GenoMar units in Brazil have completed training, building internal capacity around best practices in animal welfare. The next phase is already underway, expanding training and implementation across operations in Colombia and Asia — ensuring consistent standards across regions while respecting local realities.

Digital Tools Driving Continuous Improvement

The partnership also includes a digital tool for structured, continuous assessment of welfare indicators — helping teams identify opportunities for improvement and monitor progress over time. GenoMar’s participation is recognized on FAI’s public platform:

https://fai.academy/en/company-welfare-badges

**How GenoMar Monitors Animal Welfare**

Animal welfare is embedded into every stage of production at GenoMar. Using FAI’s assessment framework and digital tool, teams evaluate welfare conditions through practical, observable indicators across key areas such as:

Fish behavior — swimming patterns, responsiveness, signs of stress.
Physical condition — appearance, injuries, deformities, body condition.
Handling practices — grading, transfer, and crowding, conducted to minimize stress.
Environmental conditions — water quality and stocking densities.
Operational processes — consistency of routine management across teams and units.

Employees carry out these assessments through a standardized app that enables real-time data collection and scoring — letting GenoMar diagnose current conditions, track progress, and support data-driven decisions across all teams.

By embedding these practices into daily operations, GenoMar treats animal welfare as a continuous, measurable, and science-based process — aligned with its broader mission of responsible aquaculture and sustainable food production.

Advocates for Open Ocean Aquaculture Bring Facts, Food to Capitol Hill in Major MARA Act Fly-In

Edusehat — Mon, 25 May 2026 08:55:18 +0700

By Stronger America Through Seafood

As global demand for protein rises, advocates highlight need for federal legislation to expand domestic seafood production, drive jobs, and strengthen economies

Open ocean aquaculture advocates came to Washington, D.C., to highlight their solution for meeting the growing demand for sustainable protein. With U.S. wild-caught fisheries having reached their sustainable limit, seafood industry leaders made the case for a complementary approach to meeting rising consumer demand. Industry leaders joined coalition Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) for a legislative fly-in and seafood reception on Capitol Hill on May 13, educating Members of Congress and staff on the need to establish a clear legislative pathway for open ocean aquaculture in U.S. federal waters and the benefits of expanding domestic production.

“If the U.S. wants to keep up with countries like China, Indonesia, and India who are actively prioritizing and expanding their aquaculture industries, federal legislation is needed to establish a clear, coordinated framework for responsible expansion,” said Drue Banta Winters, campaign manager of SATS. “Now is the time for Congress to act on growing more American-raised seafood in a way that helps build dockside infrastructure for wild-catch fishermen and creates new opportunities for Americans across the entire seafood supply chain.”

The bipartisan Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act of 2025 (S.2586/H.R. 5746) would advance a science-based approach to the development of commercial-scale open ocean aquaculture farms in U.S. federal waters. Introduced in July 2025 by Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Representatives Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), Ed Case (D-HI-01), Kat Cammack (R-FL-03), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), the bill would strengthen America’s seafood industry and help increase domestic seafood production for families across the country.

The U.S. continues to fall further behind global competitors, currently ranking 20th in seafood production. The country imports most of its seafood, with roughly half sourced from overseas aquaculture. Due to overlapping environmental reviews across multiple agencies and the lack of a clear permitting framework, the U.S. does not currently have a single operating commercial-scale finfish farm in federal waters.

The MARA Act builds on years of bipartisan effort and is supported by a coalition of environmentalists, seafood industry leaders, award-winning chefs, and academics who all agree that America needs a way to responsibly expand domestic seafood production.

“We have the strongest bipartisan momentum for federal legislation to expand open ocean aquaculture in years, reflecting growing agreement that the U.S. must do more to sustainably produce more of its own seafood,” said Winters.

Participants in the SATS fly-in and seafood reception included Cargill, Innovasea, Sysco, and Zeigler Bros. The companies highlighted the significant benefits open ocean aquaculture would bring to communities nationwide. Coastal states would benefit from increased investment in port infrastructure and stronger working waterfronts, with more seafood flowing through their ports. Inland states would see growing demand for American farmers producing key fish feed ingredients such as soybeans, corn, peas, wheat, and barley. Across the country, open ocean aquaculture would create new jobs and support the seafood supply chain, from hatcheries and farms to equipment manufacturing, feed production, processing, and restaurants.

The MARA Act would:

Establish an assessment program to evaluate commercial-scale demonstration projects.
Create a dedicated Office of Aquaculture within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service to coordinate federal permitting for a U.S. aquaculture program.
Set clear timelines and establish a consolidated environmental review process during the permitting approval process.

“We know there are numerous priorities in front of Congress right now, and open ocean aquaculture should be among them. Our members came to Washington to ensure Congress recognizes and acts on the bipartisan legislation that sits before it. This needs to move forward this year, for the sake of our ecosystems, our farmers, and families who rely on sustainable protein to meet their dietary needs,” concluded Winters.

Producer Connect Workshops in Asia Strengthen Readiness for ASC Farm and Feed Standards

Edusehat — Mon, 25 May 2026 08:55:14 +0700

By: Aquaculture Stewardship Council

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) recently held two successful Producer Connect Workshops in Bangkok and Tokyo, with ASC experts supporting Asian producers and partners as they prepare for the transition to the new Farm Standard and Feed Standard.

Designed as practical, solutions-focused sessions, the workshops brought together producers, feed companies and supply chain partners to discuss and explore how ASC’s evolving requirements can be implemented effectively across Asia’s diverse aquaculture sector.

In Bangkok, more than 150 participants gathered for a full day of discussion, practical learning, and debate. In Tokyo, around 40 participants joined in person, with a further 100 participating online. Together, the workshops demonstrated the strong engagement and readiness of Asia’s aquaculture sector to help shape the future of ASC-certified production.

Delegates from 80 companies joined the Producer Connect Workshop in Bangkok, learning and sharing lessons about responsible seafood farming Turning standards into action ASC experts on environmental responsibility, animal welfare and feed production worked directly with producers to translate the standards’ requirements into practical next steps for farms and feed mills. Producers engaged directly with mock audit exercises, self-assessment tools, and case-based examples designed to support confident implementation on the ground.

The workshops also created an opportunity to discuss the practical challenges that producers in the region may face and to explore possible solutions with the ASC team during the transition period.

Koji Yamamoto, General Manager Japan & Producer Engagement Lead South-East Asia, said, “The energy and engagement we saw in Bangkok and Tokyo underline the critical role Asia’s producers will play in shaping the future of aquaculture. The workshops were about supporting producers and transforming standards into practical tools, and practical tools into real impact on farms and in feed mills. What stood out most was the openness to learn, to question, and to improve together. That is what meaningful progress in aquaculture looks like.

“There was a strong sense of shared direction. Producers and partners are not only adapting to new requirements—they are actively shaping how responsible aquaculture will evolve in the years ahead.”

Following excellent participant feedback, the Producer Outreach team is already planning the next Producer Connect workshop in Vietnam this September, further supporting the region’s transition toward the ASC Farm and Feed Standards.

Empowering Small-Scale Seafood Producers

During the Bangkok workshop, ASC also celebrated the successful completion of the AIP2ASC project, which helps farms progress toward responsible aquaculture and certification standards. In Indonesia, UD AGEL Kencana worked with JALA and Yayasan Sinergi Akuakultur Indonesia (YSAI), while in Thailand, Sa-nga Farm 2 partnered with Okeanos Food Company Limited and Thai Union Group. With support from the Improver Program by ASC, both farms successfully advanced to ASC certification.

Another key highlight was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between ASC, Laylanta Seafood Co. Ltd., and Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park to support small-scale seafood producers and promote responsible seafood production.

The partnership aims to improve barramundi cage culture in Songkhla Lake, Thailand, through the AIP2ASC framework under the Improver Program by ASC. The project began in the first quarter of 2026 and will run for three years, with the goal of achieving ASC certification and expanding responsible aquaculture practices across the wider area.

Learning Beyond the Room

The workshops extended beyond the conference setting for ASC team members through carefully selected site visits that brought the standards to life.

In Thailand, the team visited the Ranot feed mill, an ASC-certified facility operated by Thai Union, where social and environmental requirements are embedded into daily production. The team also visited Laylanta farm sites in Thailand, which are currently engaged in the Improver Program by ASC.

ASC Team Visits a Farm in Thailand

In Japan, visits to an ASC-certified coho salmon farm operated by Marukin and a certified feed mill, Nosan, in Miyagi prefecture offered a closer look at how responsible aquaculture is being implemented in diverse contexts.

ASC team members visiting Marukin Farm to engage with the producer and better understand the realities and challenges of responsible aquaculture

As ASC continues rolling out the Farm Standard and Feed Standard globally, the Producer Connect Workshops in Thailand and Japan highlighted the vital role Asia’s aquaculture sector will play in driving progress across the industry. By bringing together producers, feed companies and partners for practical learning, open discussion and shared problem-solving, ASC is helping build the knowledge, confidence and collaboration needed to support long-term improvement across the region. With further workshops and producer engagement activities planned across Asia, ASC remains committed to supporting the sector through every stage of the transition.

About the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

ASC is setting the standard for farmed seafood. www.asc-aqua.org

Bakkafrost Scotland Officially Opens Its Multi-Million-Pound Applecross Facility

Edusehat — Mon, 25 May 2026 08:55:10 +0700

The state-of the art development in Wester Ross is now the United Kingdom’s largest freshwater RAS

The Princess Royal of the United Kingdom (UK) has officially opened Bakkafrost Scotland’s multi-million-pound Applecross facility, marking a major step forward in sustainable Scottish salmon production. The state-of the art development in Wester Ross is the UK’s largest freshwater recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) and is central to the company’s ambition to become the most sustainable Scottish salmon producer.

The facility plays a pivotal role in Bakkafrost Scotland’s ‘one summer at sea’ production strategy, which allows salmon to spend longer growing in ideal controlled freshwater conditions before transferring to sea as larger, stronger smolt. According to the company, the approach is a gamechanger for salmon farming in Scotland, significantly reducing the time fish spend at sea and therefore reducing exposure to the natural challenges.

Ian Laister, managing director of Bakkafrost Scotland, said at the opening: “Applecross represents a significant long-term investment in the future of sustainable salmon farming in Scotland. It reflects our determination to become the most sustainable Scottish salmon producer, it demonstrates how innovation, animal welfare, engineering, renewable energy, and skilled local employment can come together in modern food production.”

Operating 24 hours a day, the Applecross site supports around 40 skilled permanent roles, including biology, veterinary, engineering, energy and technical operations. Employees worked closely with local and international specialists to design, build, and now operate the facility, developing new skills in RAS management, renewable energy integration, and advanced fish health monitoring.

Precise Control

During construction, Bakkafrost Scotland worked extensively with local and regional suppliers, contractors and haulers, supporting jobs across the Highlands and Islands and embedding local knowledge into the project. The company said collaboration with Scottish engineering, civil construction, and energy firms was critical to delivering the complex build in a remote rural location.

Using RAS technology, the Applecross facility provides precise control of water quality, temperature, and flow, enabling improved husbandry, enhanced smolt health screening, and more effective vaccination, supporting higher fish welfare standards. The site uses significantly less water than traditional hatcheries, with water continuously recirculated through filtration, oxygenation, disinfection, and natural biofilter systems.

It also includes a multi-million pounds waste to fertilizer conversion system, using UK first pyrolysis technology to transform sludge removed from the RAS process into biochar. This will be the first globally for use in aquaculture. The carbon-rich product can be used locally to improve soil quality for forestry, supporting more circular food systems and significantly reducing waste. The facility is powered directly by renewable energy, including on-site solar and hydro generation.

The Potential to Be a Real Gamechanger

As part of the Applecross development a 26 kilometers private wire was installed across the Beallach na Bà to connect the site directly to renewable hydro power. At the same time Bakkafrost Scotland invested in local road improvements, enhancing safety and accessibility with new passing places and signs, delivering lasting infrastructure benefits for the wider community.

“The ‘one summer at sea’ model has the potential to be a real gamechanger for the sector, improving survival, reducing biological challenges and making better use of natural resources. We were honored to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and proud to showcase the people, technology, and community partnerships behind this facility,” commented Laister during the event.

The Princess Royal was welcomed to Applecross by Managing Director Laister, before meeting employees from across the business, including biology, veterinary, engineering, and marine operations teams. She also met representatives from The Applecross Trust before unveiling a plaque to mark the official opening. She also learned how advanced technology is helping improve fish welfare, reduce environmental impact and support high-skilled rural jobs.

Minnesota and Texas Host National Aquaculture Leadership Academy

Edusehat — Mon, 25 May 2026 08:55:05 +0700

The academy is expected to train at least 60 aquaculture extension professionals from Sea Grant programs, Land Grant universities, and federal agencies

Minnesota Sea Grant and Texas Sea Grant programs announced they will co-host the Aquaculture Leadership Academy in 2026 and 2027 and bring together aquaculture extension professionals from across the United States (US) for separate weeklong training sessions in each state focused on freshwater and marine aquaculture systems. Support for the academy comes from a USD 350,000 award administered by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant.

Sea Grant’s Aquaculture Leadership Academy is designed to strengthen the national aquaculture workforce by helping early- and mid-career extension professionals build technical knowledge, leadership skills, and professional networks. Participants will engage directly with fish farmers, hatchery managers, seafood businesses, researchers, educators, and policy experts in both the Great Lakes and Gulf Coast regions.

“Minnesota may not be the first-place people think of when they hear the word aquaculture, but we have a growing and innovative industry that includes baitfish production, hatcheries, recirculating systems, aquaponics, and seafood businesses,” said Julia Grenn, Minnesota Sea Grant project lead and fisheries and aquaculture extension educator.

“This partnership with Texas Sea Grant allows participants to experience the diversity of aquaculture across the country while building relationships that will strengthen the industry nationwide,” she said.

Freshwater Aquaculture Systems

Programming in Minnesota will focus on freshwater aquaculture systems common in the Great Lakes region, including recirculating aquaculture systems, aquaponics, baitfish production, hatcheries, and seafood distribution. Participants will tour the Minnesota Sea Grant Aquaculture Lab at the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus, visit commercial aquaculture operations, learn about seafood processing and marketing, and take part in activities focused on extension education, communication, and leadership development.

Minnesota sessions will include tours and discussions with businesses and organizations including Minnesota Department of Natural Resources hatchery staff, commercial baitfish and aquaculture producers, seafood distributors, and University of Minnesota researchers. Participants also will receive training in media communication, graphic design, conflict resolution, aquaculture policy, and business development.

Saltwater Aquaculture

On the other hand, Texas Sea Grant will lead Gulf Coast programming focused on saltwater aquaculture, including oyster, shrimp, finfish, and seaweed production. Participants will tour hatcheries, seafood processing facilities, oyster farms, and marine research centers while learning about coastal aquaculture systems and seafood markets.

“Aquaculture’s future depends not only on what we grow in the water, but on the leaders we grow through collaboration, education, and shared experience across every region of the country,” said Texas Sea Grant Extension Director Chris Hale. “The Aquaculture Leadership Academy is building more than industry knowledge; it is building the relationships, leadership, and innovation needed to strengthen aquaculture communities across America. We are excited to welcome Extension professionals to Texas and Minnesota, yet even more so, we look forward to the impact these professionals will make after applying their knowledge and skills locally.”

Collaborative Strength

The project reflects the collaborative strength of the National Sea Grant network, which connects university-based programs across coastal and Great Lakes states to support research, education, and community engagement related to water resources and coastal economies. By combining the expertise of Great Lakes and Gulf Coast Sea Grant programs, the academy will expose participants to aquaculture systems and challenges that vary widely by region.

“This program demonstrates how Sea Grant programs work together across regions to solve problems and support emerging industries,” said Amy Schrank, Minnesota Sea Grant associate director, extension program leader and co-project lead. “Participants will leave with practical skills, new professional connections, and a broader understanding of how aquaculture supports communities and economies throughout the country.”

The academy is expected to train at least 60 aquaculture extension professionals from Sea Grant programs, Land Grant universities, and federal agencies. The long-term goal is to build a stronger national support network for aquaculture producers and coastal communities.

Minnesota Sea Grant has played a growing role in advancing aquaculture education and outreach in Minnesota and the Great Lakes region. Current efforts include leading the Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative, operating the Minnesota Sea Grant Aquaculture Lab in St. Paul, supporting aquaculture workforce development, conducting fish health and business training workshops, and developing resources like the FreshFishFinder.org website that connect consumers with regional seafood producers.

How Transportation Networks Help Keep Aquaculture Businesses Running

Edusehat — Fri, 22 May 2026 01:45:08 +0700

Aquaculture has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in global food production. From fish farms and shellfish operations to aquatic plant cultivation, aquaculture businesses play a major role in supplying seafood to restaurants, grocery stores, and consumers around the world.

While farming methods and sustainability often receive the most attention, transportation networks are just as important to the success of the industry. Without reliable logistics systems, aquaculture businesses would struggle to move equipment, supplies, harvested seafood, and maintenance materials efficiently between locations.

Strong transportation infrastructure helps these businesses maintain production schedules, protect product quality, and meet increasing consumer demand in competitive markets.

Moving Fresh Seafood Quickly

Fresh seafood needs to reach markets within strict timeframes to maintain quality and safety standards. Fish, oysters, shrimp, and other products often travel through several stages before reaching consumers, making efficient logistics essential throughout the process.

Transportation providers help maintain freshness by using refrigerated vehicles, coordinated shipping schedules, and carefully planned delivery routes. Temperature-controlled logistics systems are especially important because even small disruptions during transport can affect product quality.

Reliable transportation not only reduces waste but also helps aquaculture businesses maintain customer trust and deliver consistent products to retailers and restaurants.

Supporting Remote Aquaculture Operations

Many aquaculture farms are located in coastal or rural areas where infrastructure may be more limited. These remote locations often depend heavily on transportation services to stay connected with suppliers, distributors, and processing facilities.

Regular deliveries are essential for keeping operations running smoothly. Farms need consistent access to feed, water filtration supplies, nets, cages, fuel, and maintenance equipment. Delays in receiving these materials can affect production schedules and create operational challenges. Transportation networks allow remote aquaculture businesses to remain competitive despite geographic limitations.

Transporting Specialized Equipment

Modern aquaculture operations use a wide range of specialized equipment to maintain water quality, feeding systems, harvesting operations, and environmental monitoring.

Some of this equipment can be expensive, fragile, or difficult to transport, requiring careful logistical coordination. Pumps, filtration systems, storage tanks, and harvesting machinery may all need to be moved between facilities or delivered to remote farming sites.

Commercial transportation providers help businesses manage these logistical demands efficiently. Even industries outside seafood production contribute to broader transportation capacity, with services such as Sacramento car transporters supporting commercial logistics systems across multiple sectors.

Maintaining Cold Chain Integrity

Cold chain logistics are one of the most important parts of seafood transportation. Because seafood products spoil quickly when temperatures are not properly controlled, transportation companies play a major role in maintaining quality throughout delivery routes. Proper refrigerated transport systems help businesses meet food safety standards while reducing product loss and protecting brand reputation. Consistent temperature management also extends shelf life, allowing seafood to reach wider markets without sacrificing quality.

Helping Businesses Reach Larger Markets

Reliable transportation networks allow aquaculture businesses to expand beyond local markets and supply seafood to regional, national, and international customers. Without efficient logistics systems, many farms would struggle to compete on a larger scale. Transportation infrastructure supports export operations, wholesale distribution, restaurant supply chains, and grocery deliveries, helping businesses reach more consumers while growing their operations. Access to broader markets also increases seafood availability for consumers and helps support the continued growth of the aquaculture industry.

Final Thoughts

Transportation networks are essential to the success of modern aquaculture businesses. From moving equipment and supplies to delivering fresh seafood safely and efficiently, logistics systems support nearly every part of the industry.

Reliable transportation helps aquaculture companies maintain product quality, reduce delays, expand into larger markets, and improve operational efficiency. As global seafood demand continues to grow, strong transportation infrastructure will remain one of the key factors keeping aquaculture businesses productive, competitive, and connected to consumers around the world.

The post How Transportation Networks Help Keep Aquaculture Businesses Running first appeared on WorldWide Aquaculture.

Video

Edusehat — Thu, 21 May 2026 22:10:06 +0700

INCAR² Brings the World’s Leading Marine Epigenetics Meeting to Chile

Edusehat — Thu, 21 May 2026 18:35:03 +0700

By: The INCAR² Center

The INCAR² Center will host the Fourth International Symposium on Epigenetics in Marine and Aquatic Research (EPIMAR 2027), to be held in Puerto Varas, Chile, from May 25 to 28, 2027.

Puerto Varas, in the heart of Chilean Patagonia, will serve as the meeting point for researchers from around the world at EPIMAR 2027, an event that aims to become a global platform for advancing epigenetics and epigenomics in marine and aquatic systems.

Organized by the Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research – Applied Research (CIA-INCAR²), this symposium is the fourth edition of an international initiative that began in 2020 in Montpellier, France. Previous editions were held in Woods Hole, United States (2022), and Barcelona, Spain (2025). Now, Chile takes on the challenge of hosting this important international scientific event.

EPIMAR 2027 will bring together a global community of scientists interested in the epigenetic and epigenomic mechanisms that influence the biology, adaptation, health, and evolution of marine organisms. The symposium will include oral presentations and poster sessions addressing topics such as “Epigenetic responses to pollution and climate change,” “Environmental memory, adaptation, and inheritance,” “Integrating multi-omic data in marine systems,” “Emerging tools in marine epigenomics,” and “Epigenetics applied to aquatic resource management.”

The natural setting of Puerto Varas will provide an ideal environment for exchanging ideas, building collaborations, and discussing emerging challenges in marine epigenomics, particularly in the context of climate change, environmental stressors, and the sustainable use of aquatic resources.

The organizing committee comprises INCAR² Principal Investigator Dr. Valentina Valenzuela Muñoz; INCAR² Director Dr. Cristian Gallardo Escárate; and Associate Researcher Dr. Diego Valenzuela Miranda.

The Scientific Committee for EPIMAR 2027 is composed of an outstanding group of internationally recognized experts in marine sciences, epigenetics, and related fields. Members include Céline Cosseau (University of Perpignan, France); Enrico D’Aniello (Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italy); Noelia Díaz (ICM-CSIC, Spain); José María Eirin-López (Florida International University, USA); Cristian Gallardo (INCAR² and University of Concepción, Chile); Laia Navarro-Martín (IDAEA-CSIC, Spain); Francesc Piferrer (ICM-CSIC, Spain); Holie Putnam (University of Rhode Island, USA); Guillaume Rivière (University of Caen-Normandy, France); Steven Roberts (University of Washington, USA); Josep Rotllant (IIM-CSIC, Spain); Valentina Valenzuela (INCAR², UdeC, Chile) Diego Valenzuela (INCAR², UdeC, Chile); and Jérémie Vidal-Dupiol (IFREMER, France). Together, they bring extensive expertise and leadership to guide the scientific vision of the symposium.

The organizers invite researchers from universities, research centers, and industry who are interested in the epigenomics of marine organisms to actively participate in this symposium and contribute to the development of this rapidly expanding field.

For more information, visit the official EPIMAR 2027 website.

www.centroincar.cl/epimar2027

Pivotal Roles of Fish Nutrition and Feeding: Recent Advances and Future Outlook for Brazilian Fish Farming

Edusehat — Tue, 19 May 2026 08:55:06 +0700

By Aquaculture Magazine Editorial Team

As global aquaculture shifts toward ecological responsibility, Brazil’s nutritional strategies are evolving to reduce reliance on traditional fishmeal through the use of microalgae and plant-derived compounds. This articleexaminesrecentresearchonmacroalgaeandbioactivepeptides as pillars of a resilient production system. By prioritizing gut health and immune modulation, these advancements offer a sustainable framework for optimizing fish welfare and long-term environmental health.

Fish farming plays a central role in global aquaculture by generating employment, supporting economic growth, and enhancing food security.

As the sector expands, advances in aquafeed technology and the use of feed additives have become essential to improving fish growth, health and production efficiency.

Feed additives such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids ensure that diets meet the nutritional requirements of farmed fish, while growth promoters enhance performance and feed conversion. Functional additives including probiotics, prebiotics, phytobiotics and algae-based compounds. Strengthen the immune system, increase resistance to diseases, and improve survival rates. Some additives also reduce stress and enhance overall welfare, contributing to more stable production systems.

Enzymes play a role in improving digestion and nutrient absorption, reducing feed waste and increasing efficiency. Similarly, microalgae are promising alternatives to traditional fishmeal and fish oil, as they provide essential fatty acids, proteins, and bioactive compounds that support growth, immunity, and product quality.

Plant-derived compound, such as essential oils and herbal extracts, are increasingly used as natural alternatives to synthetic chemicals. These compounds improve growth, immune response, and disease resistance while promoting a healthier production environment.

Probiotics and prebiotics further enhance gut health and microbiota balance, leading to better nutrient utilization and increase resistance to pathogens. Their use has shown positive effects on survival, intestinal health, and immune responses in several fish species.

Overall, the development of functional and sustainable feeds is crucial for the future of aquaculture. Current research focuses on replacing conventional ingredients with natural and environmentally friendly alternatives, improving efficiency while reducing ecological impact. These innovations are particularly important in rapidly growing regions such as Brazil but are applicable to aquaculture systems worldwide.

Feed additives such as probiotics and phytobiotics are essential for modern aquaculture, strengthening the fish immune system and increasing resistance to pathogens. These functional compounds improve gut health and microbiota balance, leading to superior survival rates and more stable production environments.

Pivotal Roles of Feed in Fish Farming

Feed additives are essential components in aquaculture, used to improve feed quality, enhance fish health, and optimize production performance (Figure 1). These additives are classified according to their functions and mechanisms of action, playing a key role in sustainable and efficient fish farming.

Improved digestibility and nutrient absorption

Feed additives such as digestive enzymes significantly enhance nutrient utilization by breaking down complex compounds like proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. Enzymes including proteases, lipases, and carbohydrates improve digestion and compensate for limited endogenous enzyme production, particularly in juvenile fish. This leads to better feed efficiency, growth performance, and reduced waste.

For example, enzyme supplementation is species such as pirarucu improved growth and nutrient digestibility, while phytase enhances the utilization of plant-based ingredients. Similarly, protein hydrolysates from poultry liver and sardines have been shown to improve nutritional efficiency and productivity in various fish species.

Overall, improving digestibility results in optimized growth, lower feed costs, and reduced environmental impact, contributing to more sustainable aquaculture systems.

Increased immunity and health

Functional feed additives play a crucial role in enhancing fish immunity and overall health. Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus and Bacillus species, improve gut microbiota balance, nutrient absorption, and disease resistance by inhibiting pathogenic microorganisms and stimulating immune responses. Prebiotics further support beneficial bacteria, creating a favorable intestinal environment.

Immunomodulators, including essential fatty acids (EPA, DHA, and ARA), nucleotides. and plant extracts, regulate immune cell activity and improve resistance to infections. Organic acids contribute to pathogen control and improved digestion, while antioxidants such as vitamins A,D, and E, along with minerals like zinc and selenium, reduce oxidative stress andstrengthen immune function.

Bioactive peptides also enhance immune responses by activating immune cells and providing antimicrobial effects. Additionally, improve digestion through enzyme supplementation indirectly supports immune health by reducing physiological stress.

In summary, feed additives are fundamental to modern aquaculture, improving both nutritional efficiency and fish health. By enhancing digestion, boosting immunity and reducing environmental impact, they support more productive, resilient, and sustainable fish farming systems (Figure 1).

Macroalgae species, including Ulva and Gracilaria, are emerging as potent biotechnological tools due to their immunostimulant and growth-promoting properties. They serve as natural sources of carotenoids and essential amino acids, enhancing fillet quality and antioxidant responses in species like Nile tilapia.

NutritionalApproachesin Brazilian Marine Fish Farming

Nutritional strategies in Brazilian marine aquaculture have evolved to improve fish growth, health, and sustainability, particularly for economically important species such as mullet, snook, and sardines. Research shows that not all dietary additives are beneficial. For instance, guar gum and citrus pectin at higher inclusion levels negatively affected growth performance, nutrient composition, and feed intake in juvenile mullet, while also altering liver metabolism without improving communities. In contrast, citral supplementation enhanced growth, digestive enzyme activity, antioxidant responses, and survival in mullet and sardines, although it was not recommended for common snook.

Probiotics such as Bacillus subtilis demonstrated immunostimulant effects in snook, though without significant growth improvements. Organic salts, particularly sodium acetate, improved growth performance and reduced bacterial loads in fat snook, highlighting their potential as functional additives. Similarly, ascorbic acid supplementation improved reproductive parameters like sperm quality, even when growth was unaffected. Exogenous enzymes also showed promise by mitigating soybean mealinduced intestinal issues and enhancing nutrient utilization.

Marine ornamental fish production presents additional challenges due to reliance on wild capture, raising sustainability concerns such as overfishing and habitat damage, and specialized dietary requirements. Experimental diets and additives play a key role in addressing these issues. Thyroid hormones have been shown to accelerate metamorphosis, improve survival, and enhance development in species like clownfish and barber goby, although excessive doses can cause deformities.

Probiotics and enriched live feeds improved growth and survival in seahorses, especially when combined with microalgae or copepods. Carotenoids such as astaxanthin significantly enhanced pigmentation and immune function, with natural sources proving more effective than synthetic ones. Exogenous enzymes like pancreatin improved digestion, intestinal development, and growth performance in both seahorses and clownfish larvae. Organic acids contributed to better intestinal morphology and nutrient absorption, although their long-term effects require further study.

Microalgae emerged as a critical nutritional component, improving survival, growth, and fatty acid composition in larvae, while also serving as a sustainable alternative to traditional feed ingredients. Additionally, micronutrients such as iodine were essential for preventing physiological disorders like goiter in certain species.

Overall, advances in nutritional strategies, including functional additives and alternative feed sources, are essential for improving aquaculture productivity and sustainability while reducing dependance on wild populations.

Recent Advances for Feeding in Brazilian Fish Farming

In recent years, macroalgae have gained attention as a functional feeding strategy in aquaculture due to their nutritional, immunostimulant, antiviral, antibacterial, and growth-promoting properties. Studies on species such as Ulva ohnoi, Sargassum filipendula, Undaria pinnatifida, Chaetomorpha clavate, and Kappaphycus alvarezii have demonstrated positive effects on the growth and immunity of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei), suggesting similar potential benefits for fish. However, research on macroalgae use in fish diets remains limited in Brazil.

Costa and Miranda-Filho (2020) highlighted the importance of marine macroalgae as sources of carotenoids, which influence not only coloration but also growth, reproduction, and overall health in aquatic species. Experimental studies with fish show promising but nuanced results. For instance, Pontes et al. (2020) found that including 10% Ulva fasciate meal in juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) diets did not affect gastrointestinal transit, indicating it is a safe inclusion level. Similarly, Costa et al. (2013) reported improved feed conversion and carcass yield in tilapia when diets included 20 g Kg-1 of Ascophyllum nodosum.

In contrast, Mendonca et al. (2019) observed that while Gracilaria domingensis enhanced immune responses in juvenile mullet (Mugil liza) growth was negatively affected at inclusion levels above 10%. A 5% inclusion level was identified as optimal, improving immune competence without compromising growth. Fish fed macroalgae also showed increased levels of immune-related antibodies.

Macroalgae also influence physiological and biochemical parameters. Cian et al. (2019) found that Pyropia columbina improved antioxidant responses in juvenile pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), reducing oxidative stress markets without affecting growth. Meanwhile, Ulva fasciata supplementation in Seriola dordalis did not alter growth but improve fillet quality by increasing DHA and reducing linoleic acid content, along with changes in hematological parameters at higher inclusion levels.

Additionally, Ulva species may serve as natural sources of tryptophan phenylalanine, potentially reducing stress in fish farming systems (Calheiros et al., 2019). Overall, macroalgae show strong biotechnological potential as feed additives, enhancing fish health, immunity, and product quality, although further research is needed in Brazil.

Future outlook for nutrition and feeding in Brazilian fish farming

The future outlook for nutrition and feeding in Brazilian fish farming looks very promising. With the ongoing expansion of the Brazilian fish farming industry, there is anticipated to be a notable rise in research efforts and the introduction of new products to the market. The fish farming sector in Brazil is experiencing rapid growth, with investments being made in water resource management technologies and the development of specific diets for native species, which will help ensure the sector’s sustainability.

These prospects indicate a dynamic future with significant growth opportunities for fish farming in Brazil. Recent highlights of the Brazilian evolution in the search for sustainable alternatives for the aquafeed industry include feed additives such as citral, β-glucan-enriched complex, Ocimum basilicum essential oil, Bacillus spp and organic benzoic acid, propionic acid, Curcuma longa hydrolate and Lactobacillus plantarum, Inulin, Lippia sidoides essential oil, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus.

Despite the advancements in Brazilian research reported in this study, it is crucial to incorporate these advancements into the aquafeed industry to enhance the growth and sustainability of the sector. Quality ingredients are necessary for formulating fish diets, even though they can be costly. Proper selection of feed ingredients and additives is vital for the health and growth of fish. Nutrition for native species remains a challenge in the Brazilian aquaculture industry. Government support and targeted public policies for the fish feed sector could drive development and innovation. These challenges present obstacles, but also opportunities for innovation and expansion in the Brazilian fish feed industry.

This is a summarized version developed by the editorial team of Aquaculture Magazine based on the review article titled “PIVOTAL ROLES OF FISH NUTRITION AND FEEDING: RECENT ADVANCES AND FUTURE OUTLOOK FOR BRAZILIAN FISH FARMING” developed by:. Aline Brum, Caio Magnotti, Mônica Yumi Tsuzuki, Elen Monique de Oliveira Sousa, José Luiz Pedreira Mouriño, Maurício Laterça Martins. Rafael Garcia Lopes, Roberto Bianchini Derner and Marco Shizuo Owatari ─ Federal University of Santa Catarina. The original article was published on JANUARY, 2025, through FISHES. The full version, including tables and figures, can be accessed online through this link: https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10020047

Nutreco Expands Its Smart Shrimp Ecosystem

Edusehat — Tue, 19 May 2026 05:20:23 +0700

• Eruvaka’s expansion now spans 12 countries while their tools ensure USD 1.25 billion in harvest value

• The platform’s technology includes AI-based sonic feeding, automatic feeders, and water quality monitoring

The international company Nutreco has announced a major expansion of its smart aquaculture ecosystem. Its subsidiary, Eruvaka, that currently operates in 12 countries, helping aquaculture producers adopt smart solutions to increase productivity and reduce risk at commercial scale, and is still growing. The impact of their technological integration originated an enormous production volume in 2025: with approximately 370,000 metric tons of shrimp, with a market value of USD 1.25 billion, were farmed using the platform.

“Shrimp farming has become an AI- and data-driven business, and there is no room for error. Technology alone does not solve volatility. The real impact comes from integrating smart feeding systems with biological expertise, grower experience, feed formulation, and robust local advisory support. That ecosystem enables farmers to make faster, more informed decisions in challenging market conditions,” said Kunal Choudhary, CEO of Eruvaka.

Since Nutreco completed the acquisition of full ownership in 2023, Eruvaka has evolved from a technology provider into a globally integrated platform. It currently supports approximately 20,000 annual harvests, with more than 45,000 hectares of shrimp ponds managed through connected systems and over 60,000 smart feeding devices in operation.

Biomass Increases of Between 40% and 60%

According to them, while persistent price volatility continues to challenge shrimp producers worldwide, the platform represents one of the largest installed bases of smart feeding systems in the industry, reflecting a shift toward precision by producers seeking consistency in an unpredictable market.

In a landscape where pressure on margins is forcing many operations to reevaluate their models, Nutreco’s integrated approach has become a safeguard for profitability. In select markets, producers using the system have achieved biomass increases of between 40% and 60%. Coupled with improved feed efficiency, these operations have seen an increase in farm profits of between 20% and 40%.

It seems that also the environmental benefits are significant. Field studies demonstrated reductions in the carbon footprint of between 10% and 30% through optimized feeding practices. By combining real-time pond data with precise delivery, the system promotes stable conditions and greater farm reliability — factors critical to shrimp survival rates.

Strategic Importance of the Integration

Unlike standalone digital tools, Eruvaka’s technology — which includes AI-based sonic feeding, automatic feeders, and water quality monitoring — is integrated within the broader nutritional framework of Skretting (a Nutreco company). This allows the group to move beyond the simple deployment of equipment toward proactive farm optimization.

“For Skretting, the integration of Eruvaka demonstrates how we are evolving as a business. By bringing together digital innovation, nutrition expertise, producer experience, and local advisory support, we empower farmers with better knowledge, create a measurable impact on performance and sustainability, and help maintain resilient aquaculture systems in the long term,” commented Maarten Bijl, CEO of Skretting.

Proactive Farm Optimization

Eruvaka was founded in 2012 by Indian entrepreneur Sreeram Raavi. The company’s products allow farmers to actively monitor pond parameters and remotely control automated equipment. This significantly reduces farming risk and increases feed efficiency, shrimp growth and farm profitability.

Nutreco first partnered with Eruvaka in 2018, and this continued expansion reinforced its long-term commitment to the ‘feed-to-farm’ value chain. “By combining AI innovation with nutritional science, Nutreco is enabling a global shift from reactive support toward proactive farm optimization, strengthening the resilience of the global shrimp supply,” they say.

Since then, Nutreco‘s aquaculture division Skretting is working directly with Eruvaka to implement the latest in precision farming technology, firstly in Latin America and then in Asia.

New Country, Growing Impact: First ASC-Certified Feed Mills in Venezuela

Edusehat — Tue, 19 May 2026 05:20:17 +0700

By Aquaculture Stewardship Council

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) continues to see building global momentum for its Feed Certification Program, with the first two ASC-certified feed mills in Venezuela.

Agropecuaria Nivar became the country’s first ASC-certified feed mill, quickly followed by Proparca who achieved certification soon after – both producing shrimp feed. This milestone signals growing demand for more sustainable aquafeed in the region, with Venezuelan feed mills now certified to supply ASC-conforming feed and marking further progress for Latin America, a key hub in the global shrimp supply chain.

More than 130 feed mills are now in the ASC Feed Program worldwide. With ASC-certified farms required to use ASC-conforming feed, expanding supply is critical to enabling the continued growth of responsible aquaculture.

Marcos Moya, Outreach Lead at ASC, said, “We congratulate both Agropecuaria Nivar and Proporca for achieving ASC Feed Certification. By choosing the most robust and transparent certification in aquafeed manufacturing, they demonstrate their commitment to environmental and social responsibility.”

A representative from Agropecuaria Nivar added, “For Grupo Nivar, ASC Feed Mill certification represents validation of our commitment to responsible feed production, product traceability, and aquaculture sustainability. This achievement reinforces our vision of adding value to our customers and to the development of the aquaculture sector in Venezuela.”

Agropecuaria Nivar team presented with ASC Feed Certificate at SEG 2026

Proporca’s spokesperson concluded, “Achieving certification under the ASC Feed Standard is a source of great pride and a milestone that goes beyond operational excellence. This international recognition validates our commitment to producing aquaculture feed in line with the most stringent standards of traceability, environmental responsibility and social commitment. It’s a key step in our growth strategy.”

“By aligning with world-class standards, we not only strengthen the trust of our business partners but also ensure that the shrimp industry has access to inputs that support its own certification and long-term sustainability. This achievement reaffirms our vision: to lead with quality, act with transparency, and produce responsibly for the future of food.”

Momentum is building in the region: two additional feed mills in Venezuela are already in audit for ASC Feed Certification.

About the ASC Feed Standard

The ASC Feed Standard is the first of its kind to set binding global requirements for all feed ingredients – from fishmeal and fish oil to plant-based ingredients such as soy, palm oil, and wheat. Companies must demonstrate that these are sourced from responsibly managed fisheries or sustainable agricultural sources.

About the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

The ASC label on pack showcases ASC-certified farms and feed mills — impact-focused and transparent operations delivering measurable and verifiable change. They meet science-based, rigorous requirements that foster accountability and trust across the seafood value chain, from feed ingredients to farm to fork.

ASC is an independent non-profit organization setting the global standard for responsible farmed seafood. Our comprehensive environmental and social requirements drive continuous improvement in aquaculture practices.

ASC is advancing the leading certification program for responsible farmed seafood, partnering to increase demand for ASC-labelled products, and championing innovation through industry collaboration.

Find out more: www.asc-aqua.org

Aquaintech Marks 30 Years as a Global Leader in Sustainable Aquaculture Solutions

Edusehat — Tue, 19 May 2026 05:20:12 +0700

By Aquaintech

Aquaintech today celebrates 30 years of advancing sustainable aquaculture through its Bacillus– based microbial solutions designed to improve water quality and support resilient, high-performance aquatic farming systems worldwide.

Since its founding in 1996, Aquaintech has grown from a specialized water quality innovator into a global biotechnology company focused on practical, biology-driven solutions for aquaculture. Over three decades, the company has built a strong reputation for delivering field-proven microbial solutions in tablet, powder, and liquid formats that help farmers maintain stable, productive, and sustainable aquatic environments.

Today, Aquaintech is the largest supplier of aquaculture microbial solutions in Ecuador, with a growing international presence across Vietnam, Mexico, India, New Caledonia, and other markets. The company supports diverse shrimp and fish farming systems operating under a wide range of environmental conditions.

At the core of its portfolio are Bacillus-based products widely used to support microbial balance, improve water stability, and enhance system resilience across pond-based aquaculture systems, shrimp and fish farms, and hatchery environments.

Aquaintech also offers customized formulations and private-label solutions developed in close collaboration with farmers and industry partners. These solutions are tailored to specific regional conditions, species requirements, and operational challenges, reflecting the company’s customer- centric approach to real-world aquaculture needs.

“As we mark 30 years, our focus remains on delivering practical, science-based solutions that directly address farmer challenges,” said Dr. Newman, CEO and Founder of Aquaintech. “Our strength lies in combining proven Bacillus technologies with the ability to adapt formulations to local conditions and customer requirements.”

Looking ahead, Aquaintech is focused on expanding its global presence, diversifying into new aquaculture markets, and strengthening its leadership in sustainable microbial water quality solutions.

About Aquaintech

Aquaintech is a global aquaculture solutions company founded by Dr. Newman, specializing in Bacillus-based microbial technologies for water quality management. With operations across multiple international markets, the company provides field-proven, customizable solutions that support sustainable and productive aquaculture systems worldwide.

Dr. Newman is also a contributor to several leading aquaculture industry publications, reflecting his ongoing engagement with applied aquaculture science and industry knowledge sharing.

The Norwegian Cod Farming Company Ode Acquires Mowi Facility in Vanylven

Edusehat — Tue, 19 May 2026 05:20:06 +0700

• **Some weeks before, they acquired Lumarine, that currently operates the largest juvenile cod production facility in the country**

The Norwegian cod farming company Ode just announced that has entered into an agreement to acquire Mowi’s facility in Vanylven, Norway. They reported that Mowi will continue operating the facility through the summer with its current stock of ballan wrasse. After that, Ode will take over the facility and its employees and convert the operations to cod juvenile and broodstock production.

“Ode is a strong player in cod farming and will further develop the facility in a responsible and sustainable manner,” said Regional Director Asgeir Hasund of Mowi Norway.

For his part, Ode CEO Ola Kvalheim commented: “The company has a strong need for increased onshore capacity, and Sighaug fits perfectly into our portfolio with its skilled and experienced employees, proximity to several of Ode’s farming sites, and opportunities for further development and investment.”

Without Interruption

Kvalheim emphasized that Ode sees Sighaug as an important facility in the company’s value chain for farmed cod. The facility, together with several of its employees, has previously produced cod juveniles with very strong results.

“We are confident that we can build on what Mowi has developed over the past years. The facility can easily be converted back to cod and is well suited for both juvenile and broodstock production. Together with Mowi, we are immediately starting the process of applying for a change of species approval to cod. We hope for a swift process with the relevant authorities so that operations can resume without interruption in activity,” assured Kvalheim.

According to Mowi’s Regional Director Hasund, they “are pleased to have found a good solution for the facility and its employees. This will ensure continued operations in Vanylven,” he said while he also thanked the facility’s employees for their efforts over many years, and especially for their work in recent times.

Euronext NOTC-Listed Seafood Company Lumarine

Some weeks before the announcement, Kistefos-controlled Holding Akvaservice, together with shareholders representing more than 90% of the shares, entered into an agreement to sell their shares to Ode. The remaining shareholders have been offered the opportunity to sell their shares on the same terms. Lumarine currently operates Norway’s largest juvenile cod production facility at Tjeldbergodden in Aure municipality, also in Norway. The facility produced approximately 1,500 tons of juvenile cod last year.

Ode and Lumarine have worked closely together since 2022, and the acquisition represents an important step in Ode’s continued development as a leading and fully integrated producer of farmed cod, they highlighted.

The company plans to invest significantly in further modernization and scaling of production to 5,000 tons of juvenile cod by 2027. Such capacity will be necessary to support a potential annual production volume of around 100,000 tons of market-size cod within the next five years.

“We are very pleased to announce this acquisition. We know Lumarine, the organization, and the facility well after a very successful collaboration over the past five years. Bringing this fully into Ode is a natural and strategically sound step for us. It represents a key milestone in strengthening our fully integrated value chain for cod production,” said Kvalheim.

Through this acquisition, Ode is laying the foundation for future growth and a clear modernization and professionalization of juvenile cod production. Lumarine has significant potential for further development and expansion beyond the 5,000 tons planned after the acquisition. According to them, Ode looks forward to further developing the strong professional environment at Tjeldbergodden and strengthening cooperation with the local community in Aure.

“We look forward to fully integrating the organization and production into Ode. This provides greater predictability, allows us to invest in improved biological control, and strengthens our ability to deliver even better juvenile fish in the future. At the same time, we are welcoming highly skilled employees who already have extensive experience with cod juvenile production and who know Ode and our way of working through the long-standing cooperation between the companies,” finished Kvalheim.

Lumarine’s juvenile cod production uses a flow-through system in which seawater is heated through heat exchange with surplus heat from local industry. This enables a highly sustainable production model with low biological and technological risk. Experience with cod production since 2022 has been positive and provides a strong foundation for further development under Ode.

83% of Feed Samples Show Multi-Mycotoxin Contamination

Edusehat — Mon, 18 May 2026 07:50:14 +0700

By dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health

New dsm-firmenich data reveals rising co-contamination risks across global feed Supply and escalating threat to food security

dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health has released the results of the World Mycotoxin Survey from January to March 2026, highlighting a sharp rise in multi-mycotoxin contamination across feed ingredients worldwide.

Analysis of 4,465 samples from 66 countries shows that 83% of samples contain 10 or more mycotoxins, with an average of 21 mycotoxins and metabolites per sample. The findings underline a shift from single-toxin to complex co-contamination risks, increasing pressure on feed safety, animal performance, and food production systems.

4,465 samples were collected and analyzed from 66 countries around the world, resulting in 26,751 analyses.

Mycotoxins are naturally produced by the fungi that can contaminate feed raw materials in the field and during storage. When ingested by animals, mycotoxins have a wide range of negative effects such as impaired reproduction, digestive disorders, carcinogenicity, and reduced performance.

Key findings

Co-contamination is widespread: 83% of samples contained 10 or more mycotoxins.

Fusarium toxins dominate globally: 9 out of 10 samples were contaminated.
In North America, livestock and aquaculture face extreme to high risk of exposure to B-Trichos, FUM, and ZEN, with occurrence rates of 83%, 57%, and 79%, respectively.
In Central and South America, high risk is associated with FUM and ZEN, with average contamination levels of approximately 2,411 ppb and 81 ppb, respectively.
South Asia continues to face high to extreme risk of exposure to aflatoxins, B-Trichos, FUM, OTA, and ZEN, with 51–75% classified as high risk and 76–100% as extreme risk.
In the China/Taiwan region, FUM was detected in 93% of samples, while East Asia recorded a 91% occurrence rate and extreme prevalence of B-Trichos at 96%.
In Central and Southern Europe, B-Trichos shows high occurrence rates of 91% and 94%, respectively. Southern Europe is also experiencing challenges with high levels of FUM, detected in 97% of samples.

These results highlight the need for comprehensive multi-analyte testing and targeted mitigation strategies to address the growing complexity of contamination patterns.

Ursula Hofstetter, Head of Mycotoxin Risk Management at dsm-firmenich stated, “These latest findings once again highlight the widespread and persistent nature of mycotoxin contamination in feed ingredients across the globe. With risks continuing to pose a threat to animal welfare, productivity, and sustainability. Therefore, proactive risk management and regular monitoring are more important than ever to maintain the profitability of both the feed industry and animal protein production sectors.”

The survey also includes further details on:

Trends in mycotoxin occurrence over the years.
Prevalence levels for each mycotoxin in each region.
Global and local risk levels for each mycotoxin.
Risk levels posed to each species.
Comparison of prevalence levels from January-December 2024.
Insights on mycotoxin levels in grains and soy from major producing countries.
More information about Spectrum 380®, the most advanced mycotoxin analysis method used as a research tool and performed at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU).
Overview on the occurrence of the most frequent mycotoxins, their masked and modified forms as well as emerging mycotoxins; based on results delivered by the most comprehensive commercially available multi-mycotoxin method, Spectrum Top®50.

About the Survey

Since 2004, dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health has analyzed thousands of global feed samples annually to understand and monitor contamination levels of the different mycotoxins in a variety of feed ingredients. This information is shared in the quarterly dsm-firmenich World Mycotoxin Survey, which accurately identifies mycotoxin risks based on animal species and location.

Effective mycotoxin risk management should include frequent testing along with a multi-strategy mitigation approach.

To download to the dsm-firmenich World Mycotoxin Survey from January to March 2026, follow the link here.

About dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health

www.dsm-firmenich.com/ANH

Texas Aquaculture Association Endorses Nate Sheets for Texas Agriculture Commissioner

Edusehat — Mon, 18 May 2026 07:50:10 +0700

By The Texas Aquaculture Association

The Texas Aquaculture Association (TAA) is proud to announce its endorsement of Nate Sheets for Texas Agriculture Commissioner, citing his strong commitment to supporting Texas agriculture, rural communities, and the future of aquaculture in the state.

