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From the Editor
BY JEAN KO DIN
Nexus of ideas
Atruly great publication is one that can serve as a mirror to the industry or the community that it serves. I’d like to think that this is what we strive for in Aquaculture North America, as well as in our sister publications, Hatchery International and RAStech Magazine.
This means that these publications are always changing and evolving, based on how aquaculture itself is always changing and evolving.
We want to take our role as an information hub seriously, which means that our team makes a concerted effort to always be reading, listening, consulting and asking questions. This also means that we’re always challenging the ways that we create content to make sure that it is truly serving the interests of our readership community.
So, in this editorial, I’d like to share our newest virtual event, Aquaculture Nexus, on Sept. 4. The goal is to host a series of thoughtful conversations with subject matter experts from hot topics in the industry.
How do we know what these topics are? We delve into our own data points – readership surveys, website analytics, post-event feedback surveys, social media engagement and of course, there is the good old fashioned picking up the phone to see what colleagues in our immediate network care about.
There are three topics that we’ve identified as hot topics that inspire further exploration.
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to spark the imagination of the industry. Harnessing this technology to be able to compute and interpret large amounts of data in real-time is a powerful tool for smart farming. Precision and efficiency will be the key to keeping up with the ever-growing demands of food production and the costs of farming responsibly. So, we want to bring in a panel of experts that can help aquaculturists understand why AI is not a bad word. Like with any other technological advancement, we will explore how AI can
enhance operations and they will also help us understand AI’s potential challenges in the context of the industry’s future.
Speaking of the future, the next topic we chose to explore is shellfish sustainability. The market tells us that this is an exciting sector of the aquaculture industry because it is a highly sustainable species to farm. Shellfish like oysters, clams, and mussels are natural filter feeders that remove particles, excess nutrients (notably nitrogen), and harmful algae from the water, significantly improving water clarity and quality. These farms also act as natural reefs and structures that become home to smaller marine organisms. Yet, despite these greener than green potential of shellfish farming, regulatory hurdles and licensing conditions continue to hinder growth in the industry. There are also funding constraints that restrict the economic development and modernization of the sector. We hope to tackle this “chicken and egg” conundrum and set out a pathway for progress.
The last topic (but certainly not least) is a continuation of our effort to support gender equality and inclusion in aquaculture. Sponsorship support for our Women in North American Aquaculture (WINAA) Summit did not come through this year, but we know that it is still a relevant subject to bring to the aquaculture table. We will continue to support the female leaders that are working to bring more diverse talents into the industry, so that is what we’ll do at our next virtual event.
These are the initial plans we hope to lay out to our community in the next few months. We hope that you’ll continue to join us in this evolution. Our team believes that we have to be bold in trying new things and not just rely on what we think has worked for us before. As Charles Darwin once said, “adapt or die.”
We hope you stay engaged and share your thoughts with us. You can reach me at jkodin@annexbusinessmedia.com. | ANA
Aquaculture North America’s Editorial Advisory Board: Ian Roberts | Sandra Shumway | Jason Mann | Jeanne Mcknight | Mykolas Kamaitis | Jamie Baker
Atlantic Canada group warns about online misinformation on farmed salmon
Be aware of misinformation and remember, farmed salmon is healthy, responsible, sustainable and here to stay.
So says Tom Taylor, executive director of the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA) on their website. He rebukes the information touted on the new Salmon.info website, which claims to “inform people about the wide-ranging impacts of salmon farming.”
In fact, as the aquaculture community already knows, Atlantic Canadians proudly produce safe, high-quality, sustainable farmed salmon that people around the world enjoy. At a time when Canada is having challenges with food security, a site like Salmon.info cannot go unchecked, Taylor explains.
Operated by well-known salmon activist groups the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) and the North Atlantic Salmon Fund, their site would be more aptly named “Salmon.misinfo,” says Taylor.
Although the website claims to be neutral, he describes it as inaccurate, publishing biased articles to undermine oceanbased salmon farming. It cites selectively chosen sources that support the groups’ anti-salmon farming agenda.
Taylor reminds readers that farmed salmon is safe, nutritious and sustainable. Atlantic salmon is a great source of heart healthy
Omega-3s, and can help prevent hypertension, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and other conditions.
Atlantic farmed salmon is raised under strict conditions and oversight from Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The salmon meets or exceeds all food safety standards in Canada, the U.S., and around the world. And antibiotics are only used when prescribed and not preventatively.
As for the environment, farmed salmon has among the lowest carbon footprints of any farmed animal, and uses far less freshwater than livestock. The ocean floor is regularly inspected by government agencies to ensure environmental standards are met.
Farmed salmon provides 18 billion meals every year globally, including 323 million in Atlantic Canada. It is the way to keep a rapidly growing population fed and protect Canada’s food security.
As such, Taylor says: “[We] cannot allow activist misinformation to derail an essential industry.”
AKVA installs Mowi
Chile’s first solarpowered fish farming net pen
system
Chile has developed its first lowemission fish farming installation, featuring a floating solar-powered pen system.
Leading aquaculture experts Mowi Chile spearheaded the project with AKVA Group Chile as their technology partner. AKVA also
provided the pen infrastructure, solar integration, and maintenance. Energy technology came from Alotta Energy Chile and Fjord Maritime Chile.
The floating solar power plant, developed by Alotta, has solar panels on the pens that can withstand Maritime conditions. It receives electricity either directly or from battery storage systems.
This is a hybrid system whereby renewable energy will cover about 57 percent of the plant’s energy requirements. This will decrease diesel consumption by about 139,200 liters annually – reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 350 tonnes per year.
“This is an important delivery for us, but even more significant is that Mowi has shown leadership and courage by being the first to act. We are grateful for the trust placed in us as technology partner for this project,” Christian Schäfer, AKVA Group Chile general manager, said in a public statement.
The project shows how renewable energy technology can now replace diesel globally in aquaculture.
“We founded Alotta to create renewable energy solutions that work where it matters most. Our Alotta Solar Hybrid technology [is now] helping Mowi cut emissions in Chile. That’s a milestone we are truly proud of,” says Kari-Elin Hildre, CEO of Alotta Energy Chile.
