DSM, Evonik partner to develop algae-based products

DSM Nutritional Products Ltd. and Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH have entered into a joint development agreement for algae-based omega-3 fatty acid products for animal nutrition, in particular in aquaculture and pet food applications. The aim is to meet the increasing demand for omega-3 fatty acids by harnessing naturally occurring marine algae using sustainable, biotechnological processes based on natural, non-marine resources.
Under the agreement, the companies will jointly work on the development of products and explore opportunities for commercialization. The competencies that DSM and Evonik bring to the development partnership complement each other: DSM has expertise in the cultivation of marine organisms and long-established biotechnology capabilities in development and operations, while Evonik’s focus for decades has been on industrial amino acid biotechnology executing large-volume fermentation processes.
The envisioned algae-based omega-3 fatty acid products will be high value, natural and sustainable alternatives to fish oil, whose supply is finite. This will help the animal nutrition industry keep up with increasing demand without endangering fish stocks and will contribute to healthy and sustainable animal nutrition. Just like humans, animals also need their daily intake of essential, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in their diet to ensure healthy growth. Until now, these fatty acids have been added to aquaculture feed almost exclusively from marine sources such as fish oil and fishmeal. By using algae, DSM and Evonik are looking to contribute to a more sustainable aquaculture industry.
DSM and Evonik expect that in Q4 2015 they will be able to report the first results of the algae-based omega-3 fatty acid product development.

C-Feed builds world’s first industrial plant for copepods

Norwegian company C-Feed has built the world’s first industrial plant for copepods, which are tiny crustaceans that can be used to feed young fish in aquaculture.
The new plant, located in Trondheim, Norway, uses unique technology developed by research organization SINTEF.
The copepods will be used as live feed for fry of ballan wrasse, tuna, lobster, halibut and other marine species. Until now, companies have been unsuccessful in cultivating new species, and the fry stage is often the problem because a large proportion die during the early phase of production.
Salmon can eat dry feed from the first day, but saltwater species need live start feed.
"Until now, cultivating tuna has been an extremely demanding, not to say impossible, process. Our copepods have turned out to be very suitable as baby food for fry, and we believe that tuna could represent a major market for us, since tuna are in great demand with sushi enthusiasts all over the world," C-Feed CEO Rune Bjerke said.
SINTEF so far has produced copepods on a small scale, but will increase production when the plant opens this fall.
“We are greatly looking forward to making the jump from small-scale production to the industrialization of copepod cultivation,” Bjerke said.
Ballan wrasse are in demand in Norway because they eat sea lice that live on the skin of salmon held in fish cages and are very effective in combatting the lice.
“The production of fish-feed for ballan wrasse farmers could become our largest market in Norway,” Bjerke said.
The venture brought in NOK13 million (US$1.7 million) in new capital and has an estimated annual market potential of NOK2 billion.

Triton Group invests $64 million in Nigerian aquaculture

The Triton Group has invested $64 million into the Nigerian aquaculture industry, with the aim of increasing local catfish and tilapia production, according to a report.
Triton Group’s business strategy in Nigeria has previously been focused on importing and distributing frozen fish.
The company’s initiative is in line with the federal government policy of mandating companies that import frozen fish into the country to demonstrate their commitment by investing in fisheries.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Akinwumi Adesina said the investment, set to last five to seven years, will help harness the potential of Nigeria’s fisheries.
Triton Group’s investment will add 3,000 jobs, increase local fish production by 70,000 metric tons, and add $85 million in terms of foreign exchange.
The investment will allow exports of tilapia and catfish to the U.S. and Europe, among other countries.
The company set up a pilot facility for catfish production, which included the conversion of its cold room facility in Lagos into a hatchery with a capacity of 2 million for the production of catfish.
Adesina assured Triton Group of strong institutional support, and policies that would encourage more investment in aquaculture including tax holidays, and enhanced access to land and credit facilities.
Ashvin Samtani, chairman of Triton Group, said the company has been focused on seafood, poultry and aquaculture in Nigeria since it first started operations there in 1995. 