“As Texas agriculture continues to evolve, it is critical to have leadership that understands the importance of all sectors of our industry, including aquaculture,” said Brian Brawner, President of the Texas Aquaculture Association. “Nate Sheets recognizes the value of aquaculture to Texas’ economy, food supply and rural communities, and we believe he will be a strong advocate for producers across the state.”

The Texas aquaculture community contributes to food production, economic development and sustainable resource management throughout Texas. TAA members include producers of shrimp, oysters, redfish, catfish, tilapia, hybrid striped bass, crawfish, baitfish, sport fish and ornamental fish, as well as pond and lake managers, suppliers, researchers, students and other industry partners dedicated to advancing aquaculture and seafood production in the state.

TAA board members noted that Sheets’ focus on innovation, market development, regulatory consistency, research support, responsible resource management and rural economic growth aligns closely with the priorities of the Texas aquaculture industry. His sincere interest in ensuring the future of aquaculture has been demonstrated by his visits with TAA members, including most recently touring multiple farms in Palacios to learn more about its importance in Texas.

“We are proud to endorse Nate Sheets for Texas Agriculture Commissioner and look forward to working with him to strengthen opportunities for Texas agriculture and aquaculture,” Brawner added.

For more information about the Texas Aquaculture Association, please visit https://texasaquaculture.org.

About the Texas Aquaculture Association

The Texas Aquaculture Association is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and advancing the aquaculture industry in Texas through education, advocacy, and collaboration among producers and industry partners.

LACQUA 2026: Sustainable Aquaculture, Blue Future for Latin America and the Caribbean

Edusehat — Mon, 18 May 2026 07:50:05 +0700

By LACQUA 2026 Organizing Committee

The Latin American and Caribbean Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (LACC-WAS), together with the Government of El Salvador, the Salvadoran Blue Economy Authority (ASEA), with the support of the Salvadoran Tourism Corporation, and strategic partners from the regional aquaculture sector, have joined efforts to organize the Latin American and Caribbean Aquaculture Congress – LACQUA 2026, which will take place from October 27–30, 2026 in San Salvador, El Salvador.

LACQUA 2026 will bring together experts on globally relevant topics for the development, sustainability, and growth of aquaculture in Latin America and the Caribbean. It will also feature one of the most important trade shows in the region, offering a wide range of supplies, technologies, and services for the sector.

This congress is established as a key platform for the exchange of knowledge, innovation, and experiences among researchers, students, producers, companies, government institutions, and international organizations.

The main thematic areas will include:

Aquatic species culture (fish, shrimp, and other species)
Production systems (RAS, biofloc, aquaponics, IPRS, cages)
Sustainable aquaculture and environment
Health, diseases, and immunology
Physiology, genetics, and biotechnology
Nutrition and feeding
Processing, economics, and climate change
Education and professional development
Women in aquaculture

Additionally, the congress will include technical meetings and networking spaces to promote regional and international collaboration.

The abstract submission system is now open, with a deadline of July 31, 2026:
https://www.was.org/Meeting/Abstract/Submit/LACQUA26

All submissions will be peer-reviewed, and accepted papers will be published in the official conference proceedings. More details regarding key dates and submission guidelines will be announced soon.

Further information on the program, registration, sponsorship, and trade exhibition will be shared in upcoming bulletins.

We look forward to your participation!

Consumers Trust – Dealing With Fraud

Edusehat — Thu, 14 May 2026 06:30:04 +0700

* By FishProf

FishProf has been studying the Association for Consumer Research (ACR) reports regarding seafood and the impacts of fraud on consumer trust.

ACR brings together researchers from universities, government, and industry to deepen understanding of everyday decision-making, including how culture, identity, and context shape what ends up on our plates. For seafood, that means behavioral studies on trust, labeling, risk perception, and “healthy but scary” proteins help explain why people say they like seafood but still under-buy it or avoid it at home.

Key seafood-relevant insights emerging for FishProf — three strands of consumer-research literature that align closely with ACR’s broader agen-da are especially relevant for seafood consumers:

Health is still number one, but “seafood” feels intimidating. Large-scale retail and consumer-trends reports (e.g., FMI’s Power of Seafood series) show that most consumers see seafood as healthy and nutritious, yet many still view it as expensive, complex, or hard to prepare. This “perception vs. practice” gap is exactly the kind of behavioral puzzle consumer researchers interrogate, and it points to a need for clearer in-store guidance, simple recipes, and better price-signaling at the seafood counter.

Transparency and trust drive, but don’t always follow. Evidence from sustainability-label research shows that consumers want to buy responsibly farmed or produced seafood, yet they often fail to act on that intention unless clear, trusted labels are visible on pack. Behavioral work on attention, nudges, and “smart defaults” suggests that well-designed certification labels and simple provenance cues can help seafood consumers align their values with what they actually purchase.

Plant-based and novel “sea-food-not-from-the-sea” is gaining attention. Recent behavioral studies on plant-based seafood alternatives examine how consumers respond to ingredient information, processing, and labels, and they find that more informed consumers are more likely to accept plant-based options. As these products enter mainstream seafood aisles, ACR-style research helps clarify whether consumers are switching because of taste, health, or environmental concerns — and how best to communicate that in a way that supports honest choice.

Substitution often involves products from poorly managed fisheries with higher environmental impacts and lower safety profiles. Non-specific labels like “white fish” correlate with higher mislabeling rates, undermining the viability of sustainable, responsibly farmed options.

FMI’s USA’s consumer insight work is especially relevant when layered with evidence on fraud in weights, substitution, and mislabeling. Mislabeling changes not just what consumers think they are eating, but what they actually support in terms of fisheries, habitats, and management practices.

Studies of seafood fraud find that substitutes often come from less managed fisheries, with higher environmental impacts and sometimes lower nutritional or safety profiles than the named species.

In Australia, researchers have shown that over one in ten seafood products mislabeled and that vague, nonspecific labels (e.g., “white fish” or broad umbrella terms) correlate with higher mislabeling rates and weaker consumer choice for sustainable options.

From a consumer behavior perspective, even occasional fraud can erode trust. If people suspect that what is on the label may not match what is on the plate, they are more likely to:

» Avoid seafood altogether,

» Default to familiar, generic products (e.g., “frozen fillets”), or

» Rely on brand or retailer reputation rather than the label or species name.

Seafood fraud extends beyond deception to serious safety risks, potentially exposing consumers to undeclared allergens, toxins, and pathogens. Fraudulent claims regarding origin or production methods disadvantage legitimate operators and distort fair market competition.

This undercuts the very “empowerment” FishProf believes the industry should be advocating for: consumers want to vote with their wallets for sustainable, safe, and fairly priced seafood, but fraud and opaque labelling turn that vote into a lottery.

Strengthened, mandatory labelling standards and clearer taxonomic information would not only cut fraud but also make the FMI style value and convenience strategies more effective by giving consumers a straighter line between what they see on the pack and what they get on the fork.

The United Nations Fisheries & Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) are following through on their recent Technical Paper 742 ‘Fraud in the Fisheries & Aquaculture Sectors’ by organizing a webinar on 17 June 2026. This is being organized by FAO’s primary market intelligence and analysis platform for fisheries and aquaculture, FAO GLOBEFISH. It will examine how market demand, price incentives, and supply-chain complexity interact to enable fraudulent practices, and what governments, industry, retailers, researchers, and standard-setting bodies are doing to address them.

SAVE THE DATE Wed 17 June 2026 – 1000 EU Central time 2 hours – UN FAO Webinar on SEAFOOD FRAUD – free event but you will need to register. This will be recorded and a follow-up report will be issued.

They say “The global fisheries and aquaculture sector operates at a scale that makes it structurally vulnerable to fraud. Aquatic product output exceeded 185 million tons in 2022, with trade spanning more than 230 countries and territories and a combined value of USD 195 billion. The breadth of species in commerce, the length and opacity of international value chains, and the multiplicity of inspection and control authorities create conditions in which fraud can persist relatively easily. The scope of the problem and the forms it takes illegal behaviors, counterfeiting, adulteration, dilution, mislabeling, false claims relating to origin or production method leading to unreported/ unregulated activities and species substitution.

Why do consumers value sustainability yet hesitate at the seafood counter?
The answer lies in the behavioral “perception vs. practice” gap fueled by fraud and confusing labeling. This document examines how species substitution and “label fatigue” impact purchasing decisions. By simplifying certifications and using explainable on-pack cues, retailers can bridge the trust gap and empower consumers to buy with confidence.

Can you determine the species when the fish is filleted and skinned?

Up to 20 percent of fisheries and aquaculture products may be mislabeled globally, with fraud particularly prevalent in processed products, restaurants, and catering services, where visual identification is difficult, and species identity can be concealed.”

Are Seafood Certifications Helpful or a Confusing Maze?

FishProf thinks the proliferation of eco-labels and sustainability certifications raises a critical question for consumers: do these labels help or confuse?
Research on seafood eco‑labels suggests that while many consumers like the idea of sustainability schemes, they are often overwhelmed by inconsistent terminology, overlapping standards, and conflicting “green” claims. For example, different schemes may:

» Use different data sets,

» Hold divergent views on particular fishing methods, or

» Exclude certain species‑and‑gear combinations without making that logic transparent.

With aquatic output exceeding 185 million tons across 230 territories, the sector is structurally vulnerable to counterfeiting. Estimates suggest up to 20% of global products are mislabeled, especially in processed goods and catering services.

This can lead to situations where one product carries multiple labels, another has none despite being responsibly sourced, and a third carries a single, hard-to-interpret symbol. The result is not just confusion but a risk of “label fatigue”: consumers either ignore all labels or default to the most familiar brand, regardless of what the certification actually means. From a consumer-advocacy standpoint, there are three clear priorities:

» Simplify and harmonize. Where possible, certification schemes should align around core principles (e.g., stock status, management effectiveness, bycatch, and social safeguards) and avoid unnecessarily diverse scoring or “traffic-light” systems that are hard to read at the fish counter.

» Mandate minimum disclosure. Even where voluntary labels coexist, governments can require basic, non-confusing information on species, origin, and method — so that consumers can compare, even if they do not fully under-stand every logo.

» Make labels “explainable.” On-pack quick-scan cues (QR codes, short web links, or aisle-end signage) can turn busy-time decisions into moments of learning, helping consumers move from “I don’t know what this means” to “I can trust this”.

Seafood fraud erodes consumer empowerment and industry growth. When labels are inaccurate, consumers avoid seafood or default to generic products. Mandatory labeling standards are essential to restore market confidence and align values with behavior

Consumers cheated by retailers. The Dory on offer here in a Queensland fishmonger shop is actu-ally Basa likely from Viet Nam. The problem is it should be sold as Basa… not Dory.

The proliferation of sustainability certifications creates “label fatigue” through inconsistent terminology. To benefit consumers, certification schemes must align around core principles and use digital tools like QR codes to ensure transparency and explainability.

This has not been done as clearly certifiers have created a business between the harvesters/producers and the consumer. Profits are being made and despite past promises there is no plan to create one standard that would make decisions easier for consumers.

FishProf will go as far as saying that confusion is what the certifiers and NGO’s desire as this creates opportunity. Governments are letting their industries and their consumers down by allowing for environmental sustainability to be driven by organizations outside their own countries.

For FishProf, the key insight is that consumer-research and retail-strategy work (like FMI’s Power of Seafood series) must be paired with stronger rules on fraud and standardization in certification. Otherwise, even the most behaviorally informed supermarket layout or digital campaign will be undermined by a market where consumers cannot reliably trust what they see on the label — and that is not a choice-friendly system at all.

References and sources consulted by the author on the elaboration of this article are available under previous request to our editorial staff.

Meet CAT at World Aquaculture Singapore 2026

Edusehat — Wed, 13 May 2026 23:25:08 +0700

June 2–5 | Booth 211

The CAT team is heading to Singapore for World Aquaculture 2026, where we’ll be sharing the latest in genetic innovation and insights into how our tailored breeding solutions are driving value, supporting sustainability, and helping our clients achieve long-term breeding success.

Chat to us about our full range of services, including our integrated Next-Gen Breeding approach that combines genome editing, genotyping, and selective breeding.

We’re looking forward to reconnecting with partners and meeting new producers to explore what’s next and showcase how our solutions accelerate genetic gain and deliver more consistent, profitable outcomes.

Join us at one of our talks or stop by Booth 211.

CAT Talks at World Aquaculture 2026

We’ll be presenting in sessions across all three days:

MATT KRAMER
Genome Editing for High-Value Traits in Commercial-Scale Breeding Programs
Session: Genomics, Omics and Aquaculture Biotechnology
Date: Wednesday, June 3

OSCAR HENNIG
Local Genetics, Global Impact: What We Can Learn from Ecuador
Session: Shrimp Breeding, Genetics and Seed Production
Date: Thursday, June 4

PANAGIOTIS KOKKINIAS
Utilizing Advanced Genetic Improvement Tools to Maximize Returns in Finfish Species
Session: Selective Breeding and Quantitative Genetics
Date: Friday, June 5

DEBBIE PLOUFFE
Genome Editing in Aquaculture: Global Regulatory Trends and the Path to Commercialization

Session: General Contributed Session
Date: Thursday, June 4

Visit Us at Booth 211

Between sessions, stop by Booth 211 to meet the team and talk through your breeding goals and challenges. Whether that’s exploring which genotyping tools deliver the most value, looking to start a new breeding program, or wanting to understand which traits can be targeted by integrating genome editing, we’re here to help.

See you there.

The post Meet CAT at World Aquaculture Singapore 2026 appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Center for Aquaculture Technologies Expands Global Breeding Team with New Quantitative Geneticist in Australia

Edusehat — Wed, 13 May 2026 23:25:07 +0700

Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) continues to grow its global genetics team with the appointment of Dr. Iulia Blaj as Quantitative Geneticist, based in Australia.

The addition of Dr. Blaj strengthens CAT’s expanding breeding and genetics services team as demand continues to grow for advanced aquaculture breeding solutions worldwide.

In her new role, Dr. Blaj will advance data analysis across CAT’s breeding partners, helping design and evaluate statistical and genomic models that translate complex data into practical breeding decisions for clients.

CAT currently manages more than 20 breeding programs globally across a wide range of aquatic species. Supported by a growing portfolio of 50+ genotyping and sequencing tools, CAT helps producers improve disease resistance, growth, robustness, and long-term sustainability through tailored breeding strategies designed by each client’s goals.

Dr. Blaj brings extensive expertise in quantitative genetics and statistical genomics, with experience spanning both academia and industry across livestock and plant breeding sectors.

Commenting on her appointment, Dr. Blaj said:“Genomics is one of the most powerful tools the aquaculture industry has to shape its future. By integrating the right methods with meaningful and rigorous data interpretation, we can help producers make better decisions and enable the development of healthier, more resilient stocks. I’m excited to join the CAT team and contribute to work that creates lasting value and real impact across aquaculture.”

Dr. John Buchanan, CEO of CAT, welcomed the appointment, noting that the company’s continued growth reflects increasing industry demand.

“We are very pleased to welcome Iulia to CAT. Her appointment adds valuable quantitative genetics expertise to our growing global team and strengthens the support we provide to breeding programs around the world,” said Dr. Buchanan. “As more aquaculture producers increasingly adopt genomic technologies and data-driven breeding strategies, expanding our technical resources is critical to ensuring we continue delivering practical, commercially ready solutions for our clients.”

As the aquaculture industry continues to evolve and the global demand for seafood grows, CAT remains focused on equipping producers with science-based breeding strategies that drive productivity, resilience, and sustainability.

Dr. Iulia Blaj

The post Center for Aquaculture Technologies Expands Global Breeding Team with New Quantitative Geneticist in Australia appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Aquaculture 4.0: Unlocking the Last Mile of Growth

Edusehat — Wed, 13 May 2026 09:00:05 +0700

* By Antonio Garza de Yta, Ph.D.

Aquaculture has proved it can grow fish; now it must prove it can grow confidence. The missing link isn’t biological, it’s finance, insurance, and risk transparency. Until capital providers can see and price risk reliably, the sector will remain capital constrained and underinsured.

Aquaculture has proved it can grow fish; now it must prove it can grow confidence. For years, the sector has pushed er on genetics, feeds, health, and farm design, yet it still underdelivers on its full potential. Why? Because the missing link isn’t biological, it’s finance, insurance, and risk transparency. Until capital providers can see, quantify, and price risk reliably, aquaculture will remain capital-constrained, underinsured, and slower than it should be. Aquaculture 4.0 is the pathway out of that trap: digitalization not just for efficiency, but for bankability and insurability.

To cross this last mile, we must move from a sector that has long looked like a black box to outsiders to one that is measurably transparent. With new tools, we’ve made the box translucent — but lenders and underwriters don’t finance translucence; they finance clarity. That clarity depends on three pillars that turn data into trust and trust into capital:

(1) Infrastructure, (2) Data, and (3) Systems Integration.

Data standardization is critical for financial credibility. Moving beyond handwritten records to a standardized schema allows underwriters to verify biological performance. Defining what to measure and how to verify it ensures that on-farm data becomes a bridge to institutional investment.

The Three Pillars of Digital Transparency in Aquaculture

1. Infrastructure: The rails that carry trust

You cannot digitize thin air. The first pillar is infrastructure, both digital and physical. On the digital side, farms need dependable connectivity, rugged sensors for water quality and biomass, onfarm edge devices that capture data in lowbandwidth settings, secure cloud environments that scale across cohorts and geographies, and a unified digital infrastructure that standardizes information, turns raw signals into operational intelligence, and enables the transparency required for finance and insurance. On the physical side, the insights must be actionable: aeration, automatic feeders, biosecurity upgrades, harvesting machines, coldchain, and reliable power, so recommended changes can actually be implemented.

Infrastructure is also where finance can lead rather than lag. Blended finance, resultsbased lending, and green/ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) facilities can under write connectivity, sensor networks, and critical equipment precisely because those assets reduce uncertainty, improve performance, and enable auditable reporting. In other words, infrastructure is not just cost; it is the foundation of risk reduction and the onramp to cheaper capital and insurable operations.

2. Data: From readings to decision grade intelligence

Data is the language of risk. Yet, too often, aquaculture data is incomplete, inconsistent, or trapped in spreadsheets and WhatsApp chats. Aquaculture 4.0 demands timely, standardized, longitudinal data, not only on water quality and feed, but on biosecurity practices, genetics, growth curves, survivals, FCR, energy use, and cost structure. It must be traceable (who/what/when/where) and auditable (can a third party confirm it?).

When farms pair structured data-sets with bioeconomic and financial models, they convert measurements into decision grade intelligence: accurate harvest forecasting, scenario-based cashflow projections, and probabilistic risk profiles. That is the moment the sector shifts from “trust me” to “verify me”, and verification is what unlocks term sheets, lowers interest rates, and makes biological insurance design feasible. For producers, this isn’t paperwork; it’s bargaining power, data-backed credibility that improves prices, contract terms, and access to working capital.

3. Systems integration: One version of the truth

A single sensor does not make a smart pond, and a smart pond does not make a bankable enterprise. The third pillar is systems integration — linking sensors, farm Enterprise Resource Planning (ERPs), hatchery records, feed logistics, lab diagnostics, processing data, and even buyer specifications into a coherent, interoperable flow. Integration enables apples-to-apples benchmarking, automates compliance reporting, and continuously feeds credit risk scoring and parametric insurance models with high-quality inputs.

At scale, integration supports digital twins at farm, cluster, or regional level so that regulators can monitor disease risk in near realtime, suply chain actors can plan capacity with better visibility, and financiers can track portfolio health against measurable KPIs. Systems integration is where transparency becomes trust, because every stakeholder, farmer, feed mill, buyer, lender, insurer, sees one version of the truth.

Why This Matters for Finance and Insurance

Capital does not require zero risk; it requires knowable risk. Infrastructure ensures risks are observed continuously; data ensures they are measured consistently; systems integration ensures they are shared credibly. Together, these pillars convert uncertainty into probability, and probability into price; the price of credit, the price of coverage, the price of capital. Three knockon effects follow:

i. Credit becomes scalable. Data-grounded production and cashflow forecasts justify longer tenors and lower rates.

ii. Insurance becomes viable. Earlywarning surveillance and verified performance histories let underwriters price biological risk, design products that pay, and assemble portfolios that perform.

iii. ESG becomes measurable. Energy, emissions, water, welfare, and traceability move from claims to counts, attracting impact capital and premium buyers.

Aquaculture 4.0 is the pathway to bankability and insurability through digitalization.To cross this last mile, the industry must transition from a ‘black box’ to measurable transparency.

From Translucent to Transparent, and Bankable

Aquaculture’s opacity was never a choice; it was a function of fragmentation: thousands of actors, variable standards, patchy connectivity, and handwritten records. The tools now exist to change that; if we align around the three pillars. The practical playbook is straightforward:

» Fund the rails: prioritize connectivity, sensors, and reliable power.

» Standardize the schema: define what to measure, how often, and how to verify.

» Connect the systems: integrate onfarm, lab, logistics, and finance data into a single workflow; share the right data with the right stakeholder at the right time.

Aquaculture doesn’t need a new revolution in biology. It needs to connect what we already have, prove what we already do, and scale what already works. That is Aquaculture 4.0, not digital for digital’s sake, but digital for bankability and insurability. When we deliver infrastructure, data, and systems integration, we move decisively from translucent to transparent — and in that clarity, finance and insurance finally find a home. That is how we unlock the last mile of growth.

Regulatory Pathways and the Road to Commercialization of Genome Editing in Aquaculture: A Conversation with Debbie Plouffe

Edusehat — Tue, 12 May 2026 22:20:08 +0700

As global demand for seafood continues to climb, the aquaculture industry faces a familiar yet intensifying challenge: how to produce more nutritious protein while reducing environmental impacts and biological risks. Innovation is no longer optional; it is foundational. Among emerging solutions, genome editing is rapidly gaining attention as a powerful, practical tool for modern breeding programs.

To explore its commercial potential and evolving regulatory landscape, we spoke with Debbie Plouffe, Vice President of Business Development at the Centre for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT). A leader in genetic innovation in aquaculture, CAT is already working with commercial producers to integrate genome editing into breeding programs. In her role, Debbie provides regulatory guidance, supporting CAT clients to navigate and accelerate the responsible commercialization of genome editing in farmed aquatic species.

Debbie Plouffe, Center for Aquaculture Technologies

Q: Debbie, let’s start with a fundamental question. What is the difference between genetic modification and genome editing?

Plouffe: It’s an important distinction in the regulatory framework and a great place to start. Genetic modified organism, or GMO, typically refers to introducing new DNA, creating changes in a genetic sequence that wouldn’t occur naturally. Genome editing, on the other hand, is about making precise changes within an organism’s existing DNA.

With genome editing, and specifically in the scenario CAT will use the technology, no new DNA is added. We are creating changes that could happen through natural reproduction or conventional selective breeding in a shorter timeframe. It is precision breeding, not the creation of transgenics.

Q: Why have many regulators treated genome editing differently from GMOs?

Plouffe: Because the outcomes can be fundamentally different. In many genome editing applications, particularly SDN-1, the changes are indistinguishable from those that could occur naturally or through conventional breeding. No new DNA is present in the final organism.

As a result, many regulators are shifting toward risk-based frameworks that focus on the characteristics of the final product, rather than the technology used to create it. Countries such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, Japan, and Australia are already moving in this direction, which is helping open the door for responsible innovation.
We’re already seeing this approach in practice. Genome editing is being used commercially across agriculture and aquaculture, from crops like canola, banana, and rice to livestock such as pigs, cattle, and fish, demonstrating that these frameworks can support safe, real-world deployment.

This shift is important not just from a regulatory perspective, but also for building confidence more broadly, as regulatory clarity is often the foundation for acceptance of new technologies.

Q: You mentioned SDN-1. Can you explain what that means?

Plouffe: SDN-1, or Site-Directed Nuclease-1, is a form of genome editing that makes very small, precise changes to an organism’s existing DNA without adding any new genetic material. It works by creating a targeted cut in the DNA, which the cell then repairs naturally, resulting in a small change. These edits are similar to variations that could occur naturally or through conventional breeding, just achieved with greater precision and much faster.

Q: What does this all mean for commercial aquaculture operations?

Plouffe: It’s a game-changer. The key advantages of genome editing are precision and speed. In many aquaculture species, where generation times can span several years, conventional breeding delivers progress in relatively small, incremental steps across generations. Genome editing allows us to make significant improvements in a single generation, dramatically accelerating the pace of genetic gain.

Genome editing allows producers to target specific traits that are advantageous for farming such as growth efficiency and yield, disease resistance, or environmental tolerance, and achieve results in a fraction of the time required by conventional breeding alone.

Importantly, it also opens the door to traits that are difficult, slow, or even impossible to achieve through traditional breeding, including traits with low heritability, single-sex populations without hormone use, and reproductive sterility.
At CAT, our genome editing solutions include our Sterility+ technology, which delivers 100% sterility in aquaculture species. This acts as a robust biological containment measure, helping protect wild populations and ecosystems, while also supporting regulatory confidence that environmental risks, particularly those associated with enhanced production traits, are effectively managed.

In short, the benefits are clear: improved productivity and resilience for farmers, sustainable innovation for the industry, and consistent access to high-quality, affordable seafood for consumers, delivered more efficiently, with fewer resources, less waste, and reduced pressure on wild fisheries.

Q: What does the typical regulatory pathway look like for genome-edited products today?

Plouffe: As I mentioned, the regulatory process is becoming more structured and predictable in many jurisdictions, though it still varies by region. At CAT, we start by developing a regulatory strategy for each product based on where the animals are produced and, if applicable, where they will be sold. This may involve preparing a scientific dossier for submission, followed by agency review and, in some cases, post-approval compliance.

Importantly, seafood producers and breeders no longer have to navigate this alone. Clearer frameworks are emerging, and that’s critical for accelerating commercial adoption; something CAT actively supports.

Q: So, how is CAT supporting clients through this advancing landscape?

Plouffe: Our role goes beyond the technical skill of integrating genome editing into practical breeding programs. We often hear that our partners and their stakeholders are concerned about acceptance of genome editing in food production, and regulatory approval is really the foundation of that acceptance. So, we partner closely with our clients to define and execute clear regulatory strategies and achieve regulatory determinations.

Ultimately, our focus is on creating a clear and efficient path to market.

Q: Looking ahead, where do you see genome editing in aquaculture over the next five years?

Plouffe: Over the next five years, genome editing, particularly SDN-1 approaches, will move from innovation to implementation. As regulatory frameworks continue to align, these technologies will be integrated into breeding programs and deliver products at commercial scale.

This isn’t about replacing traditional breeding, but enhancing it; adding precision and speed to existing programs. The opportunity is clear, but timing matters. Companies that invest now in regulatory strategy and stakeholder engagement will be best positioned as the market continues to open.

Debbie concluded, “Genome editing has moved beyond research; it now has a clear path to commercialization. As regulatory clarity improves, it is becoming a practical tool to help aquaculture scale sustainably. For an industry facing real resource constraints, this is going to be an important part of the solution.”

The post Regulatory Pathways and the Road to Commercialization of Genome Editing in Aquaculture: A Conversation with Debbie Plouffe appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

The Philippine SEAFDEC Aquaculture Center Achieves World’s First Natural Captive Spawning of Mackerel Tuna

Edusehat — Tue, 12 May 2026 04:20:11 +0700

They make it a promising candidate for sustainable aquaculture

The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) in Tigbauan (Iloilo, Philippines) has reproduced naturally in captive conditions a mackerel tuna. This is the first time that scientist achieve it. The tuna (Euthynnus affinis), known also as kawakawa and in the Philippines as ‘tulingan’, spawned at the research center without the use of hormone injections.

“This achievement brings us closer to establishing a full-cycle culture technology for kawakawa from egg to larva, juvenile, adult, and back to spawning,” said Dan Baliao, Chief of SEAFDEC/AQD.

For his part, Takahiro Sajiki, deputy chief of SEAFDEC/AQD and co-manager of the Japanese Trust Fund that supported the research project, assured: “Tuna species pose exceptional challenges for aquaculture due to their highly migratory behavior, rapid swimming speeds, and acute sensitivity to confinement stress.”

He highlighted that these traits have limited breeding efforts, forcing most tuna farming operations to rely on wild-caught juveniles.

Years of Careful Observation

Mackerel tuna, widely consumed in Southeast Asia, a small neritic tuna long considered nearly impossible to breed under captive conditions, has also been particularly difficult to maintain and develop to maturity in enclosed systems.

The milestone is the result of systematic, long-term research and broodstock management at SEAFDEC/AQD, despite early challenges with stress-related mortality and poor adaptation to domestication.

According to Irene Cabanilla-Legaspi, the SEAFDEC/AQD researcher who has led the kawakawa project since 2020: “Rather than relying on artificial spawning induction, we refined broodstock care, continuously monitored the fish, and used controlled environmental techniques to create conditions conducive to natural reproduction”.

“Years of careful observation and environmental control culminated in the release of eggs by captive kawakawa in an enclosed tank,” she added.

Long Process

The broodstock were sourced from juvenile kawakawa collected using an “otoshi-ami” fish trap in Antique Province. Before transport, the fish underwent several days of conditioning to prepare them for confinement stress and the long journey to tank facilities in the SEAFDEC/AQD Tigbauan Main Station, informed the scientific institution.

“Transport protocols were strictly followed to maximize survival. Water temperature was lowered, each fish was handled individually, and temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen levels were monitored hourly. Water samples were also collected for bacterial analyses,” explained Leobert de la Peña, head of SEAFDEC/AQD’s Research Division. These measures resulted in high survival rates, even three days after transport, according to the research team.

At the hatchery, the juveniles were maintained in tanks with carefully regulated water quality and feeding regimes to minimize stress and promote fast growth and maturation. Over time, the fish adapted to captive conditions and released viable eggs, confirming that kawakawa can complete the reproductive cycle in a fully enclosed system without hormonal intervention.

Sustainable Tuna Production

Kawakawa tuna is valued for its firm flesh with a similar flavor and texture to bluefin tuna. However, unlike large oceanic tuna species such as bluefin, it matures rapidly and thrives in coastal waters, making it a promising candidate for sustainable aquaculture. Notably, it also has high levels of the nutrient docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

“Developing reliable breeding and culture techniques for kawakawa could reduce dependence on wild-caught stocks and help stabilize tuna production,” Baliao said. “However, we may need more years of dedication and persistence to replicate these results to ensure consistency, and scale them up to commercial production.”

The first spawning event under fully captive conditions was recorded in July 2025, with repeated spawning observed through September. The research was conducted under the Japanese Trust Fund–supported project, ‘Development of Full-Life Cycle Culture and Stable Production Technology of Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis).’

New Study in the US Confirms That Seaweed Integration Boosts Efficiency and Cuts Waste in Aquaculture

Edusehat — Tue, 12 May 2026 04:20:06 +0700

Researchers of University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science provide guidance for the producers

A new study of the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science found that cultivating seaweed species alongside marine finfish in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) operations can significantly reduce − and even eliminate − key waste products from marine finfish farming. In the IMTA seaweeds receive nutrient-rich effluent from fish production, they confirmed.

According to the scientist, the results demonstrate the potential of IMTA in these regions and offers potential mitigation solutions for many of the most prominent sustainability concerns regarding the development of marine aquaculture operations for fed-species such as marine finfish.

In that sense, Haley Lasco, the leader author of the study and a marine biology graduate student at the Rosenstiel School − and currently a scientist at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, assured: “With the significant interest in the development of marine aquaculture throughout the Southeast United States (US) and Caribbean, these findings can be used to guide the selection of extractive macroalgae species in operations culturing marine finfish.”

The study offers new insights into how aquaculture producers can improve sustainability by farming macroalgae species in a complementary system alongside finfish. “Our findings support more sustainable aquaculture operations and help producers make smarter choices about macroalgae for IMTA,” added Lasco.

Pilot-Scale

To conduct the study, the researchers established a pilot-scale Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture system at the Rosenstiel School’s Experimental Hatchery facility on Virginia Key, Florida, to evaluate the performance of four candidate macroalgae species under consistent marine finfish effluent conditions.

The flow-through IMTA system used a consistent source of nutrient-rich effluent from a yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus) grow-out tank maintained at commercial-scale density and feeding rates. Each macroalgae species was grown in three replicate tanks receiving the same effluent, enabling controlled comparisons of nutrient removal, nutritional composition, and market potential under conditions representative of commercial aquaculture.

At the end of each two-week trial, macroalgae were evaluated for growth and analyzed for protein, fat, fiber, ash, minerals, metals, and carbon and nitrogen content, including stable isotope ratios. Results provide new insights into macroalgae performance under real-world conditions and demonstrate the potential to reduce total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) in marine finfish aquaculture effluent to below detectable levels.

“This work shows how integrating macroalgae into marine finfish aquaculture systems can reduce waste while producing a valuable secondary crop. It provides a practical framework for selecting species based on specific production goals, improving environmental performance while creating opportunities for better production economics and more diversified products using an IMTA approach,” said for his part John Stieglitz, a research associate professor in the Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, who led the project as principal investigator.

The Goal: To Mimic Natural Ecosystems

Let’s remember that IMTA is a production system where different species from different trophic levels are farmed together in a complementary system with a goal to mimic natural ecosystems, thus improving sustainability, reducing waste, and increasing overall productivity. This form of aquaculture allows for the waste of one organism to be utilized by another organism across trophic levels, creating a system with less waste and therefore a lower environmental impact.

The primary aim of this study was to provide an understanding of which macroalgae species from the Southeast US and Caribbean regions perform the best in these different categories, providing stakeholders with a guide to select a desirable species of macroalgae to utilize and implement in their operations.

Already Published

The study titled “Evaluation of native macroalgae species of the Southeast U.S. and Caribbean for use in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA)” was published in the journal Aquaculture International February 10, 2026. The authors include Lasco, Hilary G. Close, Ronald H. Hoenig, Phillip R. Gillette, Daniel D. Benetti, and John of the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science.

Funding for the study was provided by subawards from the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (GSMFC) in cooperation with NOAA Fisheries Service.

Phibro Animal Health Corporation Launches Companywide Sustainable Solutions Platform; Introduces VERRATAIN™ Verified Sustainability Solutions Through Strategic VAXA Technologies Partnership

Edusehat — Sat, 09 May 2026 00:45:11 +0700

TEANECK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Phibro Animal Health Corporation (Nasdaq: PAHC) today announced the launch of its new Sustainable Solutions Platform (SSP), a companywide initiative designed to help animal protein, dairy and petfood producers address greenhouse gas emissions through practical, science-based solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing feed and production systems.

As part of the SSP launch, Phibro is introducing Verratain Verified Sustainability Solutions, the Company’s first master brand for sustainable products that can significantly lower emissions across animal protein and petfood supply chains. The initial Verratain product line is being launched through a strategic partnership with VAXA Technologies and is based on VAXA Technologies’ low carbon, high value microalgae feed materials that enable efficient supply chain decarbonization.

The first two products under the Verratain brand are Verratain Spirulina and Verratain Omega Oil, which are low-carbon microalgae feed ingredients. When these products are incorporated into the animal’s diet as a nutrition source, producers can materially reduce the carbon intensity of animal feed to allow organizations to meet their sustainability goals while supporting animal health. “Our Verratain Verified Sustainability Solutions represent a natural evolution of Phibro’s portfolio as our customers increasingly seek credible, scalable sustainability solutions,” said Dani Bendheim, incoming Chief Executive Officer of Phibro Animal Health Corporation. “These offerings complement our existing animal health and nutrition solutions while directly addressing the evolving sustainability needs of animal protein and petfood producers and their downstream customers.”

Targeting a Major Scope 3 Emissions Hotspot

The World Benchmarking Alliance reports that 165 of the world’s 350 most influential food and agriculture companies have disclosed Scope 3 climate commitments, which typically call for 20–30% reductions in value‑chain emissions by 2030. At scale, this implies an estimated $80–300 billion per‑year decarbonization value signal under SBTi‑aligned internal carbon pricing. (Source: World Business Council for Sustainable Development. 2024. Scope 3 Navigator for Agri-Food. Available: https://cecodes.org.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WBCSD-AF-C-suite-Scope-3-Navigator-deck.pdf Accessed: May 1, 2026).

Feed is typically the largest source of Scope 3 emissions for livestock, poultry and aquaculture producers. By focusing on feeding a low carbon alternative nutrient source, Verratain directly targets one of the most significant emissions drivers in animal protein supply chains.

Verratain Spirulina and Verratain Omega Oil are produced by VAXA Technologies in their proprietary state of the art indoor cultivation platform directly connected to renewable geothermal energy, clean water resources, and controlled growing conditions. The production process yields low‑carbon feed material that is designed to seamlessly integrate with existing feeding systems. The program utilizes life cycle assessment-based solutions to create effective Scope 3 decarbonization which is incorporated into the product’s life-cycle assessments, in accordance with leading international standards such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

Leadership to Build and Scale the Platform

To lead the Sustainable Solutions Platform and the Verratain portfolio, Phibro recently appointed Peter Bunce as Head of Sustainable Solutions. Bunce brings more than two decades of experience in agricultural sustainability and voluntary carbon markets, including building large‑scale programs that connect farmers with downstream consumer packaged goods companies and retailers.

“I joined Phibro because of its deep integration across global protein and dairy supply chains, where scalable solutions can deliver meaningful emissions reductions,” said Bunce. “After many years working in agricultural voluntary emissions markets, I have rarely seen innovations that combine impact and practicality like Verratain.”

Advancing a More Efficient and Resilient Food System

The launch of the Verratain product line marks a pivotal commercial milestone for Phibro’s sustainability initiatives. The Company anticipates the commencement of initial sales within the coming months, providing early adopters with a first-to-market opportunity to integrate these low-carbon microalgae solutions into their production systems.

Looking ahead, Phibro views the Sustainable Solutions Platform as a long‑term growth business that will expand beyond the initial products and partnership. To learn more about Verratain and our science-based solutions or to schedule a call with our sustainability team, please visit us at www.pahc.com/verratain or contact us at verratain@pahc.com.

About VAXA Technologies

VAXA is a food tech / climate tech company that has successfully industrialized its patented, carbon-negative microalgae production platform, to deliver proven, scalable solutions. By leveraging renewable energy, waste streams, and machine learning, VAXA produces high-value ingredients that physically remove emissions from the global supply chain, allowing partners to decarbonize at the source. Unlike traditional, resource-heavy algae production, VAXA’s modular, indoor facility in Iceland achieves a 100x higher decarbonization impact using less than 1% of the resources required by conventional methods, utilizing a bio secured optimized environment to ensure a consistent, food-grade output that provides a reliable, superior supply chain for corporations looking to improve their products and meet their sustainability goals.

For more information on VAXA visit www.vaxa.life / www.vaxaimpact.com.

About Phibro Animal Health Corporation

Phibro Animal Health Corporation is a leading global diversified animal health and nutrition company. The Company strives to be a trusted partner to livestock producers, farmers, veterinarians, and consumers who raise or care for farm and companion animals by providing solutions that help maintain and enhance animal health. For more information, visit www.pahc.com.

Contacts Contact for Phibro Animal Health Corporation
Phibro Animal Health Corporation
Glenn C. David
Chief Financial Officer
+1-201-329-7300

Ace Aquatec Chile Appoints Gonzalo Eduardo Boehmwald Trigo as General Manager LATAM

Edusehat — Sat, 09 May 2026 00:45:06 +0700

By Ace Aquatec

Ace Aquatec SpA has appointed Gonzalo Eduardo Boehmwald Trigo as General Manager LATAM, strengthening its leadership team to accelerate and build on its established growth across Chile and South America.

In this role, Gonzalo will drive regional expansion, deepen key customer relationships, and lead the commercial delivery of Ace Aquatec’s rapidly growing equipment and service offering in this region, unlocking new business opportunities across the aquaculture sector.

Ace Aquatec has already achieved strong uptake of its stunning and biomass products in Chile, working with some of the leading salmon producers in the region and globally. Gonzalo will be supporting existing and new customers as we take the business through its next phase of growth in Latin America (LATAM).

With more than 20 years of global experience in salmon aquaculture, Gonzalo brings a strong track record in commercial leadership, international market development, and operational excellence. He holds an Aquaculture Engineering degree from Universidad Andrés Bello and a Diploma in Business Management from Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, with extensive experience across Chile, Norway, Canada, the UK, and LATAM.

Commenting on his appointment, Gonzalo Eduardo Boehmwald Trigo said: “I am excited to join Ace Aquatec at a time of strong global growth for the aquaculture sector. Latin America represents a key region for innovation and sustainable development, and I look forward to working closely with our customers and partners to deliver solutions that enhance productivity, fish welfare, and long-term value.”

Nathan Pyne-Carter, Chief Executive Officer of Ace Aquatec, said: “Gonzalo’s appointment strengthens our ability to scale key technologies such as A-BIOMASS®, A-HARVESTCAM® and our in-water stunning systems across Latin America. His experience in complex salmon farming environments will support the deployment of our data-driven tools that enhance biomass accuracy, optimise feeding strategies, and improve fish welfare outcomes. This aligns directly with our focus on delivering measurable performance gains through precision aquaculture technologies.”

Tara McGregor-Woodhams, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Ace Aquatec, said: “Gonzalo has a strong track record in driving revenue growth, developing client-centric strategies, and leading multidisciplinary teams. His deep industry expertise and international experience make him an excellent fit for this role. This appointment reinforces Ace Aquatec’s commitment to strengthening its presence in Latin America and delivering innovative solutions to the aquaculture industry.”

About Ace Aquatec

Ace Aquatec is a cutting-edge aquaculture technology company focused on creating welfare-first products to make fish farming more efficient and sustainable.

Backed by bluegrowth fund Aqua-Spark, Chroma Ventures (who brought Minecraft to console), deeptech fund Earth Capital, Stolt Ventures and Scottish Enterprise, we are on a mission to accelerate global adoption of sustainable and welfare-focused aquaculture practices.

For more information about Ace Aquatec, visit www.aceaquatec.com

Monitoring the Effectiveness of Probiotic/Bioremediator Usage in Aquaculture

Edusehat — Fri, 08 May 2026 06:35:05 +0700

* By Stephen Newman, Ph.D.

This technical analysis by Dr. Stephen Newman evaluates the strategic role of microbial amendments in global aquaculture. By distinguishing between environmental bioremediation and “true” probiotics, the study highlights the superior efficacy of spore-based Bacillus species. It provides a science-based framework for monitoring product performance, emphasizing enzyme profiles over spore counts to ensure operational success and long-term sustainability in production environments.

Introduction

The use of microbial amendments has become a standard operating practice (SOP) in many aquaculture production paradigms, including fish, shrimp, crabs and bivalves, among others, globally including but not limited to ponds, raceways, hatcheries, and broodstock production. Many dozens of companies offer a wide variety of bacteria with claims that range from field proven science based to nonsensical that are all too often geared towards the farmer and not the production environment.

Prior to discussing how one should determine the effectiveness of a given product, reiterating some of the prior observations that I have written about and that are essential for getting the big picture, is relevant for perspective. I want to make one point very clear. I am in no way disparaging the use of a wide range of products that have proven efficacy.

My argument is that, for a number of science-supported reasons, the biochemical nature of spore-based Bacillus products allows them to work as well as, if not better than, many of these. Their ease of use, combined with the nature of the market, makes them the logical choice for most users of bioremediators in aquatic production environments. Our lead tableted product has been in use for 20 years and the concept has been widely copied.

Spore-forming Bacillus species are the logical choice for bioremediation due to their enzymatic versatility and shelf stability. These microbes degrade organic sludge effectively across diverse salinities and temperatures, providing a cleaner environment that maximizes animal growth and lowers Feed Conversion Ratios (FCR).

Discussion

There are a number of approaches to the use of these products. Many vendors offer powdered products for addition to ponds. These are rarely added directly (although some use them this way) but are typically soaked in water before application. This can be a quick approach, as an example, primarily to activate Bacillus spores via a heat shock, or a much longer approach, where-in the suspension is brewed for hours and up to a day. This is done in order to add high levels of actively growing bacteria all at once.

Tablets have been widely adopted as they have been found to be a very, if the not the most efficient way to deliver Bacillus spores to pond bottoms. Some companies offer tablets with other none Bacillus species, typically spray or freeze dried, potentially with limited shelf lives or requiring specific storage conditions (such as refrigeration). Many companies sell liquid products containing photosynthetic bacteria such as Rhodopseudomonas palustris being in wide usage in SE Asia.

Over the last several decades there has been a rapid increase in the numbers of publications in the peer reviewed literature on the use of a wide variety of organisms as “probiotics” for use in aquaculture. While arguments can be made that some of these are better at narrowly based applications, the preponderance of the data strongly suggests that the best for broad ranging bioremediation is spore forming Bacillus species, which can be sold in shelf stable dry forms without loss of viability. Representative examples are depicted in Figure 1 below.

See Table 1 for a written comparison.

Observations: Bacillus based spores are the best products for bioremediation in aquaculture for a number of reasons. Bacillus species are enzymatically highly versatile and when specific (often proprietary) strains, are used properly, they are the easiest products to use and provide a multitude of impacts in the field. They can be applied to the water column as suspensions of powdered products and directly to pond bottoms as tablets. Photosynthetic bacteria in liquid suspensions are widely used in India and China despite the fact that solid science supports that specific strains of Bacillus species, sold as spores, in a tableted form, work as well or better in general and the consumer is not paying for water.

At the risk of being accused of being pedantic (again), end users often do not understand that when someone sells them a microbial product labeled as a probiotic that this does not necessarily mean that the product functions in the manner that they think that it does. The term is widely used to refer to any microorganisms (bacteria or fungi) that are used in any capacity with any expected outcome in any environment.

Historically, most people when they hear the term probiotic think of blends of bacteria (and/or yeast) that are ingested orally, colonize the gut, alter the microbiome and impact animal health. While the literature suggests that there are examples where impacts are seen on animal health, it is unclear if this is a result of non-specific immune stimulation or a “true” probiotic impact. Most of the products sold and in use today are for the environment, acting typically through bioremediation.

Most aquaculture microbial products act on the production environment through bioremediation rather than stable gut colonization. Ingestion serves primarily as a vehicle for delivering active bacteria into the feces, helping to maintain water quality and reduce niches for potential pathogens.

Observations: The use of microbial products in aquaculture is focused primarily on the production environment. A cleaner stable environment allows animals to maximize their ability to grow, consume feed more efficiently with resulting lower FCRs and ultimately generate higher profits. Ingestion is best considered as a vehicle for delivering spores and metabolically active bacteria in the feces. Stable colonization of the gut by feeding viable bacteria in the field has not been scientifically validated. Repeat applications are required and attempting to modify the microbiome in production environments that by their nature are highly variable is at best. challenging.

Proper use of Bacillus spores has the potential for a wide range of beneficial impacts many of which have been ascribed to the “probiotic” impact but typically occur in the absence of oral application. Figure 2 below outlines the perceived differences although there is solid evidence that these are not distinct properties and that they overlap. Bacillus species can bioremediate and at the same time have been shown to impact nonspecific immunity with the impacts described below for probiotics. It should be noted that many if not most non toxin producing bacteria strains whether living or dead can stimulate non-specific protective immunity.

Another key feature of bacteria in general is that they are very a diverse, complex and highly evolved group of organisms. The bacterial species that have been designated by the American Association of Feed Officials (AAFCO) in the US as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) are the strains that are present in many of the commercial products.

This does not include just Bacillus but also includes many others. Most of these have strains that would not be appropriate for use. It is clearly stated that for a strain to be GRAS it must not be toxigenic, i.e. it cannot contain genes that are associated with the potential for toxin production or result in disease.

Many if not most of the large numbers of suppliers have little understanding of the complex nature of bacteria. Most laymen think of bacteria as being simple and are aware of the few that can cause problems and those that they consume in their yogurt. There are many vendors that are not concerned, either as a result of ignorance, or apathy, that the risks of using the wrong strains are very real.

Many of the species that are GRAS have strains that would not legally be allowed to be considered GRAS. Buying product from companies that understand this potential for harm and that have professional microbiologists involved in the manufacture, sales and distribution is important for ensuring that GRAS strains are in a given product. It would be naïve to think that the sale of non-GRAS strains does not occur.

Observations: The use of specific bacterial species and strains that are GRAS depends on their not being able to negatively impact animal health either directly because of toxin production or indirectly because of their impact on other components of the microbiome. Bacillus can grow under a wide range of environmental conditions that span the range of production paradigms. Strains that contain toxins and lysogenic phages should never be used. These can pose a serious risk to the production environment. As I have reiterated many times, “Caveat Emptor”, i.e. let the buyer beware.

As discussed elsewhere the impact of a given product depends on a number of factors. Perhaps the single most important is the enzyme profile of the strains. Enzymes are catalytic proteins that speed up chemical reactions. They need cofactors that vary between enzymes, such as metals and vitamins to ensure that they function properly. Without these the enzymes don’t work and the bacteria cannot gain the nutrients that they need to live.

The term “profile” refers to types and quantities of enzymes as expressed by the bacteria. It is essential that the enzyme profiles are able to degrade the many substrates found in accumulated sludge in production systems. The best strains accomplish this via the production of a wide range of enzymes at high levels. Strains that are not well suited have limited production both of the types and quantities of these catalytic proteins.

Of course, as well, the bacteria need to be able to grow under the conditions that they are being used in. Note that some environments, such as those with high water exchange flow rates require the use of innovative approaches such as slow-release substrates or similar approaches that don’t flush the added bacteria out before they have time to act.

Another critical element is how the product is applied. Aquaintech Inc. pioneered, almost 20 years ago, the use of tableted Bacillus spores in aquaculture as this allowed direct application of the spores at high levels to affected areas.

Product efficacy is dictated by the enzyme profile — the type and quantity of catalytic proteins — rather than high spore counts. High-quality strains produce proteases, amylases, and lipases at levels necessary to degrade accumulated organic matter, regardless of the total number of spores per gram.