Fjord Maritime highlights that the technology can result in reduced climate impact.
“By combining our energy management and storage capacity with efficient solar power, we are directly contributing to more climate-friendly food production,” says Steve Burns, managing director at Fjord Maritime Chile. Together, the four companies have made a major breakthrough in their goals to reduce fossil fuels and avoid carbon dioxide emissions in sea-based aquaculture.
FDA approves first labgrown coho salmon
The United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first lab-grown, cell-harvested coho salmon, concluding it is “as safe as salmon produced by other methods.”
The salmon was created by Wildtype, a team of scientists and engineers keen on transforming the food system.
FDA evaluated Wildtype’s information about the cell lines, the production process and substances used in production. They also reviewed properties of the harvested cell material, including safety information such as microbial and heavy metal specifications.
The report said they do not expect this lab-grown salmon to contain any substances or microorganisms that would reduce its quality.
To begin with, Wildtype isolated salmon muscle and connective tissue at the fry stage of development.
Tom Taylor, executive director, Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association PHOTO: ACFFA
Completed pen with sea lion protection at Huar Norte, Chile. Solar panels have been installed. PHOTO: AKVA GROUP
After determining that the cell lines were able to proliferate (multiply rapidly), they were put into a culture.
The cells in culture were then proliferated to increase the volume of the culture. This was done through a series of steps: harvesting using a centrifuge, washing with water and a sugar solution, rapid cooling and storing frozen.
Using the right temperature, pH, and nutrients, they create conditions similar to those within a wild fish, which help the cells to grow and mature. They then harvest the cells from the tanks, and add plant-based ingredients to create the flavor, texture, appearance of conventional salmon fillets.
The cofounders, Justin Kolbeck (a diplomat) and Dr. Arye Elfenbein (a cardiologist), said on the company website that they witnessed firsthand the impact of global food insecurity, as well
as developments in stem cell research, and set out to reimagine the future of seafood.
“Wildtype salmon offers a choice beyond wild and farmed fish,” the website said. “It’s a chance to enjoy the seafood we love without sacrificing our food ideals.”
Wildtype’s first product is a uniformly cut raw fish called “saku,” which the company recommends as perfect for making sashimi.
Wildtype salmon is now also
being introduced at the awardwinning Kann Restaurant in Portland, Ore.
Salmon skin research discovers wound healing cells
BMC Biology, a peer-reviewed scientific research journal, published a new paper on the transcriptomic characterization of transitioning cell types in the skin of Atlantic salmon.
The researchers have identified a unique group of skin cells in Atlantic salmon that aid the progression of wound healing.
The study states that teleost’s skin contains adult pluripotent cells that differentiate into various tissues, including bone, cartilage, tendon, ligament, adipose, dermis, muscle and connective tissue within the skin.
According to BMC, these cells are pivotal for preserving the
integrity of skin tissue throughout an organism’s lifespan and actively participate in the wound healing processes.
“We chart the transcriptomic activity of subclusters of putative differentiating stromal cells during the process of wound healing for the first time, revealing different spatial niches of the various putative MSC subclusters, and setting the stage for further investigation of the manipulation of transitioning cell types to improve fish health,” the study concluded.
This study was conducted collaboratively with The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies; the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling; Hoplite Research Lab, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island; and the University of Santiago de Compostela.
Wildtype co-founders Justin Kolbeck and Dr. Arye Elfenbein PHOTO: WILDTYPE
BY BEN NORMAND
Ben Normand is a fish farmer, writer, college instructor, and cheerleader for aquaculture. He has worked with various fin and shellfish species in New Zealand and Canada in production management, compliance, and communications. He now works as a technical sales advisor with Skretting. (ben.r.normand@gmail.com)
What true sustainability looks like
For anyone who doesn’t know, my undergraduate degree is in environmental policy. Before 2012, you would have found me, a 20-something with a moustache (that I still maintain looked cool) biking around Toronto, doing my best to wear only natural materials and spending many hours discussing how we can get back to nature.
In short, I was working hard to be the very stereotype of an environmentalist. In a way, my lifestyle looked sustainable.
But I’ve changed since then. My moustache is gone (thankfully, if you ask my wife), I expound the miraculous nature of responsibly managed plastics, and you’ll find me driving large, older vehicles that aren’t terribly efficient.
What has changed? Do I no longer care? Is sustainability just something I don’t consider any longer? It might look that way, but it’s simply not true.
My lifestyle back then was the manifestation of the first steps in a long journey of thinking critically about sustainability. The early steps were borne out of observing the issues around me – climate change, deforestation, ocean acidification, etc. – and thinking, “I better do my part by doing something different than those around me.”
This is a typical response from youthful folks with lots of time and few responsibilities. But as I grew older, and the responsibilities of a career, a family and a home became mine, I analyze choices through the lens of an increasingly deep and complex understanding of sustainability.
For example, six months ago, we needed a car. Moustache Ben would have scoffed at driving the 2008 Cadillac DTS that is now in my driveway saying, “Why should I burn so much fuel?” Could I afford a new electric vehicle? Probably. Is it more sustainable? No. That old car already exists. In a very real sense,
the resources that were expended in making it and that are locked up in its existence are valuable because the car still has useful life left in it. The resources that would have gone into making a new car for me to buy have yet to be spent.
Is this what true sustainability looks like? To help answer that question, I’d like to draw upon the thoughts of Bob Willard. He’s a retired IBM executive, now writer and guest lecturer, who tours universities casting light on the false dichotomy propped up by evocative activist rhetoric that we must choose between pursuing wealth generation and sustainability.
True sustainability stands on three pillars: economic, environmental and social. When you cut through all the jargon, all the layers of theory, it is efficiency that lies at the heart of it all as the path to sustainability. Businesses capitalize on efficiency to drive profits, emissions are reduced through efficient design, and social programs achieve better outcomes through the efficient expenditure of resources.