Aller Aqua Group opens fish feed factory in Egypt

Aller Aqua Group has completed construction on its new fish feed factory in Egypt.
According to the company, the factory is Egypt’s largest and most modern production of environmentally friendly, extruded fish feed.
“The momentum we have managed to create in Egypt since 2011 creates the basis for this extraordinary expansion, giving us the opportunity to triple sales,” said Henrik Halken, chairman of Aller Aqua Egypt.
Aller Aqua has experienced continuous growth. Besides a factory in Christiansfeld, Denmark, it built a factory in Poland in 2001 and in Germany in 2007. Besides a modern fish feed factory, the latter further consists of a factory for the production of protein derived from peas and broad beans.
Hans Erik Bylling, majority shareholder and managing director in the Aller Aqua Group, said the company now sells its fish feed to more than 50 countries worldwide.
“We have a clear and concise strategy in Aller Aqua, designed to create further growth over the coming years – and investments like the one in Egypt is one of the tools to reach our targets, as well as the continued growth in existing and new markets,” he said. “Aquaculture is today the fastest growing food sector – and more than half of the fish consumed globally are farmed fish. Thus we focus on growing our activities in several of the world’s emerging markets.”

Biomin to open aquaculture research center in Vietnam

Biomin plans to open a new aquaculture research center at Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The center will drive research and development of innovative and effective solutions to pressing challenges in the industry.
Biomin will unveil its new 900-square-meter aquaculture research center in early 2015.
The new facility signifies the continued collaborative efforts of Biomin in conducting innovative research to provide effective solutions to the industry with the focus on several key areas: nutrition and feed formulation, gut health, immune modulation, waste management and feed safety. Research and development will be centered on several of the most important species for the aquaculture industry in the region including marine and fresh water species such as catfish, tilapia, sea bass and shrimp.
As part of the investment, Biomin will take over and expand the facilities of the aqua research center at Nong Lam University. Activities at the new research center will be jointly coordinated by the Biomin Research Center in Tulln, Austria, and the technical staff at the facility. The research facilities will be equipped with five different recirculating systems and two challenge rooms. A feed formulation lab for preparation of test diets, including a lab scale feed extruder that will allow testing of different ingredients and solutions under conditions similar to those found in the aquaculture industry, is also in place.
In partnership with Sanphar, a veterinary products and services company that is also under the Erber Group umbrella, a state-of-the-art microbiological lab will be established to screen and investigate the status of infectious diseases in both livestock and aquaculture. Biomin will also collaborate closely with Nong Lam University to build the academic and research pipeline in Vietnam by creating undergraduate research opportunities and mentorship for local students.

Evonik breaks ground on AQUAVI Met-Met production plant

Evonik Industries held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the on-schedule start of construction on the first plant for the production of AQUAVI Met-Met in Antwerp, Belgium. The product, a dipeptide made up of two methionine molecules, is a feed additive specially developed for shrimp and other crustaceans in aquacultures. The investment volume is in the lower double-digit-million-euro range.
Commercial quantities of the product will be available when the new plant commences operation in the second half of 2015. Customers can now request samples from Evonik to carry out joint feed studies. Feed studies on quantities from pilot plants are already underway worldwide.
“Adding a highly effective methionine source to the feed is just as profitable for shrimp and crustaceans as for fish. We now can offer our customers also for this species a tailor-made solution,” said Dr. Emmanuel Auer, head of the Animal Nutrition Business Line at Evonik in Antwerp.
AQUAVI Met-Met significantly reduces the consumption of fish meal in shrimp aquaculture. It therefore lowers feed costs, reduces the strain on fishing grounds worldwide, and helps water purity by reducing the amount of waste produced by the animals and nitrogen output into the environment through an optimal supply of methionine. With optimal nutrition, the shrimp stay healthier and the environment is less polluted.

Pescanova sells salmon producer Nova Austral

Pescanova has sold salmon producer Nova Austral, part of Pesca Chile, to Norwegian fish feed producer Ewos, for a net cost of EUR7.4 million (US$9.9 million).
Ewos’ bid for Nova Austral is worth EUR134.6 million, the equivalent to the value of assets, but the final sale value decreased substantially because of liabilities of EUR128 million.
Another Pesca Chile unit, Acuinova, also is expected to be sold. The unit’s activities are approved to continue until the end of September, to value existing assets and facilitate is progressive liquidation, according to reports. Creditors authorized the sale of Acuinova and Nova Austral in June, with the aim of selling both firms by September 30.
“The idea is to sell the companies before that date. We will make an effort to make it,” Acuinova’s bankruptcy trustee Mariclara Gonzalez said at the time.

