MAINE SPOTLIGHT
Winning social license
A town meeting in Jonesport, Maine began with a pledge of allegiance and ended with a victory for aquaculture. P. 8
HAWAII SPOTLIGHT
Once upon a fish pond
According to Hawaiian tradition, fishermen built the first Hawaiian fish pond on the island of Maui. P. 11
Though their approaches are diverse, their leadership styles are anything but traditional. P. 14
WORKFORCE IN FOCUS Is aquaculture female-friendly?
Are women’s benefits equal to their male counterparts? P. 20
INNOVATION
How a rainbow trout farm is turning rock into green P. 25
* In the USA, Aquaflor is approved for use at 10-15 mg/kg in freshwater-reared salmonids for the control of mortality due to furunculosis associated with Aeromonas salmonicida and coldwater disease associated with Flavobacterium psychrophilum; in catfish for the control of mortality due to enteric septicemia of catfish associated with Edwardsiella ictaluri; and in all freshwater-reared finfish for the control of mortality due to columnaris disease associated with Flavobacterium columnare. At 15 mg/kg, Aquaflor is also approved in freshwater-reared warmwater finfish for the control of mortality due to streptococcal septicemia associated with Streptococcus iniae CAUTION:
* In the USA, Aquaflor is approved for use at 10-15 mg/kg in freshwater-reared salmonids for the control of mortality due to furunculosis associated with Aeromonas salmonicida and coldwater disease associated with Flavobacterium psychrophilum; in catfish for the control of mortality due to enteric septicemia of catfish associated with Edwardsiella ictaluri; and in all freshwater-reared finfish for the control of mortality due to columnaris disease associated with Flavobacterium columnare. At 15 mg/kg, Aquaflor is also approved in freshwater-reared warmwater finfish for the control of mortality due to streptococcal septicemia associated with Streptococcus iniae
CAUTION: Federal law restricts medicated feed containing this veterinary feed directive (VFD) drug to use by or on
licensed veterinarian.
8 Winning social lisence in Maine
A special town meeting in Jonesport, Maine began with a pledge of allegiance and ended in a decisive victory for aquaculture. By Lynn Fantom
11 Once upon a fish pond
According to Hawaiian tradition, fishermen built the first fish pond on the island of Maui. By
Jennifer Bushman
14 Women who lead
Though their approaches are diverse, what all of these women have in common are leadership styles that are anything but traditional.
By Lynn Fantom
20 Is aquaculture female-friendly?
Women are making a noticeable impact, but are their benefits equal to their male counterparts? By Julia
Hollister
23 Biochemist boldly takes up shrimp farming By Matt Jones
25 How a rainbow trout farm is turning rock into green By Ron Hill
11
SPEAKERS:
13, ISSUE 5 | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
Reader Service
Print and digital subscription inquiries or changes, please contact customer service
Angelita Potal
Tel: (416) 510-5113
Fax: (416) 510-6875
Email: apotal@annexbusinessmedia.com
Mail: 111 Gordon Baker Rd., Suite 400, Toronto, ON M2H 3R1
Editor Maryam Farag mfarag@annexbusinessmedia.com 437-788-8830
Contributors Lynn Fantom, Ron Hill, Julia Hollister, Jennifer Bushman, Matt Jones
Associate Publisher / Advertising Manager Jeremy Thain jthain@annexbusinessmedia.com +1-250-474-3982
Account Manager Morgen Balch mbalch@annexbusinessmedia.com
Media Designer Svetlana Avrutin savrutin@annexbusinessmedia.com
Audience Development Manager Urszula Grzyb ugrzyb@annexbusinessmedia.com 416-510-5180
COO Scott Jamieson sjamieson@annexbusinessmedia.com
PUBLISHED BY ANNEX BUSINESS MEDIA 105 Donly Drive South, Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5
Aquaculture North America is published six times a year by Annex Business Media. The authority for statements and claims made in Aquaculture North America is the responsibility of the contributors. Reference to named products or technologies does not imply endorsement by the publisher.