My years on salmon and mussel farms were full of incredible learning. Much of that learning helped me to understand sustainability in the deeper sense that I do today.
To illustrate this efficiency-driven understanding, let’s use plastic as an example. On the salmon farm, among other things, our cages were plastic, our nets were plastic, our rope was plastic and our buoys were plastic. Without thinking critically, it can be easy to think plastic + ocean = bad. But it’s not the case. These are advanced materials. They are very well-suited to the marine environment, in all its corrosion-inducing, energy-ripping glory. When they break, you can fix them and when you can’t, you can often reuse them or recycle them. Worst comes to worst, they are economically priced and can be replaced.
I have a swing in my backyard made of old polypropylene mussel backline. It sounds like a joke, but that swing may outlive me. Does it look like sustainability at first glance? Without thinking critically about it, it doesn’t. It’s made of plastic, not hemp. But when you take the
Natural and sustainable are not synonymous.
time to pick apart the sustainability of rope, it absolutely is.
Natural and sustainable are not synonymous. Very few resources, time and money went into making 10 meters of rope that survived the rigors of marine farming for 15 years and now will spend the next 50 being brutalized by children and left outside 365 days a year. That is efficiency and is thus what sustainability looks like.
Our industry is overflowing with incredible examples of efficiency like these. Another example is salmon feed. Through decades of research, we have developed feed for a carnivorous fish that is mostly not reliant on wild fish. We take byproducts that historically would have been waste and turn them into feed which grows more high-quality food. It’s so nutritionally dense that you can hold up a beautiful 5 kg salmon, and half of a shop bucket of feed, and say this much feed was all it took to make this beautiful fish. That is also efficiency and is thus what
sustainability looks like.
Natural puritans would have us believe that a farm made largely of plastic, feeding processed pellets to carnivorous fish is unsustainable because it doesn’t look like a wild salmon on the end of a hook. They would also have us believe that a mussel farm, where row upon row of plastic backlines supporting plastic socks filled with thousands of pounds of food is unsustainable because it doesn’t look like wild beds of mussels being picked by hand. But what we see on our farms is the relentless pursuit of efficiency. That is what sustainability looks like. Is there room for sustainability improvement in the industry? Of course. But as Winston Churchill said, “perfection is the enemy of progress.” We are doing good work by feeding the world and we are on the leading edge of food sustainability. As long as we keep pursuing efficiency, sustainability will inherently continue to follow. |
ANA
Generation Aqua
BY IMANI BLACK
Imani Black is an aquaculture professional, aquaculture advocate, and industry trailblazer with a decade of experience in oyster farming and hatchery management across Maryland and Virginia. As the founder of Minorities In Aquaculture and a graduate with a Master’s degree in Ecological Anthropology from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, she is dedicated to fostering workforce inclusivity and equity through mentorship, education, and advocacy. (imanib@mianpo.org / www.mianpo.org / @imaniiiblackkk)
Harnessing data to build a future-ready workforce
There’s a buzzword echoing across industries today: data.
It’s what powers innovation, drives policy and fine-tunes performance. But in aquaculture, fisheries, and maritime workforces, data is often the piece we overlook until it’s too late. As conversations swirl around boosting domestic seafood production and securing the future of U.S. aquaculture, we must ask ourselves a fundamental question: Do we actually know who makes up our workforce and what they need to thrive?
On April 17, the Trump administration issued an executive order (EO) on “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.” The order’s emphasis on regulatory streamlining, domestic production and market expansion made headlines – and for good reason. It marked a renewed interest in strengthening the U.S. seafood sector at a federal level. Yet, nestled between the language of trade policy and permitting reform, there was a critical missing component that stood out to me in order to make all this possible: workforce development.
Now, let’s be real. While the EO may have signalled action, I have an inkling that it didn’t exactly come from a place of deep contemplation on inclusive workforce planning or robust data collection.
But here’s the thing: we don’t have to wait for federal guidance to do what’s necessary for our industry. If anything, I see this moment as a call for the aquaculture community to take matters into our own hands – to look within, listen closely, and lead with the insight that only data can provide.
We can’t improve what we don’t measure
As the U.S. aquaculture sector matures, its future depends on more than expanded production – it depends on
structure, transparency and a clear understanding of the people behind the work. To support this evolution, Minorities In Aquaculture (MIA) is preparing to launch the 2025 Workforce Development Survey, a foundational step toward building a smarter, more inclusive workforce strategy.
This survey won’t be about surface metrics like job titles or headcounts. Instead, it will aim to capture the full landscape of experience, skill and aspiration across two essential groups: those leading the industry and those preparing to shape its future.
We’ll engage with:
• Industry leaders – from employers and policymakers to nonprofit and academic partners – who define today’s standards and expectations.
• Emerging professionals – students, career-changers, and new talent, particularly from underrepresented communities – who bring fresh energy and new perspectives.
By placing these voices side by side, the survey will help reveal both areas of alignment and points of disconnect – insights we’ll use to guide program design, training models and policy recommendations.
Rather than relying on outdated assumptions about readiness, we’ll ask: What skills do employers actually value? Are our systems preparing people for success – or just checking boxes?
This initiative will also help surface ongoing equity gaps: limited mentorship, geographic barriers and systemic bias that still limit access to opportunity. These patterns can’t be dismantled without first being named – and that starts with better data.
As the federal government calls for scaled-up seafood production, we’ll be working to ensure that workforce development keeps pace – not in numbers alone, but in relevance, access, and impact. Planning for the
Minorities in Aquaculture is launching a workforce survey that aims to capture the “full landscape” of experience, skill and aspiration in the North American aquaculture industry.
PHOTO: IMANI BLACK, MIA
future means asking better questions now –and building the tools to answer them.
From pipeline to pathways
Workforce development isn’t just about recruitment, it’s about building systems that support long-term success, growth, and leadership.
The data we plan to collect through the 2025 MIA Workforce Development Survey will go far beyond surface-level metrics. It will help us design learning environments that empower diverse individuals, ensure mentorship is culturally responsive, and validate the lived experience that too often goes unrecognized.