Alltech to build aquaculture, layer facility in Kentucky

Alltech's Deirdre Lyons accepts a symbolic key to the city from Pikeville, Kentucky Mayor Frank Justice, left. Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, right, announced nearly $6 million in funding for the development of an industrial park in eastern Kentucky, where Alltech has committed to building aquaculture and layer facilities. (Photo courtesy of Kentucky Office of Creative Service)  
Global animal nutrition company Alltech will become the first occupant on the new Marion Branch industrial site in Pikeville, Kentucky, with plans to develop an aquaculture and poultry layer facility. The project incorporates objectives of the Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) initiative, begun by Gov. Steve Beshear and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers in late 2013 to revitalize the struggling economy in eastern Kentucky counties.
The initiative falls in line with Alltech’s core business in animal nutrition, implementing its sustainable and natural solutions designed to help farmers feed a rapidly growing world population of 9 billion people by 2050.
“We are delighted to have the support of Gov. Beshear, Congressman Hal Rogers and the Commonwealth of Kentucky that will make it possible for Alltech and other companies to operate at the Marion Branch Industrial Park,” said Deirdre Lyons, co-founder and director of corporate image and design at Alltech. “We are also thankful to the City of Pikeville for their continued support and shared vision for prosperity in eastern Kentucky. We hope that through our decision to build an aquaculture and layer facility at Marion Branch, as well as a new brewery and distillery in downtown Pikeville, we can be a catalyst for further economic development in the area.”
Marion Branch is a 380-acre former surface mine site that is within Pikeville city limits and owned by the city. Pikeville City Commission worked to obtain the infrastructure of a bridge, road, water and sewer to encourage business development in the area.
“This announcement is proof that there are opportunities for economic development in eastern Kentucky if we work to make them happen,” Beshear said. “This type of partnership, which brings in government resources along with private-sector investment, is an example of what we are trying to do with the SOAR initiative. We want local communities to be key drivers in recovery efforts, as is happening with this project.”
“Eastern Kentucky is a great place to work and live – we’re spreading the word that we’re open for business,” said Rep. Rogers. “One of the top companies in Kentucky is planting roots in our region, and other businesses should take notice of the benefits we have to offer with our competitive workforce, beautiful landscape and growing entrepreneurial support system. I commend Gov. Beshear and our state legislators for realizing the value of investing in the Marion Branch Industrial Site, and Pikeville city leaders for continuing to raise the bar for progress in eastern Kentucky.”
The Pikeville/Alltech announcement is in line with the efforts of the 10 SOAR working groups that are leading discussions throughout the region on topics related to eastern Kentucky’s future economic well-being and quality of life. Based on citizen and organizational input, the groups will identify significant opportunities and a long-term vision related to their topics. The working groups’ focus areas include broadband; agriculture, community and regional foods; business recruitment and incubation; education and retraining; and health.

Kish Island VIV show brings more than 3,000 visitors

ImEx Gulf Inc. displayed the U.S. flage at a trade show in Iran for the first time in more than 30 years.
The first international poultry, aquaculture and large animal trade show in conjunction with VIV Europe was held February 21-23 at Kish Island, in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The 2014 Iran VIV brought together more than 200 local and international exhibitors and more than 3,000 attendees in Kish Island.
Among international companies, there were 10 companies from the United States, some of which even sent representatives.  The show also featured some seminars organized to promote sales, by both local and international companies.
ImEx Gulf Inc., which represents over 10 U.S. companies, had the most visitors as it had displayed the U.S. flag in its stand.  As a matter of fact, this happened for the first time for over three decades.
Since the first Kish Island show was a success, VIV and Sunsafa Co. are discussing the possibility of hosting another Kish Island show.