Observations: Where the product is used, when in the cycle it is used, how much is used and how often it is used all directly impact the end results. While there are some who would have you believe that there is little difference between products and that low-cost products are the same as higher priced products this is usually puffery and a ploy to garner market share. High quality strains cost more. There are many companies in China and India that sell Bacillus strains, some quite inexpensive. The quality of these strains may be suspect especially when pricing of the product is significantly less than that of others in the market place. Buying a USD 5.00 a kg product carries risk when established products run USD 25 or more per kg.

Another important distinction between products is that the number of spores in a given product does not impact efficacy in a manner that one allows one to claim, based on science, that higher spore counts equate with better impacts. Most of the spores don’t germinate and they all do not germinate in the same time frame. A product that claims to have many times the average count of spores per gram of a product that is widely in use does not necessarily mean that it is any better than one with the 4 or 5 billion spores per gram. It could be considered to be puffery to make the claim that it does in the absence of science-based proof.

Yet another import consideration is that there is no relationship between the numbers of species used and efficacy. Efficacy is related to enzyme production and the availability of nutrients and enzyme cofactors. While some strains product enzymes that others do not, there can be considerable overlap between species as to their enzyme profiles.

Observations: Figure 3 demonstrates why spore counts are not what dictate product efficacy. Only a relatively small number of spores germinate determine efficacy. How efficient the vegetative cells are in degrading accumulated organic matter depends on the nutrient loads and enzyme cofactors. Since an unnaturally high level of spores is being added at once this also sets off a cascade of events that include protozoa that feed on germinating bacteria and bacteriophages that destroy vegetative cells. This is how the system in the pond maintains balance. In hatchery tanks the Bacillus can form biofilms since they are being added daily. In production systems such as ponds this is not normally going to happen.

Due to the inherent variability of the environments in which these types of products are employed, higher spore counts are typically employed than likely would be needed to be in some of the environments where they are used. The fact that the products need to be applied repeatedly strongly suggests that there are variables in play that ensure than many of the spores are not ever going to become metabolically active bacteria.

The microbiome in a pond is a very complex assemblage of bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa. It includes the water column and the sediment. Even lined ponds will have microbiomes associated with the liners. By their very nature mature microbiomes resist change. The levels and properties of the Bacillus strains that are in PRO4000X are in excess of what would be required under all possible applications.

Observations: Adding bacteria to environments that already have mature microbiomes is the common practice. This limits the potential of the added bacteria (in the instance of Bacillus, their spores) to germinate and compete. Furthermore, it sets off a cascade of events that inherently limit their growth including nutrient limitation and strain specific phages (bacterial viruses) and protozoa that feed off the vegetative cells. Regardless of what one is adding they will not become stable components of the microbiome.

Scientific studies have shown that most of spores do not germinate although they may remain in the environment and could germinate if the conditions allowed it. Because of the complex nature of the microbiome this is not certain and the factors that impact nutrient loads are a major reason why they need to be added repeatedly during the cycle.

Responsible aquaculture requires using only “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) bacterial strains. Strains must be non-toxigenic and free of lysogenic phages to avoid harming animal health. Professional microbiological oversight is critical to ensure product safety and prevent environmental risks.

Observations: There are a wide variety of parameters that should be monitored regularly (outlined in Figure 4 and in more detail in the Appendix) as a normal approach to progressive and responsible crop management. For many farmers most of these are far beyond their technical abilities and they have to focus on only a few parameters that can be measured without the need for a lab. Due to the inherent nature of aquaculture production systems, outdoor open to the environment production systems (the most common type of culture) can be highly variable. This variability can be reflected in the impact of adding microbial products and explains some of the variation that can be seen in large scale applications.

Expectations of outcomes of the use of these tools is based on the versatility of the strains and how the product is used. PRO4000X, the first tableted spore-based product has been used in more than a dozen countries with a range of beneficial results.

Observations: While some companies actively claim that the impact of their products is that of true probiotics, as defined above, most of these claims are based on lab studies that do not adequately address what happens in a real-world production environments. There is scant scientific evidence based on what is happening in the field to support these claims. While it may be possible to effectively alter the microbiome in small ponds or tanks where high loads of specific bacteria can be added routinely and cost effectively this is simply not an economic or biologic reality in most production paradigms.

The vast majority of products that are being sold act on the environment. Many bacteria and fungi impact the non-specific afferent of animal immune systems. In fact, this impact is so common that it could be considered to be a generic impact. The large number of publications that demonstrate that a very wide range of organisms have this type of an impact support this.

As the Appendix details the impacts can have wide ranging positive benefits on the overall crop resulting in increased profits. Aquaintech has almost 20 years of accumulated data from many billions of animals at different life stages in a dozen countries. Additionally, there a number of peer reviewed science publications that outline a wide variety of benefits. Our customers have reported a wide variety of impacts. These include but are not limited to:

Benefits from client observations on the use of PRO4000X

✓ Dramatic reductions in accumulated organic matter in nursery and production ponds, shrimp (Penaeus monodon, Litopenaeus (Penaeus) vannamei, P. stylirostrus, Macrobrachium rosenbergii), fish including Tilapia and Barramundi and others, crabs, clams, etc. This has been observed in ponds, dirt, lined, and concrete, as well as plastic and other types of tanks, RAS systems, etc. Cleaner environments in production environments due to less accumulated organic matter increases water quality and reduces niches for potential pathogens.

✓ Increased growth rates (one customer reported almost a 15% increase in weekly growth rates)

✓ Increased survivals, better FCRs, cleaner animals with less fouling issues at partial harvests. These benefits can be attributed to the impact of the Bacillus species on the ability of other bacteria with similar nutritional requirements to utilize these nutrients.

✓ Cleaner broodstock tanks, healthier animals better able to tolerate handling and stress. Prevention of exoskeleton lesions due to handling.

✓ Stabilization of ammonia and nitrite/nitrate levels. Less spikes means healthy animals with less stress.

✓ Restores sediments to health by eliminating dead spots that can generate deadly hydrogen sulfide.

✓ Reduction or elimination of off flavor and odor issues.

✓ In shrimp hatcheries, effective control of vibrio loads, smooth molting of larvae, control of Zoeae syndrome, reduction of ammonia and nitrites.

✓ Nonspecific immune stimulation resulting in enhanced survival against the vibrio that causes AHPNS, Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Alterations of gene expression favoring the observed impact. Ask for references.

Long-term field data confirms that tableted Bacillus spores significantly reduce organic waste in ponds and hatcheries. Observed benefits include stabilized ammonia levels, increased weekly growth rates by up to 15%, and enhanced survival against pathogens like Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Conclusions

Added microbiological products to aquaculture production systems come in several different forms and there are large numbers of organisms that have a range of impacts. The Bacillus species have several distinct advantages, provided the products are formulated with GRAS strains. They form spores which allows them to be sold in shelf stable forms such as tablets which do not require refrigeration or special storage conditions to extend shelf lives.

The enzyme profiles of select strains allows them to degrade a very wide variety of substrates. Bacillus species are an important source for industrial enzymes that are secreted into the environment. They are able to tolerate a wide range environmental conditions with enzymes that work across a broad spectrum of temperatures and salinities. They are a major source of industrial enzymes, some vitamins and nutraceuticals and are widely consumed in fermented foods such as natto.

Their ability to form spores and the range of degradative enzymes including proteases, amylases, lipases, cellulases and many others make them ideal sources of microbial bioremediation for the wide range of aquaculture production systems. Not all strains are the same and many strains do not produce either the desirable enzymes or adequate levels, and some contain toxins and lysogenic phages. Because of the enzyme production variability, there is no correlation between high spore counts and efficacy nor is a product with more species/strain in it necessarily better for it.

* Stephen G. Newman has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in Conservation and Resource Management (ecology) and a Ph.D. from the University of Miami, in Marine Microbiology. He has over 40 years of experience working within a range of topics and approaches on aquaculture such as water quality, animal health, biosecurity with special focus on shrimp and salmonids. He founded Aquaintech in 1996 and continues to be CEO of this company to the present day. It is heavily focused on providing consulting services around the world on microbial technologies and biosecurity issues. sgnewm@aqua-in-tech.com www.aqua-in-tech.com www.bioremediationaquaculture.com www.sustainablegreenaquaculture.com.

Integrating Genomic Selection into Pacific Oyster Breeding Program

Edusehat — Wed, 06 May 2026 22:10:10 +0700

Australian Seafood Industries (ASI) is transitioning from traditional family-based selection to a fully operational genomic selection framework. Working in collaboration with the Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT), and the University of Tasmania, this work represents an advanced implementation of genomics in a commercial molluscan breeding program. Initial analyses suggest meaningful improvements in selection accuracy, particularly for traits that are difficult or expensive to measure directly.

What is Genomic Selection, and Why Does It Matter?

Genomic selection is a method that uses dense DNA marker information to predict the genetic potential of individual animals. In practical terms, it allows us to make more accurate breeding decisions earlier and with greater precision.
Traditional family-based breeding relies on estimated breeding values (EBVs), which are based on family performance. While effective, this approach limits resolution, particularly for complex traits like disease resistance or thermotolerance, because it cannot distinguish between individuals within the same family.
Genomic selection addresses this by calculating genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) at the individual level. This enables within-family selection and allows us to capture genetic variation that was previously inaccessible.
The transition to genomic selection allows the ASI program to capture unrealised genetic gain that already exists within the population. It also removes the constraint of selecting the best families, enabling identification and propagation of the highest-performing individuals within those families, fundamentally increasing the rate of genetic improvement.

Henry Hewish, General Manager, ASI

From Traditional Breeding to Genomics-Driven Decisions

ASI’s breeding program has historically delivered steady genetic gains in traits such as growth rate, survival, shell shape, and condition. The transition to genomic selection is expected to significantly accelerate these gains by improving selection accuracy.
Initial analyses already suggest meaningful improvements, particularly for traits that are difficult or expensive to measure directly. Importantly, genomic selection also supports the maintenance of genetic diversity by enabling selection across a broader range of families, an essential factor for long-term sustainability and resilience.

Building the Foundation: Data and Models

Over the past year, ASI, CAT, and the University of Tasmania have established a multi-year reference population that combines phenotypic and genomic data. This dataset underpins genomic prediction models and ensures accurate GEBVs across traits and environments.

Broodstock populations have also been genomically characterised, with pedigree verification and genotype imputation to a common marker set. These data are integrated into single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) models, which combine genomic and pedigree information while maintaining continuity with historical data.

ASI© Broodstock preparing for Genotyping – tagged

Adapting Operations for Genomic Selection

Implementing genomic selection requires more than new data, it requires operational change. Tissue sampling, tagging, and genotyping workflows have been aligned with commercial hatchery timelines. At the same time, spawning protocols have shifted from family-based to individual-based designs.

Why Oysters Are Well Suited to Genomic Selection

The scientific basis for genomic selection is well established. In terrestrial livestock, it has become the dominant breeding approach due to its ability to increase accuracy and accelerate long-term genetic gain.
Oysters are particularly well suited to these methods due to their high fecundity. However, molluscan systems also present unique challenges, including:

The need for lethal phenotyping for certain traits
Strong genotype-by-environment interactions
Complex disease pressures such as Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS)

Despite these challenges, the ASI program has made strong progress since POMS reshaped breeding objectives in 2013.

Early Results and What Comes Next

Early results are promising. Genomic prediction models for survival and performance traits are now in place for both South Australian and Tasmanian populations, supported by thousands of genotyped individuals and hundreds of parental families.

Looking ahead, the next phase will focus on validating realised genomic gains under commercial conditions and refining prediction models as more data are incorporated. The ultimate goal is to deliver consistent, measurable improvements in productivity and robustness for oyster producers.

Bridging Research and Industry

What makes this work particularly significant is that it represents a shift from genomic selection as a research concept to a routine commercial tool.

The ASI program demonstrates that, with the right infrastructure and data pipelines, genomic selection can be implemented at scale in molluscan aquaculture.

This collaboration represents a significant step forward for shellfish genetics. By combining rigorous scientific methodology with practical implementation, the collaborative program is helping to bridge the gap between research and industry, shaping future approaches to Oyster breeding.

The post Integrating Genomic Selection into Pacific Oyster Breeding Program appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Regulatory Pathways and the Road to Commercialization of Genome Editing in Aquaculture: A Conversation with Debbie Plouffe of CAT

Edusehat — Wed, 06 May 2026 22:10:08 +0700

Q: Debbie, let’s start with a fundamental question. What is the difference between genetic modification and genome editing?

Q: Why have many regulators treated genome editing differently from GMOs?

This shift is important not just from a regulatory perspective, but also for building confidence more broadly, as regulatory clarity is often the foundation for acceptance of new technologies.

Q: You mentioned SDN-1. Can you explain what that means?

Q: What does this all mean for commercial aquaculture operations?

Q: What does the typical regulatory pathway look like for genome-edited products today?

Q: So, how is CAT supporting clients through this advancing landscape?

Ultimately, our focus is on creating a clear and efficient path to market.

Q: Looking ahead, where do you see genome editing in aquaculture over the next five years?

The post Regulatory Pathways and the Road to Commercialization of Genome Editing in Aquaculture: A Conversation with Debbie Plouffe of CAT appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global Brings More Than 35,500 Industry Professionals, the Largest Attendance in the Event’s History

Edusehat — Wed, 06 May 2026 07:20:26 +0700

By Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global

With over 52,980 net square meters of exhibit space, the 32^nd edition brought together 2,290 exhibiting companies from 85 countries, offering seafood professionals a premier platform to connect in person, conduct business and discover the latest industry developments.

The next Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global will be held in Barcelona from 20-22 April 2027.

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, the world’s largest and most diverse seafood trade event, concluded its 32^nd edition with more than 35,500 seafood professionals in attendance. Over the course of three days, suppliers, buyers and industry stakeholders from around the globe gathered to exchange insights, explore innovations and address the key opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the sector.

This year’s edition represented the largest in the event’s history in terms of attendance and exhibit space with more than 2,290 exhibiting companies from 85 countries and 65 national and regional pavilions, covering more than 52,980 net square meters of exhibit space. Held at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Vía venue, the expo spanned halls 1 through 5, as well as the galleria between halls 4 and 5. The event is estimated to have generated an economic impact exceeding USD 188.22 million for the city.

The strong international presence underscored the global reach of the expo, with a diverse representation of countries including Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Norway, Netherlands, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam and more. The event also welcomed delegation visits from around the world including the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Government of Catalonia; the Ministry of Fisheries Canada; the Icelandic Ministry of Industry and Innovation; the Ministry of Fisheries of Ireland; the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Policy; the Consulate of South Korea in Las Palmas; the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; the United Kingdom’s Minister of Food Safety and more.

“The energy and high level of engagement across the exhibition floor at this year’s edition clearly highlighted the value of in-person connections for the industry as a whole,” said Wynter Courmont, Group Vice President, Seafood at Diversified. “Participants from across the value chain took advantage of the event to reinforce existing relationships, explore new business opportunities and stay ahead of the trends shaping the future of the seafood industry.”

Exhibitors at Seafood Expo Global presented a wide range of seafood products, including fresh, frozen, canned, value-added, processed and packaged offerings, highlighting innovation across all categories. Meanwhile,Seafood Processing Global brought together companies covering the full spectrum of processing solutions, from packaging materials and machinery to refrigeration systems, processing equipment, sanitation technologies, transport, logistics, quality control services and more.

High-volume buyers of seafood from retail, foodservice and distribution took part in this year’s Key Buyer program. Companies included Aeon Topvalu Co., Ltd. (Japan), Aldi (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Spain), Aramark & Avendra International (Spain), Bidfood (Czech Republic, Hong Kong SAR, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom), Carnival UK (United Kingdom), Carrefour (France, Spain, Turkey), Elior (France, Italy, United Kingdom), Gategroup (Luxembourg, Spain), HelloFresh (Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom), Kura Sushi (United States), Lidl (Finland, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Spain), Mercadona (Spain), Metro (France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Turkey), Pomona PassionFroid (France), Sodexo (France, Italy, United Kingdom), Sysco (France, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom), Viking Cruises (Andorra, Germany, Switzerland), Wonderfield Group (Spain, United Kingdom) and more.

Industry Trends, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange

The conference program offered seafood professionals a comprehensive look at the industry from every angle, spanning sustainable sourcing and supply chain transparency, responsible aquaculture and fisheries innovation, worker welfare and brand-driven business growth among others. Sessions ranged from expert discussions on responsible marine ingredient sourcing, ESG-driven innovation in blue food systems, meaningful worker engagement across seafood supply chains, how strategic branding and category creation are redefining commercial growth beyond commodities and more.

A highlight of the program was the keynote address, “High Stakes, Shifting Tides: The Global Outlook on Seafood, Trade, Economic Pressure Points and Opportunities,” delivered by Dr. Nomi Prins, economist and geopolitical strategist. Her presentation provided a forward-looking analysis of the economic forces influencing the global seafood market and how companies can capitalize on new trade paths and product diversification to meet robust demand in 2026.

A major new feature of this year’s edition was the of the Aquaculture Innovation Zone, a dedicated space focused on the future of aquaculture. The zone included an Innovation Theater with product pitches, programming and networking opportunities. The new area brought together companies, startups and researchers working on solutions in areas such as fish health, water quality monitoring, AI-driven analytics and sustainable production systems.

Awards, Networking and Event Highlights

The Seafood Excellence Global Awards celebrated the best products represented at the expo, with 35 finalists from 16 countries. Vičiūnai Group (Lithuania) and Frais Embal (France) received the top distinctions. Vičiūnai Group was awarded Best Retail Product for Smoked Herring Slices – Natural Flavor, while Frais Embal earned Best HORECA Product for its Salmon Roll.

The networking events “Connecting Women in Seafood” and “Aquaculture Meet-Up” brought together professionals from across the sector to exchange experiences, foster inclusion and build stronger industry connections.

Among the event highlights was the culinary demonstration “The Mediterranean Sea, Our Pantry,” led by Michelin-starred Barcelona chef Albert Raurich, who presented a unique fusion of Mediterranean and Japanese culinary techniques.

Attendees also enjoyed the lively oyster shucking competition, as well as daily product showcases and tastings, including the Seafood Excellence Global Awards display.

In line with its commitment to sustainability and community support, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global partnered with el Banc dels Aliments (the Barcelona Food Bank) to collect seafood donations from exhibitors.

Looking ahead, the next Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global will take place in Barcelona from 20-22 April 2027, at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Vía venue. For further information visit www.seafoodexpo.com/global.

About Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global

Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global make up the world’s largest seafood trade show. Thousands of buyers and sellers from around the world attend the three-day annual event to meet, connect, and do business. Buyers include importers, exporters, wholesalers, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, and other companies in the retail and foodservice sectors. Exhibitors showcase the latest innovations in seafood products, processing and packaging machinery, and services for the seafood industry. SeafoodSource.com is the official media of the event. The organizer is Diversified, the international leader in seafood events and media. www.seafoodexpo.com/global

About Diversified

Diversified is a global B2B events and media company that strengthens business communities by fostering a space, in person and online, for professionals and businesses to connect and grow. The company serves as a trusted partner across several industries including active lifestyle, business management, clean energy, commercial marine, healthcare, seafood, technology and more. The company’s global seafood portfolio of expositions and media includes Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, Seafood Expo Asia/Seafood Processing Asia and SeafoodSource.com. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, the global company has divisions and offices around the world in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Diversified is a third-generation, family-owned business. For more information, visit: www.divcom.com.

Australia’s Black-Market Seafood Problem: A Failure of Compliance, Traceability and Accountability

Edusehat — Wed, 06 May 2026 07:20:21 +0700

By Seafood Consumers Association

Australia likes to present itself as a world leader in fisheries management. In many respects, that claim is justified: our stocks are often well assessed, harvest strategies are strong, and the science base is better than in many countries. But the recent NSW crackdown on black-market seafood in Sydney restaurants is a reminder that even the best systems fail when compliance is weak and illegal trade is tolerated for too long.

The NSW operation inspected 15 premises across Sydney and found illegal or improperly labelled abalone in seven of them. Officers seized 106 abalone, including frozen black lip abalone and dried abalone, with an estimated retail value far above the modest quantity seized. More importantly, the government itself stated that the estimated illegal, unreported and unregulated catch of abalone in 2025/26 was 30 tons, and that legal commercial catch had to be reduced by 12% because of poaching pressure. That is not a marginal issue. That is resource theft at scale.

For consumers, black-market seafood is not an abstract regulatory breach. It is a direct attack on trust. When a restaurant buys illegal product, the customer is not just being sold something they did not order; they are being pushed into a chain of false claims, hidden provenance, and unknown safety risks. Illegal seafood may bypass food handling rules, shellfish monitoring, labelling requirements, and traceability obligations. In practical terms, that means consumers can end up paying premium prices for product that has no verified origin, no legitimate chain of custody, and no assurance that it was handled under proper hygiene controls.

This is especially damaging because Australia’s seafood industry depends heavily on reputation. Licensed commercial fishers, aquaculture producers, processors and wholesalers invest significant money in compliance, traceability, tagging, reporting, and biosecurity. Illegal operators undercut all of that. They avoid license costs, avoid quota constraints, and avoid the record-keeping required to demonstrate legality. The result is unfair competition against lawful operators and pressure on the communities that depend on them.

The NSW case also exposes a broader policy weakness. If a government can tell us that 30 tons of abalone are being lost to illegal activity, then a three-day compliance blitz is clearly not enough on its own. Strong enforcement matters, but enforcement has to be continuous, intelligence-led and backed by modern traceability systems. If buyers know there is a significant chance they will be detected, the market dries up. If not, the black market simply adapts.

The black market is not confined to one species or one state. Queensland has faced repeated concerns about black jewfish, a species prized for both flesh and swim bladder. ABC reporting in 2019 described black jewfish swim bladders as fetching between USD 500 and USD 900 per kilogram, with commercial catch rising rapidly over a short period and regulators worried about a stock collapse. Earlier Queensland parliamentary material also noted the species’ vulnerability to overfishing because of its large size, high value, and predictable aggregations. WA has seen repeated prosecutions involving illegal sales of rock lobster, abalone and recreationally caught fish, including substantial fines and license suspensions.

Victoria’s fisheries compliance system is also moving in the wrong direction. Recent restructuring at the Victorian Fisheries Authority has reduced frontline fisheries officers, closed stations and shifted resources toward “engagement” at the expense of on-water enforcement, just as illegal take and black-market activity require more, not less, scrutiny. That raises a serious question for seafood consumers: if there are fewer officers checking catches, landings, restaurant supply and traceability, how will the public know the law is actually being enforced?

Commercial quotas and management settings already assume a degree of illegal take, but that does not make smuggling acceptable; it simply means consumers and legitimate operators are paying the price for weak compliance. The problem is compounded by a ministerial and portfolio environment increasingly shaped by recreation, climate and outdoor-activity priorities, which are not always compatible with the harder realities of commercial fishing and aquaculture. In that context, Victoria’s seafood consumers deserve clear assurance that legal supply chains are being protected and that the public interest is not being subordinated to recreational politics.

The lesson is simple: illegal seafood trade is not a victimless side hustle. It is organized theft from a shared resource. It harms consumers, damages legitimate businesses, undermines sustainability, and erodes the public’s faith in the entire seafood sector. It also weakens the credibility of governments that claim to have some of the world’s best fishery managers. If management is so strong, why are illegal products still finding their way into restaurants, wholesalers and back-of-house supply chains? Where is the audit between production/harvest and food safety/sustainability?

For the Seafood Consumers Association, the answer is not to weaken commercial fisheries or punish law-abiding operators with more red tape. The answer is to protect the legal market. That means stronger point-of-sale verification, mandatory purchasing records, tighter restaurant traceability obligations, more visible penalties for buyers as well as sellers, and routine intelligence-led inspections in high-risk species and high-risk venues. It also means public education, because consumers should be able to expect that a seafood meal is legal, traceable and safe.

There is also a reputational issue. Australia promotes its seafood as premium, safe and sustainable. That claim is only credible when governments are willing to confront illegal trade honestly and consistently. A one-off crackdown may generate headlines, but the real test is whether the illegal supply chain is closed, not merely interrupted. Until then, the black market will continue to drain community resources and punish the honest businesses that do the right thing.

Australia’s fisheries and aquaculture system is built around a cost-recovery model, meaning licensed commercial operators and quota holders effectively help pay for the management, research and compliance systems that regulate their industries. That makes illegal take and black-market seafood especially damaging. It is not just theft from the resource, but theft from a system that honest operators are already funding. When smuggling, poaching or unrecorded sales go unchecked, the burden falls on law-abiding fishers, consumers and the public purse, while illegal product undercuts legitimate supply chains and weakens confidence in the credibility of Australia’s seafood governance.

The seafood sector does not need slogans. It needs compliance, transparency and enforcement with teeth. Consumers deserve nothing less.

Seafood Consumers Association: CEO, Roy Palmer

Email: seafoodsdg@outlook.com Phone: +61 492825012

References and sources consulted by the author on the elaboration of this article are available under previous request to our editorial staff.

Salmon Producer Bakkafrost Achieves 100% ASC Certification

Edusehat — Wed, 06 May 2026 07:20:11 +0700

• After the Faroe Islands, the Group now reaches the same standard in Scotland

• The company recently entered in the Global 100 Most Sustainable Companies list by Corporate Knights

Bakkafrost Group proudly announced that the Company is now 100% ASC certified across its entire salmon farming operations in both Faroe Islands and Scotland. They achieved full Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification in the Faroe Islands in 2020 following several years of dedicated and focused work. In Scotland, the Group is now reached the same standard, making an important milestone for the business and our long-term commitment to responsible aquaculture.

The ASC certification is one of the most rigorous and globally recognized standards for environmental and social responsibility in aquaculture. For Bakkafrost achieving 100% ASC certification demonstrates the Group’s commitment to producing salmon with the highest standards of environmental care, responsible farming, fish welfare and social responsibility with full traceability across the value chain.

“Reaching 100% ASC certification across the Group is a significant milestone for Bakkafrost. It reflects the hard work of our teams and our commitment to responsible salmon farming, high standards, and continuous improvement in everything we do,” said Anna Johansen, Group QESH Director at Bakkafrost.

Independent Assurance

But the benefits of the certification are also for customers and consumers, as the certification provides independent assurance that salmon from Bakkafrost comes from operations that are independently audited against recognized standards for responsible farming. It strengthens trust in the company’s approach to sustainability, fish welfare, transparency across our operations.

Reaching 100% ASC certification across the Group is an important milestone and reflects our continued commitment to responsible salmon farming, high standards, and continuous improvement across all our operations.

It strengthens trust in the company’s approach to sustainability, biosecurity, transparency, and continuous improvement. From now on, they said, Bakkafrost Group will continue to prioritize responsible growth, innovation, and leadership in sustainability as the business develops its operations in both regions.

Bakkafrost enters Global 100 Most Sustainable Companies list by Corporate Knights

Some weeks ago, Bakkafrost has been named in the Corporate Knights 2026 Global 100 list, the annual ranking of the world’s most sustainable companies. In the 2026 Global 100, Bakkafrost is ranked 83rd worldwide and 2nd in the Food and Beverage Manufacturing Group. The Global 100 list is compiled by the research and media company Corporate Knights and was published at the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos.

Inclusion in the 2026 Global 100 reflects continued, organization-wide work to strengthen sustainable performance across operations and the value-chain. The list highlights sustainable performance and reflects Bakkafrost‘s strategy of ensuring that every part of the value chain meets the highest international standards for sustainability and transparency. Bakkafrost aims to use resources responsibly, minimize environmental impact, respect people, and create value for stakeholders and society.

The Corporate Knights Global 100 is an annual ranking of the world’s 100 most sustainable companies. It assesses publicly traded companies with revenues above USD 1 billion and highlights measurable performance linked to companies’ products and services. The 2026 Global 100 list is available on Corporate Knights’ website: 2026 Global 100 list.

Top Quality Salmon Products

Bakkafrost is a leading producer of superior quality salmon from the Faroe Islands and Scotland. They offer a wide range of healthy and nutritious salmon products from their own facilities. 2The cool and steady sea temperatures of the North Atlantic Current in the Faroe Islands and Scotland provides perfect conditions for raising healthy and robust Atlantic salmon,” they say.

Bakkafrost is one of the world’s most vertically integrated salmon farming companies. Bakkafrost controls all aspects of production – from feed to finished value added products. This ensures unrivalled traceability and consistent high quality. Their longstanding experiences in the seafood industry and their focus on providing their customers with top quality salmon products has made Bakkafrost well reputed as a reliable and responsible partner.

“We are committed to maintaining the highest standards in relation to fish welfare, sustainability and sound stewardship of the environment. We are dedicated to providing consumers worldwide with top quality tasty and nutritious salmon products,” they assure.

BioMar Strengthens R&D at ATC Hirtshals to Support New Species and Global Growth

Edusehat — Wed, 06 May 2026 07:20:05 +0700

• While initially focused on cold-water species, they already conducted successful trials with yellowtail kingfish and are now including species like barramundi

• The research center has 15 experimental trial units, 27 recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and more than 350 tanks

BioMar reported that they are expanding their research and development activities at its Aquaculture Technology Centre (ATC) in Hirtshals, Denmark, to support the introduction of new species into its global portfolio. As the company grows into new markets, the need for targeted scientific research on key species such as yellowtail kingfish and barramundi is increasing, strengthening BioMar’s ability to deliver species-specific nutritional solutions worldwide.

ATC Hirtshals is the largest research facility within BioMar and one of the most advanced aquaculture research centers in Europe. The site includes 15 experimental trial units, 27 recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), and more than 350 tanks, enabling controlled and large-scale testing across a wide range of species and life stages.

“Expanding into new species is a natural step as aquaculture continues to evolve,” said Simon Wadsworth, Global R&D Director at BioMar. “Our role is to generate the scientific knowledge needed to support farmers with reliable, well-documented nutritional solutions adapted to each species and production environment.”

The planned projects will focus on developing feeding strategies, improving biological performance, and strengthening predictive performance models for barramundi. This work will contribute to building operational knowledge that can be transferred across regions and production systems.

Leading Position in High-Value Marine Species

ATC Hirtshals has a strong track record working with major species such as salmon, trout, seabass and seabream throughout the different stages of their life cycle, including the hatchery stage at the Larviva Hatchery Hub. BioMar holds a leading position in high-value marine species, with more than 30 years supplying seabass and seabream producers and around 20 years of dedicated nutritional trials at Hirtshals covering the full production cycle.

Over the years, this work has spanned nutritional requirements, raw material documentation, environmental challenges and feeding optimization, building the deep, long-standing expertise in Mediterranean marine species that provides a solid foundation for developing and validating feed solutions across BioMar‘s global markets.

While initially focused on cold-water species, ATC Hirtshals has increasingly expanded its work with warm-water species. In recent years, successful trials have been conducted with yellowtail kingfish, a species of growing global importance and of relevance for our business in Europe and Australia.

Building on this experience, BioMar is now expanding its research portfolio to include several new key species, where the first step is barramundi. This species represents a key opportunity in several targeted markets, particularly in Australia and southeast Asia, and will be the focus of upcoming innovation at our Hirtshals facility.

Integrated Into the Global Innovation Framework

For his part, David Whyte, Managing Director of BioMar Australia, comments: “For BioMar Australia, barramundi and yellowtail kingfish are two of the most promising species in Australian aquaculture. They are central to the growth of the country’s warm-temperate and tropical sector and we need to support the fish’s nutritional requirements under Australia’s range of production systems and environments. Our commitment to the success of Aquaculture in our region is underpinned by the exciting work planned at Hirshals”.

According to them, thanks to this expansion in its R&D scope, “BioMar continues to reinforce its ability to support customers across a broader range of markets. The work carried out in Hirtshals is integrated into BioMar’s global innovation framework, ensuring that insights generated at the centre contribute directly to feed development and performance optimization worldwide.”

How Modern Farmers Mitigate the Effects of Agriculture on the Environment?

Edusehat — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:55:07 +0700

The effects of agriculture on the environment have been well studied, with hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific papers published on the topic in the past few years. Farming has been found to accelerate climate change, introduce toxins into watersheds, and negatively impact local biodiversity.

Each year, the global food system grows increasingly larger and more complex, and the need for greater sustainability during agricultural production has increased concurrently. Without a concerted effort from growers, distributors, and consumers, the food supply that communities across the world depend on will be at risk.

Fortunately, modern farmers are leading the charge toward a more sustainable food system for their local communities and the world at large. Let’s consider some of the innovative practices farmers use to mitigate the environmental effects of agriculture. Pioneered by small-scale local farms, these techniques are now being adopted worldwide to promote long-term ecosystem health.

Reducing Carbon Footprints

According to the USDA, agriculture contributes about 10.6 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, totaling hundreds of millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide and its equivalents per year. These emissions are generated by every aspect of the agricultural process, from the carbon dioxide directly produced by the machinery used during production and distribution to the nitrous oxide created by fertilizers and livestock manure. Promoting long-term sustainability is a matter of reducing these greenhouse gas emissions wherever possible.

One major contributor to carbon dioxide production during agriculture is the tilling process itself. Whenever the soil is disturbed, microbes living inside it release the byproducts of decomposition, including greenhouse gases. Modern farmers have employed multiple techniques for ensuring that this CO2 remains sequestered in the soil. For example, they often plant cover crops as a source of protection from erosion and runoff. These cover crops also help to absorb carbon, preventing it from reentering the atmosphere.

Conserving Water

Fresh water is one of the rarest and most valuable commodities on the planet. Only 3 percent of the water in the world is freshwater, and the majority of that is impossible to access for human use, as it is frozen in ice caps or held in the atmosphere or deep underground. That means only about 0.5 percent of the world’s water is usable by humans.

Of that 0.5 percent, the agriculture industry is by far the largest user of freshwater on the planet, employing about 70 percent of the worldwide water supply. Unfortunately, much of this water is also wasted. The numbers are truly staggering: Some estimates suggest as much as 60 percent, or more, is lost as a result of inefficient agricultural practices.

Mitigating the effects of agriculture on the environment requires vastly improving water management on farms, a task that modern farmers are now working to undertake. Innovative methods of watering crops, such as drip irrigation, are being implemented worldwide. Irrigation scheduling software can also be used to ensure water is supplied to crops when it is needed the most and in exactly the right amounts.

Precision Farming

A great deal of the environmental impact of farming can be minimized by the process of precision farming. This technique utilizes modern technology to reduce waste and eliminate the inefficiencies that plague traditional farms. This technology allows for the collection of vast amounts of data from any agricultural project. For example, GPS technology can be used to create extremely accurate maps of a given area, enabling farmers to determine which areas are best suited for specific crops.

Precision farming techniques also employ software to analyze and predict groundwater levels, helping farmers to determine crops’ exact irrigation needs, down to the drop. This both reduces the farm’s overall water usage and eliminates harmful runoff that can carry pollutants into the local water supply. Precision farming is also used to track and predict the life cycles of pest insects, helping farms use smaller quantities of harmful pesticide chemicals than they have in the past.

Crop Rotation

Another farming practice that reduces resource usage in agriculture is crop rotation. This involves changing the type of crop grown in a specific field on an annual or seasonal basis.

Growing the same crops in the same location season after season can strain local environments. This eventually depletes the soil of necessary nutrients. It also provides pest insects with a tempting and predictable environment in which to establish themselves. Crop rotation addresses these concerns by recycling and restoring the soil, increasing the diversity of plant life available in the area, and disrupting pest life cycles.

The benefits are multifold. Interrupting pest life cycles reduces pest species populations, which in turn minimizes the amount of harmful pesticides introduced to the local environment. Soil regeneration and increased plant diversity mean a stronger local ecosystem overall. All of this supports the presence of beneficial local wildlife, including pollinators, which can then further reinforce the health of both the crops and the surrounding environment.

Small-scale farming operations, including the sustainable potato farms in Washington State, have successfully employed crop rotation to boost yields and strengthen local environments. Now these tried-and-true techniques are being employed on larger farms worldwide.

Using Renewable Energy

Farms can also cut down on their carbon emissions and reduce their environmental impacts by utilizing renewable energy sources to power operations. There are dozens of ways renewable energy can be used during the agricultural process.

One of the best and most effective is installing solar panels on the farmland. Solar panels absorb solar radiation during the day, which can help meet the energy requirements of the farm. They also provide a source of shade for the crops, which can protect them from excessive heat and further improve the output and efficiency of the growing operation.

Whether you are a generational farmer with a small-scale growing operation or the owner of a large-scale agricultural business, the sustainable practices listed above can help your farm save money, increase yields, and reduce the environmental impact of the growing process. Consider implementing them to support the health of your local ecosystem and be a part of the future of agriculture.

Quality That Shows in the Harvest: How to Choose Products That Deliver Real Results

Edusehat — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:35:06 +0700

By Aquaculture Magazine Editorial Team

Modern aquaculture, particularly tilapia farming, is experiencing a period of high technical demands. Rather than merely seeking to increase production volumes, producers now seek stability, predictability, and consistent results that allow them to plan their operations with less risk. In this context, the maturation and reproduction phase has become one of the most critical aspects of the production system. Small physiological variations can result in significant economic differences.

Given this scenario, choosing nutritional and functional products is no longer a secondary decision. Not all products perform equally, nor are they all manufactured to the same quality standards. Experience gained from field trials demonstrates that product quality — including formulation, process control, certifications, and consistency — is a determining factor in reducing reproductive variability and improving farming results.

This article focuses on tilapia maturation and analyzes how incorporating a certified, high-quality product like MegaTure-F directly impacts reproductive indicators. Results from a renowned Ecuadorian aquaculture company confirm that when quality is the cornerstone of product development, the benefits are clearly and measurably reflected on the farm.

Tilapia Maturation: A Highly Sensitive Process

Reproduction in tilapia is a biologically demanding process. During maturation, broodstock must allocate significant energy toward gamete formation while coping with confinement, handling, environmental fluctuations, and metabolic stress. Imbalances in this process negatively impact fertility, egg quality, and fry viability.

One of the least visible yet most critical factors at this stage is oxida- tive stress. Free radicals cause cellular damage in reproductive tissues and glands, forcing the animal to divert energy toward defense mechanisms instead of reproduction. This “hiddencost” reduces the system’s biological efficiency and increases variability between production cycles.

Reducing this defensive energy expenditure requires attention to both nutrition and the quality of the products used. Only stable formulations with high-purity ingredients and controlled processes can effectively influence these physiological mechanisms without causing side effects.

In tilapia breeding, using feed manufactured under strict quality standards is essential for achieving reproductive stability, biological efficiency, and consistent results in each production cycle.

When it comes to the maturation of tilapia, critical decision are key. The difference lies not only in nutrition, but also in the quality of the product that underpins each production outcome.To achieve reproductive stability, reduce variability, and maximize biological performance, it is essential to choose inputs manufactured to strict standards with verifiable certifications and consistent field performance. Experience in Ecuador shows that quality is not an abstract concept; it is measured by viable fry, reproductive efficiency, and sustainable results.

Product Quality: The Attribute That Makes All the Difference

In aquaculture, quality is an operational necessity, not just a marketing slogan. Aquaculturists value products that perform consistently from batch to batch, remain stable over time, and produce measurable results in real-world farming conditions. This is indeed one of the most highly recognized value attributes by Megasupply’s customers, according to user and potential client surveys.

MegaTure-F was developed with this in mind — quality as the foundation of performance. The product holds four SGS certification seals attesting to its manufacture under strict quality standards, ingredient traceability, and process control. These certifications validate the formulation and guarantee the product’s stability, consistency, and safety for continuous use.

In a market where many products promise results but few deliver them over time, certified quality is a real differentiator. Consistent products are key to reducing production variability, one of the main challenges in tilapia farming.

In tilapia breeding, using feed manufactured under strict quality standards is essential for achieving reproductive stability, biological efficiency, and consistent results in each production cycle.

Selecting products with verifiable certifications is not just a formality; it guarantees performance. Controlling the formulation, ingredients, and processes translates into lower physiological stress, improved fertility, and reduced reproductive variability.

MegaTure-F: Quality Applied to Reproductive Physiology

MegaTure-F is a high-quality nutritional emulsion formulated specifically for breeding animals. It works by combining vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in precise amounts. Selenium and the enzyme glutathione peroxidase play key roles in neutralizing hydrogen peroxide (Figure 1).

From a physiological perspective, this action results in:

✓ Protection of reproductive cells.

✓ Reduction of oxidative damage.

✓ Metabolic energy savings

✓ Increased energy availability for gamete production.

This approach does not force reproduction; rather, it optimizes the animal’s natural biological efficiency. The quality of the product ensures these processes occur stably, without peaks or abrupt drops in reproductive performance.

Design of Field Trials in Ecuador

The findings presented in this article are based on a field trial conducted from 2023 to 2024 at a leading Ecuadorian aquaculture company. The study evaluated the impact of MegaTure-F on tilapia broodstock diets under real-world farming conditions.

Key features of the study

✓ Start date: September 25, 2023.

✓ Base diet: GISIS TILAPIA balanced feed for broodstock (36% protein).

✓ Treatment: Addition of MegaTure- F at controlled doses (15 ml/kg).

The sample includes six batches of broodstock with variable biomass (weights ranging from 267 g to 5,929 g). The experimental design enabled comparison of previous cycles with treated cycles and evaluation of key indicators of fertility, hatching, and total fry production. The methodological consistency of the trial reinforces the validity of the obtained results.

Results from field trials demonstrate that quality is more than just marketing talk. It is a technical factor that directly impacts hatchery efficiency, the production of viable fry, and the stability of the reproductive system, even when using the same infrastructure.

Results: When Quality Translates into Numbers

The results of the field trial clearly demonstrate sustained improvements in all evaluated reproductive indicators, confirming the direct impact of product quality on crop performance.

Improved fertility in females

✓ A 20% increase in the percentage of females that spawned (Figure 2).

✓ A 49% increase in the volume of eggs collected (Figure 2).

These results reflect improved re- productive efficiency. They are associated with better physiological condition in the breeding stock.

Hatching efficiency and viability

✓ A 54% increase in the viable hatch rate.

✓ A notable case was when one batch’s hatch rate rose from 30% to 85%.

One of the most significant findings was the reduction in variability between batches, which demonstrates the stability provided by a high-quality product.

Total fry production

✓ An 89.9% increase in the total number of hatched fry.

✓ Production nearly doubled using the same infrastructure.

From a commercial standpoint, this is a key point: the quality of the product made it possible to maximize yield without the need for additional investments in facilities.

Normalized productivity

The number of fries per kilogram of females increased by 33%, confirming that the improvement was genuine and not merely volumetric.

Quality, stability, and reduced variability

One of the biggest challenges in tilapia breeding is variability between production cycles. Fluctuations in fertility, hatching, and survival create operational uncertainty and affect planning.

The results obtained with MegaTure-F demonstrate that product quality directly contributes to greater reproductive stability.

✓ Greater reproductive stability.

✓ Less variation in results between batches.

✓ Greater predictability in fry production.

Megasupply’s customers particularly value this, recognizing quality as a key attribute for reducing risks and improving production decision- making.

Megasupply: A Company Built on Quality

Field results are not an isolated occurrence, but rather a reflection of a business philosophy. Megasupply has established its presence in the aquaculture market by offering high-quality products, as evidenced by stable formulations, international certifications, and technical support. When market perception aligns with field results, the message becomes credible and effective.

Megasupply‘s value proposition is based on the clear principle that product quality is the foundation of farm performance. This quality is recognized by our customers and is reflected in our stable formulations, international certifications, and consistent results under real production conditions.

Conclusions

Experience with tilapia breeding in Ecuador confirms that product qual- ity is not an abstract concept, but rather a decisive factor in production outcomes. Using MegaTure-F improved fertility, hatching efficiency, and total fry production. This reduced variability and increased the stability of the breeding system. These results, obtained under real-world farming conditions, demonstrate the effectiveness of a product manufactured under strict quality standards and supported by international certifications. In aquaculture, choosing quality is an investment that yields real, sustainable results, not an additional cost.

This article is sponsored by: MEGASUPPLY

This is a summarized version developed by the editorial team of Aquaculture Magazine based on the review article titled “ESTUDIO DE CASO: OPTIMIZACIÓN DE ÍNDICES REPRODUCTIVOS EN TILAPIA” y “MEGATURE-F: EMULSIÓN NUTRICIONAL PARA CAMARONES Y PECES EN MADURACIÓN SEXUAL” developed by: MEGASUPPLY.
Página web: www.megasupply.net
Email: orders@megasupply.net

Coldep Demonstrates 95% Norovirus Reduction in Seawater Using Its VAL AQUA Technology

Edusehat — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:05:18 +0700

By Coldep

First scientific demonstration of norovirus extraction from seawater by vacuum flotation.

As part of the NoVLess project, conducted with a consortium of six scientific and institutional partners, French water treatment company Coldep has demonstrated that its VAL AQUA technology reduces norovirus levels in seawater by 95% in just 120 minutes. The experiments, carried out at the Mediterranean Marine Environment Station (SMEL) in Sète, France, between 2025 and 2026, following a protocol reviewed by IFREMER, represent the first scientific proof that a vacuum flotation process can extract norovirus from seawater. For a shellfish industry that has had no proven technical solution against this viral threat, these results open a concrete path forward.

Coldep announces the results of the NoVLess project, carried out with a consortium of six scientific and institutional partners: its VAL AQUA technology achieved a 95% reduction in norovirus levels in seawater within 120 minutes.

The experiments were conducted between 2025 and 2026 at the Mediterranean Marine Environment Station (SMEL) in Sète, France, following a protocol reviewed by IFREMER, France’s national reference institute for marine science. They constitute the first scientific demonstration that a vacuum flotation process can extract norovirus from seawater.

For the global shellfish industry, these results mark a turning point. Until now, no technical solution had proven effective against norovirus, which causes recurring contamination events, prolonged harvesting area closures and significant economic losses for producers worldwide.

Robust, Reproducible Results Across Two Seasons

95% viral load reduction in treated water within 120 minutes (from 37 to 8 million genomic copies per liter).
x21 concentration factor in the collector (from 12M to 254M GU/L, +1.3 log) — confirming the physical microbubble extraction mechanism.
Mass balance verified: The viral reduction in treated water correlates directly with accumulation in the collector. The mechanism is physical and confirmed.
Two seasons tested: Summer conditions (April–May 2025) and winter conditions (January 2026, with viral loads 15 times higher) for robust assessment.
Independent dual analysis: Every sample analyzed by two independent laboratories — IAGE (digital RT-PCR) and LDV34/Hérault Departmental Veterinary Laboratory (quantitative RT-PCR). Cross-validated, concordant results.
Protocol reviewed by IFREMER, France’s national reference institute for marine science.

Regarding oysters: VAL AQUA acts on the water, not on the shellfish’s metabolism. By removing viruses from the tank water, it eliminates the source of recontamination and thereby supports natural depuration.

“Norovirus particles are just 30 nanometres in size. Until now, no one had demonstrated that a flotation process could extract particles that fine from seawater. That is what the NoVLess project establishes. And we did it under real conditions, across two seasons, with winter viral loads fifteen times higher than summer. The results hold”,— Bertrand Barrut, CTO, Coldep.

A Global Challenge for the Shellfish Industry

Norovirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide and is responsible for over 40% of foodborne illness outbreaks linked to shellfish consumption. Because oysters are filter feeders, they naturally concentrate viral particles present in their environment.

This is not a localised problem. From Ireland to Australia, from Chile to Spain, shellfish-producing regions face the same pattern: winter contamination events, prolonged harvesting closures, economic damage to producers, and growing regulatory pressure — with no validated technical solution available until now.

Two Concrete Deployment Pathways

Upstream — VAL AQUA installed at wastewater treatment plant outlets to eliminate viruses before discharge into coastal waters and shellfish farming zones.

Downstream — continuous water treatment in holding and depuration tanks to prevent recontamination and support natural depuration.

A Proven Technology, Now Backed by Nijhuis Saur Industries

The VAL process (vacuum airlift flotation), at the core of VAL AQUA, is patented and Solar Impulse-labelled since 2021. Its first deployment in shellfish farming dates back to 2018. Today, over 100 aquaculture sites worldwide are equipped — including fish farms (RAS), shellfish operations and public aquariums.

Since October 2025, Coldep is part of Nijhuis Saur Industries (NSI), a global leader in water treatment. This integration strengthens Coldep’s deployment capacity while preserving the agility of its Montpellier-based engineering team.

About Coldep

Coldep is a French company specialising in high-performance water treatment. Its patented VAL (Vertical Air Lift) technology originated from research conducted at IFREMER and INSA Lyon. Initially developed for aquaculture, it now extends to other high-potential applications including desalination pre-treatment and PFAS removal. Coldep has equipped over 100 sites worldwide and has been part of Nijhuis Saur Industries since October 2025. coldep.com

Aquaticode and Ilknak Enter Agreement to Deploy AI Phenotyping and Sorting for 300 Million Sea Bass and Sea Bream

Edusehat — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:05:14 +0700

By Aquaticode

Hatcheries producing sea bass and sea bream have traditionally relied on manual visual assessment to evaluate juveniles and identify weak or unviable individuals. At the volumes required by modern commercial operations, this approach is labor-intensive, highly variable, and unable to provide the biological consistency needed to optimize outcomes across large cohorts.

Aquaticode has entered into a commercial agreement with Ilknak to deploy its AquaLens technology for the phenotyping and sorting of 300 million sea bass and sea bream. Under the agreement, Aquaticode will lease its AquaLens systems to Ilknak, enabling AI-powered assessment and physical sorting of juveniles across Ilknak’s hatchery operations.

“Ilknak is one of the most signiﬁcant juvenile producers in the world, and this agreement is a clear signal of where the industry is heading,” said Stian Rognlid, CEO of Aquaticode. “AquaLens brings a level of biological precision to hatchery production that was not previously achievable at commercial scale. We are proud to be working with Ilknak and to be deploying this technology where it can have a direct impact on outcomes.”

AquaLens uses multi-sensor imaging and deep learning to assess individual ﬁsh in real time and sort out unviable individuals at the point of assessment. By identifying and physically removing weak or unviable ﬁsh early, producers can reduce unnecessary feed, labor, and tank capacity spent on ﬁsh that will not perform, improve cohort uniformity, and support better animal welfare outcomes from the earliest stage of production.