We’re focused on more than checking diversity boxes or expanding pipelines – we’re focused on creating an entire ecosystem that actually works for people. From onboarding to advanced leadership training, we must build structures that are adaptable, affirming, and deeply inclusive. One-size-fits-all training programs won’t cut it. We need educational models that respect the varied ways people absorb
knowledge, apply skills, and contribute to the sector.
And that includes people entering through nontraditional paths. Some may shift into aquaculture from agriculture, hospitality, or other environmental work. Others bring generational wisdom, entrepreneurial grit, or deep-rooted community stewardship. These assets carry real value – and it’s time our systems reflect that. When we validate this range of experience, we not only expand our talent pool – we strengthen the industry’s resilience.
We also have to acknowledge structural challenges. Where are the gaps? Where is access missing? What prevents someone from moving from entry-level to leadership?
This kind of data will help map career trajectories, target resources, and reduce attrition by making advancement more transparent and attainable.
A data-informed path forward
And let’s not forget the big picture. The executive order on “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness” set ambitious goals: faster
permitting, expanded domestic production, and stronger global positioning. But these goals won’t mean much without a workforce that’s ready, relevant, and supported.
Data will show us where the labor shortages are most acute, where training infrastructure is lacking, and how career mobility can be strengthened across the board.
Certification systems are another piece of the puzzle. If our current credentialing pathways are too rigid, expensive, or disconnected from real-world job needs, they’ll continue to be barriers instead of bridges. Our data will help pinpoint these pain points and guide reform that’s responsive to both worker and employer needs.
In short, we don’t just need a pipeline – we need a map. A map that reflects the real, nonlinear journeys people take. A map that shows alternate routes, ladders, and launching pads. And most importantly, a map that helps us build a future where diversity, equity, and innovation aren’t just ideals – they’re industry standards.
The EO gave us momentum. Now it’s up to us to make it meaningful. | ANA
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Plant diet
Updates on canola for salmon, soybeans for tuna and other plant-based feed and feed additive developments
By Treena Hein
Sustainability in aquaculture is already baked in due to superior feed efficiency compared to poultry, swine and cattle.
At the same time, farming of salmon and tuna has been dependent on the dietary inclusion of wild-caught fish oil and meal for decades. As a result, aquaculture has faced heavy sustainability scrutiny.
Crops, like canola and soybeans, are already grown widely and already feature heavily in the feed of poultry, pigs, dairy cattle and more. Some are bred for high protein content and with increasingly aligned oil profiles. As aquaculture continues to pursue these alternative feed ingredients, this article looks to explore the latest in these developments.
According to the United Soybean Board, about four million tonnes of U.S. soybean meal (SBM) goes into foreign feed markets. That’s roughly 3.5 percent of U.S. SBM feed that goes towards livestock worldwide. However, only 0.5 percent of U.S. SBM goes into domestic aquaculture feed (about 177,000 tonnes).
Many studies have already been completed, and more are underway, to determine inclusion rates of these crops, and which combinations of proteins and oils from various
sources, produce optimum fish health and growth rates.
It’s a particular challenge to replace wild fish oil with plant-based oils. While wild fish oils are still typically included in salmon diets, canola oil is a healthy and highly-digestible lipid source for these fish, according to Van To, a scientist at P.E.I.-based Onda, the largest contract aquaculture research organization in Canada.
“For Atlantic salmon, essential fatty acids (EPA and DHA) requirements are met using minimum fish oil and fishmeal. Canola oil can supply the remaining dietary energy needs in salmon feed,” she says.
To also notes that canola oil also contains moderate levels of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which serves as a precursor for the biosynthesis of EPA and DHA in many freshwater species like carp and tilapia.
It’s now been two years since one genetically-modified canola oil product with high levels of EPA/DHA was approved for aquaculture use in Norway. This builds on huge sustainability progress with fish oil use in Norwegian aquaculture, where its use in salmon diets has dropped from 30 percent in 2000 to 10 percent by 2020.
The product, Nuseed’s Aquaterra Omega-3 oil, is derived from Nuseed Omega-3 Canola, which was
A study found that incorporating only 10 percent canola meal into the diet led to about a 17 percent reduction of CO2 emissions at a salmon farm.
developed by Nuseed and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation of Australia.
New canola results
Onda is currently conducting a project on canola inclusion in Atlantic salmon, in collaboration with the Canola Council of Canada (CCC).
Curtis Rempel, vice-president of crop production and innovation at CCC, explains that the study is primarily focused on canola protein in relation to other plant-based proteins, but there is also some focus on individual amino acids, oil, vitamins and minerals as well.
It’s one of 17 projects being carried out in collaboration with public research institutions across Canada under the Canola AgriScience Cluster, a five-year research program funded under Agriculture and AgriFood Canada’s Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, with contributions from the CCC, Alberta Canola, SaskOilseeds, Manitoba Canola Growers and the Ontario Canola Growers Association.
More results will be available over the next 18 months of the study, but already, To and her team have
Onda is conducting a project on canola inclusion in Atlantic salmon, in collaboration with Canola Council of Canada.
PHOTO: ONDA
PHOTO: ONDA
determined the digestibility of protein and amino acids in solvent-extracted canola meal during the freshwater stage and at multiple inclusion levels.
“Our results showed that the digestibility of protein ranged from 66 to 84 percent, and amino acids ranged from 75 to 88 percent,” To reports.
“These values were comparable to those reported in studies conducted in the ’90s. While higher inclusion levels of canola meal reduce overall feed digestibility, inclusion rates between five to 10 percent still result in well-digested diets and support good growth performance, as demonstrated in our standard growth trial. These findings confirm the practical utility and effectiveness of canola meal as a protein source in salmonid feeds.”
Tuna love soybeans
Soybean is the crop of choice that’s been used to develop a large pellet for farmed tuna, with major production scale-up imminent.
Ichthus Unlimited, based in the U.S. and Spain, has spent two decades developing its pellet, which has already been fed successfully in Mexico, Spain, and Malta. By last year, Ichthus had produced “massive tonnage” in Europe, says Ichthus president Alejandro Buentello. He says the firm is now looking to secure investment and feed manufacturing partnerships to expand production.