DSM Innovation Award to be presented at AquaVision 2014

The DSM Innovation Award will again be presented at AquaVision 2014. This special award honors transformative innovation within theaquacultureindustry. The winner of theDSM Innovation Award will be announced on June 18, day two of AquaVision. The recipient will also receive a prize of EUR10,000 (US$13,827).
The ‘DSM Innovation Award’ was created to reflect the role of AquaVision as a global forum in promoting innovation in aquaculture as well as DSM’s unique history and dedication in providing industry leading micro-nutrient innovations in aquaculture worldwide.
DSM and AquaVision now invite companies, individuals, organisations, institutions and government agencies world-wide to apply for the AquaVision 2014 DSM Innovation Award. Eligible innovations should be in the area of aquaculture and break with convention, going beyond marginal improvements in existing products and services. An application period for the DSM Innovation Award is open through May 10. Applications submitted for the award will be reviewed by a jury of specialists, who will also evaluate the applicants’ innovations.
ADSM Innovation Award application form and related application details can be accessed online.
DSM is proud to play an industry-leading role in aquaculture by providing pioneering micronutrients to growing aquaculture operations around the world. DSM has supported the aquaculture industry since the 1960s through developing and deploying micronutrients for aquaculture feeds, the company is excited to continue its dedication to aquaculture nutritional solutions and looks toward the future through encouraging groundbreaking innovation in aquaculture. DSM is pleased to recognize and support transformative innovation in aquaculture by giving the ‘DSM Innovation Award’ at AquaVision 2014.
The AquaVision conference, organized by Skretting and its parent company Nutreco since 1996, has established itself as an important meeting place for some 450 participants from around 35 countries and is sponsored in 2014 by DSM and DNB.

Aquaculture groups release common requirements for fishmeal sourcing

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) and GlobalG.A.P. have announced the creation of common requirements for the sourcing of fishmeal and fish oil for farmed fish diets. This move to harmonize feed requirements between certification schemes is another step in helping aquaculture buyers seek responsibly sourced products, according to IFFO (the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organization).
In the official joint statement by the three standard-setting organizations, they state that by setting common criteria "This will better promote the responsible sourcing of [fishmeal and fish oil], for the benefit of the environment and the future sustainability of the fisheries and other [fishmeal and fish oil]-sources utilized by the aqua feed and livestock feed sectors.'' The common requirements are:

• Traceability to species and country of origin
• No endangered species used for fishmeal or fish oil
• Preference for feed manufacturers with evidence of responsible sourcing
• Avoidance of IUU
Each group continues to have its own additional requirements.

Typhoon Haiyan causes severe agriculture, fisheries damage

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is mobilizing support to the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, which tore through the country causing severe damage to the fisheries and agriculture sectors in addition to massive loss of life.
"I want to express the solidarity of FAO and myself personally with the people and the Government of the Philippines," said FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva. "The super typhoon Haiyan has left a trail of destruction and thousands of lives have been lost. The devastation caused in the country, including in the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, puts the lives and livelihoods of many more at risk and can have a wider effect on the food supply chain and food security."
The organization will do everything it can to support the Government of the Philippines in the reconstruction process and to build resilience, said Graziano da Silva. The FAO called for $24 million for immediate interventions in fisheries and agriculture as part of the UN-coordinated humanitarian Flash Appeal. The organization has already mobilized more than $1 million from its own resources.
"Although there is not a clear picture yet of the impact on the agriculture sector, it is evident that the damage is extensive," said Dominique Burgeon, director of the FAO's Emergency and Rehabilitation Division. The typhoon hit just at the beginning of the main rice-planting season, and the FAO estimates that over 1 million farmers have been affected and hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice destroyed.
Severe impacts on coconut production in affected areas are expected, and there has also been wide-scale destruction to storage facilities and rural infrastructure. Along the coast the storm surge wiped out many fishing communities, demolishing boats and gear.
As part of the FAO's immediate response to the crisis, the organization has deployed emergency response staff and will use the $1 million already mobilized to cover immediate needs such as seeds and fertilizers. An initial total of $24 million will be needed for emergency and rehabilitation efforts including rehabilitation of storage and irrigation facilities and support to fishing communities.
The organization will carry out a full assessment of the damage caused to the agriculture and fisheries sectors as soon as the situation on the ground allows. Some 9.5 million people have been affected by the typhoon, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Adisseo launches interactive pig, poultry nutrition guide