Subscription rates (six issues) Canada: $37.00+Tax
Within North America: $48.00 CAD
Outside North America: $62.00 CAD
To subscribe visit our website at www.aquaculturenorthamerica.com
PRINTED IN CANADA ISSN 1922-4117 Publications Mail Agreement #PM40065710
RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO 111 Gordon Baker Rd., Suite 400, Toronto, ON M2H 3R1 UNITED STATES MAILING ADDRESS
Aquaculture North America, 815 1st Ave, #93, Seattle, WA, 98104
Annex Privacy Officer Privacy@annexbusinessmedia.com Tel: 800-668-2374
The contents of Aquaculture North America are copyright ©2022 by Annex Business Media and may not be reproduced in whole or part without written consent. Annex Business Media disclaims any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the contents of this publication and disclaims all liability in respect of the results of any action taken or not taken in reliance upon information in this publication.
Next Ad Deadline
The advertising deadline for the November/December issue is October 4. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this exciting aquaculture publication. For more information, or to reserve space in the next issue, call our Advertising Department at +1.250.474.3982 jthain@annexbusinessmedia.com
Next Editorial Deadline
The editorial deadline for the November/December issue is October 4. Contact Maryam Farag at mfarag@annexbusinessmedia.com for details. Material should be submitted electronically with prior arrangement with the editor.
As the industry continues to grow, so does its workforce, and women are an imperative part of the equation.
Decades of research have documented women’s economic contributions, however, action is still needed to advance women’s rights and achieve gender equality.
This is what we aim to do at Aquaculture North America . We want to be part of the movement to achieve gender equality and empower women in aquaculture.
I was lucky enough to sit down with some inspiring women for our Women in North American Aquaculture podcast, and get insight into how they got where they are today.
During these conversations, I always ask the interviewees what was one of the things that could’ve helped them progress early in their career? I noticed one common theme between all answers – mentorship.
Mentorship, or what some describe as “shortcuts to success,” is important in all stages of a career path. Female mentors can offer advice on navigating careers and finding
BY MARYAM FARAG
a work-life balance. To address this issue, we hope to give women in the industry more exposure, so they can share their advice, knowledge and even mistakes, that will act as essential toolkits for all females starting in the industry.
This brings us to the idea behind our inaugural Women in North American Aquaculture Summit that will take place Sept. 8. We aim to understand the road to equal opportunity in the industry. This live virtual event welcomes men and women in North American aquaculture to tackle solutions for equal pay, entrepreneurship, innovation, training and mentorship.
To register for free and view full event’s schedule, visit www.aquaculturenorthamerica. com. You will find it under the Events tab. I look forward to covering more topics and conversations, and this is where you, the readers, come in. Reach me anytime at mfarag@ annexbusinessmedia.com for comments or suggestions.
From all of us at Aquaculture North America, stay safe and well.
two
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) announced the appointment of Aisla Jones and Heather Sadusky as partnership program directors.
Jones, who is based in Manchester, U.K., will work with SFP’s partners to implement sustainable seafood policies and goals. Jones is joining from the co-op, where she worked as the fisheries and aquaculture manager for six years.
“We are thrilled to welcome Aisla to the team,” said Kathryn Novak, global markets director at SFP. “We enjoyed working with her as a partner with The co-op and she’s always been a leader, pushing traditional boundaries to advance the sustainability of seafood resources. Her experience working with both NGOs and industry will help deepen our relationships with SFP’s retail partners.”
Jones’ work has focused on how retail and supply chains can create demand for more sustainable aquaculture feed. At co-op, she collaborated with seafood suppliers and developed and maintained responsible sourcing policies. She has also worked with WWF UK as a seafood sustainability officer, and governing body committee member for MarinTrust Ltd.
Heather Sadusky has joined SFP as partnership program director, North America. She will be working with large seafood buyers in North America to develop activities to mobilize business to adopt more sustainable practices. Sandusky, who is based in Portland, Maine, previously worked with NOAA Sea Grant, managing the Maine Aquaculture Hub.
MainStream Aquaculture has purchased a 1,100 acre fish farm in Arizona, U.S., its first international acquisition.
The U.S. business will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of the MainStream Aquaculture Group.
“Barramundi is a delicious, nutritious, and sustainable fish ideal for aquaculture. We are immensely proud to expand our operations in the USA after several years market testing the product and operating a pilot scale Barramundi farm in Arizona,”
Cermaq launches Sea the Solution, a call for ocean sustainability
Cermaq has launched Sea the Solution, an online campaign recognizing how industries use the ocean in a way that “has not sufficiently respected the multiple roles and complex biodiversity in the ocean.”