A life cycle analysis for canola meal in salmon feed has also been completed. This is critical, To explains, since feed is the main source of carbon emissions in cage salmon farming and it is the second largest in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) farming. Impressively, the lifecycle analysis also indicated that incorporating only 10 percent canola meal into the diet (compared to a standard canola-free commercial diet), led to about 17 percent reduction in CO2-equivalent emissions during salmon production in cage and about and five percent in RAS.
BY Ian Roberts,
by Sponsored by
Producing a pellet that tuna will eat is no small feat. It’s been tried by major feed firms with no success. Buentello has explained that tuna fish completely reject extruded pellets and any other pellet that lacks a suitable mouthfeel, where the Ichthus pellet is readily eaten.
But huge sustainability impact of a successful soy-based pellet also must be recognized. For decades, tuna farming has been plagued with multiple serious environmental issues. Feeding mackerel, sardines and herring presents food versus feed concerns along with worries over wild population levels.
Researchers continue to pursue plant-based feed alternatives to reduce aquaculture’s dependency on wild caught fish byproduct.
PHOTO: ONDA Soybean agriculture associations are supporting further research on soy-based aquafeed projects.
In addition, the wild fish used to feed tuna are usually caught, frozen, and shipped long distances. When you thaw frozen baitfish right before feeding, fat and blood ooze out, and constant ocean wave action results in a very smelly and persistent foam.
Buentello explains that in the Mediterranean, this commonly causes tourist complaints and creates pressure for governments to temporarily shut down tuna farms – hardly a sustainable situation.
Lastly, pieces of bait fish go to waste through the bottom of the cage, resulting in nutrient loading into the marine environment.
Due to all these issues, certification bodies such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), the Global G.A.P. and the Global Seafood Alliance presently do not certify bluefin tuna farming.
But with a sustainable soy-based and palatable pellet, Buentello hopes that may change.
Catfish and soybeans: a local food system
The United Soybean Board (USB) and U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) continue to support many soy-based aquafeed projects and highlight the sustainability of these feeds.
USB chair Philip Good himself produces catfish using his own soybeans that he grows on his farm in Macon, Miss. His stocking rate is about 6,500 fingerlings per acre of surface area, with five 10-acre ponds.
“I feed 28 percent soy-based crumble, made by a local feed mill and the catfish are processed nearby as well,” he says. “They go into local restaurants and grocery stores.”
Good asserts that “we’re building a sustainable food system, and our farm serves as a model for how aquaculture can be both environmentally responsible and economically viable.”
The USB and USSEC also work in close partnership with scientists at Auburn University, Mississippi State University, and others on aquafeed research. A study at Auburn University, for example, found that a 48 percent soybean meal is optimal for a variety of growth and health parameters in Pacific white shrimp. Another study at the University of Idaho found that an inclusion rate of 30 percent soybean meal is optimal for rainbow trout.
“In 2024, we led a group of our U.S. soybean farmer-members to Colombia and we were able to see that the pellets they make from our high-quality U.S. soybeans achieve excellent feed efficiency and growth rates in different fish species in raceway farming,” adds Good. “We also recently had a USB trade mission to Honduras, where they are using U.S. soybeans for poultry, but have a desire to grow their aquaculture industry. This year, we also recently hosted aquafeed buyers from Nigeria and they stopped at my farm.”
PHOTO: PHILIP GOOD, UNITED SOYBEAN BOARD OF THE UNITED STATES
Sustainable disease treatment
The aquaculture industry is looking for alternative disease management for several reasons. There is worldwide regulatory pressure to reduce antibiotics and to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR), says Fabrizio Caruso, a technical specialist at Vetagro.
Vetagro, an Italian biotech company, recently had Onda test its microencapsulated phytogenics. These plantbased compounds are being developed as an alternative to antibiotics, which are a major sustainability concern.
The phytogenics are designed to treat Yersinia ruckeri , a common pathogen that causes chronic infections in rainbow trout and can spread through asymptomatic carriers.
“Additionally, there is heightened demand from consumers and certification bodies for antibiotic-free seafood, driving stricter monitoring and reporting of antibiotic use in some countries,” he says.
“I feed 28 percent soy-based crumble, made by a local feed mill and the catfish are processed nearby as well.”
In his view, microencapsulated phytogenics offer, among other benefits, “natural, effective ways to boost fish immunity, control disease and improve overall health without leaving harmful residues which may harm the marketability of the trout.”
Microencapsulation and other novel solutions to protect the bioactivity of sensitive plant-based compounds until they reach their site of action.
Onda found two Vetagro product prototypes reduced mortality due to Y. ruckeri by 26.3 percent and 29.3 percent compared to the control, with high feed acceptance rates among juvenile rainbow trout.
Onda and Citribel of Belgium published results of their latest study in the Aquaculture journal showing a Citribel feed additive with β-glucans derived from the mold, Aspergillus niger (grown industrially to produce citric acid, enzymes and more), significantly boosts survival rates of Atlantic salmon, following infections with pathogens Tenacibaculum maritimum and Moritella viscosa.
Returning to the canola meal study, the Onda team has also found that solvent-extracted canola meal could have antimicrobial properties, especially against a particular Tenacibaculum spp. | ANA
Growing potential
Vital Kelp creates a blueprint to integrate research, restoration, and responsible commerce
By Peter A. Robson
Beneath the ocean’s surface, vast forests of swaying kelp anchor entire ecosystems, silently filtering carbon, sheltering marine life, and feeding a global fishing industry worth billions.
Yet despite their importance, many of the world’s kelp forests are under siege, battered by warming waters, pollution, overfishing, and the loss of key predators. In some regions, unchecked sea urchin populations have stripped seabeds bare, turning vibrant kelp forests into underwater deserts.
Against this backdrop, a quiet transformation is underway off British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. In coves and inlets where salmon farms once dominated, a new kind of aquaculture is taking root; one that does not feed off the sea but helps heal it.