An electronic version of the Rhodimet Nutrition Guide is now available for nutritionists worldwide.
In July 2013, Adisseo published the new version of Rhodimet Nutrition Guide, RNG, gathering the amino acid recommendations for poultry, swine and aquaculture. After a flip-chart version developed in august, e-RNG 2.0, the interactive version is now available on Personal Computer or on tablets (iPad and Android).
The e-RNG 2.0 is an interactive tool which supplies amino acid requirements of an extensive range of animal species and strains, and provides total, digestible composition and digestibility coefficients of amino acids in raw materials.
In addition, the amino acid composition of more than 30 different raw materials is added in a separate section. This data is extracted from PNE, the Precise Nutrition Evaluation, the NIR Service from Adisseo.
PNE allows the prediction of digestible amino acids, metabolizable energy and phytic phosphorus of raw materials, on the basis of a unique in-vivo database built on more than 200 digestibility trials carried out in Adisseo Center of Expertise and Research Nutrition (CERN, France).
Based on an innovative modeling approach developed initially by Pierre-André Geraert, Innovation Marketing Director at Adisseo, the amino acid requirements are expressed in gram/animal/day according to weight gain (or egg mass).
The initial version was based on the data available in 2002. Many people were interested to check if the modelling approach was still valid on more recent data. As a consequence, the present version is using all the new published works till 2012, confirming the methodology for a larger number of essential amino acids.
This approach gives a simple way to adjust amino acid recommendations to field results more precisely than a constant amino acid to lysine ratio.
They are adaptable to standard or specific conditions and various feeding programs.
"A recent trial conducted in Thailand shows that formulas based on these recommendations resulted in a better adjustment of digestible amino acid requirements to sustain growth with a better economical return compared with usual recommendations", says Dr. Magalie Nonis, Animal Scientist at Adisseo.
"Free of charge, the e-RNG 2.0 is accessible via the Adisseo Brands website for Personal Computers or via App Store and Google Play for tablets. In order to access the e-RNG 2.0, users only need to download the application, and get an access code for the first connexion.
"This tool is available in 9 languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Polish, Turkish, Arabic and Chinese" says Pierre Dalibard, Global Technical Manager at Adisseo.

Novus Global Aquaculture Innovation Award presented at GOAL 2013

Novus announced that Dr. Amir Sagi, Ph.D., a professor at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, is the recipient of the 2013 Novus Global Aquaculture Innovation Award. In association with the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), this inaugural award, sponsored by Novus, was presented today during the GOAL 2013 conference held in Paris, France. The Global Aquaculture Innovation Award was launched at GOAL 2012 to recognize innovative practices that overcome production challenges or mitigate negative environmental or social impacts at aquaculture farms.
"We are thrilled to recognize the exceptional work of Dr. Sagi and it is our honor to present him with this award," notes Dr. Francisco Saraiva Gomes, Executive Manager of the Aqua Business Unit at Novus. "Aquaculture needs innovation in order to capture its potential. Novus and our partner, the GAA, want to encourage thought leaders in the aquaculture industry to push themselves to continue to develop innovations that address key issues and challenges that affect all areas of aquaculture production."
Dr. Sagi's innovation was selected from a pool of 16 entries representing 11 countries. The six-member judging committee, which included Dr. Saraiva Gomes as well as Dr. Craig Browdy, Executive Manager of Aquaculture Research at Novus, selected Dr. Sagi's innovation because it effectively addressed a key obstacle in the production of Macrobrachium rosenbergii - manual sorting of juveniles by gender. The judges felt that this innovation could stimulate expansion in freshwater prawn production without genetic modification or use of exogenous hormones.
All types of innovations qualified for the award, including wetlands conservation, feed management, water-quality management, effluent reduction, energy reduction, staff training, community relations, animal welfare and health and nutrition. For his winning innovation, Dr. Sagi received an expense-paid trip to GOAL 2013 and was presented a plaque and $1,000 cash prize by Dr. Saraiva Gomes.