“Quality at the juvenile stage determines what is possible later in the production cycle,” said Georgios Meletiadis, CEO, Ilknak. “We have always invested in the best available technology, and AquaLens gives us a level of individual-level insight that was simply not available before. Applying this across 300 million ﬁsh represents a meaningful step forward for how we operate.”

Georgios Meletiadis, Ilknak CEO.

The agreement builds on Aquaticode’s growing presence in Mediterranean species. The Ilknak agreement represents a major step in the commercial deployment of AquaLens at scale across the Mediterranean aquaculture industry.

About Aquaticode

Aquaticode is the global leader in AI phenotyping and sorting for aquaculture. The company’s multi-sensor imaging and deep-learning systems provide real-time insight into ﬁsh health, robustness, and performance across species and production stages. With operations tripling year-on-year, Aquaticode is deployed with leading producers across multiple continents.

About Ilknak

Ilknak is one of the world’s leading producers of Mediterranean Sea bass and sea bream. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Turkey, the company operates four modern hatcheries with a combined annual capacity of 300 million juveniles, and three offshore ﬁsh farms producing sea bass, sea bream, and pagrus. Ilknak is the biggest Mediterranean juvenile producer and seller worldwide, with a sales presence in Turkey, Greece, Italy and Albania.

Running For Resilience: 200 Miles for Aquaculture without Frontiers

Edusehat — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:05:10 +0700

By Aquaculture without Frontiers

In the television/streaming series Better Call Saul, the character Jimmy McGill often references far-flung places like Tajikistan to make his stories sound more impressive—more worldly, more convincing.

But audiences recognise what’s really happening: the story is doing the work, not the substance. There is none of that in the story of Ava Drake.

Through Running for Resilience, Ava Drake is not telling a story—she is living one. No embellishment. No distant references. Just commitment, effort, and purpose.

Supported by Aquaculture without Frontiers (AwF), Running for Resilience highlights a simple but powerful truth – real resilience is built through action, not narrative.

A Different Kind of Impact

In global development and food systems, there is often a temptation to amplify stories to reach for distant examples that sound more compelling than reality.

AwF takes a different approach. Working across communities worldwide, AwF focuses on:

Improving access to sustainable aquatic food.
Supporting livelihoods.
Strengthening local resilience.

These are not abstract concepts. They are practical, everyday actions that improve lives.

Why It Matters Now

At a time when global food systems are under pressure, resilience is no longer optional—it is essential.

Running for Resilience connects individual effort with global impact, demonstrating that:

Meaningful change starts locally.
Consistency matters more than scale.
Action is more powerful than words.

The concept has evolved from University of Stirling PhD candidate Ava Drake – “I’m not trying to tell a big story; I’m trying to make a small difference that adds up. Every step in this run is about resilience, for people and communities who rely on sustainable food systems.”

Aquaculture without Frontiers is engaged to ensure that funds obtained are maximised through governance processes. The AwF team of Dave Conley, Steve Dixon and Roy Palmer comment, “In a world full of big claims, Running for Resilience stands out because it is real. It reflects what we see every day—resilience built quietly, through food, livelihoods, and community.”

Running for Resilience is a reminder that we don’t need extraordinary narratives to create impact.

Resilience doesn’t need a storyline. It needs commitment.

Please join us on this journey with Ava – sponsorship space is still available (see below) but you can also donate at https://www.gofundme.com/f/avas-200mile-run-across-tajikistan-for-aquaculture-without

Sponsorship Package https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kRDqwNdl168VGmgHclx8hASZ_ieyRS0-/view

Contacts

Aquaculture without Frontiers

Australia/Oceania – Steve Dixon – email Steve.Dixon@see3group.com.au – Mobile +61 417 547 196

North America – Dave Conley – email dave@aquacomgroup.com – Mobile +1 613 294 3078

Global – Roy Palmer – email comms.awf@gmail.com – Mobile +61 419 528 733

Spotlight on African Women in Aquaculture as the AUDA-NEPAD, World Aquaculture Society (African Chapter) and Partners Commemorate the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026

Edusehat — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:05:06 +0700

By Word Aquaculture Society (African Chapter)

Women are central to fisheries and aquaculture value chains in Africa, fulfilling critical roles across producing, harvesting, processing, trading, and retail, and often underpinning household food security and local economies. Women comprise a significant proportion — particularly in post-harvest segments — where their labour adds value, reduces losses, and sustains market systems, yet their contributions remain largely informal and undervalued.

According to AUDA-NEPAD, empowering women in fisheries and aquaculture value chains is a matter of equity, and also a strategic imperative for achieving inclusive economic growth, improved nutrition, and resilient aquatic food systems. Evidence shows that when women have equitable access to resources, finance, technology, and decision-making platforms, productivity increases, incomes rise, and benefits are more likely to be reinvested in families and communities. Strengthening women’s roles in fisheries and aquaculture also accelerates progress toward continental priorities, while unlocking the full potential of aquatic foods as a driver of sustainable development across Africa.

The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026). The World Aquaculture Society African Chapter (WAS-AC), in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency – (AUDA-NEPAD) and its media partner Aquaculture Africa Media (AAM), have seized the opportunity to focus on women in fish farming; to highlight the crucial role they are playing in aquatic foods systems. In support to the IYWF commemorations, the FAO has created a Communications Handbook and Toolkit to guide its partners in developing strategic actions that may potentially amplify the celebrations of IYWF 2026. At the end of the year the WAS-AC plans to host a Special Side-Event at the upcoming Aquaculture Africa 2026 Conference in Tanzania (1-4 December 2026) to conclude the commemorations.

On March 24, 2026, a pioneering webinar session was held to raise awareness and promote initiatives aimed at enhancing women’s livelihoods in aquaculture. The session attracted nearly 300 participants from around the world, primarily from Africa. Keynote speakers included Dr. Khalid Salie (President of the WAS-AC); Dr. Foluke Areola, (President Elect of WAS); Dr. Bernice McLean (Head of the Blue Economy Unit at AUDA-NEPAD); and Ms. Jennifer Gee (FAO Gender Lead for Fisheries and Aquaculture). The speakers all highlighted the importance of implementing strategic and impactful actions that support the critical roles of women aquaculture producers in Africa, particularly in terms of food security, nutrition, and poverty eradication.

Following the opening session, a panel of identified women champions from several African countries, including Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, and South Africa, spoke of their experience in aquaculture production. The champions had the opportunity to showcase their aquaculture enterprises, share their transformative journeys, discuss opportunities for scaling up, and highlight some of the challenges they face. The need for interventions to address long-term challenges such as increased access to land, credit, markets, education, training, and innovative technologies that can empower women was apparent. The solutions proposed included supportive regulations, institutions, and investments, as well as by encouraging collaboration among various stakeholders for women empowerment.

This webinar marks the beginning of a broader journey that AUDA-NEPAD, WAS-AC, and their partners plan to undertake this year. This journey will involve outreach initiatives to identify women aquaculture farmers across various regions of Africa, along with regional webinar sessions and other online engagements and activities – following up to the Communications Handbook and Toolkit. The commemoration will culminate in a final event at the Aquaculture Africa 2026 Conference (AFRAQ2026), scheduled to take place in Tanzania from December 1 to 4, 2026.

To learn more about the Webinar Session on Women in Aquaculture Production visit link. The webinar recording is available here.

Vičiūnai and Frais Embal take top honors at the 2026 Seafood Excellence Global Awards in Barcelona

Edusehat — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 04:30:14 +0700

Lithuania’s Vičiūnai Group and France’s Frais Embal have won top honors at the 2026 Seafood Excellence Global Awards held at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, the world’s largest seafood trade show. The winners were selected from among 35 finalists and announced at a special Seafood Excellence Global Awards reception. The competition recognizes the best products showcased at Seafood Expo Global, and the Seafood Excellence Global finalists were evaluated on taste and overall dining experience, packaging, marketability, convenience, nutritional value, and innovation. The judges’ evaluations were verified by the auditing firm PwC.

The top prize for Best Retail Product was awarded to Vičiūnai Group for its entry Smoked Herring Slices – Natural Flavor. This product is made with simple ingredients and is ready to eat straight from the package, featuring a clean, natural smoky flavor. The jury highlighted the balance between the flavor of the herring and the smoke, the excellent cut and packaging of the product, and the eye-catching packaging design.

Frais Embal won the grand prize for Best HORECA (hotel/restaurant/catering) Product for its Salmon Roll. This product consists of a thin, precisely cut rectangle of fresh salmon, ideal for sushi rolls and other culinary applications. Packaged in a modified atmosphere, the product offers uniform portions and streamlines preparation to improve restaurant operations and the dining experience for customers.

Four Special Awards

Meanwhile, Lerøy Seafood Group (Norway) received the Seafood Excellence Global Special Award for Convenience for its Fish Taco Sticks. With an intense flavor thanks to a unique blend of jalapeño and lime spices, these sticks are made with Atlantic haddock coated in a crispy gluten-free batter. They are designed to make it easy to incorporate fish into family taco dinners.

The Seafood Excellence Global Special Award for Retail Packaging went to Sykes Seafood Limited (United Kingdom) for its Argentine Red Shrimp with Chimichurri Butter product. The product combines Argentine red shrimp with a vibrant herb butter and crushed chili. It comes in a recyclable aluminum tray, perfect for the recommended oven-baking method. The packaging is complemented by an attractive cardboard sleeve that displays the finished product on the front and provides detailed consumer information on the back.

Iceco Fish (Lithuania) won the Seafood Excellence Global Award for Best Seafood Product Line for its range of herring tartares. The products are made with finely chopped, top-quality Atlantic herring, balanced with other high-quality ingredients. The line includes Original, Scandinavian, and Fine Herbs flavors, and is presented in recyclable tubs with cardboard sleeves featuring a modern and bold design.

Reunimer (Reunion Island) won the Seafood Excellence Global Award for Innovation for its Gravelax de Merlin. This product offers a refined interpretation of the Nordic curing technique applied to firm, lean marlin fillets. The fish is delicately cured with sea salt, sugar, fresh dill, and spices, resulting in a dense, velvety texture and a beautiful translucent pink hue.

Representatives From 16 Countries

The winners of the 2026 Seafood Excellence Global Awards were selected from among 35 finalists representing 16 countries from around the world. The winners and finalists were showcased in the Galleria, located between Halls 4 and 5 at Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, which ran through April 23.

The jury for the Seafood Excellence Global 2026 competition consisted of Raül Cervera, Director of Seafood Purchasing for La Sirena stores in Spain; Madeleine Hüffelmann, Private Label Buyer for the Rewe Group in Germany; Damien Bocahu, Seafood Buyer for Picard Surgelés in France; and Percy Addo, Purchasing Manager for the Wonderfield Group in the United Kingdom. Cervera served as jury chair.

The Seafood Excellence Global finalists were evaluated on taste and overall dining experience, packaging, marketability, convenience, nutritional value, and innovation. The judges’ evaluations were verified by the auditing firm PwC.

New Survey Shows People Are Ready for Food Made from Seafood Sidestreams

Edusehat — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 04:30:10 +0700

By Hailia

The new study asked more than 1,500 people from the UK, Sweden, and Germany about their attitudes towards food products made from seafood sidestreams. The survey shows 74% of respondents have a positive or neutral attitude towards eating food made from filleting sidestreams, pointing to new growth opportunities for processors

European consumers are increasingly ready to incorporate products made from seafood sidestreams into their everyday diets, according to a new survey conducted for Nordic seafood technology company Hailia. The findings indicate that consumer acceptance, long considered a key barrier, may no longer limit the wider use of sidestreams, opening up new opportunities for seafood processors and food manufacturers to turn underutilized raw materials into scalable, value-added products. With the strongest support seen among younger (aged 24-34), urban, and highly educated consumers, the results indicate that these products are well-positioned to enter mainstream formats such as ready meals, workplace catering, and quick-service dining.

The study shows that respondents in Sweden and the UK have an overwhelmingly positive attitude towards these products, with 58% and 55%, respectively, seeing food products from sidestreams as a good thing. The German market follows slightly behind at 49%. Only 19% responded negatively to the idea of these products. For food processors facing increasing pressure to improve yield, reduce waste, and meet sustainability targets, the findings suggest that consumer acceptance may no longer be a key barrier to scaling sidestream-based product innovation.

When asked which situations or use cases products from sidestreams would be most suitable, a large proportion of respondents answered that they could see these products in ready meals, quick-service restaurants, and cafeterias in workplaces or public institutions. Many consumers also indicated openness to using such ingredients in home cooking, reinforcing their versatility across both consumer-facing products and business-to-business ingredient applications. Notably, 59% of respondents reported a positive attitude towards sidestream-based products in lunch catering, compared to just 16% who responded negatively, highlighting strong potential in institutional and contract catering segments.

Among the most common answers, respondents stated that these products would be a good alternative source for protein, make it easier to consume fish as part of convenient, everyday diets, and provide the sustainability and ethical benefits of using more of each fish for human consumption. The main concern raised was the perception that sidestream-based products are overly processed or “artificial.” In reality, the production involves familiar, straightforward steps: refining, mixing, and cooking, similar to how many everyday foods like meatballs, falafel, or nuggets are prepared. Much like turning raw ingredients into smoothies, patties, or pancakes at home, these products are made using standard food preparation techniques rather than complex industrial processes.

“We see clear signals that consumers are open to incorporating these products into their daily lives, but transparency is essential to building lasting trust,” says Michaela Lindström, CEO of Hailia. “Sidestreams are handled with the same care and quality standards as fillets, and the process itself is simple and familiar: refining, seasoning, forming, cooking. Nothing that wouldn’t happen in a professional kitchen. When people understand that, the hesitation tends to disappear. A majority are already on board, fewer than one in five are opposed, and the large group in the middle simply needs more familiarity with what these products actually are, and the chance to taste them.”

Michaela Lindström, CEO of Hailia.

The survey shows that positive attitudes are most common among younger age groups, particularly 18-34. Also, the majority of positive respondents reported living in urban areas and cities, where ready-made meals are common, and there is more openness to trying new foods. Families with children, people with higher education, people with high-protein diets, and the environmentally conscious also report more positive attitudes towards using sidestreams for food products than other reference groups.

Between the three countries, German respondents emphasize innovation, food quality, and process transparency as most important. In Sweden, the most common open answers focus on greater circularity and an emphasis on climate impact, while UK consumers are more concerned with practical applications and fish products as a source of protein.

“We expected that young, urban people would be more receptive to new food products, but we have seen that the answers are not that different between age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds. The survey shows that overall, people have a positive attitude towards innovative food products, and they see the benefits of trying new things,” Lindström continues.

1,512 people were interviewed for the study, undertaken by Consumer Compass for Hailia during a 14-day period in March 2026. Respondents were evenly split between the markets. The survey consisted of 50 questions in 10 sections. Respondents were asked a series of questions around their attitudes towards food products made from sidestreams in general, as well as their thoughts on health benefits, suitability, nutrition, and sustainability. Questions on attitudes towards processed food, as well as food safety and responsible consumption, were also part of the study.

About Hailia

Hailia Nordic Oy develops novel and resource-efficient seafood processing technologies, producing innovative seafood products. Founded in 2021, Hailia aims to revolutionize resource efficiency in the seafood industry by maximizing the use of underutilized fish raw materials. Hailia‘s technology transforms these materials into high-value seafood products, contributing to a more sustainable food system. The company also licenses its cutting-edge technology to international fish processing companies. The company’s investors and partners include Nordic Foodtech VC, Heino Group Oy, Tradeka-sijoitus Oy, Holdix Oy Ab, Ikorni Invest Oy Ab, and Dana Technology Aps. www.hailia.fi

Shifting Demographics and Enhanced Consumer Trust: The Seafood Trends Driving Rapid Growth in China

Edusehat — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 04:30:05 +0700

By Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC)

The Norwegian Seafood Council’s latest consumer trends report outlines the key drivers shaping China’s growing appetite for seafood.

The annual seafood consumer trends report from the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) has this year shifted its focus to the Chinese market. With a deep dive into this global superpower, Seafood Trends 2026: The China Report showcases market snapshots, interviews with NSC representatives and industry experts, and the latest insights on seafood consumption across China.

Global Trends Boosting the Chinese Seafood Market

With a population of more than 1.4 billion – concentrated in cities and urban areas around the southeast – China is a nation of diverse cultures and food preferences.

As in previous years, the NSC’s seafood consumer trends report outlines global megatrends and how they manifest for seafood consumers. So, how do these food trends show up in the Chinese seafood market?

✓ Growing middle class and declining birth rates.

✓ Growing number of single-person households.

✓ Supply chains, geopolitics and tariffs.

✓ Focus on convenience and health.

According to Sigmund Bjørgo, NSC Country Director in China: “These global megatrends create movement in the Chinese seafood market and play an important role in consumer purchasing decisions. These trends influence consumers’ trust, preference and overall behavior.

“China’s emergence as the fastest-growing market for Norwegian seafood exports in the past year has made it crucial to understand more of the mechanisms in Chinese consumer behavior behind this fast-growing market.”

Norwegian Seafood Council Annual Conference 2026 Sigmund Bjørgo China Director (Photo credit HaugenMedia).

Rapid Value Growth for Norwegian Seafood in China

In 2025, China emerged as the market with the highest value growth for Norwegian seafood, with an increase in export value of USD 311.26 million (31%) compared with the previous year. China purchased Norwegian seafood totaling USD 1.32 billion and stepped up from being the sixth largest market in 2024 to the third largest market in 2025.

Species	Proportion of Norwegian exports to China in 2025
Greenland halibut	78%
Redfish	52%
Cold-water prawns	26%
Haddock	24%
Mackerel	9%

Chinese Consumers’ Willingness to Try New Species

China’s vast size and population give way to a host of diverse cultures with different food traditions. The country’s eight regional ‘great cuisines’ are defined by heritage and flexibility, with different tastes based on centuries of tradition combined with a consumer willingness to try new things due to the variety on offer.

Bjørgo elaborates: “In fact, this is very much part of the Chinese philosophy of always being on the path of learning. This openness has only increased over recent decades as Chinese spending power has grown.”

This openness extends to imported food too, Bjørgo explains. But do imported foods always need to cater to local flavors and tastes?

In the case of salmon, Bjørgo says: “So far, salmon isn’t widely relevant to local tastes. In China salmon equals sashimi – full stop. And sashimi is by definition a foreign food. It is Japanese food and most people eat it for the first time in a Japanese restaurant. There isn’t even much focus on sushi – that is a small slice of the salmon category. It really is mainly sashimi.”

Though Norwegian salmon is cold-chain reliant, the fact that the product is favored by the rising middle class as a high-value species serves as further proof that this is a product that arrives fresh – and can be trusted.

Showcasing New Research and Industry Insight

In addition to insights from Bjørgo and NSC Marketing Advisor Savindar Xie, Seafood Trends 2026: The China Report features interviews with Rabobank analyst Novel Sharma and Undercurrent News journalist Louis Harkell, as well as the latest insights on the Chinese consumer.

Differing from previous reports, the NSC’s approach to consumer research this year was a case study of 24 shoppers, as they planned and shopped for their meals. The shoppers were split across the traditional tier-one cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and consumer habits were tracked across seven days of purchasing in October 2025.

According to NSC Consumer Analyst Lars Moksness: “We wanted to dive deeper into the specifics of consumer behavior and get detailed insights and answers from the people who participated. Through this new research, we’ve gained powerful new understanding of what influences the Chinese consumer.”

As China continues to evolve into one of the world’s fastest growing and most dynamic seafood markets, understanding the forces shaping consumer behavior is crucial. To explore these insights in greater detail, access Seafood Trends 2026: The China Report and discover the intricacies of this rapidly expanding market.

About the Norwegian Seafood Council 

The NSC is headquartered in Tromsø and maintains local representatives in some of Norway’s most important international markets. The Norwegian seafood industry finances the activities of the NSC via a tariff on all Norwegian seafood exports. The NSC is a public company owned by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries. 

The US Department of Agriculture Launches Its Office of Seafood

Edusehat — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:55:05 +0700

• The organism will play an important role in the development of the America First Seafood Strategy to promote production, marketing, sale and export of US fishery and aquaculture products.

United States (US) Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins recently announced the creation of the new US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Seafood. This first of its kind office will prioritize customer service and ease of navigation for American seafood cultivators, producers, and processors to access USDA programs. The USDA Office of Seafood will play an important role in coordinating with the US Department of Commerce in the development of the America First Seafood Strategy to promote production, marketing, sale, and export of US fishery and aquaculture products and strengthen domestic processing capacity.

According to them, with the creation of the USDA Office of Seafood, the Federal government now enters a new era of seafood policy where American fishermen and seafood producers will be recognized by USDA as a key part of the US food supply.

“With the launch of the USDA Office of Seafood, we are honoring decades of hard work on the water and opening the door to new opportunities, stronger support, and a brighter future for the seafood industry. Today’s announcement, in addition to the historic tax cuts and investments in rural America made possible through the priorities and provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts, is truly a new chapter for America’s fishermen,” said Rollins.

A Vital Part of the Nation’s Food Security

The announcement was made by Rollins alongside Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan and Maine Senator Susan Collins.

“The Department of the Interior is thrilled to support the establishment of the first-ever Seafood Office at the Department of Agriculture – an initiative that puts the people who help feed America first,” said Burgum. “American fishermen are the backbone of coastal economies and a vital part of our nation’s food security. By improving coordination across agencies, the Seafood Office will ensure these fishermen can fully access the tools and programs they need to thrive.”

Recognizing Farmers and Fishermen

One of the primary roles of the new office will be coordinating across USDA agencies to ensure seafood producers and fishermen are integrated into their programs and working alongside the US Department of Commerce and other Federal partners to revitalize the American seafood industry.

“Fishing is the very foundation of Maine’s heritage. Today, the seafood industry in our region generates more than USD 5 billion in income and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, in addition to providing a nutritious food supply, delicious restaurant meals, and sustaining entire coastal communities,” said Collins. “I appreciate that USDA is recognizing our fishermen as farmers of the sea and establishing the Office of Seafood. The creation of this office is a long overdue, essential step to expanding seats at the table for our hardworking fishing families, who are a key piece of our nation’s history and our future as well.”

For his part, Sullivan contributed his point of view: “Alaska’s fishermen deserve the same federal attention, resources, and risk management tools afforded to America’s incredible farmers. The new USDA Office of Seafood — an action I’ve been strongly advocating for over the past decade — opens the door to that opportunity. This office is going to benefit everybody: all of Alaska’s fishermen, our small businesses, and our many coastal and Interior communities from across the state. I thank Rollins and Lutnick for working closely with me and my team over the past year to fully understand the challenges facing our fishermen and coastal communities and for taking meaningful action on their behalf. With this new office, we’re going to build a stronger partnership between USDA, Department of Commerce, the entire Executive Branch, and our fishermen, so they can continue to do what they do best: sustainably harvesting the freshest and healthiest wild seafood in the world.”

First-Ever

The Representative Cammack finalized: “Proud to be part of the launch of the inaugural, first-ever USDA Office of Seafood! Food security is national security which means prioritizing domestic production and strengthening our food supply here at home. From our Florida coasts to communities across the country, we’re cutting red tape, backing our fishermen, and ensuring American seafood competes — and wins — on the world stage. This office will not only elevate and support commercial production, but also advance commonsense conservation so future generations can thrive in this industry. As Chair of the Aquaculture Caucus, I’m grateful for the tenacious leadership driving this effort forward”.

Davos, Capital, and the Australian Seafood Paradox

Edusehat — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:10:10 +0700

* By FishProf

FishProf noticed something quietly confronting in the global conversations emerging from Davos 2026: capital markets are beginning to treat food securitynotasasocialissue,butasamatter of economic and geopolitical stability. Food is being repriced — not because it is scarce today, but because systems that deliver it are fragile, inefficient, and poorly governed. This shift should ring alarm bells in many countries, but I use my country, Australia, as the example.

Australia is an island continent, surrounded by productive oceans, with one of the world’s largest Exclusive Economic Zones. It is similar in land mass to the United States yet supports a population of just 28 million compared to over 300 million in the US. Australia has more water resources than France, a nation of over 70 million people, and yet Australia imports more than 70% of the seafood it consumes.

FishProf believes this is not a production problem. It is a policy, governance, and vision failure.

Davos Reframes Food as Strategic Infrastructure

One of the strongest messages from Davos 2026 was that food systems are no longer viewed simply as marketdriven supply chains. They are now being reframed as strategic infrastructure, akin to energy, transport, or telecommunications.

Capital markets have noticed that food price volatility fuels inflation, undermines political stability, and directly impacts public health outcomes. Traditional tools — interest rates, subsidies, trade agreements — cannot stabilize food systems that are structurally misaligned.

FishProf noticed that aquaculture fits squarely within this new framing — yet in Australia, it continues to be treated as a niche sector burdened by fragmented regulation and inconsistent political support.

Australia by the numbers

» Land mass: ~7.7 million km² (similar to the USA).

» Population: ~28 million.

» Exclusive Economic Zone: ~8.2 million km² (one of the world’s largest).

» Seafood imports: 70–75% of seafood consumed in Australia.

» Exports: Predominantly high-value species (rock lobster, abalone, tuna).

Australia’s Seafood Dependence: A National Blind Spot

Australia’s reliance on imported seafood is often justified as a consumer preference or price issue. That explanation does not hold up.

FishProf noticed that Australia exports premium seafood — rock lobster, abalone, tuna — while importing lower-cost, everyday fish to feed its population. This is not inherently wrong, but it exposes a system optimized for trade value rather than food security.

At Davos, the warning was clear: countries that outsource their food resilience are exposing themselves to geopolitical, climate, and market shocks.

FishProf believes Australia has done exactly that with seafood.

Yellow Tail Kingfish Ceviche.

FishProf believes that if Australia treated seafood production as essential infrastructure — not a regulatory risk — capital, innovation, and scale would follow.

From “How Do We Stop You?” to “How Do We Help You?”

A recurring frustration across Australian aquaculture is regulatory culture. FishProf noticed that too often the starting question for regulators is: “How do we stop this from going wrong?”

rather than:

“How do we help this succeed responsibly?”

This mindset manifests as:

» Layered approvals across federal, state, and local levels.

» Lengthy timeframes that deter private investment.

» High compliance costs that favor incumbents over innovators.

At Davos, food system leaders acknowledged that excessive complexity, even when well-intentioned, undermines resilience by discouraging new production capacity.

FishProf believes Australia’s topheavy bureaucracy has become a hidden tax on domestic seafood production.

Feed Conversion Ratios (approximate)

» Beef: 6 – 10 kg feed per 1 kg weight gain.

» Pork: 3 – 4 kg.

» Chicken: 1.6 – 2 kg.

» Farmed fish (average): 1.1 – 1.5 kg.

» Shellfish: 0 kg (no formulated feed).

R&D Choices: Who Are We Really Feeding?

Australia invests heavily in aquaculture R&D, yet the direction of that investment raises uncomfortable questions.

FishProf noticed a strong focus on high-value carnivorous species. For example, millions of dollars invested in species such as pompano aimed largely at premium or export markets. Meanwhile, relatively little attention is paid to scalable, affordable, herbivorous or omnivorous species that could feed Australians every week.

Rabbitfish is one example. Hardy, fast-growing, herbivorous, and well suited to integrated systems, yet largely absent from national R&D priorities. As I write this, I notice a Northern Territory University advertising for a PhD to investigate this subject. On one hand this is good news as it means Rabbit Fish is on the R&D menu, but it is also bad news in that we are taking the slow train to get to the station.

FishProf believes this reflects a deeper problem: R&D is often aligned to commercial upside rather than national nutrition and food security outcomes.

Live crabs at market stall.

FishProf noticed that Australia has everything it needs to be a seafood-secure nation — except the will to align policy, science, and vision

Seaweed and Seagrass: The Missed Multipliers

At Davos, food systems were discussed not as single commodities but as interconnected platforms — where nutrition, climate mitigation, and economic resilience intersect.

Australia has world-class research capability in seaweed and seagrass — yet commercial deployment remains limited.

FishProf noticed that seaweed farming could:

» Support low-trophic aquaculture species.

» Reduce nutrient loads and improve water quality.

» Create new food, feed, and bioproduct streams.

» Strengthen coastal and regional economies.

Integrated systems combining herbivorous fish, shellfish, and seaweed are globally recognized as resilient and efficient — yet policy settings in Australia rarely encourage this kind of systems thinking.

FishProf believes Australia’s failure is not scientific — it is structural.

Sarah Holmyard, Offshore Shellfish UK, made a comment about attending the North Atlantic Seafood Forum recently highlighting her disappointment that such an insightful, well-run event was lacking a vision towards ‘space regenerative aquaculture’.

Sarah commented “If we are serious about feeding the future sustainably, regenerative aquaculture should not be a fringe topic. It delivers lowcarbon protein, enhances marine environments, and builds resilience in coastal communities. Put simply, it is one of the most powerful tools we have — yet it still isn’t talked about enough. Seafood is evolving quickly, and the choices we prioritize today will shape the sector for decades to come. Are we moving fast enough to support the solutions that can truly scale sustainable food production?”

Any industry/government or event planner should heed Sarah’s words.

Why shellfish matter

Shellfish such as oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops are among the most efficient animal protein sources on the planet.

» No external feed required.

» Filter plankton and nutrients naturally from the water.

» Improve water quality by removing excess nutrients.

» Low greenhouse gas footprint compared to terrestrial livestock.

Fishburger.

Where Is the Australian Blue Economy Vision?

Davos reinforced that countries making progress are those with cohesive national visions, where policy, finance, and regulation move in the same direction.

Australia talks about the blue economy — but rarely acts like it believes in one.

FishProf noticed that responsibility for aquaculture is scattered across portfolios: agriculture, environment, trade, industry, regional development — often working in silos.

The result?

» No clear national seafood selfsufficiency targets.

» No nutritional outcomes linked to aquaculture policy.

» No coordinated investment framework to scale production.

FishProf believes Australia doesn’t lack opportunity — it lacks alignment.

Food, Health, and Well-Being: The Missing Link

A major Davos theme was the convergence of food and health. Food is no longer just calories — it is preventative healthcare.

Seafood is one of the most nutrient-dense foods available, yet Australia’s dietary guidelines and food security strategies rarely link aquaculture expansion with public health outcomes.

FishProf noticed rising rates of diet-related chronic disease alongside declining seafood consumption in some demographics.

FishProf believes aquaculture should be framed as part of the health system — delivering:

» Omega-3s for cardiovascular health.

» Micronutrients critical for child development.

» Affordable protein for ageing populations.

This reframing would change how success is measured — from tons and export value to health and well-being delivered per capita.

Seaweed farming can:

» Absorb carbon and nutrients.

» Support integrated multi- trophic aquaculture (IMTA).

» Provide food, feed, fertiliser and bio-products.

» Create regional and Indigenous employment.

Global context

» Seaweed represents over 30% of global aquaculture volume.

» Australia produces less than 1%, despite vast suitable coastlines.

Learning from Davos: Capital Will Follow Clarity

The Davos message is blunt: capital will flow to food systems that demonstrate stability, scale, and strategic intent.

Australia currently sends mixed signals.

FishProf noticed that investors see opportunity in Australian aquaculture — but also see regulatory drag, policy inconsistency, and unclear national priorities.

FishProf believes that if Australia treated seafood production as essential infrastructure — not a regulatory risk — capital, innovation, and scale would follow.

Capital markets have noticed that food price volatility fuels infiation, undermines political stability, and directly impacts public health outcomes. Traditional tools — interest rates, subsidies, trade agreements — cannot stabilize food systems that are structurally misaligned.

Farmed Roe on Scallops – curry with rice (Home cooked).

FishProf’s Take: What Needs to Change

If Australia is serious about food security, aquaculture must move from the margins to the mainstream.

FishProf believes Australia must:

Set national seafood self-sufficiency goals.
Shift regulatory culture from control to collaboration.
Rebalance R&D toward low-trophic, affordable species that do not need expensive feeds.
Integrate seaweed and multi-trophic systems into policy.
Align aquaculture with health, nutrition, and regional development outcomes.

Food, Health, and Well- Being – Seafood’s health advantages

» High-quality protein.

» Omega-3 fatty acids (heart and brain health).

» Micronutrients often missing in modern diets.

» Lower saturated fat than most land meats.

Global context

» Seaweed represents over 30% of global aquaculture volume.

» Australia produces less than 1%, despite vast suitable coastlines.

Final Thought

Davos 2026 made one thing clear: food is being repriced because the old system no longer works.

FishProf noticed that Australia has everything it needs to be a seafood-secure nation — except the will to align policy, science, and vision.

FishProf believes the question is no longer “Can Australia feed it self from the sea?” It is “WHY AREN´T WE CHOOSING TO?

References and sources consulted by the author on the elaboration of this article are available under previous request to our editorial staff.

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global Sets New Record Ahead of its 32nd Edition in Barcelona

Edusehat — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:10:04 +0700

By Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global

The expo will take place in Barcelona, from 21 to 23 April, occupying more than 52,950 net square meters of exhibition space, a figure that is still growing.

Companies across the seafood supply chain and from around the world will showcase their latest innovations to international buyers. The event is estimated to generate an economic benefit of more than USD 189.55 million to the city.

The conference program will feature a keynote address by economist and geopolitical strategist Dr. Nomi Prins and will bring together more than 90 international seafood and industry experts.

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, organized by Diversified, announces its largest edition in the history of the event with more than 52,950 net square meters of exhibit space and still growing. Taking place from 21 to 23 April at the Gran Via venue of Fira de Barcelona, the expo is expected to welcome more than 2,300 exhibiting companies from 86 countries and 65 national and regional pavilions, bringing together seafood professionals from across the global supply chain.

“As company participation reaches record levels and continues to grow, the scale and diversity of this edition reflect the growing global appetite for innovation and collaboration across the supply chain,” said Wynter Courmont, Group Vice President, Seafood at Diversified. “With the debut of the Aquaculture Innovation Zone, we are creating a dedicated space for companies, investors, and policymakers to engage with the ideas and technologies that will define the future of seafood. We look forward to welcoming the world to Barcelona for an impactful event.”

The international presence confirmed for this edition highlights the event’s global reach, with new national and regional pavilions including Bulgaria, Mexico, Oman, Uruguay and Venezuela joining returning countries such as Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Norway, Netherlands, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam and more.

Fira de Barcelona General Manager, Constantí Serrallonga, stated that “Their five years at Fira demonstrate how a leading international event like Seafood Expo Global finds the perfect environment at our venue to grow and enhance its reach and development. It is an example of how mutual trust, collaborative work, and a shared commitment to excellence multiply the show’s opportunities and strengthen the bonds and legacy within the host city and the entire food industry ecosystem.”

A Global Platform for the Seafood Industry

Halls 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and the Galleria (between halls 4 and 5) of the Gran Vía venue will showcase the latest innovations in seafood products, manufacturing and processing technology.Buyers from around the world, including retailers, foodservice companies, distributors and importers come to the Expo to source seafood products (fresh, frozen, canned, value-added, processed and packaged) from suppliers highlighted in Seafood Expo Global.

Leading seafood companies include AquaChile, Balfegó & Balfegó SL, Cermaq Norway AS, Cooke, Escal SA, Frime, Iceland Seafood International, Kyokuyo Co., Ltd, Leroy Seafood Group ASA, Mowi ASA, Multi X, Nordic Seafood A/S, Nueva Pescanova, Parlevliet & Van der Plas B.V., Ricardo Fuentes e Hijos, Royal Greenland A/S, SalMar AS, Samherji hf, Sea Harvest Seafood, Umios, Unima, and Viciunai Group, among others.

Seafood Processing Global, in halls 1 and 3, will feature processing equipment, refrigeration and freezing, packaging materials and machinery, aquaculture supplies, hygiene control, sanitation and quality, transport and logistics services. Companies include Baader, CMA CGM, JBT Marel, Multivac, ULMA Packaging, Delanchy, DP World, Mediterranean Shipping Company, Cocci Luciano and more.

Debut of the Aquaculture Innovation Zone

A key highlight of the 2026 edition is the launch of the Aquaculture Innovation Zone, a dedicated platform designed for first-time exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge aquaculture solutions.

This new space will bring together suppliers, startups and researchers presenting breakthrough innovations in areas such as farm management and monitoring, animal health and welfare, and sustainable feed. It will connect companies at the forefront of aquaculture technology, software and equipment with a highly targeted global audience, including hatchery professionals, investors and policymakers.

Confirmed participants include AquaBioTech Group (Malta), Bioceanor (France), Nōka AI (USA), LiceDefence AS (Norway) and Sagar Aquaculture (India), Sagare Smart Innovation (Spain), Octona (Croatia) and Qingdao Hishing Smart Equipment Co., Ltd. (China).

In addition, the zone will spotlight an Innovation Theatre, hosting product presentations and expert insights. To foster collaboration and knowledge exchange across the sector, a dedicated aquaculture meet-up open to all attendees will take place on the first day of the event.

Conference Program: Insights From Global Industry Leaders

The 2026 Conference Program will bring together more than 90 international seafood and industry experts across over 30 educational sessions, offering practical insights into the trends shaping the global seafood industry.

Speakers will include representatives from leading organizations such as the FAO, WTO and WWF, as well as executives from major seafood companies and industry associations.

A keynote address will take place on the first day of the event by economist and geopolitical strategist Dr. Nomi Prins titled, “High Stakes, Shifting Tides: The Global Outlook on Seafood, Trade, Economic Pressure Points and Opportunities.” Dr. Prins will provide attendees with a forward-looking economic outlook for the global seafood industry, addressing key macroeconomic forces, trade dynamics and emerging risks impacting the sector.

Across the three-day program, sessions will explore topics including aquaculture development, sustainability, supply chain transparency, emerging markets, consumer trends and technological innovation, offering a comprehensive view of the opportunities and challenges facing the industry.

The Seafood Excellence Global Awards, the event’s prestigious annual award competition, will recognize the best seafood products represented at the Expo and highlight the latest trends in the sector. The winners will be chosen from the list of finalists with two top prizes awarded to the Best Retail Product and the Best Hotel/Restaurant/Catering (HORECA) Product. Another four special prizes will be given for innovation, convenience, retail packaging and the best line of seafood products.

Constantí Serrallonga (Fira), Wynter Courmont (Seafood) and Brenna Hensley (Seafood).

For more information on Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global and to register: www.seafoodexpo.com/global.

About Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global

Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global make up the world’s largest seafood trade show. Thousands of buyers and sellers from around the world attend the three-day annual event to meet, connect, and do business. Buyers include importers, exporters, wholesalers, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, and other companies in the retail and foodservice sectors. Exhibitors showcase the latest innovations in seafood products, processing and packaging machinery, and services for the seafood industry. SeafoodSource.com is the official media partner of the event. The organizer is Diversified, the international leader in seafood events and media. www.seafoodexpo.com/global

About Diversified

Diversified is a global B2B events and media company that strengthens business communities by fostering a space, in person and online, for professionals and businesses to connect and grow. The company serves as a trusted partner across several industries including active lifestyle, business management, clean energy, commercial marine, healthcare, seafood, technology and more. The company’s global seafood portfolio of expositions and media includes Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, Seafood Expo Asia/Seafood Processing Asia and SeafoodSource.com. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, the global company has divisions and offices around the world in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Diversified is a third-generation, family-owned business. For more information, visit: www.divcom.com.

About Fira de Barcelona

Fira de Barcelona is Spain’s leading exhibition organizer and one of the most important in Europe, especially for trade fairs and industry conferences. The institution has three venues: Montjuïc, Gran Via and CCIB, totalling more than 500,000 m² of exhibition space, which this year will host more than 270 trade fairs, conferences and corporate events. These include important international events like MWC Barcelona, Alimentaria, Hostelco, ISE, Seafood Expo Global, Hispack and the Smart City Expo World Congress. The institutions annual contribution to the local economy is estimated at more than USD 5.53 billion and its activity generates both social and public value.

New NSF Initiative Aims to Make Every American Worker, Business and Community AI-Ready, Including Farmers

Edusehat — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 02:15:12 +0700

They will stablish a network of 56 state and territory-based coordination hubs.

The organism will invest up to USD 1 million annually per hub over three years.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) of the United States (US) announced a new funding opportunity as part of an effort to enable all Americans to understand, apply and create with artificial intelligence. The NSF TechAccess: AI-Ready America (NSF AI-Ready America) initiative aims to expand access to AI knowledge, tools, training and capacity building so all Americans can participate in — and benefit from — the AI economy. And this includes all the farmers.

As a first step, NSF and federal partners -the Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA), the Department of Labor, and the Small Business Administration- are releasing a funding opportunity to establish AI-ready Coordination Hubs in every US state and territory.

“USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is proud to partner with NSF on this national effort to ensure that every community — including the most rural — can benefit from the power of artificial intelligence,” assured Jaye Hamby, USDA NIFA director. And he added: “By investing in tools and training that meet farmers and ranchers where they are, we’re helping build an agricultural future that is more resilient, more efficient and more accessible for all. This collaboration strengthens our commitment to ensuring that agricultural producers have the innovations they need to thrive in and provide food and fiber for a rapidly evolving world.”

Closing the Gap

Informed by the White House AI Action Plan, the NSF AI-Ready America initiative is designed to close the gap between the nation’s AI capabilities and the workforce, businesses, and communities that need to use them. The initiative targets three areas where that gap is widest: expanding AI literacy and applied skills across the American workforce; equipping small businesses and local governments with the tools and technical assistance to adopt AI; and building hands-on learning pathways -including internships and project-based programs- that translate AI skills into real-world application.

“America’s AI competitiveness depends on a strong research and development ecosystem paired with access to advanced science and technology knowledge for our current and future workforce,” said for his part Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. “NSF AI-Ready America provides that foundation — giving workers, businesses, and communities in every state and territory the tools and knowledge to advance AI together.”

It Will Operate Through a Network

The initiative will operate through a network of state and territory-based Coordination Hubs — up to 56 in total, covering all US states, territories and the District of Columbia — selected through three rounds of competition. Each Hub will connect local partners, coordinate deployment, and scale proven approaches based on the priorities of state and local stakeholders. NSF will invest up to USD 1 million annually per Hub over three years, with the possibility of a fourth year for Hubs demonstrating continued need during transition.

“Winning the AI race is vital to ensuring continued American dominance in defense, innovation, and economic strength,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “SBA looks forward to collaborating with NSF and our partners across the Trump Administration to empower small businesses with the training and resources to enhance efficiencies and drive prosperity for the next generation.”

NSF plans to release a funding opportunity in the future to select a national coordination lead who will facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing among the Coordination Hubs. NSF also anticipates issuing AI-Ready Catalyst award competitions focused on a series of topics to pilot and scale innovative approaches that address critical AI readiness needs.

ALDI Süd Is the Latest of the UK’s 11 Leading Supermarket Chains to Commit to Shrimp Welfare Goals

Edusehat — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 02:15:06 +0700

After the International Council for Animal Welfare (ICAW) published an investigation into conditions on prawn farms linked to the supply chain

The German retailer ALDI Süd announced a few days ago they will use electrical stunning or similar methods, before slaughtering all farmed shrimp by 2035 and end eyestalk ablation across its supply chain by 2030. The policy will apply across its markets, including Europe, the United States and Australia. Other United Kingdom’s retailers, including Waitrose, M&S and Tesco, have already set similar goals, though their timelines vary. Some aim to make the changes by 2026, while ALDI Süd’s plan stretches to 2035.

“With ALDI Süd’s commitment, every major United Kingdom (UK) supermarket has now drawn a line on prawn welfare,” said Jonas Becker, head of Invertebrate Welfare, International Council for Animal Welfare. “We believe the global scale of this pledge will make effective electrical stunning the norm well beyond Europe.”

Now, with the announcement, every one of the eleven major UK supermarkets has now set a time-bound commitment on prawn welfare. What began with Waitrose, M&S and Tesco has become a new baseline across UK grocery -though the timelines for full implementation vary significantly, with some retailers targeting 2026 and Aldi Süd’s global pledge extending to 2035.

The Most Widely Consumed

Shrimp are the most widely consumed farmed animal in the UK, with more than 1.2 billion sold each year. Research from the London School of Economics and the University of Stirling has found they are sentient and capable of feeling pain, a view reflected in the UK’s Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022.

Two practices have drawn particular scrutiny. In hatcheries, breeding females may have one eyestalk removed to stimulate egg production. At slaughter, shrimp are often placed in ice-water baths, which research suggests may not render them unconscious.

Electrical stunning is being introduced as an alternative, designed to render shrimp unconscious within seconds and already in use in parts of the UK supply chain.

ALDI Süd was the last of the 11 major UK supermarkets to set a timeline, but its pledge is broader than most, applying across all of its global markets and including a commitment to publish annual progress updates.

Most retailers have taken a more limited approach. Lidl, for example, has committed to electrical stunning for shrimp sold in Great Britain but has not set timelines for its operations elsewhere in Europe.

Commitments

The pace of change has picked up quickly. As recently as mid-2024, no major UK supermarket had set a timeline. Commitments followed over the next two years, and some retailers have already begun making changes. Lidl GB says its core own-brand range is now ablation-free, while Ocado has completed its transition to electrical stunning.

“The ALDI South Group is investing in an industry-led research project to assess the effectiveness of electrical stunning and other potentially higher-welfare methods for warm-water shrimp,” wrote Aldi Süd in its factsheet.

“This project will conclude in 2028, and from this date, ALDI will start transitioning to electrical stunning or other measures confirmed by the study for its own-brand warm-water shrimp, with the aim of completion by 2035. We are committed to transparently report annually on the implementation status of preslaughter stunning methods from 2028 onwards.”

Investigation

In late 2025, the International Council for Animal Welfare (ICAW) published an investigation into conditions on prawn farms linked to ALDI’s supply chain. The investigation was shared widely and reached hundreds of thousands of people. ICAW organized protests at ALDI‘s UK headquarters in Atherstone and its German headquarters in Essen.

Why Fish Farms Collapse After Sudden Growth Spikes

Edusehat — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:20:08 +0700

Why Fish Farms Collapse After Sudden Growth Spikes

Rapid growth can look like success. More fish, faster turnover, and higher revenue all seem like signs that a farm is moving in the right direction. However, in aquaculture, sudden expansion can also push a system beyond its limits. What works at one scale does not always work at the next. As a result, when growth outpaces system capacity, collapse becomes much more likely.

At the center of this problem is uncontrolled scaling.

Biological Load Exceeds System Capacity

Every fish farm operates within a biological carrying capacity. In simple terms, water can only hold so much oxygen, process so much waste, and support a stable microbial balance for a given level of production. When stocking density rises too quickly, waste production can increase faster than the system can safely handle.

Consequently, ammonia, nitrites, and organic matter begin to build up while oxygen demand rises. Both FAO’s guidance on water quality management and its technical material on water quality and fish health emphasize how critical dissolved oxygen and ammonia control are in intensive aquaculture.

At first, the system may appear to absorb the added pressure. Eventually, though, it can reach a tipping point. Then even a relatively small change in feeding, temperature, or oxygen availability can trigger a much larger problem.

Delayed System Feedback

Just as importantly, aquaculture systems often do not fail immediately. Water quality may still look acceptable on the surface while deeper imbalances are quietly building underneath. Microbial communities can shift, waste can accumulate, and oxygen reserves can tighten before obvious warning signs appear.

This delayed feedback is one reason fish farms can seem stable right up until they are not. Because of that delay, farmers may develop a false sense of security. By the time fish start showing visible stress, the system may already be unstable. Therefore, corrective action becomes reactive instead of preventive.

Feed Input Escalation

At the same time, sudden growth nearly always means more feed. Increased feeding raises nutrient loading, which directly affects water quality. Uneaten feed and fish waste stimulate microbial activity, and that process consumes oxygen while contributing to harmful byproducts.

In addition, feed efficiency often declines when fish are under stress. So, more feed goes in, but less of it turns into healthy growth. That creates both biological strain and financial pressure. Research and industry guidance on feed management and production efficiency consistently point to the importance of adjusting feed to real-time conditions rather than simply increasing volume.

In other words, the system becomes heavier, more fragile, and less efficient all at once.

Infrastructure Mismatch

Moreover, rapid expansion often happens before infrastructure is truly ready. Aeration systems, filtration units, water exchange capacity, and monitoring tools may still be sized for a smaller operation. As production rises, these systems can become bottlenecks.

Oxygen distribution may become uneven, filtration may become inadequate, and water circulation may weaken. NOAA’s work on aquaculture planning and best practices highlights the importance of matching farm design, monitoring, and management capacity to production scale. You can explore more through NOAA’s Coastal Aquaculture Planning Portal and its review of biosecurity and disease management best practices.

Instead of scaling smoothly, the farm develops weak points. Then, under pressure, those weak points are usually where failure begins.

Disease and Stress Amplification

Furthermore, high-density conditions combined with unstable water quality create ideal conditions for disease. Fish under chronic stress tend to have weaker immune responses, which makes them more vulnerable to pathogens. At the same time, crowded conditions allow disease to spread faster through the population.

Environmental stressors such as low dissolved oxygen, high ammonia, and poor water conditions are widely recognized as major contributors to fish health problems. You can read more in this overview of fish health management.

As a result, outbreaks that would have been manageable at a smaller scale can quickly become severe. Mortality rises, treatment costs increase, and apparent growth turns into financial loss.

Economic Overextension

Finally, sudden expansion can strain the business side just as much as the biological side. More fish usually means more feed purchases, higher stocking costs, more labor, and greater operating expenses. However, when biological performance slips, revenue often fails to keep up with those rising costs.

This leaves the farm carrying bigger expenses with lower efficiency. Then a single mortality event, oxygen crash, or production delay can push the entire operation into loss. For that reason, fast growth is not always healthy growth.

Conclusion

Fish farms collapse after sudden growth spikes because biological systems do not scale instantly. Water quality, infrastructure, and ecosystem balance all need time, planning, and careful design to adjust. When growth happens without matching system expansion, hidden instability builds below the surface. The farm may look successful for a while, but eventually several limits are reached at the same time.