At the forefront of this regenerative movement is a small cultivating operation called Vital Kelp, led by marine biologist and entrepreneur Lee-Ann Ennis.
Next-level kelp cultivation
Kelp is one of the fastest-growing organisms on earth. Under ideal conditions, some species can stretch upward of half a meter per day. But cultivating it intentionally, at scale, is a science that has only recently matured.
Most kelp farming begins in the wild, typically around late summer or fall. Mature kelp blades are harvested from natural beds, specifically those with sorus tissue, the reproductive part of the plant.
In the lab, these blades are induced to release spores: microscopic motile cells that swim for less than a day before settling on a surface. Traditionally, researchers use twinewrapped PVC spools to encourage settlement in seawater tanks. Within weeks, the tiny juvenile kelps growing along the twine would be ready to transfer to ocean farms.
Today, Vital Kelp and a small network of researchers and restoration groups around the world have taken this process to a new
level. Instead of relying solely on spore collection and random fertilization, they cultivate kelp through its gametophyte stage (the microscopic, alternate vegetative generation). These can be grown under red light to suppress reproduction and allow for continuous cloning.
Using specialized photobioreactors made by British Columbia’s Industrial Plankton, researchers can precisely control the growing environment, adjusting temperature, light, pH, and nutrient levels to optimize growth. A cutting blade keeps the gametophytes in suspension and bulks up the culture, helping them to proliferate. What begins as a few grams of starter culture can yield liters of viable kelp seed in a matter of weeks.
This technique not only expands production but opens doors to selective breeding. By crossing gametophytes under sterile lab conditions, researchers can target traits like blade length, growth rate, or resilience to
Large-scale kelp farming is only just starting to take root in British Columbia.
PHOTOS:
warming waters. Vital Kelp is part of a broader research effort exploring “priming” kelp strains, briefly exposing them to heat or cold in the lab to trigger adaptive stress responses before they’re deployed in the ocean.
Once the lab work is done, the kelp must make the leap back into the wild. Traditional ocean farms suspend seeded lines in the upper water column, where the kelp attaches and grows throughout the winter, suspended off the ocean floor to keep the kelp away from the hungry grazing of sea urchins. Suspended culture takes advantage of the increased photic zone and headstarts kelp on their incredible growth curve during the macrophyte life phase.
But new methods are emerging that promise even greater flexibility. One technique involves mixing gametophytes with an alginate gel, then applying the mixture like glue to lines, rocks, or tiles.
When the gel hits seawater, it sets instantly, beginning the kelp’s growth cycle on a wide range of surfaces. Field trials on the Sunshine Coast have shown this method to be as effective as traditional string seeding,
and potentially more adaptable to restoration projects.
Regulatory challenge
Kelp is a natural ally in the fight against climate change. Each hectare can store
carbon, shelter marine life, and support nearly a metric tonne of harvestable seafood annually. Yet despite its potential, kelp farming in Canada remains in its infancy. Only 20 hectares of restored kelp forest exist nationwide, and the hurdles are no longer scientific.
“The bottlenecks now are regulatory in nature and we need methods to stabilize fresh kelp destined for commercial applications,” says Ennis. “Licensing, permissions, site approvals, and lack of local food processing facilities are the current barriers to growth of this industry.”
“The best way forward,” she adds, “is to partner with existing aquaculture lease-holders and Indigenous communities interested in actively stewarding marine resources.
“Updated wild kelp inventories are also necessary for a spatial-temporal understanding of where we currently sit in the wider lens of climate change,” continues Ennis. “An important blueprint for assessments of the blue carbon capacity of Canada’s kelp forests has recently been presented by the University of Victoria’s (UVic) Baum lab.”
On
This regulatory caution is understandable. The legacy of open-net fish farms has left many coastal communities wary of industrial aquaculture. But kelp farming offers a different model — one that works with nature rather than against it. It requires no feed, no antibiotics, and no fresh water. And if done right, it can improve local marine conditions by buffering ocean acidification, providing food, habitat and shelter for numerous aquatic species and stabilizing sediments.
Collaborative research
Researchers such as Dr. Jordan Bemmel at UVic have recently published genomic studies that have revealed the relatedness of kelp populations on the B.C. coast. This work has informed best practices (for kelp cultivation) and coming policy changes including a 50x50 rule of thumb.
New kelp cultures need to be started from 50 individuals from adjacent kelp beds and stay within 50 kilometers of where they were collected when out-planted for aquaculture or restoration. This ensures a healthy representation when starting a culture. In addition, Laura Liggan of B.C.’s Hakai Institute is doing important work developing environmental DNA (eDNA) tools for kelp research.
The commercialization of kelp is driving some of this innovation.
For example, Ennis is working with Chris Campagnola, a West Vancouver school teacher who recently purchased an old oyster lease on B.C.’s Nelson Island. Working with Ennis, his company, Moon Bay Ocean Farm, supplies fresh baby bull kelp to high-end Vancouver restaurants, delivering product to chefs the same day it’s harvested.
By using UV-sterilized seawater and foodgrade containers, the farmer avoids the need for certified processing facilities; a “Tide to Table” workaround to one of the biggest hurdles in kelp-as-food ventures.
It’s an example of how small, nimble producers are finding creative ways around institutional inertia. But the ambitions of B.C.’s kelp pioneers extend far beyond gourmet cuisine. Ennis envisions a network of restoration-based farms that blend commercial output with research and ecological renewal.
There are many examples where aquaculture has informed or driven science, and the kelp industry is another, highlighting the synergies between the two.
Vital Kelp collaborates with the University of British Columbia’s Parfry lab on microbial studies of kelp spools and sends gametophytes to B.C.’s Simon Fraser
University’s Bisgrove lab for cryopreservation or “biobanking” of kelp gametophytes.
Vital Kelp’s latest collaboration with B.C. Conservation Foundation, Tla’amin Nation and Fisheries and Oceans Canada in testing seeded substrates on degraded reefs, working to jumpstart kelp forests lost to urchin overgrazing.