Elsevier, Novus collaborate for Aquaculture Conference 2013

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and solutions, and Novus International, the pioneering manufacturer of animal nutrition solutions products for livestock, poultry and aquaculture, announce their collaboration for the first Aquaculture Conference held 3-7 November 2013 in Gran Canaria.
Organized by Elsevier and supported by Novus International, the Aquaculture Conference will celebrate 40 years of outstanding research published in Elsevier's journal Aquaculture while also identifying the challenges that remain for the next generation of aquaculture researchers.
The collaboration between Novus International and Elsevier will bring together a range of content useful to aquaculture researchers and professionals. A newly launched microsite will provide an overview of Novus International's products, services and solutions, specific to the requirements of the aquaculture industry. In addition, the microsite will host an online version of the Aquaculture Conference, offering a permanent resource to researchers, developers and students in the field, and those who were unable to attend.
"Aquaculture is poised to become the leading process to provide sustainable food for mankind. However to achieve this, substantial progress in science is required, which can further serve as a platform for the industry, policy makers, environmentalists, consumers and all other stakeholders involved for meaningful and progressive dialogue. We are pleased to be part of this forum, a kindred spirit and we hope that all scientists present can challenge, contribute and benefit from the Novus-Elsevier collaboration," said Francisco Gomes, Ph.D., Executive Manager of Novus Aquaculture Business Unit.
"We are honored to work with Novus International to organize our first Aquaculture Conference. We consider the collaboration an important and instrumental one, one which will help all of us in the field to face the challenge of doubling our global aquaculture production in a sustainable manner," added Dr. Christiane Barranguet, Executive Publisher Water Management and Biological Resources at Elsevier.
Prior to the conference, a webinar will take place on October 24, 2013, free for all to attend. The webinar, "Delivery of practical, holistic aquaculture health and nutrition solutions", will introduce Novus International's research and development strategies focusing on the fundamental understanding of: aquatic animal nutrition, health, immunity balance, gut physiology and gut microflora; interactions with key pathogens and parasites; the practical applications in feedmill and farm production systems.
The webinar is aimed at R&D managers, nutritionists, veterinarians, technical managers, farm managers and consultants. It will bring together some of Novus International' top executives and R&D personnel and there will be an opportunity for participants to pose questions to the speakers.
Speakers during the webinar include:

• Craig Browdy, Executive Manager Aquaculture, Research Development at Novus International
• Ei Lin Ooi, R&D Manager, Novus International Aqua Research Center, Vietnam
• Dagoberto Sanchez, R&D Consultant at Novus International
• Qingyan Tao, China R&D Manager at Novus International
The webinar will be moderated by Christiane Barranguet; a recording of the event will then be made permanently accessible from the microsite.

American Soybean Association requests meeting to discuss aquaculture

American Soybean Association President Danny Murphy has written to Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, requesting a joint meeting to discuss U.S. aquaculture.
"…we are aligned with the Administration's view that the U.S. aquaculture industry has the potential to supply our domestic seafood needs as well as the growing global demand," the letter reads. "Furthermore, a recent document from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations listed the U.S. as #1 in the world for offshore marine fish production potential by accounting for area of the EEZ with appropriate depth, currents, temperature and distance to ports for finfish production … In a time when economic impact and job creation is of critical importance, we have the opportunity to develop an industry that can provide real opportunities in rural and coastal communities."
The association's letter concludes: "If the domestic aquaculture industry is going to keep pace with global growth rates, regulatory constraints will need to be overcome. We believe that only cooperation and the commitment of the Administration can make this happen."