“We cannot find the solutions without recognizing the problem the solution should address. Sugar coating our issues will not only hamper our progress but also lessen trust in us,” said Steven Rafferty, CEO, Cermaq. “All food production will have a footprint, and our task is to reduce the footprint to minimum, and balance the footprints measured as CO2, freshwater use, arable land use, feed ingredients and in a way where our operations are part of a circular economy.”
According to Cermaq, Sea the Solution is “a new way of looking at our role as food producers and our impact on climate change and environment.”
Sea the Solution addresses how to change the composition of fish feed towards ingredients not suitable for direct human consumption, circularity in co-production with algae farming, what is needed to avoid fish being stressed and hence improve welfare, and how local communities can take part in and benefit from growing salmon in their areas.
said Boris Musa, MainStream Aquaculture Group MD and CEO.
“By applying the capabilities we have developed over 20 years in Australia, we are confident the venture will establish Barramundi as a premium, sustainable, ethically produced and widely appealing white fish in the U.S.”
MainStream’s business includes:
• Three hatcheries that supply the global Barramundi industry with improved fingerlings from its selective breeding program. The business exports into 27 countries across five continents.
• Two urban farms based in Melbourne, Australia, which deploy proprietary closed containment aquaculture technology, raising Barramundi in pristine spring water.
• Three Queensland based saltwater pond farming sites. Two Innisfail farms are nestled between the world heritage Wooroonooran Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef, along with a Port Douglas farm located in close proximity to the world’s oldest rainforest, the Daintree.
• Contract Barramundi growing operations and an aquaculture consulting division. PHOTO: SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES PARTNERSHIP
NOAA Fisheries announces initiative to end illegal labour practices in seafood industry
NOAA Fisheries has announced a new public-private initiative; the Collaborative Accelerator for Lawful Maritime Conditions in Seafood (CALM-CS), which will promote legal and safe working conditions, including combating forced labour in the fishing and seafood industry.
In a recent National Security Memorandum on “Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing and Associated Labor Abuses,” U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized the government’s commitment to fight labor abuses in the seafood sector. Biden also called for agencies to increase its collaboration with non-governmental partners to develop comprehensive approaches to combat these conditions.
As a jumping-off point for this initiative, NOAA recently convened with stakeholders at a collaborative summit, “A Call to Action: Ending Forced Labor and Promoting Decent Work in the Seafood Sector.”
Senior officials from the Departments of Commerce, State, Labor, U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Agency for International Development met with representatives of businesses, humanitarian groups, and government agencies across the spectrum to discuss collaborative approaches to support decent working conditions in the seafood sector.
In reflections on the summit, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said, “By coming together to address illegal labor practices, we can have a positive impact on seafood industry workers and families around the world, and help ensure the stability of the broader seafood supply chain.”
“We hope that CALM-CS can leverage the urgency we all feel toward these issues and be just one part of the response to this call for action that is shared around the world,” Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Richard Spinrad added in a statement.
CALM-CS efforts will focus on five key strategic priorities, icluding identifying best practices for industry accountability and due diligence for decent working conditions throughout the seafood supply chain, exploring novel sources of information, and enhancing means to share and analyze that information, to better identify illegal and unsafe labor practices in fisheries, and exploring potential tools to enhance safety and labor conditions aboard U.S. vessels.
Cooke Aquaculture Inc. has announced the appointment of Philip Wiese as managing director of East Coast Aquaculture Operations in Canada.
Wiese joins Cooke from his recent leadership role as CEO at Huon Aquaculture Group Limited, Australian salmon farming company.
He brings aquaculture expertise to Cooke having delivered for nearly 15 years with Huon including as chief financial officer with responsibility for financial management, information technology, human resources and operations.
Over the course of his career, Wiese was director of the Tasmania Salmon Growers Association where he led collaboration across the Tasmanian salmon industry and managed the Tasmanian salmon brand globally.
He has held various senior commercial management roles in finance, insurance and trading in the manufacturing, distribution and retail business areas.
Wiese will be reporting to Glenn Cooke, CEO, Cooke Aquaculture Inc.