Therefore, sustainable scaling in aquaculture must be controlled, incremental, and supported by strong infrastructure and close monitoring. The goal is not just rapid growth. Instead, the goal is stable growth.

In fish farming, expanding too fast is not true acceleration. It is a compression of risk.

Build Your Own Fish Farm

Want to build a fish farm that grows without breaking under pressure? Join the Ecolonomics Action Team and learn from experienced farmers who understand how to scale aquaculture systems in a practical, resilient, and profitable way.

Resources

FAO, Water Quality Management
FAO, Water Quality and Fish Health
NOAA, Review of Best Practices for Biosecurity and Disease Management in Aquaculture
NOAA, Coastal Aquaculture Planning Portal
The Fish Site, Feed Management for Improving Production and Economic Returns
The Fish Site, An Introduction to Fish Health Management

The post Why Fish Farms Collapse After Sudden Growth Spikes first appeared on WorldWide Aquaculture.

Effects of Shrimp Aquaculture on Mangrove Soil Carbon Stocks and Sustained-Flux Global Warming Potentials

Edusehat — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:35:05 +0700

* By Aquaculture Magazine Editorial Team

Mangrove forests provide critical ecosystem services, including serving as nursery habitats for fish, protecting coastlines from erosion, and supporting local livelihoods. They are also among the most efficient carbon sinks on Earth, storing large amounts of “blue carbon” in deep, organic-rich soils that can retain carbon for centuries. Globally, mangroves store between 3.7 and 20 petagrams (Pg) of carbon, with soils accounting for up 90% of total carbon stocks.

Despite their importance, mangroves are being lost at a rate of 1-2% annuals due to sea-level risen pollution and especially coastal development. Aquaculture, particularly shrimp farming, is a major driver, responsible for about 38% of mangrove deforestation. The conversion process involves clearing vegetation, excavating soil, and constructing pond systems, which significantly disrupts the ecosystem.

This transformation leads to substantial carbon emissions through both physical removal of carbon-rich soils and biogeochemical processes.

However, accurately estimating these emissions remains challenging due to variability in environmental conditions, species, and aquaculture practices. Existing assessment methods may underestimate total emissions by overlooking certain pathways or including regenerated systems.

Mangrove forests are highly efficient carbon sinks, storing ‘blue carbon’ in organic-rich soils for centuries. However, shrimp aquaculture drives 38% of global mangrove deforestation, disrupting these ecosystems through vegetation clearing and soil excavation, which triggers massive greenhouse gas emissions.

Given these uncertainties, more comprehensive research is needed to evaluate the full climate impact of mangrove conversion. Understand-ing both physical and biogeochemical carbon losses is essential for improving management strategies and integrating mangrove conservation into climate change mitigation efforts.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted using soil and water samples from a mangrove system in Estero Bay, Florida, to simulate aquaculture conversion through controlled microcosms. Intact mangrove soils and modified soils representing shrimp pond construction were maintained under controlled temperature and light conditions for
2.5 years, covering drainage, operational and abandoned phases.

Hydrochemical parameters such as salinity, temperature, pH, nutrients, and carbon content were measured regularly. Soil carbon, bulk density, and greenhouse gas emissions were analyzed using standardized methods, including closed chamber techniques to estimate CO₂-equivalent fluxes and global warming potential.

Additionally, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to compare soil carbon across studies, while statistical analyses assessed differences between mangrove and aquaculture conditions and enabled broader extrapolation of results.

The conversion to aquaculture ponds leads to a significant reduction in soil carbon stocks, averaging 46.82%. Systematic reviews confirm that mangroves contain approximately 819.38 Mg C ha⁻¹, whereas operational aquaculture ponds drop to 435.77 Mg C ha⁻¹ due to physical and biogeochemical losses.

Results

Carbon losses and bulk density

During aquaculture construction, the removal of 1 m of soil resulted in an estimated loss of 422.1 ± 14.6 Mg C ha¹ (1,549.11 Mg CO₂e ha-1), with resampling indicating an actual loss of ~242.9 Mg C ha-1 (57.78%). In comparison, mangrove microcosms contained approximately 242.1 Mg C ha-1 within the top 0.5 m (Table 1).

Table 1. Carbon losses and potential CO2e emissions due to simulated shrimp aquaculture compared with mangrove microcosms. Total carbon in removed soil is shown but how much of this is lost is not well constrained – limited measurement of actual loss in italics. Lifetime emissions assuming typical 3–9 years operational duration with 5 years of abandoned emissions, with and without a year’s drainage. SGWP denotes Sustained-flux Global Warming Potential. Six microcosms were used per treatment.

Comparisons between mangrove and operational aquaculture microcosms revealed a significant carbon loss of 30.1% ± 0.8% (74.67 Mg C ha-¹ or 274.04 Mg CO₂e ha-¹; p < 0.001; Figure 1a), observed across all soil depths (Figure 1b). Bulk density also decreased by 54.59% (Figure 1c; p < 0.001), with a strong negative correlation between bulk density and carbon stock (r = −0.885; p < 0.001; Figure 1d).

Figure 1. (a) Total carbon stock in mangrove (no fill) and aquaculture (fill) microcosms. Lines and cross within the box denote the median and mean value, bars represent the interquartile range, “whiskers” represent range (excluding outliers) and points denote outliers (beyond either the upper quartile + 1.5 x the interquartile range or lower quartile + 1.5 x the interquartile range). (b) Carbon stock depth profiles for mangrove (no fill) and aquaculture (fill) microcosms. Error bars denote standard error of the mean. (c) Bulk density in mangrove (no fill) and aquaculture (fill) microcosms. Lines and cross within the box denote the median and mean value, bars represent the interquartile range, “whiskers” represent range (excluding outliers) and points denote outliers (beyond either the upper quartile + 1.5 x the interquartile range or lower quartile + 1.5 x the interquartile range). (d) Carbon stock as a function of bulk density (aquaculture and mangrove microcosms denoted by filled diamonds and open circles respectively). (e) Sustained-flux Global Warming Potentials (SGWP) for each phase of simulated shrimp aquaculture (fill) compared with mangrove (no fill) microcosms. Six microcosms were used per treatment. Significance at p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 denoted by *, ** and *** respectively.

Potential CO₂e emissions

Under drainage conditions, sustained global warming potential (SGWP) increased by 34,075.38 mg m-² d-¹ (172.39%), with all greenhouse gases contributing moderately. This represents a difference of 21,565.39 mg m-² d-¹ or 0.79 Mg CO₂e ha-¹ yr-¹ compared to mangrove systems (Figure 1e).

The largest emissions occurred during the operational phase, with an increase of 65,343.26 mg m-² d-¹ (522%), equivalent to 2.39 Mg CO₂e ha-¹ yr-¹. Significant increases in CH₄ and N₂O effluxes were observed, while CO₂ uptake exceeded that of mangrove systems.

In the abandoned phase, after one year, emissions increased by 393.59% (49,238.68 mg m-² d-¹), corresponding to 1.80 Mg CO₂e ha-¹ yr-¹. CH₄ and N₂O contributed significantly, while CO₂ emissions remained lower than in mangrove systems.

Aquaculture construction involves removing topsoil layers, resulting in an estimated physical carbon loss of 422.1 Mg C ha⁻¹. This transformation significantly increases bulk density and degrades soil porosity, creating a strong negative correlation between soil compaction and total carbon retention.

Total lifetime emissions and extrapolation

Considering five years after abandonment, an additional 5.19 Mg CO₂e ha-¹ yr-¹ is generated. Assuming operational periods of 3–9 years, total SGWP ranges from 12.35 to 26.66 Mg CO₂e ha-¹, or up to 27.44 Mg CO₂e ha-¹ when including drainage.

Including biogeochemical soil carbon losses increases total emissions to 286.39 – 301.48 Mg CO₂e ha-¹. When construction-related soil loss is added, total emissions reach approximately 1,174.84 – 1,189.93 Mg CO₂e ha-¹ (Table 1). Biogeochemical emissions account for roughly 24–25% of total emissions.

Systematic review and meta-analysis

The meta-analysis showed a consistent and significant reduction in soil carbon due to aquaculture (effect size−1.63; p < 0.001). On average, man-groves contain 819.38 Mg C ha-¹, com-pared to 435.77 Mg C ha-¹ in aquaculture ponds, representing a reduction of 46.82% ± 8.70% (p < 0.001).

Carbon reductions were observed at all depths, with larger differences below 30 cm. At depths greater than 100 cm, mangroves contained 62.55% more carbon than aquaculture systems. In both systems, most carbon was stored below 100 cm depth.

Significant differences in bulk density were also found, with lower values in mangrove soils (p < 0.001) and a negative correlation with carbon stocks (rs = −0.490).

Estimates based on the Land Use Change Stock (LUCS) approach ranged from 1,390 to 3,799 Mg CO₂e ha-¹, with a mean soil carbon loss equivalent to 1,407.85 Mg CO₂e ha-¹. However, few studies account for all greenhouse gases or total SGWP, suggesting potential underestimation of emissions.

Sustained-flux Global Warming Potentials (SGWP) spike during the operational phase of shrimp farming, increasing by 522%. High organic matter inputs stimulate anaerobic degradation and methanogenesis, while nitrogen from fertilizers drives significant increases in nitrous oxide (N₂O)

Discussion

Effects of aquaculture on carbon loss pathways

Aquaculture conversion resulted in significant soil carbon loss, with 74.67 Mg C ha-1 lost during the operational phase compared to mangrove systems (Figure 1a). These losses are driven by biogeochemical processes such as root decomposition and anaerobic degradation stimulated by nutrient inputs. Construction activities further contribute through the removal of approximately 1 m of soil containing around 422.1 Mg C ha-1 (Table 1), with an estimated 57% lost through oxidation, leaching, and decomposition.

The systematic review (SR) confirms a strong and consistent reduction in soil carbon (effect size -1.63), suggesting that aquaculture conversion leads to substantial carbon loss regardless of environmental variability. Physical processes, particularly soil removal and compaction, are key drivers. Mangrove soils show higher carbon stocks, with losses averaging 43-46% after conversion.

Bulk density (rb) increased significantly in aquaculture systems (Figure 1c), indicating soil degradation and re-duced porosity. The inverse relationship between rb and carbon (Figure 1d) highlights the impact of compaction from construction activities.

Microcosm simulations reveal that biogeochemical pathways contribute approximately 25% to the total sustained-flux global warming potential (SGWP). These often-overlooked pathways, including root decomposition and nutrient-stimulated degradation, are essential for accurate life cycle assessments (LCA) in the aquaculture sector.

Additionally, hydrological changes such as dyke construction limit tidal flooding, reducing carbon inputs and contributing to long-term declines. These processes suggest that carbon losses may continue over time, potentially being underestimated.

Effects of aquaculture on potential CO₂e emissions and SGWP

Drainage increased emissions by Mg CO2e ha-1yr-1 (Figure 1e; Table 1), con-sistent with enhanced decomposition under oxygen exposure. Methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions also increased, indicating peat degradation.

During the operational phase, emissions rose by 2.39 MgCO2 ha-1 yr-1 (Figure 1e), driven by high organic matter inputs from feed and fertilizers. Anaerobic sediment conditions promote methanogenesis, while nitrogen inputs stimulate nitrification and denitrification, increasing N₂O emissions. Some systems may act as CO₂ sinks when algal production exceeds emissions, although management practices such as aeration influence outcomes.

Even after abandonment, former aquaculture ponds exhibit legacy effects, with emissions remaining nearly 400% higher than intact mangrove systems. Long-term climate mitigation requires better management of abandoned systems and the prioritization of pond reuse to minimize further land-use changes

In the abandoned phase, emissions remained elevated at 1.80 Mg-CO2e ha-1 yr-1, indicating long-term legacy effects. Over five years. This adds 5.19 Mg CO₂e ha-1. Total emissions across the system life cycle range from 1,174.83 to 1,189.93 Mg CO2e ha-1 (Table 1), with biogeochemical processes contributing about 24–25%. While soil carbon loss dominates emissions, these pathways are often underestimated, emphasizing the need to include them in life cycle assessments.

Comparison of the microcosm model experiments and systematic review

Microcosm experiments effectively replicate field conditions, showing similar carbon loss patterns, depth profiles, and relationships between carbon and bulk density. Both top-down (microcosm) and bottom-up (SR) approaches produced compara-ble results up to 100 cm depth. Differences at greater depths likely reflect methodological uncertainties in field studies.

The hydrologically closed nature of ponds appears to drive consistent carbon loss patterns. However, mi-crocosms may underestimate deeper biogeochemical losses, while field studies may include additional vari-ability. Factors such as sediment type, hydrology, and nutrient pollution influence results.

Although microcosms did not include live shrimp processes, they captured major emission pathways. Additional sources, such as gut-de-rived N₂O and methane production, may further increase emissions. The LUCS method remains useful for large-scale estimates but may underestimate short-term emissions. A combined microcosm and SR approach is recommended for more accurate assessments.

Globally, soil carbon losses from mangrove-to-aquaculture conversion could represent up to 40% of all anthropogenic emissions related to mangrove loss. Conserving these blue carbon habitats is a critical strategy for meeting international climate targets and improving industry sustainability.

Exploration of the importance of mangrove aquaculture in climate mitigation

At a national scale, emissions from mangrove conversion appear mod-est, contributing around 0.01% of anthropogenic emissions. However, at a global scale, aquaculture-related soil carbon loss could account for 2.48–3.01 Pg CO₂e, representing up to 40% of anthropogenic emissions.

These findings highlight the importance of mangrove conservation in climate mitigation strategies. However, uncertainties remain due to variability in environmental conditions and methodological limitations. Current estimates may under-estimate total emissions by excluding biomass losses, deeper soil impacts, and downstream effects.

Overall, reducing mangrove de-forestation and improving aqua-culture practices are essential to minimize emissions and enhance sustainability.

Conclusion

Microcosm simulations indicate that biogeochemical pathways may contribute about 25% to total SGWP beyond LUCS estimates, although soil carbon loss during construction and operation remains the dominant source. Reusing ponds and extending operational periods could improve sustainability, while soil fate, drain-age effects, and abandoned system management require further study. Results align with systematic review findings showing consistent carbon loss across systems, though sediment type remains understudied. Global extrapolations suggest emissions of~3 Pg CO₂e, highlighting the critical role of mangroves in climate mitigation and the need for improved management and conservation strategies.

This is a summarized version developed by the editorial team of Aquaculture Magazine based on the review article titled “EFFECTS OF SHRIMP AQUACULTURE ON MANGROVE SOIL CARBON
STOCKS AND SUSTAINED-FLUX GLOBAL WARMING
POTENTIALS” developed by: Fenner, N. and Hayward, E. – Bangor University, Bovard, B. – Florida Gulf Coast University, Creer, S. and Dunn, C.
• Bangor University. The original article, including tables and figures, was published on MARCH, 2026 , through FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. The full version can be accessed online through this link: DOI 10.3389/fenvs.2026.1729512

All Eleven Major UK Supermarkets Now Committed on Prawn Welfare After Aldi Süd Sets Global Timeline

Edusehat — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 02:15:17 +0700

By International Council for Animal Welfare

The German discounter commits to electrical stunning or similarly effective methods for all farmed prawns worldwide by 2035 — the broadest scope of any retailer commitment to date

Aldi Süd has committed to implementing electrical stunning or similarly effective methods before slaughter for all farmed prawns by 2035, and to ending eyestalk ablation across its supply chain by 2030. The commitment applies to all Aldi Süd markets worldwide, including Europe, the USA and Australia.

With Aldi Süd‘s announcement, every one of the eleven major UK supermarkets has now set a time-bound commitment on prawn welfare. What began with Waitrose, M&S and Tesco has become a new baseline across UK grocery — though the timelines for full implementation vary significantly, with some retailers targeting 2026 and Aldi Süd’s global pledge extending to 2035.

Why Prawns

Prawns are the most consumed farmed animal in the UK — over 1.2 billion individuals sold each year, more than chickens. Research from the London School of Economics and the University of Stirling has established that prawns are sentient and capable of feeling pain. The UK government recognized crustaceans as sentient beings under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022.

Two standard industry practices have come under particular scrutiny. In prawn hatcheries, breeding females routinely have one eyestalk cut off while alive to stimulate egg production. At slaughter, prawns are immersed in ice-water baths — a method that research suggests often fails to render them unconscious, leaving animals to suffocate over prolonged periods. Electrical stunning offers an alternative: it renders prawns unconscious within seconds, and the equipment is commercially available and already being rolled out across UK supply chains.

***Aldi*: From Holdout to the Broadest Commitment**

Aldi Süd was the last of the eleven major UK supermarkets to set a timeline. But the scope of its pledge goes well beyond the UK: it is the first retailer to commit across all its global markets in a single announcement. Aldi Süd has also committed to annual public progress reporting on its transition.

That distinction matters because prawn welfare commitments have so far largely been a market-by-market affair. Lidl, for instance — also a German-headquartered discounter with global operations — has so far only committed to introducing electrical stunning for prawns sold in Great Britain. It has not set a timeline for its operations in Germany, France or elsewhere in Europe. Aldi Süd’s global approach sets a different precedent.

Concern for Prawn Welfare Rapidly Growing

In mid-2024, not a single major UK supermarket had a firm timeline on prawn stunning methods. The commitments then came in quick succession:

2024: Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Ocado.
2025: Waitrose, Co-op, Morrisons, Iceland.
2026: Asda, Lidl GB, Aldi Süd.

Several retailers are already implementing changes. Lidl GB reports its core own-brand range has been ablation-free since January 2026. Ocado has reported completing its transition to electrical stunning. The momentum has also spread internationally, with Jumbo in the Netherlands and Intermarché in France committing in 2025.

“With Aldi Süd’s commitment, every major UK supermarket has now drawn a line on prawn welfare. We believe the global scale of this pledge will make effective electrical stunning the norm well beyond Europe”, Jonas Becker, Head of Invertebrate Welfare, International Council for Animal Welfare.

Background

In late 2025, the International Council for Animal Welfare (ICAW) published an investigation into conditions on prawn farms linked to Aldi’s supply chain. The investigation was shared widely and reached hundreds of thousands of people. ICAW organized protests at Aldi‘s UK headquarters in Atherstone and its German headquarters in Essen.

Aldi had previously acknowledged that electrical stunning is considered best practice for prawns but had not committed to a timeline.

Aldi South policy in verbatim (Fish and Seafood Factsheet, page 8): The ALDI SOUTH Group is investing in an industry-led research project to assess the effectiveness of electrical stunning and other potentially higher-welfare methods for warm-water shrimp. This project will conclude in 2028, and from this date ALDI will start transitioning to electrical stunning or other measures confirmed by the study for its own-brand warm-water shrimp, with the aim of completion by 2035. We are committed to transparently report annually on the implementation status of preslaughter stunning methods from 2028 onwards.

https://sustainability.aldisouthgroup.com/files/fish-and-seafood-factsheet

About ICAW

The International Council for Animal Welfare is a registered nonprofit born from a coalition of animal welfare advocacy professionals from around the globe, uniting decades of expertise to reduce as much animal suffering as possible.

(Photo by CSIRO, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35474696)

Unlocking Innovation: Powering Shrimp Performance with Plant Sterols

Edusehat — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 02:15:12 +0700

By ADM

Shrimp farming has grown rapidly over the past three decades, helping meet rising global demand for seafood. But this growth has also increased pressure on marine resources traditionally used in aquaculture feeds, including fishmeal and fish oil. Key opportunities to promote farmer efficiencies and environmental stewardship include development of innovative ingredients that deliver higher nutritional value while addressing possible environmental and animal health challenges. For shrimp, in particular, one nutrient has posed a unique challenge: cholesterol.

Cholesterol plays a vital role in maintaining cell structure, aiding fat digestion and serving as the building block for key hormones that regulate development. Without enough cholesterol, shrimp can experience poor growth, molting problems and reduced reproductive performance.

Traditionally, shrimp diets have relied on marine-derived ingredients or purified cholesterol concentrates to meet this requirement. However, these ingredients often come with higher costs, sustainability concerns and supply chain constraints, which has prompted the industry to explore alternative options.

ADM‘s Plant Sterols AN offers an innovative, science-backed approach for tackling the cholesterol challenge in shrimp feeds. Plant sterols are naturally occurring compounds found in plants that are structurally similar to cholesterol. In a recent study, ADM researchers evaluated whether plant sterols could effectively replace animal-derived cholesterol in Pacific whiteleg shrimp diets. In a 62-day feeding study, shrimp were fed one of three diets: a basal diet with no added sterols, a diet supplemented with cholesterol, or a diet supplemented with Plant Sterols AN.

The results were clear and easy to interpret. Shrimp receiving either cholesterol or Plant Sterols AN showed significantly greater weight gain and improved feed utilization compared to shrimp fed the non-supplemented diet. Importantly, there were no significant differences in growth performance between the cholesterol and plant sterol groups. In addition, shrimp fed Plant Sterols AN had similar cholesterol levels in their hepatopancreas – a key metabolic organ – as those fed purified cholesterol. Collectively, the data indicates that plant sterols can effectively fulfill cholesterol-related functions in shrimp to support healthy development.

Recently presented at one of the largest aquaculture conferences and tradeshows globally¹, results from the ADM study reinforce other scientific findings showing plant sterols offer an economical and sustainable alternative to cholesterol in shrimp diets. Because plant sterol concentrates are significantly cheaper than cholesterol concentrates, integrating them into low-cholesterol formulations reduces production costs by improving shrimp growth and feed efficiency. As the industry shifts toward plant-based ingredients to address cost and overfishing, plant sterols provide a critical safeguard against cholesterol deficiency in shrimp. Moreover, Plant Sterols are a side-stream from ADM‘s vitamin E production, helping us as a company reduce waste in our production.

By enabling formulators to reduce reliance on marine animal-derived cholesterol sources without compromising shrimp performance, Plant Sterols AN represents a practical step forward. ADM helps producers with a next generation approach that elevates animal well-being, optimizes nutrient utilization to reduce losses and helps drive profitability, all while supporting the continued growth of sustainable aquaculture worldwide.

¹Grayson et al. Utilization of a phytosterols concentrate in practical diets for Pacific whiteleg shrimp. Aquaculture America, Las Vegas, NV, February 16-19th, 2026.

Disclaimer: Not all products are available in all regions. ADM makes no representation or warranty, whether expressed or implied, as to the reliability, or completeness of the information. The uses and claims should be adapted to comply with the current local/regional regulatory environment. This information does not imply any express recommendations for the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease.

Onda and Innovafeed Announce Promising Results From Trials Using Insect-Based Ingredients in Salmon Nutrition

Edusehat — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 02:15:05 +0700

By Onda and Innovafeed

Preliminary research demonstrates antibacterial potential and strong growth performance in Atlantic salmon

Innovafeed, a global leader in insect-based ingredients (Black Soldier Fly – Hermetia illucens), and Onda, the world’s largest independent aquatic contract research organization, today announced promising results from two collaborative trials evaluating the performance and functional benefits of insect-based ingredients in aquaculture nutrition.

The trials, conducted at Onda’s world-class aquaculture research facilities in Prince Edward Island, assessed the potential of Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal to support fish health and performance in Atlantic salmon diets.

**Promising In-Vitro Antibacterial Activity**

Initial in-vitro analyses conducted by Onda demonstrated antibacterial activity associated with Innovafeed’s Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal (Hilucia for Aqua). The study evaluated the inhibitory effect of its hydrosoluble fraction against several aquatic pathogens commonly responsible for disease outbreaks in aquaculture.

Results showed growth inhibition against four gram-negative bacteria of major relevance for aquaculture health management: Aeromonas salmonicida, Flavobacterium psychrophilum, Vibrio anguillarum, and Photobacterium damselae. For further technical details on the methodology and results, please refer to our white paper available on our Hilucia Aquaculture page: https://innovafeed.com/en/hilucia-aquaculture/.

These results build on previous studies that have demonstrated antimicrobial activity of Black Soldier Fly Larvae against a broader range of aquatic pathogens.

The antibacterial potential of Hilucia for Aqua is believed to be linked to antimicrobial peptides naturally produced by Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens). These bioactive molecules are part of the insect’s innate immune system and are known to interact with microbial cell membranes, inhibiting growth or causing pathogen death.

Given the growing challenge of bacterial diseases and antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture, these findings highlight the potential of insect-derived ingredients not only as sustainable protein sources but also as functional feed ingredients capable of supporting fish immunity and helping reduce reliance on antibiotics.

Strong Growth Performance in Salmon Trials

A second trial at Onda evaluated the use of Innovafeed’s BSFL meal as an appetite and performance booster in grower Atlantic salmon.

Throughout the 84-day trial, the Hilucia for Aqua-fed group grew from around 300 to 800 g, and achieved a perfect 100% survival rate. Results showed increased feed intake with a dose-response pattern to Hilucia inclusion rate, associated with a strong growth performance, with statistically increased growth rate and improved feed efficiency demonstrating the BSFL meal’s potential to enter grower salmon’s diets while boosting fish farming performance.

The trial also included a seawater stress test, assessing fish resilience during a critical stage of the salmon production cycle. While results are still being analyzed, this work reflects the continued efforts of Onda and Innovafeed to demonstrate the functional potential of insect-derived ingredients in aquaculture nutrition.

These results further support the use of insect-derived ingredients as both nutritionally effective and functionally beneficial components of aquaculture feeds.

Advancing Innovation in Aquaculture Nutrition

“Working with innovative partners like Innovafeed allows us to further develop our testing platforms and explore solutions that can transform aquaculture,” said Dr. Fabio Zanuzzo, Director of Aquatic Research at Onda. “Our integrated, and tailor-made research approach enables us to fully evaluate and maximize the value of our clients’ products, generating precise and actionable insights for the aquaculture industry.”

“This collaboration has been both highly effective and very promising. The scientific foundation and expertise of Onda‘s teams bring significant value to our work, and the results generated provide further evidence of the functional potential of insect-based ingredients for aquaculture nutrition” said Marine Bezagu Phd, Head of Product Development on Aquaculture at Innovafeed.

Additional trials, including in-vivo studies, will further evaluate the potential of insect-derived functional ingredients to support fish health and disease resilience in commercial aquaculture production.

About Onda

Onda is a contract research organization specializing in aquaculture research and trials. Onda offers bespoke bench top and in-tank trials and challenges for a variety of species at both our Souris & Victoria, PEI locations, presenting our clients with custom-made solutions to the challenges they are facing with best-in-class industry expertise and experience.

Onda holds a variety of certifications including, GLP, GMP, ACQ3 & ACQ2, integrating our customized service offering with the highest quality of work. Quality, consistency, and reliability are traits that we at Onda pride ourselves in each interaction with our clients. From idea to solution, Onda provides expertise, guidance, and navigation during the product development process.

www.onda.ca

About Innovafeed

Innovafeed is a global AgTech pioneer (B Corp, Next 40, Impact 40, World’s GreenTech Company 2025), specialized in producing insects (Black Soldier Fly – Hermetia illucens) for animal and plant nutrition. As one of the world’s foremost insect producers, Innovafeed develops cutting-edge technologies that replicate nature’s resource conversion processes at industrial scale.

By recreating a circular, zero-waste food chain in which insects reclaim their natural role in the ecosystem, the company contributes to building a more sustainable, resilient, and efficient agri-food system. www.innovafeed.com

The Norwegian Company Akvaplan-niva Completes a Pilot Project That Offers Hope for Successful Sex Sorting of Farmed Cod

Edusehat — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 22:40:06 +0700

• In collaboration with Aqua Kompetanse, KIME Akva and Greenfox Marine.

• It is an important step toward greater sustainability in the species farming.

• The technology for sex-sorting fish uses ultrasound in combination with AI.

The Norwegian company Akvaplan-niva, in collaboration with Aqua Kompetanse, KIME Akva, and Greenfox Marine, has now completed a pilot project that offers hope for successful sex sorting of farmed cod. The pilot project, conducted at the Rubbestad smolt facility, investigated when cod are large enough to be sexed. The goal is to ensure a robust data foundation to enable the launch of commercial sex sorting by 2027.

From September 2025 to February 2026, researchers monitored cod from the two fish groups representing Norway’s two most important cod lines: cod from the breeding programs of Nofima and Havlandet. The results show that the cod’s gonads are sufficiently developed for visual sex identification with 90% certainty when the fish weighs 200 grams.

Visual assessment using ultrasound could distinguish between female fish and “non-female fish” at 200 grams. The researchers recommend that, for the best possible image quality, feeding the fish should be avoided for two days prior to the examination.

“This could be the solution to one of the industry’s biggest challenges. Early sexual maturation and spawning in pens are detrimental to both wild cod, the welfare of farmed cod, and production profitability,” says project manager at Akvaplan-niva, Lauris Boissonnot.

Significant Morphological Differences

Cod farming faces a critical challenge: spawning in pens, which threatens both the environment and production. Separating male and female fish into separate pens could be a solution, but how can this be done effectively and reliably? Now, the groundbreaking pilot project offers hope for successful sex sorting of farmed cod.

Now, the researchers discovered significant morphological differences in the shape of the egg sacs between the two fish groups. In the Nofima Group, the egg sacs were round and compact, while in the Havlandet Group they were slender, elongated, and resembled undifferentiated gonads.

The causes of this variation have not been identified, but there may be several genetic and environmental factors that could explain it. However, gonad morphology — that is, the shape of the gonads — was homogeneous within each fish group. This suggests that factors influence gonad morphology at the group level.

To better understand the extent of and causes for the differences in gonadal morphology, further studies of additional fish groups from both strains are necessary. If the researchers also find these differences in other fish groups, this may mean that the technology must be adapted for each individual fish group. Further follow-up by the team will clarify whether this is a general trend or not.

Originally Designed to Sort Farmed Salmon

The technology for sex-sorting fish using ultrasound in combination with AI, developed by Greenfox Marine, was originally designed to sort farmed salmon. Salmon and cod have different body shapes and gonad locations, and therefore the equipment used for data collection to train the AI models is not adapted for cod. Technology providers are now working closely with researchers and fish farmers to optimize equipment and methods.

The completed pilot project, funded by Forregion Troms, has established a scientific foundation for the further development of automated sex sorting of farmed cod. A consortium consisting of fish farmers, R&D institutions, and technology suppliers is now working to establish an R&D project to ensure reliable sex sorting of juvenile cod and to study the effects of sex sorting on spawning, welfare, and performance. If such a project is successful, it will bring us one step closer to success in cod farming.

Poultry By-Product Meal for Atlantic Salmon: Growth,Welfare, and Fillet Quality in Commercial Farming

Edusehat — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:40:05 +0700

By Aquaculture Magazine Editorial Team

Poultry by-product meal is high in protein and has a similar amino acid profile to fish meal. It also lacks any known anti-nutritional factors, making it a promising ingredient for carnivorous fish diets. This article summarizes the results of a study that evaluated the impact of including it in seawater growth diets on the quality of the pellets, the growth and welfare of the Atlantic salmon, and the quality of the fillets.

Global aquaculture production has tripled over the last two decades and continues to rise, with fed aquaculture now outpacing non-fed species (Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO], 2022). Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), the most farmed marine fish species (FAO, 2024), requires high-quality protein in its diet (National Research Council, 2011). Fishmeal has been increasingly replaced by plant-based proteins such as soy protein concentrate, but this shift poses challenges. Antinutritional factors in plants can negatively impact fish growth and health and heavy reliance on highquality plant proteins contributes to feed-food competition.

Therefore, alternative protein sources that are nutritionally sound, environmentally friendly, and support a circular bioeconomy are needed. A circular bioeconomy approach promotes nutrient recovery by using existing resources like by-products, which improves sustainability in aquaculture. In the European Union (EU), self-sufficiency in highprotein materials such as soybean meal remains low at around 28%. Animal by-products represent an underutilized yet promising circular protein source.

Up to 48% of slaughtered animal weight is not used for human consumption, yielding over 20 million tons annually in the EU (European Commission, 2024). Category 3 animal by-products ─ low risk materials ─ can legally be used in aquaculture feeds since the 2013 lifting of the EU ban (Resolution 56/2013), which had been imposed in 2001 due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Poultry by-product meal (PBM) is a category 3 product widely available in Europe. PBM is rich in protein, has an amino acid profile similar to fishmeal, and lacks known antinutritional factors, making it a promising ingredient for carnivorous fish diets. While small-scale studies show PBM supports salmonid growth, largescale trials reflecting commercial farming conditions are limited.

Additionally, physical pellet quality is crucial, as poor-quality leads to feed waste and higher costs. Fillet quality — key to market value ─ is another vital factor. Thus, this study evaluates the impact of 0%, 5% and 10% PMB inclusion in seawater grow-out diets on pellet quality, growth, welfare, and fillet quality in Atlantic salmon.

Poultry by-product meal (PBM) is high in protein and has a similar amino acid profile to fishmeal. It also lacks any known anti-nutritional factors, making it a promising ingredient for carnivorous fish diets like Atlantic salmon.

Materials and Methods

PBM was produced by BHJ A/S (Gråsten Denmark) from category 3 poultry by-products (bones, skins, viscera) sourced from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Following EU Regulation 1069/2009, raw material was minced (<30 mm), heated to ≥70°C for 20 min, then sterilized at 100°C for 60 min.

Aller Aqua A/S produced three isoenergetic, isolipidic, isonitrogenous diets with 0% (control), 5%, and 10% PBM in 6 mm and 9 mm pellet sizes. Diets met nutritional requirements for Atlantic salmon (National Research Council, 2011), with PBM replacing other protein sources.

Results

Pellet quality

The pellet quality analysis revealed high physical pellet quality for all diets with small numerical differences between the diets. Pellet length was significantly shorter for the 5% diet compared to the other two (p = 0.001). There was a significant reduction in expansion between each of the three diets (p = 0.0001), and the reduction was larger for the 5% PBM diet than the 10% diet.

Fish health and growth performance

Fish health was regularly evaluated by external fish health biologists throughout the experimental period. A larger proportion than normally expected had jaw and spine deformities. The deformities were found equally in all dietary groups and were not related to the experimental diets. Otherwise, the fish were of good condition and fish health was evaluated as good.

Fish in all cages had three thermic delousing treatments (31 – 32◦C), and two of the cages fed 0% PBM needed a fourth treatment at the end of the experiment due to higher lice numbers. Growth performance results showed no differences between the dietary groups for initial and final weight, mortality, feed conversion ratio or specific growth rate (Table 1).

Welfare parameters

External and internal welfare parameters demonstrate good welfare for all dietary groups. Fish fed 5% PBM had a significantly higher condition factor (p = 0.0007) compared to the control group. Fish fed 10% PBM had a lower ulcer score (p = 0.03) and darker liver color (p = 0.02) compared to the control group fed 0% PBM, yet the differences between the dietary groups were numerically small. No fish in the 10% group had ulcers, 6/30 fish had ulcers in the control group and 2/30 in the 5% group. Scores for scale loss, skin bleeding, cataract, opercula deformities, viscerosomatic index, visceral fat and heart surface fat were comparable between the groups.

Product quality

Product quality results are summarized in Table 2, and similar results were found for the three dietary groups. No differences were detected in fillet color or pigment concentration, except for a modest but significant difference in the anterior Salmo- Fan measurement between the control and 5% PBM (control: 25.0 vs. 5% 24.4, p = 0.03). The chemical analysis of the fillets revealed a significant increase in dry matter content between the control group and the two PBM groups, and a significant difference in total fat between the control group and the 5% PBM group.

Histology

Samples collected before exposure to experimental diets, showed no differences between dietary groups. Inflammation scores increased throughout the experimental period with comparable scores between dietary groups (Figure 1). At the 8-month sampling, fish fed 0% PBM had a significantly higher inflammation score compared to fish fed 5% PBM (p = 0006), but compared to fish fed 10% PBM, there were no significant differences.

Replacing conventional protein with PBM supports a circular economy by transforming low-value by-products into high-quality food. Moderate inclusion of up to 10% is a suitable protein source for Atlantic salmon farmed under commercial-like conditions.

Discussion

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of poultry by-product meal (PBM) inclusion in diets for Atlantic salmon (S. salar) under commercial- like field conditions. PBM, a high-protein alternative derived from poultry processing showed comparable results across all groups (0%, 5%, 10% inclusion) for growth performance, welfare scores, gut histology, and product quality.

Previous studies found no negative effects of PBM on growth up to 28% inclusion (Hatlen et al., 2015). In this trial, deformities observed in all groups were likely due to early-life phosphorus deficiency, not diet. The 5% PBM group showed higher condition factor and fillet fat content, likely from higher final weights, though this did not translate to higher yield. Ulcer presence, a welfare concern in Norwegian salmon farming, was lowest in the 10% PMB group but differences may be confounded by delousing treatments, known to increase and handling.

A circular bioeconomy approach promotes nutrient recovery by using existing resources likeby-products, which improves sustainability in aquaculture

Overall, 83% of fish were graded as “superior,” with no significant differences among groups. Relative filled fat was higher in the 5% group, but fatty acid composition remained unchanged, likely due to PBM’s low lipid content (7.9%) and consistent use of fish oil and rapeseed oil across diets. Fishmeal inclusion decreased slightly with increased PBM, but did not affect fatty acid profile.

Pigmentation, critical for market value, was unaffected despite slightly lower astaxanthin levels in the 0% PBM group. Filled color depends not only on pigment concentration but also on stress and postmortem changes (Heia et al., 2009).

PBM inclusion had no negative effects on fillet texture or gaping. Histological analysis showed no significant impact of PBM on inflammation, vacuolization, or ectopic goblet cells in the distal intestine. While PBM could reduce reliance on plant proteins and associated antinutritional factors, inflammation severity increased with inclusion, suggesting other causes.

Despite limited use in the EU, PBM is widely accepted elsewhere. Barriers in the EU include low consumer acceptance, supply variability, and competition from the pet food sector. Further research is needed to define optimal inclusion levels and assess long-term sustainability and economic impacts.

Product quality results were comparable across all dietary groups, with no diflerences detected in fillet color or texture. Overall, 83% of fish were graded as ‘superior,’ regardless of the level of poultry by-product meal inclusion.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated that PBM can replace 10% of conventional protein ingredients in diets for Atlantic salmon, without adverse effects on physical pellet quality, growth performance, welfare, distal intestine histology or product quality. Thus, we conclude that moderate inclusions of PBM of up to 10% is a suitable protein source in diets for Atlantic salmon farmed under commercial-like conditions during the grow-out phase in seawater. Additionally, the inclusion of PBM in salmon feed contributes to circular economy by transforming lowvalue by-products into high-quality food and may enhance sustainability of the aquaculture sector.

This is a summarized version developed by the editorial team of Aquaculture Magazine based on the review article titled “POULTRY BY-PRODUCT MEAL IN DIETS FOR FARMED ATLANTIC SALMON SUPPORTS HIGH GROWTH PERFORMANCE, FISH WELFARE AND FILLET QUALITY UNDER COMMERCIAL-LIKE FIELD CONDITIONS” developed by: HAUG EIDE, L – Eide Family AS, Eikelandsosen and Norwegian University of Life Sciences; FORMANOWICZ, J., RØSVIK, M., DJORDJEVIC, B., and ØVERLAND, M. – Norwegian University of Life Sciences; KUIPER, R. and BENDIK DALE, O. – Norwegian Veterinary Institute. The original article was published, including tables and figures, on MAY, 2025, through AQUACULTURE REPORTS. The full version can be accessed online through this link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2025.102843

Beyond the Label – Why Sourcing “Sustainable Seafood” Isn’t Enough

Edusehat — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:50:05 +0700

By Seafood Consumers Association

The Seafood Consumers Association (SCA) is calling for a fundamental reset of how “sustainability” is defined and awarded in the Australian seafood sector. Following a formal exchange with Simplot Australia regarding the Woolworths “Bricks” plastic toy promotion, the SCA has uncovered a significant “responsibility vacuum” in corporate marketing.

The Core Contradiction

In February 2026, the SCA queried Simplot and Woolworths on the alignment of their “Responsible Sourcing” claims with a campaign that distributed mass-produced plastic toys to children. While Simplot provided a constructive response admitting that environmental assessments for such promotions were “not part of our standard assessment,” Woolworths chose not to respond to consumer concerns.

Shortly after this exchange, both organizations were recognized with Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Awards for their commitment to sustainable seafood.

SCA Interrogation of the Current System

The Marketing Blind Spot: Current sustainability awards focus strictly on biological catch methods but ignore the environmental impact of the plastic-heavy marketing used to sell those products.
A “Siloed” Approach: Simplot’s admission that they did not undertake a lifecycle assessment for the promotion reveals that “Ocean Stewardship” often ends at the processing plant or board room table, failing to reach the marketing department.
The Consumer Trust Gap: Australians are told to “look for the blue tick” for sustainability, yet that same tick is being used to drive the consumption of millions of additional plastic items—the very “enemy” of a healthy ocean. They even award organizations for this!

The SCA Call to Action

The SCA believes whilst this is a small “victory for transparency” it is only the beginning of a larger journey that must be taken. We are calling for:

Expanded Award Criteria: The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and other bodies must include “Total Marketing Integrity”, including fraud controls, as a prerequisite for any sustainability award.
Mandatory Impact Assessments: Major retailers and suppliers must commit to the same environmental rigor for their promotional campaigns as they do for their sourcing.
End to “Responsibility Deflection”: Producers can no longer claim a promotion is purely “retailer-led” to avoid accountability for the plastic footprint associated with their brands.

“We have written today to MSC about this and other issues. We are happy for this to be done transparently. The SCA is not adversarial; we are the voice of the person at the dinner plate,” says Roy Palmer, CEO of the SCA. “If an organization claims to protect our oceans, that protection must extend to the toys they promote to our children. You cannot save the fish with one hand while polluting their habitat with the other.”

Irbi and Innovafeed Join Forces to Create Frenchfly to Unlock the Final Scientific and Technological Barriers to Sustainable Insect Protein Production in France

Edusehat — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 08:45:16 +0700

By Innovafeed

An academic-industrial partnership supporting a French excellence sector, with the backing of Bpifrance and the “I-Démo” program.

A strategic project contributing to food sovereignty and green reindustrialization.

The FrenchFly project, led by IRBI and Innovafeed, aims to sustainably structure and strengthen the French Black Soldier Fly (BSF) sector by addressing the key scientific and technological challenges that still limit its large-scale industrial deployment.

At a time when food sovereignty, decarbonization, and industrial relocation have become national priorities, FrenchFly stands out as a strategic initiative for the future of sustainable proteins in France.

Addressing France’s Key Strategic Challenges

The FrenchFly consortium is built on an open, collaborative approach, fostering the sharing of scientific and technological advances for the benefit of the entire sector, notably through academic publications, specialized conferences, and the dissemination of results across European professional networks.

The insect sector indeed plays a key role in addressing several national priorities: food security and sovereignty, green reindustrialization, the creation of skilled industrial jobs across regions, and a significant contribution to the decarbonization of the agri-food industry.

In a context where some historical players in the sector are facing challenges, it is more important than ever to support structuring initiatives capable of completing the demonstration of the model and securing the future of this strategic industry for France.

A Unique Academic–Industrial Partnership

Innovafeed, now a global leader and a French industrial player capable of demonstrating a commercially viable model at scale, brings to the project its industrial deployment capabilities, operational expertise, and strategic vision for the sector.

Alongside it, IRBI, a leading research center in insect biology, provides a world-class scientific foundation to deepen the understanding of the Black Soldier Fly, optimize rearing conditions, assess its interactions with the environment, and strengthen the overall competitiveness of the sector through the generation of robust, open-access knowledge.

Christophe Bressac – Professor and Researcher in Biology and Ecology, University of Tours: “The biology of insects is fascinating: at IRBI, we study how they grow, reproduce, and interact with both their peers and their environment. Thanks to FrenchFly, the different levels of insect biology, from genome to populations, are being integrated into food systems. The synergy with Innovafeed will provide precise insights to optimize the life cycle of this new farmed species while minimizing its environmental footprint.”

Mathieu Vanderstraete– Director of Innovafeed’s Research Center in Gouzeaucourt: “This partnership between Innovafeed and IRBI is a major accelerator for the generation of scientific knowledge. The synergy between our respective areas of expertise enables us to broaden and deepen our understanding of Hermetia illucens biology, while promoting the sharing and valorization of this knowledge for the benefit of the entire insect industry ecosystem.”

About The Project

This project has been funded by the French government as part of the France 2030 investment plan.

About IRBI

IRBI (Institute for Research on Insect Biology) is a leading academic research center dedicated to the study of insect development, physiology, and interactions with their environment.

Affiliated with the University of Tours and the CNRS, IRBI conducts research at the heart of major environmental and societal challenges. Leveraging state-of-the-art infrastructure and recognized scientific expertise, IRBI contributes to the development of innovative solutions supporting agricultural and industrial sectors based on insect science. https://irbi.univ-tours.fr/

About Innovafeed

Innovafeed is a global AgTech pioneer (B Corp, Next 40, Impact 40, World’s GreenTech Company 2025), specializing in the production of insects (Hermetia illucens — Black Soldier Fly) for animal and plant nutrition. As one of the world’s leading insect producers, Innovafeed develops cutting-edge technologies to replicate, at industrial scale, the natural processes of resource conversion.

By recreating a circular food chain in which insects regain their natural role within the ecosystem, the company contributes to building a more sustainable, resilient, and efficient agri-food system. www.innovafeed.com

Growth Mapping Project from Ace Aquatec Shows Patterns of Success

Edusehat — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 08:45:11 +0700

By Ace Aquatec

**A pioneering project between Ace Aquatec and Hendrix Genetics is shifting the dial from mass fish monitoring to individualized growth strategies using AI driven biomass camera technology.**

Hendrix Genetics is using Ace Aquatec’s A-BIOMASS® system to identify spot patterns in fish ‘families’, meaning growth can be monitored over time rather than in one single snapshot.

Plotting patterns of growth in this way has allowed Hendrix Genetics to fully understand the conditions under which their stock grows best, for example, which fish grow most in summer and which see the most growth in colder months. They can then supply the best broodstock to their customers by matching the right fish to the right farms.

Gathering detailed patterns of growth among their stock has also meant Hendrix Genetics can optimize their feed strategy in line with peak growth periods, meaning fish receive optimal nutrition when they need it most to reach maturation. As well as the economic benefits of this approach, less feed waste means higher water quality and healthier fish.

Traditional manual sampling of fish growth can stress the animals which can impact growth. Using Ace Aquatec’s AI solution in this way provides long-term high-quality data without human intervention.

Stephen Tapping, Breeding Program Manager, Hendrix Genetics said: “We found that to create a more accurate picture of growth cycles within our stock we required more snapshots and better-quality images and to do that manually would cause unnecessary stress on the fish. Ace Aquatec’s camera has given us much more precise, individualized data collection of our fish’s growth, not just the biomass of the tank, how much feed we flow in, but in plotting the actual growth of the fish. This will ultimately benefit our customers by providing the best stock for their own farming practices.”

“Aquaculture has the potential to be one of the most efficient means of protein creation for a growing population and using AI driven technology in this way is the progression that the industry needs to achieve a sustainable and affordable source of food.”

Nathan Pyne-Carter, CEO of Ace Aquatec, said: “Our work with Hendrix Genetics has proven the application of biomass technology outside of simply monitoring the biomass of the tank. This project has shown us how data can influence everything from feed strategy to optimizing fish stock for the conditions they are to be farmed, as well as early disease detection.”

“The future of aquaculture is increasingly data driven and by working with partners like Hendrix Genetics, we are building a detailed picture to inform how fish production will look in the coming decades – one where seafood is providing an accessible, high welfare source of protein for the global population.”

About Ace Aquatec

Ace Aquatec is a cutting-edge aquaculture technology company focused on creating welfare-first products to make fish farming more efficient and sustainable.

Backed by bluegrowth fund Aqua-Spark, Chroma Ventures (who brought Minecraft to console), deeptech fund Earth Capital, Stolt Ventures and Scottish Enterprise, we are on a mission to accelerate global adoption of sustainable and welfare-focused aquaculture practices.For more information about Ace Aquatec, visit www.aceaquatec.com

Pure Salmon Japan Secures an Investment of Over USD 180 Million Led by Fortress Investment Group

Edusehat — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 08:45:06 +0700

The facility in construction is expected to be one of the most advanced land-based salmon farms in the world

Pure Salmon Japan -know before as Soul of Japan-, a portfolio company of 8F Asset Management (8F), just announced the successful closing of a preferred note investment of over USD 180 million, led by funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group with participation from Tor Investment Management, an existing investor in the project. The transaction completes the preferred note financing for the project and marks a significant milestone in the continued development of its land-based salmon farming facility in Japan, where construction is well underway.

“We are deeply encouraged by the dedication and conviction shown by our investors in supporting Pure Salmon Japan through this financing. Their commitment underscores the strategic importance of this project and the growing relevance of sustainable domestic seafood production in Japan. We are grateful for that support, and we remain fully focused on executing the project responsibly and successfully” said Erol Emed, CEO of Pure Salmon Japan.

Pure Salmon Japan is spearheading a state-of-the-art recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility designed to deliver high-quality, sustainable Atlantic salmon locally in Japan. With a target production of 10,000 tons, the facility will become the largest land-based salmon farm in the country.

The investment highlights Fortress’ support for the Pure Salmon Japan project, bringing substantial institutional capital and first-class regional expertise to advance the development of one of the most ambitious land-based aquaculture facilities in the world.

Focus on Enhancing Food Security

The project meets growing domestic demand for premium seafood while strengthening national food security and reducing reliance on imports through stable, locally produced supply of salmon. By leveraging advanced RAS technology, the facility ensures efficient, environmentally responsible production close to key consumption markets. The project aligns with Japan’s increasing policy focus on enhancing food security and promoting domestic seafood production through sustainable aquaculture solutions.

“We are very pleased to complete this financing and to partner with Fortress on Pure Salmon Japan,” said Pier Paolo Sfara, Chief Investment Officer at 8F Asset Management. “Fortress brings not only strong institutional capital but also deep experience investing across global markets, including Japan. Their involvement represents another important step forward for the project and reflects strong confidence in our platform. With construction well underway, we are focused on delivering a world-class facility for the Japanese market.”