Sea otters, once nearly extinct, are slowly returning to the outer reaches of B.C.’s West Coast. Their resurgence could help keep urchin populations in check and create space for kelp to rebound naturally.
If urchins are not kept in check by predators, they can overgraze and devastate kelp populations, leading to large-scale destruction of the forest.
Not too long ago, warming ocean temperatures in the protected water of the Strait of Georgia and the Sunshine Coast were believed to be the cause of a massive die-off of sea stars (Sea Star Wasting Syndrome) which were another top predator of sea urchins. This allowed the urchins to thrive, causing a trophic cascade that devastated large swaths of kelp forests resulting in an urchin barren.
In areas where predators such as sea stars and otters are still absent, Ennis and others are experimenting with urchin exclusion strategies, habitat stabilization,
Vital Kelp founder Lee-Ann Ennis (left) with Jennifer Long, a biologist with Industrial Plankton. Vital Kelp is using specialized bioreactors to control the growing environment.
PHOTOS: VITAL KELP
and kelp reforestation by head starting kelp on line and transplanting to areas of low urchin density; all part of a growing “blue restoration” movement gaining traction worldwide.
Futureambitions
Looking ahead, the potential uses for kelp extend well beyond the dinner plate. Kelp-based bioplastics, textiles, biostimulants, and even
construction materials are on the horizon.
One promising development involves combining B.C.’s abundant forestry cellulose with kelp-derived alginates to create biodegradable packaging. In theory, it could replace plastic wrap with something that dissolves harmlessly in the ocean.
For now, the focus remains on scaling sustainably. Vital Kelp’s model of integrating research, restoration, and responsible
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commerce may serve as a blueprint for the future of marine agriculture. It’s a future rooted in science and shaped by a deeper understanding of the life beneath the waves. If there’s one lesson kelp teaches, it’s that regrowth is possible. Given the right conditions, even the most barren seafloor can be transformed into a flourishing forest. And in this time of environmental uncertainty, that message is more powerful than ever. | ANA
Microscopic view of kelp gametophytes. This alternate adult life stage can be leveraged for large-scale aquaculture and marine restoration efforts. In the middle, adult kelp gametophytes adhered to spool string where females become reproductive, fertilized by male sperm yielding juvenile sporophytes blades. On the right, early bull kelp sporophyte blades emerging in culture—a transitional stage marking the beginning of visible plant growth.
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Innovasea partners with Mila on new fish tracking AI tools
Innovasea, a leader in technology for aquaculture and fish tracking, is partnering with Mila Quebec to develop artificial intelligence (AI) for sustainable fish tracking, protection, and production.
Mila is Quebec’s Artificial Intelligence Institute. The partnership will provide their students with opportunities to build their skills and solve meaningful problems in the blue economy. It will also enable Innovasea to acquire talent and bolster its AI-driven innovations.
“We are excited to welcome Innovasea to the Mila community,” said Stéphane Létourneau, executive vice-president of Mila. “With Innovasea’s major role in the blue economy, we are pleased to offer our students opportunities to work on projects that will advance marine environmental research and drive sustainable aquaculture.”
Innovasea has been at the forefront of AI development for fish tracking and fish production with its HydroAI and BiomassPro solutions. Students who join Innovasea will work on one of these two unique AI projects designed to solve pressing operational and environmental challenges.
“We are thrilled to bring in students from the program,” added Mark Kilfoil, director of software engineering at Innovasea. “This work will directly advance Innovasea’s AI capabilities while providing them an amazing opportunity to gain real-world experience with cutting-edge AI technology.”
FDA approves Phibro broad spectrum antibiotic
Phibro Animal Corp., a leader in animal health and nutrition, has proudly announced the approval of its Paqflor broad-spectrum antibiotic premix.
This 50 percent (500 g/kg) florfenicol premix prevents bacteria by interfering with protein synthesis. It is indicated for use in freshwater-reared salmonids, catfish, finfish, and warm water finfish.
This development supports ongoing efforts across North America’s aquaculture sector to
boost productivity and health management. Phibro offers this product to support their commitment to safe, effective, responsible aquaculture practices.
“We are excited to further support the U.S. aquaculture industry’s efforts to reach its production and sustainability goals by bringing to market a proven, cost-effective, florfenicol antimicrobial product,” says Mike Brown, vice-president of Mineral Nutrition & Aqua at Phibro. “By bringing Paqflor to market, Phibro is giving producers more health management options.”
Aquaconnect launches digital seafood inspection platform
Aquaculture tech company, Aquaconnect, has launched a digital inspection platform bringing transparency to seafood quality inspection.
The BluTik platform digitizes the quality control process to bring reliability and visibility, and provide confidence, for international buyers.
Traditional quality control processes in the seafood industry usually take days and rely on fragmented documentation. This can hinder decision-making for buyers. BluTik will address these inefficiencies and will improve verifiability in quality inspections.
BluTik provides inspection reports that are tamper-proof, with real-time geotagging, and visual sampling audits. The platform offers buyers instant access to quality control reports, enabling them to evaluate product condition before a shipment leaves the facility.
Aquaconnect is using BluTik to lay the groundwork for a more connected, transparent, and reliable global seafood supply chain. They are working to align BluTik’s traceability architecture with global standards such as the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability.
“Today, seafood sourcing demands more than just supply — it demands transparency, speed, and consistency,” says Arpan Bhalerao, chief growth officer at Aquaconnect. “Our goal is to elevate the sourcing of traceable, verifiable seafood and offer food choices that align with the values of sustainability-conscious consumers.”
New book on fish/shellfish nutrition and physiology
The book, entitled “Nutrition and Physiology of Fish and Shellfish: Feed Regulation, Metabolism, and Digestion,” explores the fundamentals and recent advances in nutrient metabolism, intestinal transport, and physiology of taste in fish.
Written by an international group of experts, the book covers nutrient requirements and deficiency effects for different fish. It provides information on digestion and metabolism of nutrients and energy.