A special town meeting in Jonesport, Maine scored a decisive victory for aquaculture in the State of Maine. BY LYNN FANTOM
Voting 201 to 91, residents of this lobstering community of about 1,250 rejected a proposed moratorium on commercial aquaculture facilities. It was a significant sign of support for Kingfish Maine to move forward with its proposed recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility, projected to produce 6,000 to 8,000 metric tons of yellowtail annually.
The events on the warm summer evening came at a time when Maine has seen some chilly opposition —from organized statewide groups, as well as local communities — to aquaculture projects that have ranged from land-based RAS to a well-established oyster farm that sought to increase its lease to 35 acres (and succeeded).
But by far, the greatest pushback has been against American Aquafarms, which proposed 120 acres of semi-closed pens in the bay between two sections of Acadia National Park. In November of 2021, some 200 residents of Gouldsboro, the intended home base for the hatchery and processing plant for 30,000 metric tons of salmon, voted overwhelmingly for a fish farm moratorium — not unlike the one proposed for Jonesport. But the following April, the
Maine Department of Marine Resources also rejected the company’s application because it did not have an approved salmon egg source.
Some might say there’s pushback against aquaculture in Maine. Others affirm the system works the way it should.
“Aquaculture is so broad. Social license really depends on the type and the fit with the community,” said Emily Whitmore, a PhD candidate at the University of New Hampshire who studies factors linked to public support of aquaculture.
Immediately after the vote in Jonesport, Executive Director of the Maine Aquaculture Association Sebastian Belle said, “This is a great example of how truth wins over innuendo. The system in Maine works. The Kingfish team worked really hard getting to know the people in Jonesport and sharing their plans. They were open and transparent. The town recognized the value for their own community.”
The news about the vote reverberated up and down the coast of Maine, which in many ways leads the U.S, in aquaculture.
Building upon its iconic lobster fishery — which saw values soar to $725 million in 2021 — this northeastern state has worked diligently to create a business climate that supports aquaculture entrepreneurs and to develop new ones. In roughly 15 years, some 300 people, many from working waterfront families, have attended training academies sponsored by the Maine Aquaculture Associate in cooperation with Maine Sea Grant and the Island Institute. About 60 percent go on to work in aquaculture, according to Belle. Today, Maine’s aquaculture companies, both big and small, grow salmon in net pens, eels in a RAS facility, oysters in semi-submerged cages, and blue mussels on the bottom and ropes. With 27 partners (mostly lobstermen) farming a total of 100 acres, Atlantic Sea Farms harvested just under one million pounds of kelp during the 2022 season.
In late 2019, when The Kingfish Company announced its plans for an operation in Maine, CEO Ohad Maiman told Maine Public Radio
that the U.S. was ripe for a farmed species other than salmon, for which two ventures were already in the works in Maine.
That new species was Yellowtail kingfish. Highly prized for sashimi, sushi, and ceviche, it had already “found a great ally in RAS,” according to Hatchery International, with projects in Denmark, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and the Netherlands — where Kingfish launched its own pilot facility in 2017.
Jonesport was selected from among 22 sites along the East Coast for several reasons, including its strong seafood culture and infrastructure, like cold-chain shipping.
After the vote against the moratorium, Maiman said in a press release, “When we chose the Jonesport site, we spent significant time getting to know the community and making certain we were welcome. This vote confirms that that we have made the right choice.”
Much of that community time was spent by operations manager Megan Sorby and her team at Moosabec Video and Variety, a gathering spot for coffee, cribbage, and cards on Main Street. The local library posted invitations to come for “coffee and chat” with Kingfish Maine at Moosabec, along with a link to Jonesport Fish Facts. In June, celebrity chef Barton Seaver prepared kingfish for a “Talk and Taste” event at the library.
Halamid ® Aqua is currently FDA approved (NADA 141-423) to control mortality in all freshwater-reared salmonids due to bacterial gill disease, in walleye due to external columnaris disease, and in all freshwater-reared warm water finfish due to external columnaris disease.
“It’s the responsibility of any business to be a part of the community,” Sorby said.
For Kingfish, that also meant working with the high school. The company donated a 400-gallon recirculating aquaculture system. With a supportive principal and enthusiastic teacher, the aquaculture/ aquaponics program took off. At the end of the school year, students served every class tilapia tacos. At the July public meeting to vote on the moratorium, cucumbers from their harvest were piled high on a large table, free for the taking.