Building a Network of Large-Scale, Land-Based Facilities

This financing will support the ongoing construction and development of the Pure Salmon Japan facility as it progresses toward operations. Once completed, the facility is expected to be one of the most advanced land-based salmon farms in the world, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient seafood supply chain in Japan. The company also expects to engage with a select group of long-term equity partners as the project continues to advance.

The transaction underscores continued institutional investor interest in sustainable aquaculture and the growing demand for locally produced protein in key global markets.

Located in Mie Prefecture

Pure Salmon Japan is part of the Pure Salmon platform developed by 8F Asset Management, focused on producing sustainable, high-quality Atlantic salmon through land-based recirculating aquaculture systems. The project is located in Mie Prefecture and is designed to supply fresh, locally produced salmon to the Japanese market.

“Pure Salmon Japan is a key project within our global Pure Salmon platform,” said Stephane Farouze, Founder and Chairman of 8F Asset Management and Pure Salmon. “We are building a network of large-scale, land-based aquaculture facilities to sustainably produce high-quality salmon close to end consumers. Japan is a strategically important market, and this project reflects our long-term commitment to developing resilient, local food production systems.”

8F Asset Management is a global investment group focused on sustainable food systems, with a particular emphasis on aquaculture and the development of scalable, environmentally responsible protein solutions.

Aqua-Spark Founders Break Silence on eFishery Fraud: A Call for Accountability and Industry Resilience

Edusehat — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 01:35:05 +0700

Amy Novogratz and Mike Velings publish their first public statement more than a year after discovering the Indonesian aquaculture startup had fabricated financial data for years, costing the Dutch impact fund approximately $250 million.

April 2026 | Aquaculture Magazine

More than a year after one of the most damaging fraud cases in the history of aquaculture investment came to light, the founders of Dutch impact fund Aqua-Spark have broken their silence. Amy Novogratz and Mike Velings submitted a public statement — their first — sharing their reflections on the eFishery scandal and its consequences for the fund, for investors, and for the broader aquaculture industry.

The Rise and Fall of Aquaculture’s First Unicorn.

Back in 2024, Bandung, Indonesia-based eFishery was heralded as the first aquaculture unicorn, with a $1.4 billion valuation and a blue-chip investor base that included SoftBank, Temasek, and Aqua-Spark. The company’s promise was compelling: connecting smallholder fish and shrimp farmers across Indonesia to markets, financing, and better inputs through a technology-driven platform.

Aqua-Spark had been one of eFishery’s earliest backers, leading its $550,000 seed round back in 2015 and reinvesting multiple times over the years. That early bet seemed to pay off spectacularly — until December 2024, when a whistleblower exposed what investigators would later confirm to be a years-long, systematic deception.

The inquiry found that eFishery had inflated its revenues by $600 million, maintained a dual set of financial books for years, and widely overstated how many smart fish feeders it had actually deployed. In 2024 alone, the company reported a $16 million profit when in reality it had suffered a $35 million loss. At least $300 million in investors’ money remains unaccounted for.

A $250 Million Wound

The financial fallout for Aqua-Spark was severe. The fraud cost the Dutch aquaculture investment fund roughly $250 million. The company’s collapse caused Aqua-Spark to mark down its own asset valuation by nearly half, to approximately $300 million.

But for Novogratz, the damage went beyond the balance sheet. In their statement, she described a deeper kind of loss: “Discovering that the people you had held up were not who you believed them to be is a different kind of wound.”

Confronting the Industry Consequences

Beyond the fund’s internal losses, Novogratz and Velings addressed the wider damage to aquaculture’s investment landscape. Part of what made eFishery’s rise so significant was what it was bringing into the sector — mainstream technology investors, large institutional funds, and capital that rarely finds its way into aquaculture. For a space that has long struggled to attract investors beyond dedicated impact funds, that crossover mattered enormously. It was evidence that this industry could compete for serious money on its own merits. When the fraud came to light, that pipeline didn’t just slow. It closed.

The founders acknowledged that rebuilding that confidence will be difficult. They are also conscious of the broader moment: “Trust and accountability already feel scarce. People are hedging. Institutions are retreating. We are not going to add to that.”

Confronting Their Own Assumptions

Rather than deflecting responsibility, the founders chose to interrogate their own processes. Over the past year, they have examined their own assumptions about how they assess founders, verify performance data, and uphold governance standards under pressure rather than just on paper.

Still, Aqua-Spark’s Chief Portfolio Officer Maria Velkova has noted that even after reviewing their due diligence procedures, the fund does not believe much could have been done differently — it was a very well-executed fraud, including a dedicated internal team whose sole purpose was maintaining a second set of books.

What Was Lost — and What Remains

Novogratz and Velings were careful to separate eFishery’s fraud from its underlying mission. They stated that eFishery did not need to go in this direction. It was a real company with real technology and a genuinely important vision — connecting smallholder fish farmers to markets, financing, and better inputs, and empowering them with the tools to lift their practices and their livelihoods. It should have become an enduring, impactful business. The tragedy is not just what was lost, but what was possible, and what was thrown away.

Despite the scale of the setback, Aqua-Spark’s investor base has remained committed. Velkova noted that the fund’s limited partners stood up and continued believing in the industry, even as broader worries emerged about a potential ripple effect across the sector.

A Sector That Must Not Retreat

The founders’ statement is ultimately a call to keep moving forward. The companies in Aqua-Spark’s portfolio that continued working through a year that shook the industry — through difficult capital markets and the weight of having the sector’s most visible name turn out to be a fraud — kept going. That, the founders argue, says something. The sector is chronically underfunded, not because the fundamentals aren’t strong, but because the attention hasn’t followed. eFishery briefly changed that. They cannot let its failure reverse it permanently.

The full statement by Amy Novogratz and Mike Velings was originally published on LinkedIn and cross-posted by ImpactAlpha.

Aquaculture Magazine covers the global aquaculture industry across species, technology, investment, and sustainability. For editorial inquiries, contact the editorial team at aquaculturemagazine.com.

India: A Sleeping Giant?

Edusehat — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 22:00:10 +0700

* By Stephen Newman, Ph.D.

I recently had the pleasure of being a guest speaker at Aqua India 2026 at the Radisson Blu Resort, Temple Bay, Mamallapuram. I want to thank the coordinators and the sponsors of the meeting for the opportunity and an educational and informative meeting. This was my first trip to India since April of 2017 and as is usually the case between lengthy visits, considerable changes were apparent.

The central theme of the meeting was “regroup, rethink and refocus”. The focus of the meeting was to some extent a result of recent tariff impositions. The US, a major market for value added shrimp produced by India, had enacted a punitive illegal (based on US law which charges the legislative branch with the function of setting tariffs and not the executive branch) excessively high tariff “purportedly” to manipulate India into ceasing its reliance on Russian oil imports.

Just in the last few days it was reduced to 15% from 50%. Domestic consumption of shrimp in India, for a number of reasons, is relatively low contrasted with the world’s second largest country by population, China. If domestic consumption could be increased, as with China, the demand would also increase offering a large potential internal market.

India’s shrimp farming industry stands as a ‘waking giant,’ producing over 1 million MTs in 2025. This article explores the strategic shift toward ‘regrouping and refocusing’ amid global trade tariffs. By analyzing the role of SPF broodstock, biosecurity regulations, and sustainable intensification, Stephen Newman highlights how India can leverage its vast network of small-scale farms to ensure long-term profitability and global market leadership.

Shrimp farming is big business in India. Table 1 highlights production in 2024 and 2025. India produced over 1 million MTs of farmed shrimp in 2025 of which 94% was the white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei also commonly known as Penaeus vannamei and the remainder, the tiger shrimp, P. monodon. The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) is responsible for regulating and promoting coastal aquaculture activities of shrimp hatcheries to ensure sustainable environmental and economic impacts.

Approximately 500 hatcheries are in operation for the production of L. vannamei and around 40 for P. monodon. In conjunction with the Marine Product Development Authority (MPEDA) the Central Institute of Brackish Water Aquaculture (ICARCIBA) regular inspections of farms ensure compliance with discharge permits and biosecurity regulations (the use of pond reared broodstock is prohibited). More than 130,000 ha of L. vannamei were under cultivation with an estimated total production of 1.2 million MTs in the 2024 to 2025 period.

Approximately 66,000 ha produced roughly 66,000 MTs of P. monodon during the same time period (MPEDA Annual report 2024- 2025). The total hectares under cultivation are slightly less than in Ecuador. The table below summarizes data presented at the meeting.

After the meeting we traveled to Gujarat state on the West Coast to visit a few shrimp farmers that are currently using our tableted probiotic to the exclusion of all other similar microbial products, PRO4000X, with excellent success. We were a bit early to see farms operating as stocking is seasonal, starting in late February. These were what would be considered to be larger farmers. Construction of new ponds was ongoing (Figures 1 and 2).

Ongoing expansion of Penaeus monodon farms.

Typical small dirt ponds in early stages of preparing for stocking.

Unlike Ecuador, the world’s largest producer of farmed white shrimp for export, which produced around 1.5 million MTs in 2025, India’s industry is made up of a large number of small producers. CAA as of Oct 2024, reported close to 47,000 coastal aquaculture farms. Overall, there are around 50,000 shrimp farms versus around 4,000 in Ecuador. The average shrimp farm in India is less than 2 ha contrasted with around 55 ha average in Ecuador. Stocking densities are highly variable with averages for India reported in the 10 to 70 and much higher per m2 range contrasted with 15 to 25 per m2 (with some twice this) in Ecuador.

Cycles are longer in India while Ecuador’s are shorter and 4 or more cycles per year are not uncommon. Ecuador in many respects has an ideal environment for farming shrimp. The larger shrimp producing nations (with the exception of China) typically export much of what they produce. At the time of the meeting India had been the focus of a punitive tariff. This crippling tariff was of serious concern as the US has traditionally been a major market for Indian shrimp. Thus, the title and focus of the meeting to explore what options are available to India.

The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) and ICAR-CIBA enforce strict biosecurity regulations to ensure sustainability. This oversight includes regular farm inspections and a mandatory prohibition on pond reared broodstock to mitigate the risk of pathogen introduction.

Many were discussed including seeing what could be done to expand the domestic market. Shortly before my return an agreement was reached whereby the tariff was reduced to much more manageable 15% from 50%. Indias export volumes for 2025 are in the 800,000 MT range, an increase over the prior year despite the tariff. They were able to shift their sales to non- US markets. Shrimp Bytes (https:// www.shrimpinsights.com/content) offers a detailed description of what is occurring. I expect to see the trend of increased production continue as the US market has “reopened”.

My talk was entitled “Managing Vibrio and EHP Infections in Shrimp Farming”. It is posted on www.aqua-in-tech.com. Much as with any shrimp farming nation there are challenges to ensuring optimal productivity. Return on investments (ROI) must be consistent and sufficient to justify ongoing investment and continued growth. Animal health is a neverending challenge for shrimp farmers everywhere. Shrimp can be produced with little impact from disease, but this requires adjusting various elements of the production cycle and process to ensure true sustainability.

Some of these elements are relatively easy to control, such as ensuring that no broodstock are used from ponds and that external sources of Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) animals from Nucleus Breeding Centers (NBCs) are used and that those who ignore this are punished accordingly. I would expect that India (they may already be working on this) will develop their own programs although for the time being external sources offer genetically improved animals that perform very well under the proper production environments. Some elements are much harder to control.

I have discussed what I think that this means elsewhere although given the large variability between individual elements the ultimate measure of this is to produce a consistent profit. As I was visiting during the off season, I had a limited opportunity to visit a few farms that were in the early stages of preparing for the next cycle. This was in the Gujarat where many farms are producing P. monodon some with significant ROIs.

Enterocytozoonhepatopenaei (EHP) is not a significant problem for P. monodon although it remains a challenge in the production of L.vannamei.

Unlike Ecuador’s large-scale operations, India’s industry comprises approximately 50,000 small farms averaging less than 2 hectares. This fragmented structure necessitates consolidation and vertically integrated models to better control costs and weather global market volatility

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) remains an ongoing challenge for all species. The general principles that all shrimp farms must address is to break the cycle of transmission into the ponds from infected PLs. The use of SPF broodstock is an important component of this. This ensures that when hatcheries follow proper biosecurity protocols that the source of the virus (or EHP spores and pathogenic vibrios, etc.) are not from the broodstock.

This however will not prevent these pathogens from impacting animals in environments where adequate attempts to control the myriad of potential vectors are not a routine part of SOPs and preventable stressors are not addressed. These are well documented but not always readily achievable economically. One of the farms I visited had mud goby’s in the entrance canal which are known to carry the WSSV virus.

Ponds are filled and the water chlorinated prior to stocking. The sheer number of farms ensures challenges will persist. Small farmers just do not have the resources needed to ensure that every effort is made to keep pathogen loads low, control vectors and reduce stress.

I was impressed with the organization of the Aquaculture Professionals of India and their efforts to educate and reshape the industry. I have been working with the global shrimp farming industry for over 35 years, having worked with producers in a dozen or more nations consulting on virtually every aspect of the process, from genetics of broodstock, to biosecurity issues in hatcheries, nursery ponds and farms, to feed mills and processing plants, etc., everything short of selling shrimp. I am convinced that in the long run consolidation is essential for sustainability.

Strategic shifts in export markets have allowed India to remain resilient despite punitive tariffs. By focusing on ‘regrouping, rethinking, and refocusing,’ the industry aims to expand domestic consumption and improve production efficiency to become a ‘waking giant’.

Vertically integrated companies have greater control of costs and are better able to weather the invariable challenges that farming animals in water creates. We are seeing this in Ecuador. India and its neighbors, such as Indonesia, both of which have huge potentials for increased production of farmed crustaceans (as well as Africa which is a source of SPF P. monodon), face different challenges.

India’s farms and hatcheries are subject to government oversight. This is a critically important step to ensuring the consistency of biosecure production, one of the pillars sustainability. However, poverty driven production paradigms carry risks. The misuse of antibiotics is one of these. I think that India is making great strides in ensuring that this is not an issue although I would think that it is a daunting task to inspect 50,000 farms and 500 hatcheries to ensure consistent compliance.

The practice of processing plants, typically the portal to the market, is to pool shrimp from many smaller operations. This dilution allows, in theory, for some product to slip through the cracks. Another issue that needs to be addressed is the widespread use of products that have little or no science to support their efficacy as well as the use of “natural” remedies to address disease issues and stress. Most importing nations have strict controls over what they will allow to be present in food that is being imported. The use of plant extracts might have science to support their application (at least under lab conditions) but the specter of residues remains.

Label claims are regulated and when products are sold for the prevention of disease and/or to cure sick animals these are typically considered drugs. If they are not approved for these applications within the importing territory their use can be considered to be a potential adulteration of the final product. Proof of safety and efficacy as well as the lack of harmful residues are important.

I am optimistic that India will get a handle on these issues and that they will continue to expand production. They have come a long way since my last visit. Challenges abound and as long as no new serious diseases occur and they can improve efficiency they will be a waking giant.

INVE Aquaculture and Chinese Tianjin University of Science and Technology Establish Joint Laboratory for Artemia Innovation

Edusehat — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 22:00:06 +0700

The initiative will support research, development and the application of new knowledge to aquaculture production systems

INVE Aquaculture and Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) have announced the establishment of a joint laboratory for innovative artemia applications, marking an important step in their long-standing collaboration in aquaculture research and innovation. The signing and inauguration ceremony took recently place at the university’s Binhai campus in Tianjin, China.

The event brought together representatives from both organizations, including Patrick Waty, CEO of INVE Aquaculture, and Wang Min, Vice President of Tianjin University of Science and Technology. The ceremony was also attended by Patrick Sorgeloos, a pioneer in Artemia research, together with representatives from the Asian Regional Artemia Reference Center (ARARC).

The joint laboratory aims to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry by combining TUST’s expertise in aquatic science and brine biotechnology with INVE Aquaculture’s long-standing experience in Artemia biology, live food technologies and early-stage nutrition for hatcheries. The initiative will support research, technology development and the application of new knowledge to aquaculture production systems, with particular focus on Artemia and early-stage nutrition, key factors in hatchery performance.

Long Story of Cooperation

Over the years, Tianjin University of Science and Technology and INVE Aquaculture have maintained close cooperation in areas such as product development, technical expertise and talent development. The new laboratory will further expand this collaboration, creating a platform for applied research, innovation and knowledge exchange.

The initiative also reflects INVE Aquaculture’s broader R&D approach, which promotes science-based innovation through strategic partnerships with leading research institutions worldwide. In China, this collaboration contributes to a local-for-local R&D strategy, supporting solutions tailored to the needs of the local aquaculture industry while strengthening international scientific cooperation.

Largest Nauplii Center at Long Cheng Hatchery

For INVE Aquaculture, Artemia production plays a critical role in the performance and consistency of early shrimp larval stages. In hatcheries, live food remains one of the main sources of biological, operational and economic variability during larval and early post-larval phases.

According to Amir Khalil, Regional Sales Director at INVE Aquaculture, “China’s shrimp hatchery sector has evolved rapidly in recent years, with leading producers investing in larger and more structured production systems. As hatcheries scale up, improving the consistency and efficiency of live food production becomes increasingly important for the improvement of stability in larval performance and maximize cost efficiency.”

To address this challenge, the INVE Aquaculture team, led by Francesco Lenzi, Global Technical Expert for Live Food, and supported by Product Manager Geert Rombaut, has developed a comprehensive program to support hatcheries in establishing, modernizing or optimizing their Artemia production systems. Built on proven standards and validated operational protocols, the program is designed to improve hatching efficiency, reinforce biosecurity and standardize the artemia production workflow. The objective is to help hatcheries produce high-quality nauplii in a more consistent and efficient way while reducing live-food-related costs.

Following successful implementations in several regions, this concept has now been deployed at a significantly larger scale in China with the development of the country’s largest Artemia nauplii center at Long Cheng, powered by INVE technology and technical support.

The facility at Long Cheng represents a major step forward in scaling artemia production within commercial shrimp hatcheries. It includes two dedicated artemia production modules. Each module consists of 40 hatching tanks of 3 MT capacity, operating at approximately 2.5 MT working volume, arranged in four rows of ten tanks to ensure efficient workflows and standardized operations.

Automation and precision are central to the system. Each tank line is connected to an INVE SEP-Art Automag tool, which automates key Artemia processing steps, reducing manual handling and improving overall operational consistency. Under these conditions, each module can process approximately 240 kg of artemia cysts per day.

A dedicated quality control room equipped with SnappArt 360 L-SENSE, INVE’s advanced AI-powered solution for automated live food counting, processing and data management, enables technicians to monitor Artemia hatching performance on a daily basis.

“Scaling artemia production is not only about increasing tank capacity,” explains Francesco Lenzi, Global Technical Expert on Live Food at INVE Aquaculture. “The key is to standardize every step of the process. The successful implementation of this project was made possible through the close collaboration between INVE’s global, regional and local technical teams and the hatchery staff, who worked together throughout the design, installation and operational start-up of the facility.”

This INVE artemia production approach goes beyond product supply. It combines optimized infrastructure, biotechnology solutions, validated operational protocols and technical knowledge transfer into a single operational framework designed to strengthen hatchery capabilities. Implementation is supported by INVE technical teams, who transfer protocols, methodologies and operational know-how directly to hatchery staff, ensuring the facility can independently manage and control every stage of artemia production.

“What we see at Long Cheng is part of a broader shift in the shrimp hatchery industry,” says Fernando Garcia, Commercial Director at INVE Aquaculture. “Across major shrimp-producing regions such as China, India, Indonesia and Ecuador, hatcheries are increasingly looking for ways to transform artemia production from a variable live-food operation into a more standardized and controlled process capable of delivering large volumes of high-quality nauplii.”

The Genetics of Resilient Fish in Sustainable Aquaculture

Edusehat — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:05:07 +0700

The Genetics of Resilient Fish in Sustainable Aquaculture

Not all fish are created equal. Even within the same species, individual fish differ in growth rate, disease resistance, stress tolerance, and reproductive success. Many fish farms focus heavily on environmental factors such as feeding, water quality, and stocking density, but often overlook one of the most important drivers of long-term productivity: genetics. According to NOAA Fisheries, genetic selection in aquaculture often targets traits such as improved growth rate, disease resistance, feed conversion, and product quality.

Understanding the genetics of resilient fish can help aquaculture producers build stronger, healthier populations that perform better under real-world farming conditions.

Understanding Resilience in Fish

Resilient fish are those that survive and thrive under changing or imperfect conditions. They are better able to tolerate temperature fluctuations, resist common pathogens, and maintain steady growth even when nutrition is less than ideal or water quality temporarily declines.

These characteristics are strongly influenced by DNA and can be passed from one generation to the next through selective breeding. The FAO’s aquaculture breeding and genetics resources emphasize the importance of managing aquatic genetic resources effectively to support sustainable aquaculture development.

Resilience is often polygenic, which means it is controlled by multiple genes working together and interacting with the environment. Traits such as immune system strength, stress response, and metabolic efficiency are shaped by complex genetic pathways. Research published through PubMed Central notes that selective breeding for improved disease resistance has proven to be an effective strategy for reducing infectious disease impacts in aquaculture species.

Selective Breeding for Better Performance

One of the most effective ways to improve aquaculture outcomes is through selective breeding. Farmers can choose broodstock that consistently show desirable traits such as fast growth, strong disease resistance, better feed conversion, or tolerance to low oxygen conditions. The FAO selective breeding manual was developed specifically to help aquaculturists improve cultured fish populations through structured breeding programs.

Over multiple generations, these traits become more common within the population. The result is a stock of fish that performs more reliably and requires fewer costly interventions. This can also reduce dependence on antibiotics, chemical treatments, and highly controlled environments. WOAH has highlighted disease prevention, aquatic animal health, and improved management practices as central to more sustainable aquaculture systems, especially as the industry works to reduce risks linked to disease and antimicrobial resistance.

Why Genetic Diversity Matters in Aquaculture

The genetics of resilient fish is not only about selecting the strongest individuals. It is also about maintaining diversity within the population.

Resilient fish populations are built through selective breeding, genetic diversity, and strong aquaculture management.

Genetic diversity helps prevent inbreeding, which can reduce growth, weaken immune function, and lower the ability of fish to adapt to changing conditions. FAO guidance on inbreeding and broodstock management explains that loss of genetic variation can make selective breeding less effective over time, while inbreeding increases homozygosity and can reduce the adaptive capacity of farmed populations.

Fish farms that source broodstock from multiple lineages, or occasionally incorporate outside genetic material where appropriate and legal, often build more adaptable populations than farms relying on a single closed line. FAO also notes that farmers can maintain higher genetic diversity by using more brooders, avoiding close-relative mating, and keeping careful records of production practices. See FAO’s guidance here.

How Genetics and Environment Work Together

Genetics sets the potential, but the environment determines how fully that potential is expressed. Even fish with strong genetic resilience can underperform if farming conditions are poor. Water quality, nutrition, stocking density, and stress management still matter greatly.

The most successful aquaculture systems align good genetics with strong farm management practices. Fish with a genetic tolerance for low oxygen may survive stressful pond conditions better than others, but they will still grow faster and remain healthier if aeration is adequate and stocking density is properly managed. Genetics and environment are partners; neither one alone is enough to guarantee success.

The Long-Term Value of Resilient Fish

Resilient fish are built by DNA as much as they are shaped by daily care. Understanding the genetics behind disease resistance, stress tolerance, and growth potential allows farmers to develop populations that are more dependable, efficient, and profitable.

Fish farms that invest in selective breeding, protect genetic diversity, and combine those efforts with sound environmental management gain several long-term advantages. These include more stable growth, lower mortality, reduced treatment costs, and greater adaptability when conditions change. FAO has said that wider and appropriate application of genetic improvement in aquaculture can significantly strengthen sustainable food supply and long-term productivity.

In aquaculture, genetics is the foundation of resilience and long-term profitability. It is not optional.

For more valuable information on sustainable fish farming, visit EAT Community.

The Role of Probiotics in Disease Control for Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:56:33 +0700

Shrimp aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing sectors of global aquaculture, contributing significantly to economic growth and food security. However, intensification of shrimp farming systems to meet rising global demand has also increased the risk of devastating disease outbreaks. Pathogens such as Vibrio spp., Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS), and White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) have caused massive losses for farmers worldwide.

In recent years, probiotics have emerged as a safe, eco-friendly, and effective alternative to antibiotics and harmful chemicals for disease prevention in shrimp farming.

The Role of Probiotics in Disease Control for Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture

Probiotics are live microorganisms that benefit the host when administered in adequate amounts. In shrimp aquaculture, they work by:

Strengthening the immune system
Preventing harmful bacteria colonization
Balancing gut microflora

Unlike antibiotics, which kill both beneficial and harmful microbes, probiotics selectively support beneficial microbial communities that naturally suppress pathogens through competitive exclusion. This means they outcompete harmful bacteria for nutrients and attachment sites in the shrimp’s digestive tract.

How Probiotics Prevent Shrimp Diseases

Probiotics combat disease in several ways:

Production of Bioactive Substances – Certain probiotics produce bacteriocins, organic acids, and enzymes that directly inhibit pathogens. For example, lactic acid bacteria reduce gut pH, creating an environment hostile to harmful microorganisms.
Immune System Stimulation – Probiotics enhance shrimp immunity by increasing antimicrobial peptide production and activating hemocytes, which are essential in defending against bacterial, fungal, and viral infections.
Improved Digestion and Growth – Probiotics increase digestive enzyme production, improving feed efficiency, growth rate, and disease resistance.

Probiotics and Water Quality Management

Maintaining good pond water quality is vital in shrimp aquaculture. Certain probiotic strains, such as Bacillus species, degrade organic waste, reducing ammonia and nitrite levels. This improves water quality, lowers stress, and decreases disease susceptibility.

Microbial Balance for Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture

By combining microbial balance, competitive exclusion, immune stimulation, and water quality improvement, probiotics offer a holistic approach to disease prevention. They represent a sustainable alternative to antibiotics—supporting healthier shrimp, reducing losses, and ensuring the long-term viability of shrimp farming.

However, correct probiotic strain selection, dosage, and application method are key to achieving the best results. Continued research and training are essential for maximizing benefits.

Start Your Shrimp Aquaculture Journey Today

Are you ready to venture into sustainable shrimp aquaculture? The Ecolonomics Action Team provides valuable resources, expert guidance, and networking opportunities with experienced shrimp farmers.

Join the EAT Community today and gain the knowledge and support you need to succeed in eco-friendly shrimp production.

References & Related Articles:

Freshwater Shrimp Aquaculture Techniques to Adopt
FAO. (2016). The Use of Probiotics in Aquaculture. Read here
Verschuere, L., et al. (2000). Probiotic bacteria as biological control agents in aquaculture. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, 64(4), 655–671.
De Schryver, P., et al. (2012). Probiotics in aquaculture: A review. Aquaculture, 356–357, 1–14.

The post The Role of Probiotics in Disease Control for Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture first appeared on WorldWide Aquaculture.

How to Apply Biofloc Technology in Sustainable Shrimp Production

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:56:29 +0700

Shrimp farming has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in aquaculture, but traditional methods often rely on high water exchange, costly feeds, and practices that strain the environment. Biofloc Technology offers a sustainable solution by turning waste into a valuable resource. This innovative system not only improves water quality but also provides shrimp with a natural protein-rich food source, reducing production costs and minimizing environmental impact. As global demand for shrimp rises, adopting Biofloc Technology ensures that farmers can achieve profitability while supporting long-term ecological balance.

As the global population grows, food production industries — including aquaculture — face the challenge of producing enough food without harming the planet. Shrimp farming, one of the most profitable aquaculture sectors, has expanded rapidly but often at the cost of high water usage, waste production, and dependence on expensive feed inputs.

Biofloc Technology (BFT) offers a sustainable alternative, improving shrimp health, reducing environmental impact, and cutting production costs.

Understanding Biofloc Technology

Biofloc Technology is an innovative recirculating aquaculture system that creates a controlled microbial ecosystem in shrimp ponds. By adding carbon sources such as molasses or starch, farmers maintain a balanced carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. This balance stimulates the growth of beneficial bacteria, algae, and protozoa, which clump into bioflocs.

These bioflocs recycle waste, improve water quality, and serve as a high-protein, natural feed for shrimp — reducing reliance on commercial diets.

Benefits of Biofloc Technology in Shrimp Aquaculture

1. Reduced Water Exchange

Traditional shrimp ponds require constant water exchange, which can discharge nutrient-rich waste into nearby ecosystems. Biofloc systems recycle nutrients internally, minimizing waste discharge and conserving water. This makes BFT especially valuable in regions with limited freshwater or strict environmental regulations.

2. Lower Feed Costs

Since bioflocs contain proteins, lipids, and essential micronutrients, they act as a natural feed supplement. This reduces the need for expensive formulated diets and makes shrimp production more economical.

3. Improved Shrimp Health

Bioflocs compete with harmful bacteria, lowering the risk of disease outbreaks. They also strengthen the shrimp’s immune system, resulting in higher survival rates, faster growth, and improved production efficiency.

Challenges and Best Practices for BFT

Despite its many advantages, managing biofloc systems requires technical know-how. Farmers must:

Maintain the right carbon-to-nitrogen ratio.
Monitor key water parameters (pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia).
Ensure strong aeration systems for proper circulation.
Receive proper training to avoid system failures that could cause production losses.

With good management, BFT can become a game-changer in shrimp aquaculture.

Conclusion: The Future of Sustainable Shrimp Farming

Biofloc Technology represents a transformative step toward sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly shrimp farming. By recycling waste into valuable biomass, conserving water, and reducing dependence on costly feeds, BFT aligns with global goals for sustainable food production.

With proper training and support, shrimp farmers can use biofloc systems to meet growing demand while protecting the environment.

Get more insight on biofloc technology and sustainable aquaculture at EAT Community

Biofloc Technology Related Articles & References

Biofloc Shrimp Farming: Cultivation and Principles of Growing Shrimp
Avnimelech, Y. (2012). Biofloc Technology: A Practical Guidebook. The World Aquaculture Society.
Crab, R., Defoirdt, T., Bossier, P., & Verstraete, W. (2012). Biofloc technology in aquaculture: Beneficial effects and future challenges. Aquaculture, 356–357, 351–356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2012.04.046
Emerenciano, M., Gaxiola, G., & Cuzon, G. (2013). Biofloc Technology (BFT): A Review for Aquaculture Application and Animal Food Industry. Biomass Now – Cultivation and Utilization, IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/53902
Hargreaves, J. A. (2013). Biofloc Production Systems for Aquaculture. Southern Regional Aquaculture Center Publication No. 4503. https://srac.tamu.edu/
Kuhn, D. D., Boardman, G. D., Craig, S. R., Flick, G. J., & McLean, E. (2009). Use of microbial floc generated from tilapia effluent as a nutritional supplement for shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 40(4), 573–582. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-7345.2009.00274.x
Martínez-Córdova, L. R., Emerenciano, M., Miranda-Baeza, A., & Martínez-Porchas, M. (2015). Microbial-based systems for aquaculture of fish and shrimp: An updated review. Reviews in Aquaculture, 7(2), 131–148. https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12058
The World Aquaculture Society (WAS). (2020). Advances in Biofloc Technology for Sustainable Aquaculture. https://www.was.org/
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). (2020). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020. Sustainability in Action. http://www.fao.org/fishery

The post How to Apply Biofloc Technology in Sustainable Shrimp Production first appeared on WorldWide Aquaculture.

Shrimp Aquaculture: Managing Salinity Levels for Optimal Shrimp Growth

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:56:25 +0700

Water salinity is one of the most critical factors in shrimp aquaculture, directly influencing shrimp survival, growth, and overall health. The optimal salinity range for most farmed shrimp is between 15–25 parts per thousand (ppt). Careful management of this parameter ensures stability, resilience, and long-term productivity.

As the global aquaculture industry expands, contributing significantly to both rural livelihoods and global seafood production, sustainable salinity management has become essential for shrimp farmers.

Effects of Salinity on Shrimp Growth in Shrimp Aquaculture

Salinity fluctuations can cause physiological stress in shrimp. Sudden changes—whether from rainfall, evaporation, or poor water management—disrupt osmoregulation, leading to:

slower growth,
reduced feeding activity, and
greater susceptibility to disease.

Species differ in salinity tolerance:

Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) tolerates 0.5–40 ppt but thrives best at 15–25 ppt (FAO fact sheet).
Black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) prefers slightly higher salinity levels, around 15–30 ppt (World Aquaculture Society).

Keeping salinity within these preferred ranges enhances shrimp immunity, improves feed conversion ratios, and accelerates growth.

Techniques for Managing Salinity in Shrimp Aquaculture

1. Monitoring Water Exchange

Controlled water exchange in shrimp farming helps stabilize salinity while improving water quality. Farmers can balance freshwater and seawater inputs in coastal areas, while inland farms often rely on mineral supplements such as brine or sea salt.

Zero-water exchange systems and biofloc methods are also increasingly popular, reducing environmental impact while maintaining stable water parameters (MDPI study).

2. Pond Design and Construction

Well-designed shrimp ponds reduce sudden salinity fluctuations. Important features include:

Adequate pond depth for buffering changes,
Clay or plastic linings to prevent seepage,
Aeration systems for mixing and uniform salinity distribution.

These designs ensure consistent conditions and prevent stress to shrimp stocks.

3. Use of Salinity Meters and Record-Keeping

Routine monitoring with refractometers and digital salinity meters ensures accuracy. During storms, droughts, or seasonal transitions, these tools allow farmers to act quickly to prevent harmful shifts.

Maintaining long-term records helps identify patterns, anticipate changes, and support better decision-making in integrated systems where shrimp may co-exist with tilapia, mollusks, or seaweed.

Conclusion: Basics of Shrimp Aquaculture

Maintaining optimal salinity levels is fundamental to success in shrimp aquaculture. By stabilizing water conditions through water exchange management, pond design, and routine monitoring, farmers can:
improve shrimp growth and survival,
reduce disease risks,
boost production efficiency, and
build long-term sustainability.

Learn more about sustainable shrimp farming and ecolonomic practices at the EAT Community.

References & Further Reading

FAO. Litopenaeus vannamei culture fact sheet.
Boyd, C.E. (2018). Water Quality Management for Shrimp Farming. Auburn University.
Funge-Smith, S., & Briggs, M. (1998). Nutrient budgets in intensive shrimp ponds. Aquaculture Research.
JALA. The Key to Successful Water Exchange in Shrimp Farming.
FAO Fisheries. Pond construction and design.
Global Aquaculture Alliance. Water quality in shrimp ponds.
Song, Z., Liu, C., Luan, Y., Qi, Y., & Xu, A. (2023). Effect of Zero Water Exchange Systems for Litopenaeus vannamei. Sustainability, 15(2).

The post Shrimp Aquaculture: Managing Salinity Levels for Optimal Shrimp Growth first appeared on WorldWide Aquaculture.

Regenerative Aquaculture: Applying Soil Health Principles to Ocean and Freshwater Farming

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:56:20 +0700

Regenerative agriculture has evolved from being a buzzword to a vital global movement focused on restoring ecosystems, improving soil health, and addressing the impacts of climate change. Today, this same philosophy is being extended to aquatic environments through regenerative aquaculture.

As the demand for seafood grows and wild fish populations decline, aquaculture has become a key player in global food systems. Unfortunately, conventional fish farming often mirrors industrial agriculture—relying on synthetic feeds, antibiotics, and monoculture systems that can contaminate waterways and disrupt marine ecosystems.

Regenerative aquaculture challenges this paradigm by applying soil health principles to oceans and freshwater. Its core aim is not just to produce seafood, but to restore aquatic ecosystems, increase biodiversity, and enhance resilience.

What is Regenerative Aquaculture?

Regenerative aquaculture is about cultivating species that improve their environment instead of harming it. Similar to regenerative farming’s focus on soil organic matter and microbial life, regenerative aquaculture enhances aquatic ecosystems by improving nutrient cycling and water quality.

For example, filter feeders such as clams, mussels, and oysters naturally clean the water as they feed—removing excess nutrients and boosting ecosystem health.

At the same time, seaweed farming requires no fertilizer or feed while absorbing carbon and nitrogen, sequestering greenhouse gases, and creating habitat for marine life. These living systems act as underwater “forests,” supporting marine biodiversity while producing sustainable food and raw materials.

Polyculture and Ecosystem Mimicry

One of the defining features of regenerative aquaculture is ecosystem mimicry. Unlike monoculture fish farms, which often lead to disease and pollution, regenerative systems embrace polyculture.

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) combines species like seaweed, shellfish, and finfish so that the waste from one species becomes food for another. This natural balance creates:

Nutrient-rich environments that mimic wild food webs
Higher productivity with reduced reliance on synthetic inputs
Healthier seafood with a lower environmental footprint

Regenerative Aquaculture and Climate Change

Regenerative aquaculture is also a natural ally in the fight against climate change. Seaweed, in particular, is a powerful carbon sink capable of absorbing large amounts of CO₂ while growing rapidly. Responsible harvesting opens pathways to industries like:

Human nutrition and superfoods
Animal feed alternatives
Biodiesel production
Biodegradable packaging

By reducing ocean acidification and capturing greenhouse gases, regenerative aquaculture helps mitigate climate change while creating sustainable economic opportunities.

Community Resilience and Food Sovereignty

Beyond environmental benefits, regenerative aquaculture fosters food sovereignty and community resilience. Small-scale, diversified aquaculture systems:

Support local jobs and coastal economies
Provide year-round, nutritious seafood
Restore degraded aquatic habitats

Projects such as GreenWave’s ocean farming model demonstrate how regenerative aquaculture can empower communities to produce food locally while protecting ecosystems for future generations.

Conclusion

Regenerative aquaculture represents a fundamental shift in how we approach seafood production. By synchronizing with natural cycles, enhancing biodiversity, and restoring ecosystems, it offers a resilient and sustainable way to nourish a growing global population.

This approach moves us beyond exploitation, toward a future where oceans, rivers, and lakes thrive alongside humanity.

Want to dive deeper into regenerative solutions for food and the planet?
Get access to valuable information and community resources at EAT Community.

References & Related Articles

FAO (2020). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture.
NOAA Fisheries. Aquaculture and Sustainability.
Naylor, R. et al. (2021). “A 20-year retrospective review of global aquaculture.” Nature. Link.
Chung, I. et al. (2017). “Seaweed as a global solution for carbon capture and climate change.” Nature Sustainability. Link.
Duarte, C. et al. (2017). “The role of marine vegetation in climate change mitigation and adaptation.” Frontiers in Marine Science. Link.
GreenWave (2023). Regenerative Ocean Farming.

The post Regenerative Aquaculture: Applying Soil Health Principles to Ocean and Freshwater Farming first appeared on WorldWide Aquaculture.

Shrimp Aquaculture and Climate Change Adaptation Strategies

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:56:16 +0700

Shrimp aquaculture plays a vital role in global seafood production and rural livelihoods, but it faces growing threats from climate change. Rising sea levels, temperature extremes, and unpredictable weather events are disrupting traditional farming practices and putting shrimp health at risk. To ensure long-term sustainability, shrimp farmers are adopting innovative adaptation strategies that build resilience while protecting ecosystems.

The effect of climate change is felt globally, and shrimp farming is one of the industries facing significant challenges. Rising sea levels, altered precipitation patterns, and increasing water temperatures directly impact aquaculture operations. This article explores the strategies shrimp producers are adopting to build resilience and adapt to climate change while ensuring sustainable production.

Climate Change’s Effects on Shrimp Aquaculture

Understanding how climate change affects shrimp aquaculture is essential for developing effective adaptation methods:

Temperature Extremes – Warmer waters influence shrimp growth rates and increase disease risks. According to the FAO, shrimp are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations.
Sea Level Rise – Coastal farms face saltwater intrusion, which can reduce water quality and shrimp survival rates (World Bank).
Extreme Weather Events – Stronger storms and flooding damage ponds and disrupt farming operations, a challenge noted in the IPCC 2023 report.

Strategies for Adaptation in Shrimp Aquiculture

Shrimp producers are implementing multiple adaptation techniques to reduce risks and ensure sustainability:

Better Farm Design – Raised pond platforms, reinforced embankments, and advanced drainage systems help withstand floods and storms.
Salinity Control – Farmers manage saltwater intrusion with barriers, drainage systems, and strategic water management (Aquaculture Stewardship Council).
Selective Breeding for Disease Resistance – Breeding shrimp that tolerate higher temperatures and resist disease supports long-term resilience (ScienceDirect: Selective Breeding in Aquaculture).
Technological Tools – Real-time monitoring systems and early-warning tools provide critical insights into temperature shifts, disease threats, and water quality (NOAA Climate Data).
Sustainable Land Use – Protecting mangroves and applying eco-friendly land management reduces environmental impact while boosting climate resilience (IUCN Mangrove Conservation).

Collaborative Research and Knowledge Exchange

Adaptation is strengthened through collaboration between researchers, governments, and shrimp farmers. Sharing best practices, advancing selective breeding, and testing innovative farm designs through global partnerships ensures shrimp aquaculture adapts to diverse climate challenges.

Be Part of the Solution for Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture

Shrimp aquaculture can thrive in a changing climate if farmers, researchers, and communities work together. You can:

Support sustainable seafood certification programs like the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.
Learn more about climate-resilient aquaculture from the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division.
Join conversations and explore resources at EAT Community.

Together, we can ensure shrimp aquaculture remains a viable source of food and livelihood while protecting ecosystems for generations to come.

References & Related Articles

Enhancing Fish Production: Mitigating Climate Change Effects in Aquaculture
Advanced Freshwater Shrimp Aquaculture Techniques to Adopt
FAO. (2022). Aquaculture and Climate Change.
IPCC. (2023). Climate Change 2023: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. IPCC Report.
World Bank. (2021). Aquaculture and Climate Change.
IUCN. (2020). Mangrove Conservation and Climate Adaptation.
Aquaculture Stewardship Council. (2023). Sustainable Shrimp Standards.
ScienceDirect. (2014). Selective Breeding in Aquaculture.
NOAA Climate Data. (2023). Climate Monitoring Tools.

The post Shrimp Aquaculture and Climate Change Adaptation Strategies first appeared on WorldWide Aquaculture.

Why Seaweed Could Be the Secret Ingredient That Transforms Fish Farming

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:56:12 +0700

Fish farming has gone from niche to mainstream. Today, aquaculture supplies over half of the world’s seafood. However, with growth comes scrutiny: water pollution, high feed costs, and disease outbreaks have raised serious questions about its sustainability.

Here’s the twist: the next big breakthrough in fish farming may not be expensive tech or synthetic feed. It may be something simple, natural, and already abundant in our oceans — seaweed.

From boosting fish health to cleaning polluted waters, seaweed is proving to be a game-changer in aquaculture. Let’s break down why it’s capturing attention from farmers, scientists, and investors alike.

Seaweed in Fish Feed: A Natural Performance Enhancer

Feed is the single largest cost in aquaculture, sometimes making up 60–70% of total expenses. Traditionally, farms rely on fishmeal, soy, and corn — ingredients that are expensive, resource-intensive, and environmentally questionable.

Adding seaweed into feed changes everything:

Faster Growth – Seaweed is packed with proteins, amino acids, and bioactive compounds that boost metabolism and immunity. Fish grow faster and healthier, with less reliance on antibiotics.
Better Digestibility – Studies show seaweed improves gut health in fish, reducing disease outbreaks and mortality rates.
Lower Emissions – Some seaweed varieties (like Asparagopsis) are proven methane-reducers in livestock. In aquaculture, they increase feed efficiency, cutting waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

In short, seaweed makes fish healthier, farmers more profitable, and the industry more sustainable.

Seaweed as a Built-In Water Filter in Fish Farming

Fish farms struggle with nutrient pollution. Uneaten feed and fish waste release nitrogen and phosphorus into surrounding waters, triggering algae blooms and oxygen depletion.

Seaweed cultivation solves this. When grown alongside fish cages or tanks, seaweed absorbs excess nutrients, effectively filtering and cleaning the water.

This practice — called Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) — has been adopted in parts of Asia and Europe. The results are impressive:

Cleaner waters
Healthier fish
A second income stream from harvesting the seaweed itself

It’s farming synergy at its best: fish feed the seaweed, seaweed cleans the water, and farmers profit twice.

Seaweed’s Role in Climate Solutions in Fish Farming

Seaweed isn’t just an aquaculture tool — it’s a climate ally.

Carbon Sequestration – Seaweed absorbs massive amounts of CO₂ during growth.
Methane Reduction – Seaweed feed additives cut methane emissions in cattle by up to 80%. Imagine applying that at scale in aquaculture.
Ocean Restoration – Large-scale seaweed farming can restore ecosystems, protect coastlines, and create jobs.

Why Fish Farming Investors Are Paying Attention

The global seaweed industry is projected to reach $30–40 billion in the next decade. Its applications go far beyond fish farming — from human nutrition to cosmetics, bioplastics, and even biofuels.

For aquaculture, the business case is compelling:

Lower feed costs → higher profit margins
Cleaner water → reduced regulatory risk
Sustainable branding → stronger consumer trust

Consumers increasingly want climate-conscious seafood. Farms that integrate seaweed aren’t just sustainable — they’re marketable.

Challenges Holding Back Adoption

Seaweed isn’t a silver bullet. To scale successfully, the industry needs:

Reliable supply chains for consistent feed quality
Research into the best seaweed strains for each fish species
Farmer training on IMTA systems

The good news? Governments, startups, and investors are already pouring money into seaweed innovation. These challenges are solvable.

Final Takeaway

Seaweed could be the secret ingredient that transforms aquaculture — making it healthier, more profitable, and climate-friendly.

Want to dive deeper into fish farming innovation?
Explore more insights at EAT Community

References & Related Articles:

The post Why Seaweed Could Be the Secret Ingredient That Transforms Fish Farming first appeared on WorldWide Aquaculture.

Why Shrimp Farms Are Moving On-Land: Let’s Talk About It

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:56:08 +0700

Shrimp is America’s favorite seafood, but the way it’s traditionally farmed is changing fast. Today, more and more shrimp farms are moving on-land — and for good reason. Disease outbreaks, environmental damage, and unstable imports are pushing producers to rethink how shrimp should be grown. Indoor, land-based systems promise cleaner water, healthier shrimp, and a steady supply all year long. So let’s talk about why this shift is happening and what it means for the future of sustainable seafood.

You probably know how much Americans love shrimp — more than 1 billion pounds every year. But here’s the surprising part: almost 90% of that shrimp is imported. That means when something goes wrong overseas — disease, bad weather, rising costs — shrimp prices and availability in the U.S. get hit too.

But now, something new is happening: shrimp farms are moving indoors and on land. And yes — this could change the entire seafood industry.

Why Traditional Shrimp Farms Are Hitting Limits

Let’s talk about why outdoor, open-pond shrimp farming is becoming harder to rely on.

1. “Disease can destroy everything.”

Traditional farms use open ponds, which makes it easy for viruses to enter and wipe out shrimp populations.

2. “It harms the environment.”

Ponds often replace mangroves and wetlands, and wastewater can pollute local ecosystems.

More info: Seafood Sustainability Report

3. “Weather is not predictable anymore.”

Storms, heatwaves, and droughts can destroy shrimp ponds and disrupt production.

Background reading: Global Seafood Alliance

4. “Buyers want cleaner, safer seafood.”

Imported shrimp often lacks traceability and may involve antibiotics or poor-quality water.

Reference: SEC Report

The Indoor Shrimp Farming Revolution

Now imagine this: shrimp growing in indoor tanks, with clean recycled water, controlled temperature, and 24/7 monitoring. That’s indoor shrimp farming using a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS).

1. “We can control everything.”

Temperature, water quality, and environment are fully managed.

Learn about RAS: Wikipedia: RAS

2. “Shrimp grow all year round.”

Indoor farms avoid seasonal challenges and weather issues.

More details: Texas A&M Extension Report

3. “It’s better for the planet.”

Indoor systems reduce water use and lower pollution compared to coastal ponds.

Learn more: Environmental Impact Study

4. “Shrimp can be farmed close to big cities.”

This lowers transport time and carbon emissions while producing fresher shrimp.

Good explanation: University of Michigan Sustainability Research

Challenges to Scaling Indoor Shrimp Farms (Because Nothing Is Perfect)

1. High startup cost

Indoor shrimp facilities require millions in upfront investment.

Overview: Economic Breakdown

2. High energy use

Heating and filtration systems require steady energy input.

More details: Tech Pros & Cons

3. Technical knowledge required

Indoor systems require expertise similar to running a factory.

Background: University Research

Why This Shift Matters for You? What This Shift Means for the Shrimp Farms

Here’s why indoor shrimp farming is important:

More stable prices due to year-round supply.
Cleaner, safer shrimp raised in controlled environments.
Less environmental damage to coastal regions.
Fresher seafood with shorter travel distances.

Want to Learn More?

Land-Based vs. Cage Fish Farming: A Practical Guide to Choosing the Right Aquaculture System

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:56:04 +0700

Fish farming is not just a local decision—it’s part of a much larger global system. If you want broader context on how different aquaculture models are being used, regulated, and scaled across regions, explore our Worldwide Aquaculture overview to see how land-based and cage systems fit into global production trends.

If you’re researching fish farming methods, you’ll quickly run into two dominant models:
land-based fish farming and cage fish farming. This guide breaks down the real trade-offs
so you can choose the best aquaculture system for your goals.

Here’s the truth most articles won’t tell you:
neither system is “best” by default. One is simply better for your location, budget, market, and risk tolerance.
The difference comes down to control, cost, environmental exposure, and scalability.

What Is Land-Based Fish Farming?

Land-based fish farming happens entirely on land using ponds, tanks, raceways, or recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS).
This is the model people usually mean when they say “controlled aquaculture.”

Why farmers choose land-based systems

The biggest advantage is simple: you’re in control.