The book discusses nutrient sources, preparation of practical and research feeds, and directions for conducting fish nutrition and feeding experiments. It also addresses other topics of interest to researchers in aquaculture, feed, and allied industries.
Editor Vikas Kumar, assistant professor of fish nutrition and nutrigenomics at the Univer-
sity of Idaho, has more than 10 years expertise in aquaculture, nutritional biochemistry, fish nutrition, nutritional physiology, gut health, feed processing, formulation, and nutrigenomics approaches to enhancing aquaculture production.
He is an editorial board member of Scientific Reports, and is associate editor for Animal Feed Science and Technology and the Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Three maritime suppliers merge as Trident Aqua Services
Three leading maritime services providers –Intership, Aquaship, and FSV Group – have united to form one integrated, future-ready company, Trident Aqua Services.
Trident operates a fleet of more than 60 vessels, with several new builds under construction, the company said in a press release. The fleet includes live fish vessels, service vessels, feed carriers, and harvest vessels. Trident is now the first company to offer a fully integrated service portfolio across all vessel types required in aquaculture.
The company will employ about 1,000 people in seven countries. Trident’s vision is
to safeguard sustainable seafood production, helping the industry produce more, with less environmental impact. They plan to develop smarter, more integrated solutions that increase efficiency and drive change.
“We chose the name Trident because it stands for strength, unity, and the sea,” said Ole Peter Brandal, CEO of Trident Aqua Services. “Three companies merged into one team – ready to move forward together. The name is new, but the people, the expertise, and the commitment to our customers remains the same.”
The newly formed company will retain its key hubs in Hareid, Molde, and Kristiansund in Norway, while continuing to expand its presence in international markets.
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BY LEAH WILLIAMS STOKER
How federal professionals (and others) can transition into aquaculture careers
As funding cuts and agency shifts ripple through federal agencies, many seasoned professionals are finding themselves at a crossroads. Some are leaving public service by choice, others by circumstance, but a growing number are looking toward private industry, and specifically aquaculture, for their next career move.
What they’re often not sure of is how to make the leap.
The truth is, federal employees in environmental science, marine biology, enforcement, data analytics, and policy roles already have highly relevant experience. In fact, their work has laid the foundation for much of the responsible growth we see in aquaculture today. But making a successful transition into the private sector requires more than technical know-how. It demands professional positioning, adaptability, and a clear understanding of how their federal skills map into the business priorities of a new industry.
Professionals coming out of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), or the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) often bring with them regulatory knowledge, scientific rigor, and cross-agency collaboration experience –skills that align incredibly well with roles in compliance, traceability, and sustainability within aquaculture and related sectors.
For example, those who served as regulatory analysts or policy advisors can bring immense value to private companies working to navigate certification and reporting requirements tied to programs like Aquaculture Stewardship Council, Best Aquaculture Practices, or Safe Quality Food.
Similarly, individuals with expertise in data science or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are well positioned to support environmental monitoring, feed efficiency modeling, or harvest optimization within production systems.
Aquatic veterinarians, biologists, and extension agents often have a strong foundation to work in technical services,
fish health, research and development, or training programs. Those who specialized in public affairs or outreach may thrive in roles focused on education, stakeholder engagement, or sustainability communications that help build trust and transparency between companies and their communities.
Even professionals who served in enforcement or field agent roles can find their place within quality assurance, auditing, or operational oversight, bringing with them strong investigative skills and a deep understanding of compliance and risk management.
These skill sets are not theoretical matches, they are actively sought out across hatcheries, feed producers, processing facilities, technology providers and farms throughout the United States.
Still, one of the biggest shifts former federal employees face is how they position themselves professionally. Government titles and program names don’t always translate clearly to industry leaders, so framing matters.
Professionals must learn to describe their impact and expertise in terms that are business-friendly. This means emphasizing the function and outcomes of their work, what they improved, optimized, regulated or scaled, and explaining how these accomplishments address the real-world priorities of private employers.
In this context, resumes, LinkedIn profiles and interviews are not just formalities. They are bridges that must be carefully constructed to connect public sector experience to industry opportunity. Instead of leading with acronyms or internal achievements, applicants should speak to transferable outcomes, compliance readiness, systems thinking, collaborative execution and operational improvement. This reframing allows potential employers to visualize where these professionals fit into their organization.
Beyond language, former federal professionals also need to demonstrate a readiness to operate in the commercial world. This doesn’t mean abandoning their values or scientific standards; rather, it requires showing that they understand the business environment, where decisions are shaped by
budgets, consumer expectations, efficiency demands and competitive pressures.
Aquaculture companies are looking for people who not only understand how to protect ecosystems and enforce rules, but also how to help the company grow and succeed in a fast-evolving industry.
The good news is that these transitions are happening and they’re working. Former policy advisors are now leading sustainability departments. Scientists are moving into product quality and innovation roles. Enforcement officers are thriving in operations and logistics. These career pivots are not just success stories, they’re indicators of a broader trend, where the boundaries between public and private sectors are becoming more porous, and experience is judged by its relevance and impact.
That said, these changes require intentionality. It’s not enough to simply apply for a job. Professionals need to be proactive in telling their story, networking with people in the field and demonstrating their readiness to contribute from day one. Building a professional brand that highlights transferable value is essential. So is having a plan for navigating the cultural differences between government work and private enterprise.
Aquaculture is a complex and growing industry. It needs people who can think critically, act ethically and perform under pressure; qualities that many federal professionals already embody. Their contributions to science, policy, and environmental stewardship are not only respected, but they’re also foundational to how this industry is evolving.
If you’re someone standing at the edge of this transition, wondering whether your skills will translate, the answer is: Yes, they can. But your ability to communicate those skills, adapt to a new pace and see your role in a different light will determine whether you cross that bridge successfully.
The path from public service to aquaculture is not only possible, but also increasingly necessary.
And for those ready to step forward, the opportunities are real and rewarding. | ANA
Leah Williams Stoker is a recruiter and career strategist focused on aquaculture, natural resources and sustainability. She is the founder of FishPros Network and a regular columnist for Aquaculture North America.