As part of the high school aquaculture program, students also have the opportunity to talk about careers with Kingfish staff. And when the town officials in charge of updating Jonesport’s comprehensive plan asked students to provide input, they said: Keep aquaculture going. That carried weight in a state that has the oldest median age.
On the evening of the vote, virtually every parking spot at the high school was taken. An elderly woman with a walker tried to keep pace with her husband as they moved toward open doors of the gym that proudly displayed banners celebrating basketball championships. In the bleachers, a family passed around an infant, taking turns with bouncing duties.
Neighbors chatted quietly but opted not to share their views with this reporter. Emotions were held as tightly as the secret ballots, which were cast at partitioned tables the videographer was instructed not to photograph.
Huddled in the bleachers near the exit, three colleagues whispered with Crystal Canney, who pounded away on her iPad. It was an important night for the CEO of the Portland firm that specializes in public relations, government relations, and election campaigns. Canney is also executive director of Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit that has promoted moratoriums on “industrial aquaculture.”
A driving rationale of this “statewide coalition” is the belief that “fishermen are losing bottom and fishing space to large aquaculture leases,” according to its website.
However, when Sebastian Belle spoke with the newspaper, The Working Waterfront last year, he said that opposition to lease applications generally comes when somebody with a “very nice” shorefront house doesn’t want a farm in front of that house.
“Opponents realized that opposing a farm because of view scape impacts was not going to cut it in front of the legislature or the resource management agencies. So, they started organizing the local fishing community,” he said. “And I would suggest it was a very cynical and premeditated method to use one working waterfront community against another.”
When there is opposition, it is key for aquaculture companies to understand where it is coming from, whether the community itself or outside groups, which can be well organized and resourced. “It’s complicated because there are lots of stakeholders,” said Emily Whitmore. “Outside groups can hijack the whole process. But gaining support from your local community — earning social license — can buffer that.”
At the end of a tense evening of voting in Jonesport, community members filed out of the gym, many stopping to shake hands or hug Sorby. It looked like the receiving line at a wedding.
“The ultimate level of social license is a kind of incorporation into your community identity. Like a mining town (the original source of the term) or a logging town or a fishing town,” Whitmore said.
It remains to be seen if, in the future, Jonesport will identify itself as a fishing town, on land and at sea. There’s a good chance it will.
According to Hawaiian tradition, fishermen in Hawaii built the first fish pond on the island of Maui.
BY JENNIFER BUSHMAN
K’ula was a fisherman of skill who is described as having powers for directing fish. Legend said that he was able to summon fish and ultimately was named the Hawaiian god of fishing.
Ancient Hawaiians were the first islanders in the Pacific to make use of ponds and fish farming. For thousands of years, Hawaiians developed aquaculture to supplement their other fishing activities. Fish ponds guaranteed food for the tribes and increased the wealth of the managing chief. Fish ponds provided fish without requiring fishing expertise and harvesting the pond, unlike fishing at sea, was not season nor weather-dependent.
Changing their main food source
Hawaiians built fish ponds were built on O’ahu, Lana’i, Maui and Kauai, with the highest concentration of ponds on Moloka`i. The rockwalled fish ponds took advantage of tidal flows on shallow reefs to capture fish. Subsequent loko kuap’ were also constructed on the shallow, nearshore reefs, but are much larger and innovative structures, ranging in size from an acre to more than 100 acres. Freshwater run-off from the irrigated agricultural terraces as well as natural streams and springs brought nutrients to the pond, which stimulated the growth of plankton and algae, creating a productive nursery for many species of fish.
Dave Anderson, production manager at Kauai Sea Farms, with a sea cucumber—they are beginning to farm this delicacy in an effort to build a sustainable market for a regenerative aquaculture system.
available in a variety of lengths and marking area sizes to accommodate specific requirements. They can also be hot stamped for identification purposes.
• Lengths from 3" to 18"
• Flag sizes from 1-1/8" x ¾", 1-7/8" x 1-1/8" and 2" x 3"
• Tensile strength of 120 lbs.
• Available in Blue, Green, Ivory, Orange, Red,
• Available with blank flags that may be custom printed or Write-on
Cable ties are vastly used in the shellfish industry for securing cages and bags. They are a cost-effective and simple way to ensure equipment is not susceptible to tampering. Available in a wide range of colors, they are also used for identification purposes.