Water quality and oxygen levels
Stocking density
Feeding schedules
Disease exposure
Harvest timing

That control leads to more predictable production and typically higher survival rates.
Land-based farms can also align more easily with wastewater rules because waste can be captured and treated.
For regulatory context, see the U.S. EPA aquaculture guidance.

The downside of land-based fish farming

Control comes at a cost. Land-based systems usually require higher capital investment and ongoing operating costs, including:

Infrastructure (tanks/ponds, plumbing, buildings)
Pumps, aeration, and filtration
Energy and backup power
Skilled monitoring and maintenance

Important: RAS facilities can be unforgiving. A power outage or mechanical failure can escalate quickly without redundancy.

Want deeper background on RAS? Start with this overview of recirculating aquaculture systems (FAO).

What Is Cage Fish Farming?

Cage fish farming uses net pens placed directly into lakes, reservoirs, rivers, or coastal waters.
Instead of building full water-treatment infrastructure, the surrounding environment provides water exchange and oxygen.

Why cage farming is attractive

The main advantage: lower startup costs.

Faster to launch
Easier to expand
Lower cost per unit of fish (in many settings)

When conditions are favorable, growth rates can be excellent due to steady water flow and stable temperatures.

The risks of cage fish farming

Here’s the catch: you don’t control the environment.
Water quality, pollution events, and disease pressure are external factors. If something changes,
intervention options are limited—and problems can spread quickly between cages and farms.

Cage systems often face higher environmental scrutiny because waste and excess feed enter the ecosystem directly.
For broader sustainability perspective, explore the FAO aquaculture sustainability resources.

Productivity vs. Risk: The Real Trade-Off

Most decisions come down to this:

Land-based systems prioritize survival, consistency, and biosecurity.
Cage systems prioritize volume and lower production costs.

Simple rule of thumb:
Cage farming tends to externalize risk to the environment.
Land-based farming tends to internalize risk inside your operation.

Environmental Impact and Market Demand

Buyers are paying closer attention to traceability, waste control, and biosecurity—especially in premium and export markets.
Land-based operations often have an advantage because inputs and outputs can be documented more precisely.

If you’re thinking about certification-driven markets, review:
Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP)
and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).

Land-Based vs. Cage Fish Farming: Which Is Better?

Here’s the honest answer: they are not interchangeable.

Land-based fish farming offers control, predictability, and regulatory resilience—at higher cost.
Cage fish farming offers affordability and scalability—with higher biological and environmental risk.

The best aquaculture system is the one that matches your:

Local regulations
Water availability and quality
Target markets and buyer expectations
Environmental carrying capacity
Budget and risk tolerance

The wrong system choice rarely fails slowly. It usually fails decisively.

Ready to Explore Aquaculture the Smart Way?

If you’re serious about aquaculture—and you want to do it in a way that’s economically viable and environmentally responsible—
you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Connect with the Ecolonomics Action Team (EAT) to access practical resources, expert guidance, and a community focused on
making a little money while making the planet better.

Join the Ecolonomics Action Team here

The post Land-Based vs. Cage Fish Farming: A Practical Guide to Choosing the Right Aquaculture System first appeared on WorldWide Aquaculture.

From Water to Carbon: The New Sustainability Equation Reshaping Aquaculture

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:55:52 +0700

How to Measure, Manage, and Monetize Environmental Impact in a Market Where Every Drop of Water and Ton of CO₂ Matters

By: Salvador Meza

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the First Strategic Carbon and Water Summit with Sustainable U.S. Soy, organized by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), held in Mexico City on March 18–19, 2026.

What emerged from this summit is not just a set of technical insights, but a clear transformation in how sustainability is understood and managed. Today, water footprint, carbon footprint, and carbon markets are no longer abstract environmental concepts—they are measurable business variables that directly influence profitability, risk exposure, and market access.

This article is designed to guide you step by step—from foundational concepts to strategic application—so you can fully understand how to measure, manage, and even monetize environmental impact.

Climate Change and Business Risk: Why Sustainability Is Now a Core Strategy

Climate change is often discussed in environmental terms, but its most immediate impact is economic. Global temperatures have increased by approximately 1.1°C since pre-industrial times, driven primarily by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

This seemingly small increase has triggered significant disruptions:

– More frequent droughts and floods.
– Changes in rainfall patterns.
– Increased volatility in agricultural and aquaculture production.
– Rising operational and insurance costs.

For industries that depend on natural resources—such as aquaculture—these changes are not theoretical. They affect water availability, feed production, and biological performance.

But there is a deeper shift: financial institutions, regulators, and buyers are now incorporating climate risk into their decision-making.

This means companies are no longer evaluated only on productivity, but also on how well they manage environmental risks.

Sustainability is no longer about reputation—it is about resilience, risk management, and long-term profitability.

What Is Water Footprint? Understanding Water Use Beyond the Surface

The concept of water footprint is one of the most important tools for understanding environmental impact.

At first glance, water use seems simple: how much water a farm or facility consumes. However, this view is incomplete. Water footprint expands the analysis to include all water used throughout the entire value chain.

For example, in aquaculture:

– Water used in ponds is only one part of the equation.
– Water used to grow feed ingredients can be significantly larger.

This is why many companies underestimate their true water impact.

The Three Components of Water Footprint Explained

To make the concept actionable, water footprint is divided into three types:

1. Blue Water (Direct Use)

This includes surface and groundwater extracted for operations.
Examples:

– Filling ponds.
– Water exchange in aquaculture systems.
– Irrigation of crops.

Blue water is often the most regulated because it directly competes with human consumption and other industries.

2. Green Water (Rainwater Use)

This refers to rainwater stored in soil and used by crops. It is especially important in feed production. Although it is not “extracted,” it is still a limited resource. Its availability depends on climate patterns and geography.

3. Grey Water (Water Quality Impact)

This represents the volume of water needed to dilute pollutants to safe levels.

In aquaculture, this is linked to:

– Nutrient discharge (nitrogen, phosphorus).
– Organic waste.
– Effluent management.

Understanding these three components is critical because they behave differently depending on location and production system.

Water footprint is not about how much water you see—it’s about where water is actually consumed across the value chain.

How to Measure Water Footprint: From Theory to Actionable Metrics

Measuring water footprint transforms a conceptual idea into a decision-making tool. To ensure consistency, companies rely on standardized methodologies such as:

– Water Footprint Assessment (WFA).
– ISO 14046 Water Footprint Standard.

These frameworks allow companies to calculate water use across the full lifecycle of a product.

What Does Measurement Include?

– Direct water consumption in operations.
– Indirect water use in feed and raw materials.
– Pollution levels and dilution requirements.
– Local environmental conditions (water scarcity, climate).

Results are expressed in measurable units such as:

– Cubic meters per ton of production.
– Cubic meters per kilogram of product.

Why Measurement Matters

Without measurement:

– Companies cannot identify inefficiencies.
– Improvements cannot be quantified.
– Performance cannot be compared.

Measurement reveals hotspots—areas where the greatest impact occurs—and enables targeted interventions.

Water Management: Optimizing Systems, Not Just Reducing Use

Once water footprint is measured, the next step is management. A common misconception is that water management means simply reducing consumption. In reality, it involves optimizing the entire production system.

Key Management Levers

– Feed sourcing: Different regions have different water footprints.
– Production systems: Closed systems may reduce water use but increase energy demand.
– Nutrient management: Reducing waste lowers grey water footprint.
– Production intensity: Higher efficiency can reduce total impact per unit.

These decisions often involve trade-offs. For example:

– Reducing water use may increase energy consumption.
– Improving feed efficiency may reduce both water and carbon impacts.

This is why water must be managed as part of a system, not in isolation.

Additionally, water should be treated as an ecosystem service, meaning its use must remain within ecological limits.

The goal is not to minimize water use at all costs, but to maximize efficiency while maintaining environmental balance.

Carbon Footprint: Measuring and Managing Emissions

While water footprint focuses on resource use, carbon footprint focuses on emissions. It measures the total greenhouse gas emissions generated by an operation, including:

Scope 1: Direct emissions (fuel, on-site processes)
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from energy use
Scope 3: Emissions across the value chain

Carbon management follows a structured approach:

1. Measurement

Using frameworks such as:

– GHG Protocol.
– ISO 14064.

2. Reduction

Through:

– Energy efficiency.
– Renewable energy adoption.
– Process optimization.

3. Compensation

By purchasing carbon credits to offset unavoidable emissions

Why Water and Carbon Must Be Managed Together

A critical insight from the summit is that water and carbon are interconnected.

Examples:

– Energy-intensive systems reduce water use but increase emissions.
– Efficient feed reduces both water and carbon footprints.
– Logistics decisions impact emissions and indirect water use.

This interdependence means companies must adopt an integrated sustainability strategy, rather than treating each metric separately.

Sustainability decisions must balance water, energy, and emissions simultaneously.

Sustainability Reporting: Turning Data into Market Value

Measuring and managing impact is only part of the equation. Companies must also report their performance.

The GRI Standards (Global Reporting Initiative) provide a global framework for sustainability reporting, including:

– GRI 303: Water and Effluents.
– GRI 305: Emissions.

Why Reporting Is Critical

– Investors require ESG data
– Regulators demand. transparency.
– Buyers prioritize sustainable suppliers.
– Markets reward credible reporting.

More than 90% of large companies already use GRI standards, highlighting the shift toward standardized disclosure.

Carbon Markets: Monetizing Sustainability Efforts

One of the most advanced topics discussed at the summit was carbon markets. These markets allow companies to turn sustainability into a financial asset.

How Carbon Markets Work

– Companies that reduce emissions can generate carbon credits.
– Companies that cannot fully reduce emissions can buy credits.
– Each credit represents a verified reduction of one ton of CO₂.

These markets are expanding rapidly due to:

– Increasing regulation.
– Corporate net-zero commitments.
– Global climate policies.

How to Participate in Carbon Markets: Step-by-Step

1. Measure emissions

Establish a baseline using recognized methodologies.

2. Reduce emissions

Implement efficiency and sustainability strategies.

3. Develop projects

Examples include:

– Regenerative agriculture.
– Renewable energy.
– Carbon capture.

4. Verify results

Third-party certification ensures credibility

5. Trade credits

Sell in voluntary or regulated markets. However, not all projects qualify. They must meet strict criteria such as:

– Additionality.
– Permanence.
– Verifiability.

Conclusion: Sustainability as a Strategic Advantage

The key message from the summit is clear: Sustainability is no longer optional—it is a core driver of competitiveness.

Companies that:

– Understand their water footprint.
– Manage their carbon footprint.
– Integrate both into their strategy.

Will gain advantages in:

– Cost efficiency.
– Risk management.
– Market access.
– Revenue generation through carbon markets.

In today’s economy, environmental performance is becoming a key business metric. The question is no longer whether companies should act—but how quickly they can adapt. Because in a resource-constrained world: every drop of water and every ton of CO₂ will define who leads—and who falls behind.

Owned, Paid, and Earned Media for Effective Marketing

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:55:46 +0700

* By Sarah Cornelisse

This article outlines an effective omni-channel marketing strategy by integrating owned, paid, and earned media. Owned media serves as the foundation for building customer trust, while paid media strategically amplifies messages, and earned media provides essential third-party credibility. Successful integration of these types fosters brand loyalty, strengthens engagement, and maximizes overall marketing impact.

Astrong marketing strategy is crucial for reaching customers and establishing and maintaining trust and loyalty. Many marketing channel options exist (TV, radio, social media, newsletters, websites, email, etc.), and as a business owner and marketer, you must determine the most effective mix of channels to reach your target audience and achieve your business and marketing goals.

A key point often emphasized is the necessity for a business to provide and maintain a consistent presence and experience across its chosen channels, a concept known as omni-channel marketing. Consistency builds and strengthens loyalty among customers, which in turn translates to increased engagement and sales (Gardner, 2025).

Effective omni-channel marketing requires considering the different types of marketing media: owned, paid, and earned. Each plays a crucial role in the marketing strategy, and it is important to understand how each can be leveraged.

Media Types

Owned media are the channels and content your business controls. Examples include your business website, social media accounts (e.g., Facebook pages, YouTube channels), and newsletter. Social media accounts are sometimes referred to as partiallyowned media, since while your business does not own the social media platform(s) you use, you do control the content shared from those accounts.

Paid media is content that you promote through advertising. Paid advertisements in newspapers or magazines, boosted Facebook posts, event sponsorships, and ads on social media or search engines are all examples of paid media. Because marketing budgets are often limited, especially for small businesses, consider paid media as a way to strategically amplify your messages.

Earned media is publicity gained through others’ media and is arguably the most valuable form of media, as individuals are known to place greater credibility on “word-of-mouth” recommendations. For example, a feature story published by your local newspaper, mentions and post shares from social media influencers (who are not paid by you), or invitations from community organizations to partner with them.

Each media type has its own advantages and disadvantages. Owned and paid media allow you to craft and manage the content, message, and timing, whereas, by definition, earned media requires that you rely on others to share your messages and promote your brand. Owned media content must be relevant, requiring commitment and investment in creating, updating, and maintaining quality content.

However, owned content is typically evergreen and can aid customers wherever they may be on their customer journey. Additionally, the effort expended to develop owned media can pay off with your ability to reuse content in the future for various purposes and in different formats. It is through owned media that you provide value to your audience, building trusting relationships with current and potential customers.

Paid media can effectively increase awareness, convey value, and encourage engagement and sales. Ideally, you use paid media to direct your audience to owned media. Building strong and trusting relation-ships with customers, the community, industry members, and partners is key to generating strong and positive earned media. Earned media further enhances trust while also developing credibility and a positive reputation for you and your business.

Paid media is content that you promote through advertising. Paid advertisements in newspapers or magazines, boosted Facebook posts, event sponsorships, and ads on social media or search engines are all examples of paid media.

Intentional Integration

To achieve maximum impact from your marketing, consider how these three media types can work together rather than approaching them individually. This demands intention and planning, starting with clearly defined marketing objectives and selecting media channels that your target audience uses or visits, before tackling content development. Consider owned media your foundation. Without robust owned media content, there is little to leverage or amplify with paid or earned media. The following example illustrates how owned, earned, and paid media can work together in a cohesive manner.

Assume that you publish a blog discussing your business’s sustainable production practices. The blog is owned media since the blog lives on a website that you control and manage. Your blog content showcases your experience, expertise, and brand values. Audience members for whom the content resonates may decide to share your post(s) on social media. Their posts are earned media, extending your reach and positioning you as a thought leader. You can also create social media ads for your blog, paying to strategically target new audiences and further amplify your message with the goal of generating new business customers.

Earned media is publicity gained through others’ media and is arguably the most valuable form of media, as individuals are known to place greater credibility on “word-of-mouth” recommendations.

A final key for maximizing the impact of owned, earned, and paid media is to measure your actions and the overall impact. Specific metrics that can be used include social media engagement rates, referrals, and sales conversions. It can be challenging, however, to accurately attribute sales to specific marketing activities. For instance, if a customer receives and opens your email newsletter (owned content) and also clicks your boosted Facebook post (paid media) before making a purchase, which should be credited?

A successful and comprehensive marketing strategy will integrate owned, paid, and earned media together in a complementary manner. By building a robust collection of owned media, you will be wellpositioned to leverage paid media to strategically boost your messages while also generating and supporting earned media. Through all media types, remember to maintain a focus on building connections, trust, and loyalty with your audience by providing short and long-term value.

References and sources consulted by the author on the elaboration of this article are available under previous request to our editorial staff.

* Sarah Cornelisse is a Senior Extension Associate of agricultural entrepreneurship and business management at Penn State University in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology and Education. Sarah has expertise in direct marketing, value-added dairy entrepreneurship and marketing, the use of digital and social media for agricultural farm and food business marketing, and business and marketing planning and decision making. Originally from New York State, she has a B.A in Mathematics from the State University of New York at Geneseo, and M.S. degrees in Agricultural Economics and Animal Science, both from Penn State University.
Correspondence email: sar243@psu.edu

Sunnyrich Group & FIMER: Pioneering Sustainable Aquaculture with Advanced Solar Solutions

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:55:41 +0700

By FIMER

SunnyRich Group, leading company in Taiwan focused on the symbiosis between fishing and solar energy (fishery-electricity symbiosis), is committed to transforming the aquaculture industry, driven by a vision to enhance production efficiency, sustainability, and product quality.

Leveraging its proprietary technologies and extensive experience in integrating large-scale photovoltaic systems with ultra-high voltage facilities, SunnyRich Group has pioneered the world’s largest single-area greenhouse SPF non-toxic aquaculture park.

This innovative park combines advanced greenhouse technical aquaculture with SPF (Specific Pathogen-Free) non-toxic shrimp farming, ensuring a pollution-free, antibiotic-free, and environmentally friendly production environment.

SunnyRich Group’s initiatives not only improve yield and efficiency for local fishermen but also modernize traditional aquaculture methods, addressing the long-standing development challenges of fishing communities. Their approach emphasizes symbiotic fishery-electricity integration, creating sustainable energy and aquaculture ecosystems.

Project Overview

Located in Chiayi City, Taiwan, the project represents a major milestone in large-scale renewable energy deployment within aquaculture environments.

With a total installed capacity of 132 MW, the plant is designed according to the innovative fishery–electricity symbiosis model, where photovoltaic generation and aquaculture activities coexist in a mutually beneficial ecosystem.

1,100 FIMER PVS-120-TL string inverters have been specifically selected to ensure high efficiency, operational stability, and long-term reliability in this unique operating environment.

The PVS-120-TL architecture enables optimized energy conversion and flexible system design, supporting the large-scale photovoltaic infrastructure integrated within the aquaculture facilities.

The system configuration allows the solar installation to generate substantial clean energy while simultaneously preserving the functionality of the aquaculture operations below the PV structures. This approach maximizes land-use efficiency and contributes to the creation of a sustainable production model that integrates renewable energy generation with modern shrimp farming practices.

FIMER PVS-120-TL plays a crucial role in these demanding environments, maintaining stable performance under high humidity and harsh symbiotic aquaculture conditions.

Its robustness and reliability perfectly support Sunnyrich Group’s mission to deliver premium, non-toxic shrimp and advance greenhouse technical aquaculture on a global scale.

FIMER is proud to be a long-term partner of Sunnyrich Group. Together, Sunnyrich Group and FIMER are redefining sustainable aquaculture — where cutting-edge solar technology meets innovative, eco-friendly seafood production.

Product Overview

PVS-100/120-TL is FIMER’s cloud connected three-phase string solution for cost efficient decentralized photovoltaic systems. This platform, for extreme high power string inverters with power ratings up to 120 kW, maximizes the ROI for decentralized ground mounted and large rooftop applications. With up to six MPPT, energy harvesting is optimized even in shading situations.

The extreme high-power modulesaves installation resources as less units are required. Due to its compact size further savings are generated in logistics and in maintenance.

Thanks to the integrated DC/AC disconnection, 24 string connections, fuses and surge protection no additional boxes are required. Standard wireless access from any mobile device makes the configuration of inverter and plant easier and faster.

Improved user experience thanks to a build in User Interface (UI) enables access to advanced inverter configuration settings. The installer mobile APP, available for Android/iOS devices, further simplifies multi-inverter installations.

About FIMER

FIMER is a brand owned by MA Solar Italy and a leading manufacturer of renewable energy solutions. The Company, specializing in the production of solar inverters, offers a wide range of solutions designed for any application. With local training centers, 2 production sites, one in Italy and one in India, FIMER is close to its customers in the evolving dynamics of the energy sector.

For further information visit www.fimer.com

About Sunnyrich Group

SunnyRich Group promotes local revitalization, rebuild fishing villages, and attract young farmers to return to their hometowns. They fully support and lead the development of Taiwan’s composite fishery-electricity symbiosis industry. The Company wants to create a brand-new ecosystem for the aquaculture industry of next generation through greenhouse anti-disease technical aquaculture.

IFFO Announces China Summit 2026 – Registration now Open

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:55:36 +0700

By IFFO

IFFO – The Marine Ingredients Organization is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the IFFO China Summit 2026, taking place in Shanghai on 10–11 June 2026. The Summit will once again convene leading industry stakeholders from across the global marine ingredients value chain to explore market dynamics, regulatory developments and future opportunities.

Maggie Xu, IFFO’s China Director, states:”We are delighted to welcome the industry back to China for another edition of what has now become an annual event. China continues to play a central role in the global aquaculture sector, both as the world’s largest producer and as a leading user of marine ingredients to support its rapidly developing feed and farming industries. According to OECD-FAO estimates, China is expected to account for 42% of global fishmeal consumption by 2034.”

Side Event on 10 June 2026

The Summit will be preceded by a dedicated Side Program and Reception on Wednesday 10 June: the Forum for High Quality Development of China’s Fish Oil Industry. The side event will feature expert insights into dietary supplement trends, global regulatory frameworks, and quality standards for fish oil products.

Main Program – 11 June 2026

The main day of the Summit, Thursday 11 June, will offer a full program of presentations and Q&A sessions, covering global supply and demand, market developments across key producing regions (Northern Europe, Chile, Peru, India, Vietnam, China, as well as global perspectives) and certification systems.

Registration now Open

Registration for the IFFO China Summit 2026 is officially open at https://www.iffo.com/china-summit-2026

Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers Launches 100% Great Lakes Sportfish

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:55:30 +0700

By Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers.

• Walnut Creek Marina’s sportfish cleaning station becomes first on the Great Lakes to join international initiative aimed at using 100% of fish parts

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (GSGP) announced today that the Walnut Creek Fish Cleaning Station has signed the Governors’ and Premiers’ 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge. The Station is the 45^th pledge signatory and the first sportfish cleaning station to join the regional initiative.

As part of the pledge, Walnut Creek will work alongside other participating organizations to promote the full use of each fish caught, raised, or processed in or from the Great Lakes region. This includes helping raise awareness of opportunities for innovative applications of fish byproducts, such as compost, fertilizer, protein, marine collagen, leather, and other new, high-value products.

The pledge is part of the 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative created by GSGP, an organization representing the Governors of the Great Lakes States and the Canadian Premiers of Ontario and Québec. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro serves as GSGP’s Chair.

PFBC and GSGP are also planning to cooperate in the coming months on a pilot effort related to fish byproducts at Walnut Creek. The pilot would explore practical approaches for handling material from sportfish cleaning stations and identifying productive uses for it as part of the broader 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative.

Sportfish cleaning stations are an important part of the Great Lakes region’s recreational fishing economy, providing convenient places for anglers to process fish. They collectively handle substantial volumes across the region. But only about 40% of each fish (the fillets) is usually eaten or used productively. In contrast, the remaining 60% of the fish is often relegated to inexpensive uses or discarded. The 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative seeks new and innovative ways to use every part of each fish to reduce waste, create more value and jobs, and support rural economic development. Iceland pioneered this approach and has seen the value of products made from each cod skyrocket from USD 12 for just the filet to a remarkable USD 5,000 for products including cosmetics, medical bandages, nutritional supplements, and a range of other products.

“Pennsylvania anglers care deeply about our fisheries, and this commitment reflects that ethic,” said Tim Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. “By making Walnut Creek the first fish cleaning station to sign the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge, we are setting a clear expectation that fish byproduct should be handled responsibly and, wherever possible, put to productive use.”

“Welcoming fish cleaning stations into the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge is an important next step for the region,” said David Naftzger, Executive Director of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers. “Walnut Creek is helping lead by example, showing how sportfish sites can be part of a more efficient system that reduces waste, supports local solutions, and strengthens Great Lakes fisheries.”

More information on 100% Great Lakes Fish, including a copy of the Pledge, is available at htps://gsgp.org/projects/100-great-lakes-fish/

About the Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers

www.gsgp.org

The Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers unites the chief executives from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Québec, and Wisconsin. The Governors and Premiers work as equal partners to grow the region’s $9.3 trillion (US) economy and protect the world’s largest surface freshwater system.

Contacts:
Fish Pledge:John Schmidt, jschmidt@gsgp.org
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission: Mike Parker, michparker@pa.gov
Photos (credit Gibbens Creative):

Canadian Cooke Aquaculture Enters Into Preliminary Agreement to Acquire the Debt of Avramar Greece

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:55:25 +0700

The company will pay USD 230.89 million to take control of the subsidiary.

Cooke Aquaculture announced that it has executed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which the company will acquire from the lenders thereof the existing debt facilities of Avramar Aquaculture, Andromeda, Perseus and Avramar Commercial and Logistics -collectively named Avramar Greece-, a leading marine aquaculture producer of sea bass and seabream in the Mediterranean country. Together with Cooke’s existing agreement to acquire the equity of Avramar Greece, upon closing, Cooke will acquire operational control of Avramar Greece. Cooke will pay USD 230.89 million to take control of the subsidiary.

The original companies comprising the Avramar Greece group were established in 1981, and the company has grown to become a leader in Mediterranean aquaculture. It is a vertically integrated operation, which includes hatcheries, marine farm sites, processing and packaging facilities, and feed production operations. The company’s sustainability certifications are recognized by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSA) and Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).

The acquisition is subject to definitive documentation and customary closing conditions and is expected to close at the earliest opportunity.

The Largest Private Family-Owned Seafood Company in the World

Cooke Aquaculture was established in 1985 by the Cooke family in New Brunswick, Canada. From humble beginnings of one farm site and 5,000 salmon, Cooke is the largest private family-owned seafood company in the world employing 13,000 people worldwide. The Cooke family of companies operate global aquaculture and wild fishery divisions in 15 countries providing a sustainable seafood source reaching tables all over the world. Cooke’s core purpose is to “cultivate the ocean with care, nourish the world, provide for our families, and build stronger communities”.

Expansion of Liverpool Bay Salmon Farm, approved

On the other hand, and some weeks before of the announcement, Kelly Cove Salmon welcomed the Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board’s (ARB) decision, approving the lease boundary amendment and expansion for salmon farm AQ1205, located offshore from Coffin Island in Liverpool Bay.

Kelly Cove has operated the farm since 2011 in compliance with the government’s Environmental Monitoring Program. The approval allows Kelly Cove to add 6 cages to the site for the culture of Atlantic salmon bringing the total number of cages to 20.

“Our members are very pleased to see the salmon farm expansion approval. As sea farmers, we are focused on providing sustainable meals grown right here at home. Supporting and encouraging growth in our resource sectors strengthens rural and urban parts of our province. We look forward to future ARB decisions that will help guide investment within the aquaculture sector, and our province,” said Jeff Bishop, Executive Director, Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia.

For his part, Joel Richardson, Vice President of Public Relations for Cooke Aquaculture, parent company of Kelly Cove, commented: “The week-long ARB public hearing in October was rigorous and brought together input from multiple stakeholders and intervenors,” said Joel Richardson, Vice President of Public Relations for Cooke Aquaculture, parent company of Kelly Cove. “We appreciate that the Board allowed the time necessary for everyone to make presentations, ask questions and gain an understanding of how our aquaculture farming works.”

In its decision, the ARB concluded that it is satisfied that there will be no negative, or any, impact of this amendment on any of the statutory conditions. The ARB further concluded that the re-drawing of the boundary to encompass the infrastructure, as well as adding six new cages, represents the optimum use of marine resources, in that the site will be used to efficiently produce thousands of kilograms of food.

According to Cooke, this farm makes a genuine contribution to community and Provincial economic development. “The existing farm does not cause significant negative impacts to other fishery activities in Liverpool Bay. The oceanographic and biophysical characteristics of the public waters surrounding the proposed aquacultural operation are suitable for salmon aquaculture. And the proposed expansion will not have a negative impact on the other users of the public waters surrounding the proposed aquacultural operation”, they assured.

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global to Bring Together More Than 90 Industry Experts, with Dr. Nomi Prins as Keynote Speaker

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:55:20 +0700

By Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global

• The 32nd edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global will take place at Fira de Barcelona from 21–23 April 2026, bringing together leading companies from more than 80 countries and serving as a global business hub for the seafood industry.

• Speakers will include representatives from organizations such as the FAO, WTO and WWF, as well as leading seafood companies, addressing key topics including aquaculture, sustainability and transparency, among others.

• Economist and geopolitical strategist Dr. Nomi Prins will deliver the keynote address offering attendees an economic outlook for the global seafood industry.

The 32nd edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global announces a conference program that will bring together more than 90 international seafood and industry experts to lead over 30 educational sessions. Taking place from 21-23 April at the Gran Vía venue of Fira de Barcelona, the event’s program will offer attendees valuable insights and practical perspectives on the key trends shaping the global seafood industry.

Speakers will include representatives from leading organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and WWF, as well as executives from major seafood companies and industry associations. Notable speakers include Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy (FAO GLOBEFISH), Dominic Andradi-Brown (WWF-US), Chris Ninnes (Aquaculture Stewardship Council), Jayson Berryhill (Wholechain), Michelle Beritzhoff-Law (FishWise), Valentina Sannino (EUMOFA), Libby Woodhatch (MarinTrust Ltd.), Daniel Rejón (Lineage – Europe Region 2), Sunneva Sverrisdóttir (CO/PLUS) and Sébastien Metz (Global Seafood Alliance – GSA).

Sessions will address a wide range of topics including aquaculture development, emerging markets and species, supply chain compliance, traceability and transparency, sustainable innovation and responsible management, among others, highlighting both current challenges and future opportunities across the seafood sector.

Global Seafood Markets: Economic Outlook and Trade Pressures

A highlight of the program will be the keynote address by economist and geopolitical strategist Dr. Nomi Prins, titled “High Stakes, Shifting Tides: The Global Outlook on Seafood, Trade, Economic Pressure Points and Opportunities,” taking place on Tuesday, 21 April, from 13:00 to 14:00 in Room 5.1 at the Gran Vía venue of Fira de Barcelona.

Dr. Prins is an independent journalist, author and former Wall Street executive, widely sought after for her ability to bridge the worlds of politics, finance, and global economics. She is the author of seven influential books, including “Collusion: How Central Bankers Rigged the World,” “All the Presidents’ Bankers,” and “It Takes a Pillage,” and is known for delivering accessible, actionable insights that help organizations navigate volatility, trade disruptions and regulatory complexity.

In this address, free and open to all, Dr. Prins will deliver a forward-looking economic outlook for 2026, tailored to the global seafood sector – connecting macro forces to daily decisions, from U.S.–China trade tension fallout to evolving E.U. labeling regulations, traceability mandates and energy price swings. Whether you’re navigating Latin American shrimp exports, Middle East shipping chokepoints, or European labeling mandates, Prins will break down the real forces behind the headlines and what they mean for seafood’s global future.

Exploring Market Trends, Innovation and Industry Transformation

Throughout the three-day program, sessions will explore the rapid transformation of seafood markets, including changing consumer preferences, product innovation and marketing strategies aimed at increasing seafood consumption. On Tuesday (21 April), “Blue Ports and the Fisheries Industry: Building Resilient and Efficient Value Chains,” presented by Roberto Alonso, Secretary General, ANFACO-CYTMA (Spain); Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fishery Officer (Markets), Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, FAO (Rome); Javier Garat Pérez, Secretary General, CEPESCA; Audun Lem, Chair of the International Board of FiTI; and Yolanda Molares, Blue Ports Initiative Consultant, FAO, will explore how ports serve as key hubs for quality control, traceability, processing, and logistics, supporting both competitiveness and sustainability across coastal economies.

Later that day, “Seafood Trade in the Tariff Era: An Analysis of Challenges and Opportunities Between the E.U. and U.S.,” presented by Richard Barry, Senior Market Analyst and Director of Programs, National Fisheries Institute, Guus Pastoor, President of Seafood Europe and Robert DeHaan, Executive Vice President for Government Affairs and General Counsel, National Fisheries Institute, will bring together trade and industry experts to examine shifting supply flows, evolving tariffs and opportunities for exporters navigating a more fragmented global seafood market.

Wednesday (22 April) highlights sessions focused on consumer behavior and market resilience. “Emerging Seafood Consumption Trends in Japan in a Changing Global Supply,” presented by Tina Peneva, Co-Founder and Head of European Office, Meros Consulting, will explore cultural and economic factors driving demand shifts in Japan, including product formats, channels and sustainability considerations influencing consumer choice. Complementing this, “Navigating Uncertainty: Building a Resilient E.U. Market for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products,” presented by Valentina Sannino, Market Intelligence Deputy Coordinator, EUMOFA, will analyze how COVID-19, Brexit, and geopolitical shocks have reshaped E.U. supply chains, highlighting strategies for adaptation, diversification and long-term resilience.

On Thursday (23 April), Dr. Dominic Andradi-Brown, Director of Blue Forests at WWF; Dane Klinger, Senior Director of Blue Foods at Conservation International, Dale Galvin, CEO at Deliberate Capital, LLC, Shannon Roberts, Aquaculture and Fisheries Biologist at Sea Farms Ltd. and Merrielle Macleod, Director of Aquaculture, WWF-US, will present “Mangroves + Aquaculture: A New Collaboration Frontier for Nature-Positive Seafood,” exploring how partnerships between seafood producers and NGOs can protect critical ecosystems while scaling responsible aquaculture. “Perfect Symphony: Sustainable Seafood by Low CO2, Circular Byproducts and New Technology,” presented by Frederik Geert Hoekstra, Economic Researcher at Wageningen University & Research, will highlight innovations in low-carbon seafood production, waste valorization, and digitalization across fisheries, aquaculture, and processing, offering actionable insights on how technology and sustainability are transforming seafood value chains.

Sustainability, Transparency and Responsible Supply Chains

Sustainability continues to be a central theme throughout the conference program. Experts from NGOs, academia, and the private sector will discuss strategies for improving responsible aquaculture practices, supply chain transparency, and environmental performance across the seafood industry. Sessions will address issues such as traceability systems, labor and human rights considerations, certification and reporting requirements, and collaborative initiatives designed to strengthen responsible seafood sourcing worldwide.

Notable panels include “From Port to Plate: What Shifting Seafood Consumption Means for the Cold Chain” on Wednesday, which examines how cold chain strategies support compliance, freshness, and operational efficiency, and “Rethinking Seafood: Business Development, Branding and Growth Beyond Commodities” on the same day, which highlights how innovative branding and category creation can unlock new market opportunities while driving sustainability. Thursday sessions will continue this topic, showing how industry-wide collaboration, circular economy approaches, and ecosystem-positive initiatives are creating more resilient, transparent and responsible seafood supply chains globally.

The 32nd Edition Will Feature Exhibitors from More Than 80 Countries

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, the world’s largest and most diverse seafood trade event, will bring together leading seafood companies from more than 80 countries, with 62 national and regional pavilions, and participation continuing to grow.

The complete conference program can be found on the event website at https://www.seafoodexpo.com/global/conference-program/. Attending the conference program requires a conference pass.

For further information about Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, and to register, visit: www.seafoodexpo.com/global.

About Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global

Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global make up the world’s largest seafood trade show. Thousands of buyers and sellers from around the world attend the three-day annual event to meet, connect, and do business. Buyers include importers, exporters, wholesalers, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, and other companies in the retail and foodservice sectors. Exhibitors showcase the latest innovations in seafood products, processing and packaging machinery, and services for the seafood industry. SeafoodSource.com is the official media partner of the event. The organizer is Diversified, the international leader in seafood events and media. www.seafoodexpo.com/global

About Diversified

Diversified is a global B2B events and media company that strengthens business communities by fostering a space, in person and online, for professionals and businesses to connect and grow. The company serves as a trusted partner across several industries including active lifestyle, business management, clean energy, commercial marine, healthcare, seafood, technology and more. The company’s global seafood portfolio of expositions and media includes Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, Seafood Expo Asia/Seafood Processing Asia and SeafoodSource.com. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, the global company has divisions and offices around the world in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Diversified is a third-generation, family-owned business. For more information, visit: www.divcom.com.

Aquaintech Inc. Launches Dual-Sided Tablets for Advanced Bioremediation in Aquaculture Systems

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:55:14 +0700

By Aquaintech Inc.

Aquaintech Inc. announces the launch of its new Dual-Sided Tablet, a next-generation solution designed to improve water quality and simplify pond management in aquaculture systems.

The Dual-Sided Tablets introduces a double-action microbial approach, combining Bacillus

based bioremediation with a lactic acid–producing Bacillus strain in a single, stable format. Unlike conventional solutions, the product is designed for dry storage with no refrigeration required, offering both operational and logistical advantages.

Each tablet is engineered with two functional sides to deliver complementary benefits:

Bioremediation Side: Formulated with Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis, proven species that digest organic matter and metabolize ammonia, impacting the microbiome and reducing loads of other bacteria including vibrios.

Lactic Acid–Producing Side: Contains Bacillus coagulants selected for its ability to produce lactic acid and the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The Bacillus and Saccharomyces have better shelf stability than Lactobacillus-based solutions.

This dual-sided design enables more targeted and efficient microbial activity, helping aquaculture producers maintain balanced pond ecosystems while reducing reliance on refrigerated or liquid products.

Key Benefits

✓ Reduction of ammonia and organic waste.

✓ Improved water quality.

✓ Support for beneficial microbial balance.

✓ Healthier and more stable pond environments.

✓ No refrigeration required, lowering storage and transportation costs.

Application

The tablets are designed for direct application in areas with high organic loads, providing a simple and efficient approach to pond management.

Dosage

Recommended application rates range from 200–500 g/ha (at 1.5 m depth) per week to start, with higher frequency application rates as the cycle progresses.

Dosage should be adjusted based on system conditions and biomass. It is recommended to start at lower application rates and increase as needed based on performance.

Available Sizes

Dual-Sided Tablets are available in multiple formats, including: 1 g, 3.5 g, 4 g, and 15 g, providing flexibility across different aquaculture systems and operational needs.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place. No refrigeration required.

About Aquaintech Inc.

Aquaintech Inc., entering its 31st year of providing innovative tools for the global aquaculture community, based in Lynnwood, Washington State specializes in microbial and bioremediation solutions for aquaculture. The company focuses on delivering practical, science-driven solutions to support water quality management and system optimization.

Contact Information:
Stephen G. Newman Ph.D. President and CEO
Aquaintech Inc. Lynnwood, WA 98037 USA Tel: 425-787-5218
E-mail: sgnewm@aqua-in-tech.com / info@aqua-in-tech.com
URLs: www.aqua-in-tech.com/ bioremediation-aquaculture.com

Our Premium Sustainable Barramundi Selected for Australian Open 2023

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:40:17 +0700

We are proud to announce that our barramundi was selected for the Australian Open 2023. It is a moment of immense pride for us to be the exclusive supplier of barramundi for one of the biggest sporting events in the country.

The Australian Open is one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, and being selected as a supplier is a testament to the quality of our product. Our barramundi is not only delicious but also sustainable, which sets us apart from other suppliers in the market.

At our company, we are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality, sustainably sourced barramundi. We take pride in the fact that our fish is raised in a way that is both environmentally and socially responsible.

We are proud to be able to offer our customers a premium product that is not only delicious but also sustainable. We believe that it is our responsibility to protect the environment and promote sustainable practices, and we take this responsibility very seriously.

If you are looking for a delicious and sustainable seafood option, our barramundi is the perfect choice. We are proud to offer our customers a premium product that is not only delicious but also sustainable and environmentally responsible.

The post Our Premium Sustainable Barramundi Selected for Australian Open 2023 appeared first on MainStream Aquaculture.

Importance of Airfreight – MainStream Aquaculture CEO, Boris Musa, explains

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:40:16 +0700

We salute the entire team at Melbourne Airport who give Australian businesses global access. Here’s our CEO, Boris Musa, talking about our business and how airfreight plays a key role.

Boris MUSA, CEO of MainStream Aquaculture

The post Importance of Airfreight – MainStream Aquaculture CEO, Boris Musa, explains appeared first on MainStream Aquaculture.

The Center for Aquaculture Technologies Appoints Matt Kramer as Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:38:27 +0700

Matt Kramer has joined the growing team at the Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) as the Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing. He will lead the company’s expanding global rollout of innovation in genetic improvement, particularly in commercial-scale genome editing for aquaculture.

Matt is a seasoned commercial leader with more than two decades of experience driving commercial growth in genomics and various life sciences sectors, with a specialty in commercializing innovation in the genomics field. He joins CAT following senior roles at QIAGEN, ThermoFisher, Element Biosciences, and Psomagen, where he led transformative sales initiatives, built high-performing teams, and established strategic, value-based partnerships. His expertise spans the commercial spectrum of sales, marketing, and product management, anchored in a strong foundation in genomics, molecular diagnostics, and next generation sequencing technologies.

Commenting on his appointment, Matt Kramer said:

“I was drawn to this role for its combination of strategic scope and purpose — with the opportunity to help shape how genomic and genome-editing technologies transition from research tools into real-world impact. CAT’s culture, scientific and aquaculture industry expertise, and long-term vision align strongly with my own values as a leader. I’m particularly looking forward to bringing the benefits of genome editing into the aquaculture market and delivering responsible, science-based adoption worldwide.”

He added:

“Genome editing offers transformative benefits for the global aquaculture industry by enabling targeted genetic improvements that enhance operational productivity, resilience, and sustainability, as complementary methods to traditional selective breeding strategies. My passion has always been to work for companies that drive innovation, and CAT provides exactly that opportunity. As the global population grows, CAT’s genome editing services offer a safe, efficient, and effective way to increase the availability of nutritious food while reducing pressure on wild fish stocks.”

Dr. John Buchanan, CEO of CAT, welcomes Matt:

“We are pleased to have Matt join our team. His experience and leadership will be instrumental as we expand the commercialization of genome editing in aquaculture globally. I look forward to introducing him to our clients and am confident that, together with the rest of our team, we will lead CAT into an exciting new era – further driving innovation, boosting productivity and sustainability, and supporting our core mission of feeding people responsibly.”

The post The Center for Aquaculture Technologies Appoints Matt Kramer as Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

The Center of Aquaculture Technologies Partners with UMBC to Advance Sterility Solutions in Aquaculture

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:38:26 +0700

The Center of Aquaculture Technologies (CAT), a global leader in sustainable genetic innovation for aquaculture, today announced the signing of an exclusive licensing agreement with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) covering two patents related to the induction of sterility in finfish using Morpholinos. This strategic collaboration strengthens CAT’s intellectual property portfolio and further backs their strategy in bringing responsible genome editing solutions to aquaculture.

There are many reasons to produce animals that do not undergo sexual maturation, reasons that align closely with the core goals of the aquaculture industry. Sterility in farmed fish offers benefits across performance, environmental protection, and animal welfare.

Why sterility matters

Improved Performance – Sterile fish avoid early sexual maturation, enhancing growth rates and feed conversion efficiency, reducing production costs, and minimizing waste.
Environmental Protection – Sterility safeguards the distinctive traits of wild populations, protecting biodiversity and supporting balanced ecosystems. This also addresses regulatory concerns with fish escapes from aquaculture production systems.
Animal Welfare – By reducing stress and aggression associated with sexual maturation, sterile fish experience improved health and lower mortality rates.

“CAT is committed to advancing Next-Gen Breeding solutions that combine scientific innovation with environmental and economic responsibility,” said Dr. John Buchanan, CEO of CAT. “Our partnership with UMBC allows us to bring further pioneering sterility technology closer to commercial reality, supporting healthier fish, stronger ecosystems, and more efficient production systems. With a growing global population to feed, sustainable aquaculture solutions have never been more critical, and genome editing, underpinned by sterility, is a key part of that future.”

Commenting on the signed agreement Dr. Yonathan Zohar, Professor at UMBC and Chair of the Department of Marine Biotechnology at IMET shared, “We are pleased to be working with CAT to advance the development of sterility technology in aquaculture. This collaboration, including a sponsored research agreement, aims to improve sterility success rates in Atlantic salmon, with potential applications across all finfish species. Our partnership with CAT will enable us to achieve 100% sterility and bring this technology to the aquaculture industry.”

Ten-Tsao Wong, DMB Associate Professor adds; “Morpholinos have been approved by the FDA for human medicine and are being used to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This new agreement with CAT can accelerate our efforts to expand this technology to produce sterile fish. We look forward to collaborating with CAT to bring this technology to market.”

Morpholino sterility induction silences genes critical for germ cell development in fish embryos through bath immersion. The fish grow normally but are sterile, avoiding the negative effects of early sexual maturation on growth, flesh quality, and survival. Unlike other methods like triploidy, this approach preserves high-performance genetics while addressing animal welfare concerns.

John concludes,

“The Morpholino technology complements our genome editing solutions for sterility by offering a quick and flexible alternative. It can be used in situations where sterility is urgently needed, and while the introduction of sterility through genome editing into a breeding population is still in progress. For example, in salmonids, where breeding cycles are longer, this technology provides a timely option.”

Adding, “our Morpholino technology will be made available in situations where genome editing is not being used. Sterility is a critical issue for the aquaculture industry, and this gives us another reliable tool that we can call on.”

The post The Center of Aquaculture Technologies Partners with UMBC to Advance Sterility Solutions in Aquaculture appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Center for Aquaculture Technologies Shares Breakthroughs in Genome Editing at the First International Meeting on Genome Editing in Aquaculture

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:38:25 +0700

The Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) team joined leading scientists, industry experts, and policymakers in Chile at the end of November for the First International Meeting on Genome Editing in Aquaculture.

On the opening day of the event, organized by EDIGEN and the University of Chile in Puerto Varas, participants heard presentations on advances in genome editing and genomics applied to atlantic salmon, coho salmon, tilapia and trout. Topics included editing for disease resistance traits, including SRS, IPN, BKD , and sea lice, as well as the regulatory requirements for implementation in Chile.

The first CAT speaker was Dr. Matthew Josephson , Genome Editing – Commercialization Manager, who shared the transformative potential of genome editing and the value it can deliver to producers; higher growth, improved FCR, increased yield, and reduced management costs when sterility is included as a production trait.

Matt outlined the key requirements for integrating genome editing into breeding programs and highlighted several milestones CAT has achieved while scaling this technology for commercial aquaculture. He also shared practical examples from his work with both salmon and tilapia.

Dr. Matthew Josephson during his talk

“Successful use of genome editing in commercial aquaculture demands high-throughput, high-efficiency editing capabilities and the ability to work where the fish are – through our mobile laboratory. Importantly, genome editing will not replace traditional breeding; it will become a powerful addition to the toolbox, accelerating genetic improvement and enabling performance gains.”

Setting the stage for a key theme that his colleague Dr. Yehwa Jin would explore in depth, Matt emphasized the foundational role of sterility in responsible and scalable genome editing.

“Achieving 100% sterility remains the key that unlocks broader biotechnology adoption by addressing the concerns of regulators, producers, and stakeholders alike. Over the next five years, genome editing will drive major sustainability benefits, boost productivity, and reduce the resources required to produce fish and shellfish -ultimately allowing integrated genome-edited breeding programs to reach true commercial scale.”

The second day of the event continued with a series of scientific presentations showcasing the latest advances in genomics and genome editing applications in aquaculture.

During the “In Vivo Gene Editing” session, CAT Research Scientist Yehwa presented on the importance and opportunity of sterility as a foundational trait. She explained that a core requirement for commercial deployment of genome editing is ensuring edited fish are sterile or otherwise effectively contained. Yehwa shared CAT’s most recent strategies for reliably producing sterile, monosex populations at scale.

Dr. Yehwa Jin

Yehwa concluded:

“Sterile stocks have the potential to fundamentally transform the sustainability of aquaculture. We now know that 100% sterility is achievable through a genome-editing approach, giving us a reliable and scalable pathway to enhance performance while directly addressing key farming challenges. This work not only resolves regulatory and stakeholder concerns, it also lays the foundation for the next generation of aquatic biotechnologies.”

The event closed with a series of short presentations on emerging technologies. Genome Editing Research Manager Dr. Ashutosh Pudasaini presented CAT’s progress in genome editing for Pacific white shrimp (L. vannamei). While several editing methods have been reported in shrimp, with varying degrees of success, Ashutosh highlighted that challenges remain around enzyme delivery and achieving commercially viable survival rates to adulthood.

Despite these hurdles, CAT is in the early R&D stages of applying genome editing at a commercial scale in shrimp and has successfully created and grown edited shrimp beyond PL20+, demonstrating meaningful progress toward scalable deployment.

Ashutosh noted:

“Microinjection remains one of the most technically advanced approaches available, and our recent successes in precise genome editing show just how powerful it can be. With consistent access to embryos and state-of-the-art facilities, CAT is exceptionally well-positioned to scale this work and lead innovation in the field.”

Dr. Ashutosh Pudasaini

CAT’s contributions at the First International Meeting on Genome Editing in Aquaculture underscored the organization’s leadership in advancing practical and scalable genome editing solutions. With major progress across finfish and shrimp, a strong focus on sterility, and technologies designed for real-world breeding programs, CAT is shaping the future of sustainable aquaculture and accelerating the deployment of next-generation breeding in aquaculture.

CAT team at the event in Puerto Varas, Chile

The post Center for Aquaculture Technologies Shares Breakthroughs in Genome Editing at the First International Meeting on Genome Editing in Aquaculture appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Reflecting on 2025: Milestones Achieved, Innovation Accelerated

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:38:23 +0700

Dr John Buchanan, CEO

As 2025 comes to a close, we celebrate another year of reaching milestones and accelerating genetic advancements for our clients through CAT’s Next-Gen Breeding approach.

When asked to share his highlights, CEO Dr. John Buchanan reflects on a noteworthy year for the Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) and offers a glimpse of what’s ahead for 2026 and beyond.

Commercializing Genome Editing

This year marked a major leap forward in the commercialization of genome editing for aquaculture. CAT’s collaboration with tilapia producer Brazilian Fish was announced in early 2025, celebrating the first introduction of commercial-scale, genome-edited tilapia in Brazil. This partnership highlights that the integration of genome editing into breeding programs is no longer theoretical – it’s happening.

Stay tuned in 2026 for updates on how genome editing has fast-tracked the selection of desirable traits that traditionally would have required many generations, driving faster genetic improvement and unlocking value across the entire supply chain for our partners.

Genetics: A Key Tool to Increase Value

In today’s competitive global market, we’ve continued to help our clients maximize returns by designing breeding strategies that balance input costs with genetic and economic gains. It’s been rewarding to see how these improvements compound generation after generation, supporting clients in building stronger, more sustainable operations.