Novus will present at Aquaculture Europe 2013

Aquaculture Europe 2013 will take place in Trondheim, Norway, on August 9, and animal health company Novus will be present to support the international industry conference. The theme of this year's event is "Making Sense of Science."
"Novus is firmly committed to supporting the aquaculture industry, which continues to experience tremendous growth," said Dr. Francisco Gomes, executive manager of Novus Aqua. "Novus embraces every opportunity it has to share the scientific research and information that is the foundation for the development of products and solutions that maximize efficiency and profitability at every stage in the aquaculture production chain.
"We're continually focusing on the needs of the animal and the understanding of our customer's value chain. We have invested extensive resources in the European marine fish industry. Through strategic partnerships with customers and research partners we have been able to achieve significant milestones in issues such as sea lice, myxosporidia and enteritis," Gomes added.
Craig Browdy, executive manager of aquaculture research at Novus, will be presenting a scientific abstract on August 10. Entitled, "Mode of Action and Practical Applications of the Prebiotic Previda to Improve Fish Health," the abstract will discuss the results of a series of in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo field and lab tests with Previda.
In the research, Previda binded with bacterial binding receptors, which left them inaccessible to pathogens, encouraged selective fermentation, which allowed beneficial bacteria to completely exclude pathogens, and caused significant improvements in gut ultrastructure. These benefits resulted in a reduction of enteritis and improvement in performance in sensitive marine species.
Previda is a single-source material which has a consistent composition and is of 100 percent natural origin with no added chemicals. Introduced by Novus in 2011, the prebiotic won the 2012 North American New Product Innovation Award for Prebiotics. 

Soy-based fish feed helps promote sustainable aquaculture

Feed trial research results using soybeans in fish feed as an alternative to fishmeal and fish oil have attained a major goal for sustainable marine fish aquaculture — producing farmed marine fish with a wild fish in/farmed fish out ratio of less than 1:1 — according to the U.S. Soybean Export Council.
The amount of fishmeal and fish oil from wild-caught sources used in farmed fish feed has been a concern for the long-term sustainability and scalability of aquaculture. Marine species, such as salmon, tuna, and yellowtail are higher up the food chain, and require diets comprised mostly of proteins and oils. These are usually in the form of fishmeal and fish oil derived from smaller fish lower on the food chain, such as anchovies and menhaden. However, these wild fisheries cannot be scaled up to meet the feed demands of a growing global aquaculture industry.
"Attaining a [fish in/fish out ratio] of under 1:1 has been the holy grail of marine fish feed research for some time," said Neil Anthony Sims, president of Kampachi Farms. "We show here that we can produce premium, sashimi-grade fish with a net increase in marine proteins: that is, we produce more fish than our fish eat. This represents a significant step forward for the economics and the ecological efficiencies of marine fish culture."

Aquaculture feed producer sponsors IFFO responsible supply standard

Aquaculture feed producer EWOS is sponsoring an Improvers’ Program extension to the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organisation’s Global Standard for Responsible Supply.
The Improvers' Program will assist fishmeal and fish oil factories that fall short of compliance with the existing responsible supply standard for fish stock management and/or food safety and traceability in their factories. Program applicants must follow an approved, independently audited improvement plan, typically within a time frame of three to six years. Upon successful completion, the factories will then be eligible to apply for full IFFO responsible supply certification.
EWOS' sponsorship will assist with the cost of setting up the Improvers Program and identifying potential candidates.
“IFFO greatly appreciates EWOS’ support for this initiative and its commitment to our objective of increasing supplies of responsibly sourced marine ingredients. Sustainable supplies of aquaculture feed are essential for the responsible expansion of the industry," said IFFO director general, Jonathan Shepherd.

Auburn University offers online aquaculture education

Auburn University’s Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures developed an online, multilingual training and certification program for working industry professionals.
The program, Certification for Aquaculture Professionals, is a Web-based, educational curriculum that teaches the fundamentals of aquaculture and sustainable aquaculture production. The CAP program consists of 10 learning modules taught by aquaculture experts, many of whom are members of the Auburn fisheries department’s faculty. The 10 modules include a total of 136, approximately 30-minute-long segments with video recordings of trainers’ lectures, slides used for the lectures and lecture transcripts. Subjects covered in the certification program include: principles of aquaculture, water quality, physiology, hatchery management, genetics and breeding, aquatic animal nutrition, aquatic health, aquaculture production, aquaculture economics and extension methods. Each module ends with an exam, which students must get at least 70% on to proceed to the next module. The certification program can be completed in about six months, but is designed for people who are currently working, so the timeline may vary.
The CAP program is offered in English and Spanish, and soon will be available in Portuguese, French, Chinese and Arabic. Registration for the CAP program ranges from $4,000 to $6,000 depending on the number of certifications desired. For more information on Auburn’s CAP program, visit http://cap.auburn.edu/.