This year, we added 10 new genotyping tools to our growing library of solutions developed specifically for aquatic species. This enables our team to match the right tool to each client’s program needs, ensuring they receive the insights required to maximize their genetic improvement plans. CAT’s collaborative approach brings innovative solutions to meet the increasing technical demands of our clients.

In addition, we added 6 new breeding programs to our portfolio of clients for Genetic Services, expanding our role in helping companies design and execute elite genetic improvement strategies.

CAT’s genotyping lab in San Diego, CA

Industry Leadership

Throughout the year, our team shared insights at major industry events and scientific conferences on topics including use of genomic tools, the practical benefits of selective breeding, commercial-scale genome editing, evolving regulatory frameworks for new technologies, benefits of sterility for the aquaculture industry, and new advancements in genome editing for P. vannamei. Thank you to everyone who invited us to speak, and to those who attended and engaged in our discussions – we look forward to sharing even more in 2026.

5th INFOFISH World Tilapia Trade and Technical Conference 2025, Bangkok

Looking Ahead

As we look ahead, CAT remains focused on supporting our core mission of feeding people responsibly by delivering customized precision breeding solutions that drive value and sustainability for our clients. From advancing our Sterility+® solution which enabling CAT to add sterility as a foundational trait in genome editing, to expanding access to the latest genotyping tools across aquatic species, our global team is committed not only to pushing the boundaries of aquaculture genetics through R&D, but also to ensuring these innovations are practical, scalable, and accessible to the entire aquaculture industry.

Following our recent partnership announcement with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), there will be more to share as we bring Morpholino technology to clients where sterility is immediately needed, as genome-editing approaches to introduce sterility into breeding populations continue to progress. In species such as salmonids, where breeding cycles are longer, the morpholino technology provides a timely and practical solution, and we look forward to delivering this capability to the industry.

Thank you to our incredible clients, partners, and team – your trust, collaboration, and dedication are the foundation of our success. We’re excited to continue this journey together, making our industry more productive, resilient, and sustainable.

Here’s to a collaborative and successful New Year, and to making 2026 our best year yet!

The post Reflecting on 2025: Milestones Achieved, Innovation Accelerated appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Meet CAT at Aquaculture America 2026

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:38:22 +0700

We’re excited to be back at Aquaculture America 2026! The CAT team will be sharing practical insights on genetics, breeding strategies, and our Next-Gen Breeding approach to building resilient aquaculture systems.

Join us for our talks or stop by Booth 426 to learn how we help producers launch new breeding programs or strengthen existing ones, targeting the traits that deliver the greatest commercial impact. Learn about CAT’s existing technologies and future plans to help producers dramatically enhance commercial output.

This year’s Aquaculture America returns to Las Vegas. Organized annually by the U.S. Aquaculture Society in partnership with the National Aquaculture Association and the Aquaculture Suppliers Association, this event brings together the leading minds in aquaculture, and we can’t wait to be a part of it.

CAT Talks at Aquaculture America 2026

Breeding for the Future: Enhancing Resilience in Aquaculture with Genomic Offsets

Tuesday, Feb 17 | 3:00 PM

Finfish Genetics / Selection / Genomics Session

Speaker: Samuel May

Integrating Genome Editing into Breeding Programs: Achieving Commercial Scale

Tuesday, Feb 17 | 3:15 PM

Finfish Genetics / Selection / Genomics Session

Speaker: Takeshi Umazume

Harnessing Efficient Genetic Improvement in Tilapia to Maximize Economic Return

Wednesday, Feb 18 | 1:30 PM

Florida Marine Aquaculture Coalition

Speaker: Adriana Artiles

Choosing the Right Breeding Program: Comparative Strategies for Genetic Improvement

Thursday, Feb 19 | 12:00 PM

Annual U.S. Marine Finfish Aquaculture Session

Speaker: Samuel May

Visit Us at Booth 426

Between sessions, we invite you to stop by Booth 426 to meet the team, discuss your breeding goals and challenges, and learn how CAT is helping producers achieve faster, more predictable genetic gains through our NextGen Breeding TM solutions.

Whether it’s discovering what genotyping tools we have available, or what you need to consider to integrate genome editing gains, or how we design custom breeding programs, our team will be on hand to answer your questions and share practical strategies to improve animal performance and profitability.

See you at Aquaculture America 2026!

The post Meet CAT at Aquaculture America 2026 appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Revolutionising Aquaculture Through Genetics: The role of genetics in Aquaculture

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:38:21 +0700

Aquaculture has been evolving fast. Producers continue to be under growing pressure to deliver more – more efficiency, more resilience, more sustainability and often with fewer resources and tighter financial constraints. So how does genetics help?

Genetics isn’t just about growing better animals. It’s about building aquaculture systems that are robust, adaptable, long-term, and commercially viable. At CAT, we demonstrate that genetics is a powerful lever producers have to future-proof their operations, and we exist to help capitalise on that potential.

Why Genetics Matters in Aquaculture

Aquaculture breeding programs have been improving fish and shellfish for many years, using approaches similar to those in other agricultural industries. At their core, these programs involve choosing the best animals as parents and consistently selecting for traits that improve performance over time.
What makes aquaculture unique is the biology of aquatic species. Many produce large numbers of offspring are fertilised externally, and a multitude of external factors can cause a varying range in how quickly they grow and mature. This creates a significant opportunity to make meaningful improvements through well-designed breeding programs. Producers typically focus on traits such as faster growth and better feed efficiency, higher yields, improved survival and robustness, product quality, and, in some cases, sterility.

Our Mission

CAT’s mission is simple – deliver custom genetic solutions that improve efficiency, sustainability, and profitability for aquaculture producers, genetics companies, and researchers worldwide.

We don’t believe in providing only off-the-shelf answers, because every species, environment, and market is different. That’s why we design breeding programs around what matters most to each client, whether that’s growth, survival, disease resistance, robustness, product quality, or a combination of traits that drive real commercial impact. We’ll work with you to agree on a plan suited to your goals.

Our tailored approach to choosing the most appropriate genotyping tool(s) for your breeding strategy is shaped by each client’s specific needs. Complex programs, such as multi-trait genomic selection, require high-density markers, whereas simpler programs may require only low-density markers for relatedness and family assignment.

By aligning cutting-edge genetic science with on-farm realities, we help producers make confident, data-driven decisions that deliver measurable results.

A True Client Partnership

Personalized Engagement, Hands-on Expertise
One of the biggest frustrations we hear from producers is feeling unsupported once a program is underway. At CAT, client engagement isn’t an add-on; it’s fundamental to how we work.

For all our annual breeding clients, we are committed to bi-weekly meetings, ensuring we stay closely involved throughout the entire breeding cycle. These regular touchpoints allow us to track progress, respond quickly to challenges, and refine strategies as conditions change.
And we don’t just show up on screens.

Guaranteed On-Site Support
CAT guarantees at least one on-site visit per year, because we know that effective genetic programs are built on real-world understanding. Being present matters. Seeing the facilities, meeting the teams, and understanding operational nuances enable us to deliver customised solutions.

Global Reach, Local Expertise and 24/7 When It Matters
Aquaculture doesn’t operate on a single time zone, and neither do we.
CAT has a genetic services team member in every major aquaculture region, providing local, on-hand support where and when it’s needed. This regional presence ensures cultural understanding, regulatory awareness, and timely response.

Our global team structure means we can provide support around the clock, with a CAT expert always available somewhere in the world.

Benefiting from the latest Genetic Improvement technologies

CAT’s clients are already benefiting from our expertise and leadership in bringing the latest genetic improvement to reality. We are working with several commercial producers to integrate genome editing into their breeding programs, giving them access to the latest advances in genetic improvement technologies.
In the same way as selective breeding, which delivers improved genetic progress over time, genome editing precisely targets and delivers genetic changes that could naturally occur. However, instead of taking many years of careful, selective breeding, this beneficial variation can now be introduced in a single generation. Our scientists directly create genetic variants in precise locations in the genome to deliver major improvements in performance, without introducing new DNA.
We can also leverage our patented approaches to induce sterility to provide clients with a guaranteed method of containment and improved growth and performance by reallocating reproductive energy.

With CAT’s guidance, clients harness these cutting-edge tools to achieve faster, more predictable improvements.

Building the Future of Aquaculture Together

At CAT, we see genetics as a collaborative journey. By working closely with producers, staying engaged throughout the breeding cycle, and delivering cutting-edge science that translates into real performance, we help producers reach their goals faster. Together, we are shaping a more resilient and profitable future for aquaculture.

The post Revolutionising Aquaculture Through Genetics: The role of genetics in Aquaculture appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Genetic Innovation for Blue Food Security: Production and Resilience in Aquaculture

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:38:20 +0700

A 10-minute presentation by Debbie Plouffe

As the world searches for sustainable ways to feed a growing population, the future does not lie only on land, but also in our waters.

In this 10-minute talk recorded for Sea the Future 2026, Debbie Plouffe explores how genetic innovation is transforming aquaculture into a smarter, more resilient, and more sustainable engine for global food security.

Aquaculture has been documented as the fastest-growing source of animal protein, but growth by scale alone is no longer enough. Climate volatility, disease pressure and environmental constraints demand a more sophisticated approach: precision genetic innovation.

Debbie reveals how CAT’s genome editing work has moved beyond theory and into commercial deployment, reshaping what’s possible for aquaculture production.

An important part of this innovation is the ability to address containment concerns through genome editing and to reliably produce 100% sterile fish. Sterility is not just a biological feature; it is a foundational safeguard. It:

Addresses environmental and regulatory concerns
Prevents interbreeding with wild populations
Enables responsible commercial deployment of enhanced traits
Enhances growth by redirecting energy from reproduction to biomass
Protects proprietary genetics

Through our strategic partnership with Brazilian Fish, the CAT team have already applied genome editing at a commercial scale in tilapia production in Brazil. Guided by our expertise in breeding and leveraging our mobile genome-editing laboratory, the CAT team has worked to deliver sterility as well as improved growth, feed efficiency, and fillet yield into existing breeding programs, all while preserving genetic diversity and preventing genetic drag.

Thousands of edited fish are now growing as broodstock in Brazil, with regulatory processes underway and commercialization on track.

The economic implications of incorporating genome editing are staggering. Financial modelling shows that genome editing in Brazil’s tilapia sector alone could create incremental growth of hundreds of millions of dollars annually, driven by improvements in growth performance, feed efficiency, and filet yield, all without expanding environmental footprint.

At a global scale, even a single improved trait can significantly increase food output while conserving resources. This is not simply about better fish. It’s about strengthening food systems.

Debbie concludes with a clear vision: genome editing will not replace traditional breeding; it will significantly enhance it. As a powerful tool in the breeder’s toolbox, it offers a pathway to greater productivity, resilience, and sustainability.

If climate resilience and sustainable protein are priorities for you, this talk explores the transformative shift already underway.

Watch the full 10-minute presentation to see how genetic innovation is shaping the future of blue food security.

The post Genetic Innovation for Blue Food Security: Production and Resilience in Aquaculture appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

CAT Strengthens Focus on Client Partnerships with Ecuador and Global Support Roles

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:38:19 +0700

CAT (Center for Aquaculture Technologies) is expanding its client support services to further strengthen the company’s commitment to high-quality service and operational excellence.

The Ecuadorian shrimp Industry has experienced tremendous growth over the last 5 years. With much of Ecuador’s success as a global shrimp leader been driven by continuous genetic improvement programs. CAT supports these programs through high-quality genotyping services and close breeding partnerships; providing advanced genetic tools, CAT enables producers and breeders to achieve measurable gains in growth, feed conversion efficiency, and disease resistance across shrimp populations. CAT is the trusted partner in Ecuador and remains committed to investing in its clients and supporting the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the industry.

Diana Lagos, recently attending Aqua Expo in Santa Elena

As part of its ongoing growth initiative, CAT strengthened its presence in Ecuador with Diana Lagos joining as the company’s on-the-ground representative. Drawing on her extensive laboratory and shrimp operations experience, Diana advises Ecuadorian clients on best practices for sample collection and shipping, which are critical to preserving sample integrity and ensuring reliable, actionable genetic data. She also plays a key role in coordinating with CAT’s global laboratory operations team to streamline project execution.

Maria Hernandez, Client Success Associate

Enhancing its clients’ experience and support, CAT now also welcomes Maria Hernandez to the Client Success team. Maria serves as a primary point of contact for any clients needing assistance with sample logistics. Maria connects all, supporting onboarding, providing technical guidance, and managing day-to-day client interactions to ensure a smooth and responsive experience. Both Maria and Diana are native Spanish speakers, which ensures CAT delivers professional and personalized support to its Ecuadorian and Spanish-speaking clients.

“Maria’s and Diana’s expertise and dedication to sustainability make them ideal advocates for our clients,” said Klara Verbyla, VP of Genetic Improvement. “Their roles reflect our ongoing commitment to not only provide cutting-edge genetic solutions but also to be a trusted partner in our clients’ long-term success.”

These investments in people and platforms are part of CAT’s broader strategy to be more than a genetic services provider. By combining infrastructure, insights, and personalized support, CAT empowers aquaculture producers to drive sustainable genetic progress.

Check out Sample Stream—our new client portal designed to make your genotyping process faster. Navigate sample submissions effortlessly through our simple 3-step system.

Discover Sample Stream

The post CAT Strengthens Focus on Client Partnerships with Ecuador and Global Support Roles appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Genome Editing: Driving Productivity at Commercial Scale

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:35:42 +0700

Genome editing is a practical, scalable tool that enables producers to unlock substantial gains in productivity, resilience, and sustainability – faster than ever before.

Unlike conventional selective breeding, which builds incremental improvement over generations, genome editing introduces significant performance gains in a single generation.

Genome editing strengthens established breeding programs, integrating seamlessly into commercial production to accelerate genetic gains and deliver faster value across the production chain.

A Tool That Delivers Across Many Traits

Genome editing can be applied across a wide range of traits that matter to every stakeholder: producers, regulators, and consumers alike.

These include:

Growth performance
Yield and fillet percentage
Feed efficiency
Disease resistance
Gender determination
Pigmentation
Monosex
Sterility

The Impact is Quantifiable

In tilapia, for example, CAT has recorded single-gene edits that have delivered up to 48% improvement in growth performance compared to non-edited siblings. That level of gain represents a meaningful shift in farm productivity, with the potential to shorten harvest cycles, improve turnover, strengthen margins, and enhance access to healthy sources of protein.

More Than Growth: Built for Sustainable Production

Genome editing can not only deliver performance gains but can also provide environmental, regulatory, and commercial confidence.

An important part of this innovation is the ability to address containment concerns. Genome editing enables the reliable production of 100% sterile fish, addressing multiple challenges simultaneously:

Prevents reproduction of escaped farmed fish with wild populations
Protects proprietary genetics and encourages investment
Addresses environmental and regulatory concerns
All whilst redirecting reproductive energy toward growth

Speed Changes Everything

One of the defining advantages of genome editing is speed.

Traditional breeding improves performance from generation to generation. Genome editing can introduce a significant improvement in a single generation. Gains that selective breeding can then continue to build upon.

This acceleration has the potential to increase genetic progress by orders of magnitude compared to conventional methods. For producers facing evolving disease pressures, feed cost volatility, and sustainability demands, speed matters.

Built for Commercial Scale

Reports show that more than 25 aquaculture species have already been successfully gene-edited, with tilapia leading research efforts due to its short generation time and robustness.

But delivering genome editing at a commercial scale requires more than scientific proof of concept. It requires:

High-throughput editing methods
Efficient egg processing
Integration into breeding programs
Careful management of relatedness and inbreeding
Robust genotyping and tracking systems

CAT’s recent advancements have achieved over 95% editing efficiency across thousands of eggs per day, demonstrating that genome editing is not just viable, it’s scalable. This progress was reinforced when CAT announced in 2025 their collaboration with tilapia producer Brazilian Fish, marking the first introduction of commercial-scale genome-edited tilapia in Brazil and confirming that integration into breeding programs is already underway.

Want to understand more about how genome editing could transform your breeding program?

START THE CONVERSATION

The post Genome Editing: Driving Productivity at Commercial Scale appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

Unlocking the Genome: Advancing Aquaculture Through Low-Pass Whole Genome Sequencing

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:35:41 +0700

At the start of the year, Sabrina Sauri, Research Associate at CAT, presented at PAG33 – the International Plant and Animal Genome Conference – one of the world’s leading forums for genomic innovation.

Her poster showcased another example of how CAT is contributing to the future of aquaculture breeding through a powerful combination of laboratory innovation and advanced bioinformatics.

Sabrina Sauri, Research Associate at CAT

The project focused on developing a high-throughput low-pass Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) pipeline for Cobia (Rachycentron canadum), an emerging aquaculture species with significant commercial potential. But the implications reach far beyond a single species, offering a scalable genomic framework for aquaculture programs worldwide.

What Is Whole Genome Sequencing – and Why Does It Matter?

Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) determines the DNA sequence across an organism’s entire genome. Unlike traditional genotyping approaches that target predefined markers, WGS captures genetic variation across all chromosomes, including both common and rare variants.

This genome-wide perspective provides several key advantages:

Unbiased genetic insight without the limitations of fixed SNP panels
Detection of variants linked to complex traits such as growth and disease resistance
A scalable platform for large breeding populations

For aquaculture, where many emerging species still lack robust genotyping tools, these advantages are transformative.

The Power of Low-Pass Sequencing

While high-coverage sequencing can be costly at scale, CAT’s approach uses low-pass WGS, sequencing genomes at shallow coverage and then applying advanced imputation methods to recover accurate genome-wide genotypes.

This strategy allows breeding programs to analyse far more animals per generation while maintaining high data quality. The result is faster, smarter decision-making that supports:

More informed broodstock selection
Shorter breeding cycles
Steady genetic improvement in key traits like survival, growth, and disease resistance

By improving scalability and return on investment, genomic selection becomes accessible even for species without custom marker panels.

Innovation from Bench to Bioinformatics

CAT’s workflow integrates both laboratory and computational expertise. The team implemented an optimized library preparation method using a TnX transposon system, combining tagmentation and ligation to minimise positional bias while increasing throughput and reducing hands-on time.

Importantly, the value of low-pass sequencing continues to grow over time. As reference genomes improve and population datasets expand, existing data can be reanalysed to achieve even higher accuracy, without recollecting samples or regenerating libraries.

A Scalable Future for Aquaculture Genomics

This work demonstrates more than a technical achievement; it highlights CAT’s ability to deliver end-to-end genomic solutions, from experimental design and wet-lab optimisation to advanced analytical pipelines.

By building efficient, scalable, and future-proof workflows, CAT is helping aquaculture producers unlock the full potential of genomic selection – accelerating sustainable production and genetic progress across species.

Unlocking growth potential, boosting feed efficiency, and enhancing disease resistance in species all begins with understanding their genetic makeup.

The post Unlocking the Genome: Advancing Aquaculture Through Low-Pass Whole Genome Sequencing appeared first on CAT-Center for Aquaculture Technologies.

The Alaska Blue Economy Center: Connecting Mariculture to the State’s “New Blue Economy”

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:33:29 +0700

In recent decades, Alaska has seen reductions in the population of working-age adults, according to the Alaska Economic Trends Magazine. This is hitting Alaska’s seafood industry, which generates billions of dollars for the state and the US economy, but is seeing declines in its output.

Maritime industries in Alaska are also being impacted by climate change. Melting ice caps, rapidly warming ocean temperatures, and ocean acidification are impacting the resilience of one of the state’s most important economic sectors.

Moreover, Alaskans are also deeply connected to the ocean on a cultural level, with Alaska Native communities having used coastal waters for thousands of years, and coastal fishing villages like Chignik suffering when their fisheries decline.

However, there is a growing movement within the last frontier to rebuild its historic ocean industries, especially in mariculture.

The Alaska Blue Economy Center (ABEC), launched in 2019, is at the forefront of this movement. It’s built around the ideas of a blue economy, which recognizes and promotes the economic significance of ocean industries in a sustainable manner.

ABEC is trying to revamp the state that produces over half of the nation’s seafood by building up future generations of workers in a state where they’re desperately needed.

UAS Applied Fisheries students preparing sampling kits for deployment to salmon hatcheries. (Credit: Angie Bowers)

Workforce Development

Tommy Sheridan has been with ABEC since 2022 and has been the director since August 2024. Before joining ABEC, which is part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), he worked for 20 years in the Alaskan seafood industry.

What Sheridan has seen as a vital mission of ABEC is to secure funding and resources to help Alaska’s maritime-related industries, which are part of their “blue economy.”

“We have really worked to stimulate external funding in support of the state’s blue economy,” he said during a recent fisheries seminar at UAF.

This plan has certainly worked in recent years. In 2022, the Alaska state legislature appropriated $7 million to UAF to “support mariculture research, industry support and workforce development,” of which $2 million was given directly to the ABEC.

The next year, in 2023, UAF was awarded another $20 million through an EPSCoR grant to research “culturally and commercially important” species in the Gulf of Alaska. This five-year grant, known as the Interface of Change, brings communities, universities, and researchers from across the Gulf together to build “resilience” in coastal ecosystems and economies through mariculture.

ABEC and its partners have also benefited from the US Economic Development Administration awarding $49 million to the “Alaska Mariculture Cluster.” Sheridan has seen the push that national and state organizations are making for Alaska’s mariculture industry, and wants ABEC to maximize the funding and resources the industry obtains.

However, none of this funding matters if there aren’t workers to support the mariculture industry, which ABEC is particularly focused on. This is a vital step that ABEC has recognized and is working to improve: mariculture workforce development.

ABEC’s Tommy Sheridan and PWSC’s Dr. Amanda Glazier conduct mariculture sampling in Prince William Sound. (Credit: Tommy Sheridan)

In 2023, they contributed to the Alaska Mariculture Workforce Development Plan, which was designed to meet the “current and forecasted training needs” of one of the state’s most important economic industries. Sheridan says that this plan recommended creating “glidepaths” for students, which means not only showing but also supporting clear paths toward careers in Alaskan mariculture.

ABEC has supported students as young as junior high, supporting programs like the Alaska Science Olympiad. They’ve also partnered with the Teaching Through Technology (T3) program, which offers career support for high schoolers across Alaska.

“T3 is a STEM-focused program based at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks,” Sheridan explains. “We’ve worked with them to help them develop a mariculture curriculum.”

ABEC also provides a landing place at the university level to learn about and interact with several other mariculture educational institutions around the state.

Within the University of Alaska system, ABEC connects students to programs like the Applied Fisheries Program at the University of Alaska Southeast, or the Prince William Sound College, located right on the Gulf of Alaska. Sheridan says they also funded a state-wide mariculture research initiative that resulted in significant engagement with industry and community partners.

ABEC stretches beyond Alaska as well. With national partners like the American Fisheries Society, ABEC is collecting and sharing knowledge, resources, and career pathways in the hope of rejuvenating a younger mariculture workforce and ultimately preparing them to contribute to Alaska’s blue economy.

“There was an acknowledgement for the need to prepare the workforce for the new blue economy,” Sheridan says. “[…] that includes improving STEM education in the K-12 environment.”

UAF’s Tommy Sheridan with PWSC students and staff, sampling mariculture farm sites in Prince William Sound. (Credit: Tommy Sheridan)

Alaska’s New Blue Economy?

The blue economy is an economic framework that recognizes and promotes the importance of ocean-based industries. Alaska has long been known for its productive and well-managed wild fisheries and salmon hatcheries, but Sheridan says the state’s “new blue economy” will also include mariculture.

For instance, in 2023, through its Mariculture Innovation Research Fund, the ABEC funded research exploring how salmon hatcheries and mariculture could be combined at the same locations.

“We funded research looking at Alaskan salmon hatchery release sites, doing water quality testing to determine which release sites, if any, around the state were conducive to mariculture production,” Sheridan says.

The research project supported dozens of students around the state, engaging them in the growing mariculture sector of Alaska’s blue economy.

This past summer, ABEC continued its push for incorporating mariculture in Alaska’s established salmon hatcheries. UAF is an affiliated partner with NOAA’s Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Marketing proposal, which will provide $300 million for aquaculture and mariculture projects around the country. ABEC hopes to receive and direct some of those funds toward mariculture development in Alaska.

In Alaska’s current economy, Sheridan says the mariculture industry is only a small component compared to the much bigger commercial fishing and processing industries. However, their goal is to transform it within the new blue economy into a thriving industry.

This transformation must be thought-out, however, and Sheridan says the new direction for the state’s ocean industries also prioritizes sustainable extraction.

He wants to bring outside organizations, such as the Marine Stewardship Council, to teach students about sustainable fisheries and possibly create a sustainability certification at UAF.

Sustainable extraction from ocean ecosystems requires understanding the ecology and habitat where mariculture farms and fisheries exist, to ensure that populations remain balanced.

Sheridan explains that this is another reason ABEC wants to promote higher education in the mariculture workforce, because the new blue economy requires its workers to understand the ocean on a scientific and data-driven level.

“The new blue economy is really […] technologically advanced, very heavy on big data,” Sheridan explains.

With Alaska experiencing rapid global warming in the Arctic and northern latitudes, ABEC recognizes the importance of creating not only a growing mariculture industry but also a sustainable one. Recent studies have shown that the term “blue economy” has become increasingly linked with the word “sustainability” and global sustainability frameworks.

Following this path, ABEC is promoting Alaska’s blue economy by emphasizing a sustainable, data-informed, and knowledge-driven attitude.

“The new blue economy is a knowledge-based economy,” Sheridan says, “looking to the sea, not just for the extraction of material goods, but for data and information to address societal challenges.”

UAF staff and Teaching Through Technology high school students attending a City of Valdez City Council meeting. (Credit: Tommy Sheridan)

The post The Alaska Blue Economy Center: Connecting Mariculture to the State’s “New Blue Economy” appeared first on FishSens Magazine.

Using AI to Revolutionize Gut Microbiome Analysis in Aquaculture

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:33:28 +0700

Aquaculture is an increasingly vital player in the global food market, and currently supplies over half of the world’s seafood, according to the US Department of Agriculture. As demand for aquaculture products grows, the industry’s response works to keep pace.

One way farmers are doing this is by integrating observational and proactive systems that monitor fish in real time. Keeping tight tabs on fish populations and water quality allows farmers to better understand their operational conditions.

An important aspect of this is fish health and growth. Problems like disease can run rampant in farms, hampering fish growth and ultimately the quality of the end product, according to the World Aquaculture Society, underscoring the importance of stopping health problems before they spread.

Now, some companies are looking toward creating new technologies that can monitor fish populations and detect changes in health instantaneously, before they become a problem.

An example of Aquagut sample acquisition with salmon. (Credit: AquaGut)

Challenges with Monitoring Fish Health in Aquaculture

Horaizon AI started off in human healthcare by analyzing gut microbiomes, and has recently moved into gut microbiome analysis for terrestrial animals and, now, aquatic species. Alan Cook is an aquaculture consultant who has partnered with Horaizon AI to develop their new aquaculture diagnostics program: AquaGut.

“They found that using a fecal sample, they were able to quantify the metabolic activity present in a gut sample,” Cook says of Horaizon’s technology.

Across both terrestrial and aquatic species, the gut microbiome serves as an indicator of health, performing the same basic functions in animals. However, Cook says that the aquaculture industry has historically relied on more observational or easily accessible tests, such as measuring weight or gill microbiome analysis, rather than examining gut health.

Getting fecal samples is the primary method for analyzing gut health, and traditionally, samples had to be sent to labs for analysis. Cook says this method was laborious, expensive, and often took several weeks for analysis to be completed. This timeline, similar to historic observation methods, might only catch onto health changes when they’re already a problem.

Cook says that AquaGut lays out a process to observe and track changes in population health as they happen, rather than waiting until a problem shows up visibly.

How Does AquaGut Work?

Cook primarily sees AquaGut as a proactive method that could tell farmers to try different foods and maximize growth. He explains that choosing the right feed source can proactively prevent health problems while also minimizing costs.

“The biggest application for me is around feeding efficiency and getting better growth and reducing the amount you spend on feed,” Cook states.

The process starts by collecting a small fecal sample, dewatering it, and smearing it on AquaGut’s premade template. Then, users take a picture and upload it to the AquaGut app, where the Horaizon AI analyzes it.

An example of fecal smear microbiome results. (Credit: AquaGut)

Cook says that the analysis looks for biomarkers, like color and texture, of common functional microbes.

“It looks for those key types, butyrate producers, fatty acid producers, fermenters, and pathogen inhibitors,” Cook explains, “and then gives you a diversity score.”

High microbial diversity indicates a healthy gut and, therefore, a healthy fish. However, the analysis isn’t a one-off test, as farmers must have a large sample size. Rather, for the first few months, farmers must conduct multiple tests to understand the normal diversity levels in the species they’re raising.

Then, they can track changes in their stock’s gut diversity over time, and look for when fish are falling below that benchmark. Cook believes this method can be used in multiple ways, for both disease prediction and for choosing the best food.

“If you see a real drop in diversity or a real increase in pathogen inhibitors, it can suggest to you that you’ve got an impending health issue,” Cook says.

He continues, “If your use is about trying to figure out whose feed is better, you should also see that indicated in the diversity […]. You should see which gut is delivering better performance.”

Cook believes it’s a way for aquaculture farmers to get a snapshot of gut health and growth, without the need for traditional labor and time-intensive sampling and observation.

He also explains that it can be paired with water quality measurements, which have seen advances in real-time monitoring in the industry. This can provide a holistic view of farm conditions, and also show whether water quality conditions are impacting fish gut health or how they feed.

“This should allow farmers to have insight into gut biome populations, and that should be a very powerful tool for water quality, understanding the impact the environment has on the selection of diets,” Cook says.

However, he admits that, although AquaGut is trying to simplify the process, implementation isn’t always easy.

A flowchart of the AquaGut microbiome analysis. (Credit: AquaGut)

Challenges with Implementing Gut Health Analyses

AquaGut, AI in aquaculture, and gut microbiome analysis are all relatively new in the industry. Therefore, a large part of Cook’s job as a consultant with Horaizon is to talk with farmers about this new technology. He explains that while many of them see the value in instantaneous health and growth readings, they may find trouble when trying to implement a technology like AquaGut.

“Fish farming is hard, and trying to bring something new online requires extra effort and needs to deliver enough value to carve out time in your already busy day,” Cook says.

While the value of healthy populations may be obvious to farmers, using the gut as a surrogate for population health may be uncharted territory.

Sometimes, this is simply because they’re used to alternative methods of tracking health and feeding. If that’s the case, and they’ve never incurred the costs of gut microbiome analysis before, Cook says the selling point on cutting costs becomes null.

“If they’re not currently testing [gut health], the fact that it’s 10% of the existing costs, when they don’t have even that cost today, is not very compelling,” Cook explains.

To address the issue of implementing quicker microbiome analysis at a broad scale, Cook says that AquaGut is prioritizing showing instances of its use in the real world.

AquaGut Case Studies

AquaGut’s primary method for testing its technology is by offering farmers low-cost or free field trials. Cook says they are planning trial runs with a shrimp farm in Thailand and a tilapia hatchery.

“Once you have those commercial use cases that demonstrate the importance of what you’re doing, then you start to get some traction,” Cook says.

Cook says that, while lab results and research studies are helpful, they aren’t always enough. In an industry that’s demanding and results-based, farmers want to see real-world applications before incurring the costs and time it takes to implement new technologies.

That’s why AquaGut is conducting case studies early, to build up the data and show positive changes from their technology. Ultimately, Cook hopes that these case studies will show the importance of gut analysis and push aquaculture health monitoring in a better, more efficient direction.

“My hope is that this becomes another tool in the tool chest for farmers to monitor the health of their fish at a more microbial level, on a day-to-day basis,” Cook says.

The post Using AI to Revolutionize Gut Microbiome Analysis in Aquaculture appeared first on FishSens Magazine.

Strategies for Profitable Fish Species Selection for Aquaculture

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:32:15 +0700

If you want to make money in aquaculture, start with the right fish.

That decision shapes almost everything else: your feed costs, growth speed, survival rate, market demand, and day-to-day management. Choose the wrong species, and your costs can rise fast. Choose the right one, and you give yourself a much better chance to grow efficiently and sell profitably. Aquaculture already supplies more than half of the seafood produced for human consumption worldwide, so the opportunity is real—but species choice still makes or breaks the business.

Why species choice matters so much

Think of species selection as a business decision first, not just a biological one. You need to ask a few clear and practical questions. How fast is this fish likely to grow? How much feed will it need to reach market size? Will it survive well in your system and under your local conditions? And just as importantly, will buyers be willing to pay a price that makes the effort worthwhile? When you answer those questions early, you make it much easier to choose a species that supports both production success and profit.

In other words, profitability usually comes down to a few core factors working together: growth rate, feed conversion, survival, operating cost, and market value. When those lines are in place, your chances of building a resilient farm go up. Studies from FAO also emphasize that feed efficiency has a direct effect on profitability.

Look for species that grow fast and sell well

If you are looking for a practical starting point, tilapia often stands out.

Why? Because tilapia is widely farmed, adapts to many production systems, and is commonly favored for its suitability across a broad range of farming environments. It also benefits from extensive production knowledge and established markets in many parts of the world.

Catfish can also be a strong choice, especially when you want a hardy species with dependable demand in many markets. Carp remains important in lower-input systems and in price-sensitive markets, where affordability matters. Meanwhile, salmon can command a higher selling price, but it usually requires more sophisticated systems, tighter environmental control, and significantly higher investment. NOAA notes the importance of matching species and systems carefully, and highlights the specialized nature of marine aquaculture, such as Atlantic salmon production.

So the message is simple: do not ask only, “What fish is popular?” Ask, “What fish fits my farm and my buyers?”

Match the fish to your environment

Next, be honest about your conditions.

If you are in a warm region, species such as tilapia often make more sense. If you are working in cooler water, trout or salmon may be better options. Water temperature, oxygen levels, water supply, and energy costs all matter. NOAA’s regional aquaculture materials make this point clearly: different ecosystems support different farmed species and production methods.

So instead of forcing the environment to suit the fish, choose fish that already fit the environment you have.

That one move can reduce your spending on heating, aeration, filtration, and system correction. As a result, your operation becomes easier to manage and more profitable over time. FAO climate-related work on tilapia also shows that changes in feed cost, mortality, and fish price can sharply affect profitability, which reinforces the importance of environmental fit and risk planning.

Do not ignore the market

Now let’s make this practical: a fish that grows well but does not sell well is still a bad business choice.

Before you stock ponds, tanks, or cages, talk to buyers. Check local prices. Talk to restaurants, wholesalers, retailers, and processors. Learn what sizes they want, what species move steadily, and what customers already recognize.

This matters because stable demand is often more valuable than trendy demand. If you can sell consistently, you reduce risk. World Bank aquaculture research also points to the importance of operating costs, input use, and market structure in determining sector performance and profitability.

So say it this way: “I am not just raising fish. I am producing a product for a market.”

That mindset helps you make better decisions from the beginning.

Watch feed costs closely

Feed is usually your biggest expense.

Because of that, feed conversion ratio is not just a technical metric—it is a profit metric. A species that turns feed into body mass more efficiently can give you a real financial advantage. FAO feed-management publications on tilapia repeatedly stress that feed performance and feed conversion are central to farm economics.

This is one reason herbivorous and omnivorous species are often attractive to producers. In many cases, they are less expensive to feed than carnivorous species that depend more heavily on high-protein inputs.

So when you compare species, do not stop at selling price. Ask, “How much will it cost me to grow each kilogram?”

That is the number that protects your margin.

Choose species that help you reduce risk

If you are new to aquaculture, hardier species are often the smarter choice.

Fish that tolerate handling, crowding, and fluctuations in water quality can help reduce losses. Lower mortality means more predictable harvests, steadier cash flow, and fewer expensive surprises.

That does not mean premium species are bad choices. It means you should match complexity to your level of experience, infrastructure, and available capital. High-value fish can be profitable, but only when the production system is ready for them. NOAA’s aquaculture guidance and regional materials both support the idea that species choice should reflect the production environment and management capacity.

Think long term, not just short term

In the end, the most profitable aquaculture businesses usually do not chase hype. They build around fit.

They look at the whole picture: environment, feed cost, survival, infrastructure, labor, and buyer demand. Then they choose the species that balances those factors best.

That is the real strategy.

Do not ask only, “What fish makes the most money?” Ask, “What fish gives me the best chance to grow well, survive well, and sell well in my actual situation?”

That is how you build an aquaculture operation that can scale, stay resilient, and keep generating returns over time.

Make Your Aquaculture Business More Profitable

If you want your aquaculture business to be more profitable, do not guess on species selection.

Take time to evaluate your water conditions, climate, feed costs, infrastructure, and local buyer demand before you stock your system. Then choose the species that fits your farm financially and biologically.

For more practical insights on aquaculture, sustainability, and ecolonomic strategies, visit the Ecolonomics Action Team at EAT Community.

I can also turn this into a stronger SEO blog version with a focus keyword, meta description, internal link suggestions, and subheadings optimized for WordPress.

4 Reasons Fish Farms Fail After Scaling and How to Avoid Them

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:32:11 +0700

Scaling a fish farm can seem like the natural next step after early success. However, many fish farms fail after scaling because larger operations are far more difficult to manage than small ones. Expanding a farm is not just about adding more ponds, tanks, or fish. It also means dealing with more complex water quality issues, higher disease pressure, feeding inefficiencies, and a less stable production environment.

In many cases, fish farms fail after scaling because the systems that worked well at a small level do not perform the same way at a commercial level. Without careful planning, growth can quickly lead to poor fish health, lower survival rates, and financial losses.

Below are four major reasons fish farms fail after scaling and what producers need to watch closely.

1. Water Quality Problems Increase as Fish Farms Scale

One of the biggest reasons fish farms fail after scaling is poor water quality management. In small systems, operators can usually control oxygen levels, water turnover, temperature, and waste buildup more easily. As the farm expands, maintaining the same balance becomes much harder.

Large ponds and tanks often develop uneven circulation, poor aeration, and waste accumulation in certain areas. These conditions can create dead zones where dissolved oxygen drops and ammonia levels rise. Even slight variations in pH or temperature can stress fish and reduce growth.

According to the FAO’s guidance on dissolved oxygen, oxygen is one of the most important factors in fish survival and performance. Likewise, the FAO’s material on water quality and fish health shows how water chemistry directly affects fish health and production.

To avoid failure after scaling, fish farms need stronger monitoring systems, better aeration design, and faster response protocols.

2. Disease Outbreaks Spread Faster in Large-Scale Fish Farms

Another major reason fish farms fail after scaling is the increased risk of disease. As stocking density rises, fish are packed more closely together, which makes it easier for pathogens to spread. At the same time, stress from poor water quality weakens immune response and leaves fish more vulnerable.

A disease event in a small fish farm may affect one section of the operation. In a large-scale farm, the same outbreak can move rapidly through the entire stock and cause major losses. This is one of the clearest ways fish farms fail after scaling.

FAO emphasizes the importance of aquatic health management and biosecurity in reducing disease risks in aquaculture. Stronger biosecurity systems are essential when farms grow larger because equipment, water sources, workers, and routine movement can all introduce pathogens.

Fish farms that scale successfully treat disease prevention as a core management system, not an afterthought.

3. Feeding and Nutrition in Fish Farms Become Less Efficient at Scale

Feeding problems are another common reason fish farms fail after scaling. A feeding strategy that works well with a small population may become inefficient or inconsistent in a much larger system.

In larger ponds or tanks, feed may not be distributed evenly. Some fish get too much, while others get too little. Overfeeding raises nutrient loads and contributes to poor water quality. Underfeeding reduces growth rates and can increase competition and aggression.

The FAO’s aquaculture resources on water quality management explain that feeding intensity directly affects production performance and environmental conditions. Poor feeding practices can quickly damage both water quality and profitability.

To reduce the risk of failure, larger fish farms need better feed delivery systems, more consistent monitoring, and nutrition plans built specifically for higher stocking levels.

4. Ecosystem Balance Breaks Down in Larger Fish Farming Systems

Fish farms are not just production units. They are living ecosystems. Water, oxygen, microbes, fish behavior, plants, and mechanical systems all interact. As a farm grows, those interactions become much more difficult to balance.

This ecosystem complexity is a hidden reason fish farms fail after scaling. Larger operations often rely more heavily on pumps, aerators, filters, and circulation systems. If one part fails, the impact can be immediate and severe. Smaller farms sometimes have enough natural buffering to absorb a problem. Larger farms usually do not.

FAO’s guidance on water quality management notes that prolonged low oxygen and unstable conditions can reduce growth, lower disease resistance, and trigger mortality.

Scaling a fish farm means scaling biological complexity at the same time. Producers who ignore this often discover too late that bigger systems are also far more fragile.

How to Prevent Fish Farms’ Failure After Scaling

Fish farms fail after scaling when growth happens without stronger systems in place. Expansion should include more than infrastructure. It should also include better water monitoring, tighter biosecurity, improved feeding management, and a deeper understanding of system balance.

Fish farms that succeed at scale usually have:

reliable water quality monitoring
strong aeration and circulation design
biosecurity protocols for staff, equipment, and water
feeding systems suited for larger populations
backup systems for pumps, aerators, and filtration
management practices built around fish health and environmental stability

Conclusion

Fish farms fail after scaling for several predictable reasons. Water quality becomes harder to manage, disease spreads faster, feeding becomes less efficient, and ecosystem complexity increases. These problems do not always show up on a small farm, but they often become severe once the operation expands.

The fish farms that thrive at scale are the ones that prepare for these challenges early. They understand that growth is not just about size. It is about maintaining control, balance, and biological stability as complexity increases.

Start your own fish farm

Are you thinking about starting or expanding a commercial fish farm? The Ecolonomics Action Team provides practical guidance, valuable information, and access to experienced fish farmers who understand what it takes to build a resilient and profitable aquaculture operation. Join the team and get connected.

References

The post 4 Reasons Fish Farms Fail After Scaling and How to Avoid Them first appeared on WorldWide Aquaculture.

Norwegian RAS-Suppliers Strengthen Team in North America

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:30:51 +0700

By NACA

Norwegian Aquaculture in America (NACA) was established in 2025 by five Norwegian companies with a targeted focus on the land-based aquaculture market in the United States. Alex Tsappis will now be their local representative in the North-American market.

Alex Tsappis brings more than 20 years of experience in U.S. aquaculture and has in-depth knowledge of the industry. He was recently hired by NACA to represent the five Norwegian supplier companies: Silikal, Simona Stadpipe, Dynamic FishEye, Mat-Kuling, and Helland Silosystem across both the USA and Canada.

“It was necessary to establish a dedicated sales organization for the USA and Canada. Alex Tsappis will also handle logistics, service, aftersales, and eventually the local assembly of partners’ equipment,” says Bjørn Dørum, General Manager of Mat-Kuling.

NACA’s presence in North America is also strengthened by the partnership with, Structural Armor in Indiana. The company produces modular composite tanks for aquaculture as well as membranes for upgrading older tanks.

In May, all companies will participate in RasTech 2026 with their own NACA stand. NACA will also host a dedicated RAS workshop on the conference’s opening day.

Alex Tsappis was also present representing the NACA network at Aquaculture America 2026, held in Las Vegas in mid-February. NACA shared a booth with its partner Structural Armor, which is based in Indiana. The company produces modular composite tanks for aquaculture as well as membranes for upgrading older tanks.

With Alex Tsappis present in the USA to present their compete RAS-solutions to engineering firms, developers and fish farmers, the NACA-companies will have a much better outreach in their new market.

Alex Tsappis and Inge Stian Helland.

The website Home – Norwegian Aquaculture in America has been launched to promote the network’s initiative in USA and Canada. The NACA business network is supported by Innovation Norway.

“The engagement and support from Innovation Norway were decisive in our decision to enter the land-based aquaculture market in the USA and Canada, says Dørum on behalf of the NACA partners.

The 5 NACA-Companies:

Mat-Kuling Vannbehandling AS

MAT-KULING is a “non-stop shop for RAS equipment” with 30 years of experience in water treatment. The company designs, manufactures, and supplies RAS equipment for land-based farming of both saltwater and freshwater fish. Equipment is developed and built in their own factory. The company also offers systems and specialized MEP services (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) for land-based aquaculture facilities.

Simona Stadpipe

Simona Stadpipe has over 30 years of experience in aquaculture and is one of Norway’s leading specialists in advanced piping systems and custom products for the industry. The company provides expertise across the entire value chain, from design and production to installation of land-based aquaculture facilities.

Helland Silosystem

Helland Silo is a family-owned company founded in 1965. It produces and supplies feed handling equipment such as silos, feeding systems, and various conveyors tailored for land-based aquaculture. The company has designed and delivered feed handling solutions to land-based aquaculture facilities both in Norway and the international market.

Silikal Aquaculture Solutions

Silikal Aquaculture Solutions has developed a specialized coating for land-based tanks and RAS facilities. The coating is designed to meet strict requirements from the Norwegian aquaculture industry, including durability through repeated production cycles and resistance to strong cleaning agents and high-pressure water for biosecurity purposes.

Dynamic FishEye AS

Dynamic FishEye provides advanced control systems specifically developed for land-based aquaculture, based on One Core technology. The FishEye platform enables real-time data collection and analysis for optimized feeding and improved fish health. FishEye Sense monitors water quality around the clock.

Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Champions Recognized for Advancing Responsible Production and Safeguarding the Future of Seafood

Edusehat — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:30:45 +0700

By Aquaculture Stewardship Council and the Marine Stewardship Council

• Retailers, producers and innovators honored at the Australian Sustainable Seafood Awards 2026

Australia’s seafood leaders have been recognized for setting the benchmark in responsible seafood production at the 2026 Sustainable Seafood Awards.

An initiative of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), two global non-profit organizations that set internationally recognized standards for seafood farming and wild capture fisheries, the awards celebrate farms, fisheries, retailers and individuals working to secure the long-term sustainability of Australia’s seafood industry.

The global population is projected to reach around 8.6 billion by 2030, and relies on seafood as a vital, nutritious and efficient protein source. Sustainably managed fisheries and responsibly farmed seafood are critical to meeting the world’s growing demand and long-term food security.

According to the United Nations more than one third of global fish populations are in decline and around 60 per cent are fished to their biological limit. With more than 60 per cent of seafood now farmed and global demand continuing to rise, sustainable production practices are increasingly critical and Australia’s leadership in certified blue foods supports climate resilience.

Independent certification and science-based standards play an important role in ensuring trust and transparency across seafood supply chains. Consumers can now choose from more than 500 ASC and MSC labelled seafood products on Australian retail shelves, spanning chilled, ambient and frozen seafood, as well as products used in pet food, supplements and beauty products.

ASC Market Development Manager Ellie Dixon said the award winners represent best practice across Australia’s seafood sector.

“As expectations from customers, NGOs, regulators and investors continue to rise, transparency, traceability and credible assurance have become more important than ever,” Dixon said.

“These trailblazing businesses are demonstrating leadership through the adoption of independent, science-based standards.”

MSC Program Director for Oceania and Singapore Anne Gabriel said Australians increasingly want confidence that their seafood comes from sustainable sources.

“At a time when sustainability claims are under increasing scrutiny and concerns about greenwashing are growing, credible, science-based certification is more important than ever,” Gabriel said.

“The winners recognized this year are helping build confidence across seafood supply chains and among the public.”

Seafood industry expert John Susman AM said the winners reflect a growing commitment across the sector to responsible production.

“The initiatives and dedication of this year’s nominees demonstrate significant industry progress,” Susman said.

“Across both farmed and wild seafood, we’re seeing producers, retailers, scientists and innovators working together to lift standards, ensuring Australians can enjoy seafood with confidence while protecting our marine environments.”

Award Winners – Highlights

Major Australian retailers ALDI, Coles and Woolworths were recognized for their leadership in sustainable seafood.

ALDI Australia received the ASC Best Responsible Seafood Retailer Award for the fourth consecutive year.

“ALDI distinguished itself through accessible, affordable ASC-certified seafood and national campaigns that helped millions of Australians choose responsible aquaculture,” the judging panel said.

Coles was awarded MSC Best Sustainable Seafood Supermarket, with judges commending its strong sourcing policies, transparent reporting and consumer engagement.

“Coles has demonstrated an exceptionally comprehensive commitment to MSC-certified sustainable seafood, showing excellence in policy, traceability, reporting and industry leadership,” the panel said.

Woolworths Group received both the MSC Community Champion Award and the ASC Aquaculture Champion Award for embedding sustainability initiatives across its seafood supply chain.

“Through initiatives such as the Ocean Pool Fund, Woolworths is investing in suppliers to enable innovation, continuous improvement and credible pathways toward certification,” judges said.

Humpty Doo Barramundi was awarded ASC Best Responsible Producer for its pioneering wetland recirculating aquaculture system and strong community engagement, including partnerships with First Nations communities.

I&J received ASC Best Responsible Seafood Brand for its progress in adopting ASC-certified products across its supply chain and Little Tuna won MSC Best Sustainable Seafood Brand based on a public vote – winning over 50% of the votes.

Two of Tasmania’s emerging stars were awarded the ASC Young Person in Aquaculture Awards recognizing Ryan Stallard (Skretting Australia) and Laura Hodge (Tassal Group) for their leadership in advancing environmental performance and innovation across aquaculture operations.

About the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

ASC is advancing the leading certification program for responsible farmed seafood, partnering to increase demand for ASC-labelled products, and championing innovation through industry collaboration.

Find out more: asc-aqua.org/about-asc

About the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

The MSC was created in response to the growing threat of overfishing globally to help incentivize fisheries to become more sustainable.

The MSC is an international non-profit on a mission to end overfishing and restore fish stocks for future generations. With a vision of the world’s ocean teeming with life and seafood supplies safeguarded for this and future generations.

More than one-third of fish stocks are estimated to be fished at unsustainable levels. With the global human population set to reach 10 billion by 2050, the need to harness our natural resources more responsibly is more urgent than ever. Billions of people worldwide depend on seafood for their livelihoods, and, for many, seafood is their primary protein source.

The MSC blue fish tick label on a wild-caught seafood product or menu can be traced back to an MSC-certified sustainable fishery. By looking at each fishery individually using science, fisheries prove and improve their sustainability performance.