• Lengths from 4" to 60"
• Tensile strengths from 18 lb. to 250 lb.
• Available in 16 different colors, including UV black and fluorescent
• Can be custom printed with company name, date, lot number, etc.
Hawaiians stocked their fish ponds with awa (milkfish), ‘ama’ama and ‘anae (two kinds of mullet), ‘ahole (sea-pig), ‘opae (shrimp), ‘o’opu (guppies), and puhi (eels). Other sea fish entering the ponds were ulua, kahala (amberjack), kumu (goatfish), manini (surgeon fish), ‘o’io (bonefish), and uhu (parrotfish).
It is estimated that there were 488 fishponds across the Hawaiian islands prior to contact with westerners. In 1901 out of 360 fish ponds that remained only 99 of which
were active. They produced nearly 750,000 pounds of fish. Fish ponds have dramatically disappeared due to development, changes in land use, especially the spread of invasive mangrove and sediment accumulation from lack of management. Luckily, over the course of the last decade, fish pond practitioners have been restoring this important part of Hawaiian culture. One such project, is the Nomilo fish pond on Kauai.
Located on the southwest shore of the Garden Island- the Nomilo fish pond is an extinct volcanic crater that filled with water. It
is an 18 acre brackish water pond, fed by two auwai – channels that connect the pond to the ocean. Nomilo is one of the oldest and one of the most fertile fish ponds in the State of Hawaii. It has pristine water and a rich supply of algae to provide perfect growing habitat for fish, limu (sea vegetables) and shellfish.
The Nomilo fish pond has been in the same Hawaiian family for over 100 years. According to the Kauai Sea Farm website, Hawaiian legend states that the Nomilo fish pond was created when Pele, the Hawaiian Goddess of fire and creation first arrived on Kaua’i. Unable to find a suitable home on the island, she caused a small hill along the southern shore of the island to erupt. The eruption covered near-by Kalaheo with small black rocks and created a crater in the earth. The crater filled with sea water and became the Nomilo Fish pond. Before leaving Kaua’i, Pele left two supernatural eels named Puhi-‘ula and Puhi’pakapaka, to guard the fish pond. The farm honors this myth by representing the eels in their logo.
Kauai Seafarm is a farm that pairs modern technology with traditional Hawaiian fishing methods. The team’s mission is to preserve this incredible sight while providing sustainable sea vegetables, shellfish and fin fish. They have one goal in mind; that the fish pond be a part of the contributive food system for the community and the surrounding islands.
This is accomplished through the efforts of the Taylor family. Their continued investment in the preservation of the site and the employment of the team has been nothing short of remarkable. Lynn’s grandfather, Philip K. Palama Sr., acquired Nomilo over 100 years ago. She, along with her husband Thayne have been able to intersect preservation and production on this historical site.
Their mission is to preserve the integrity, health and well-being of Nomilo fish pond and surrounding coastline while developing sustainable production of shellfish and seafood products is nothing short of miraculous. The hiring of Dave Anderson as their production manager brought to the farm a sense of process and experimentation. Dave came with the expertise from having worked in sustainable aquaculture on the island. He understands the unique aspects of rearing blue foods from the egg all the way to harvest.
At present, there are numerous species in the fish pond. One of the most exciting prospects on the farm is the sea cucumber. Sea cucumbers are in high demand in Asian markets where they are considered a delicacy, health food and aphrodisiac, and this has led to wild sea cucum ber stocks being overexploited. Dave decided after some initial research that this could be the crop that they have been waiting for. While in the early stage, the sea cucumber is thriving and will likely make a decent income for the farm.
Kauai Sea Farm is also the only producer of hard-shell clam Mercenaria mercenaria in Hawaii. Nomilo fish pond was the first-ever certified shellfish grower in the state of Hawaii. Mercenaria mercenaria were introduced into the Nomilo fish pond in the early 1960’s as part of a project conducted by Anuenue Fisheries. This species of clam thrived in the Nomilo fish pond.
Importing of seed clams into Hawaii is not allowed do having their own hatchery and nursery ensures an on-going and regular supply of clams for grow-out in Nomilo fish pond. The Kauai Sea Farm hatchery and nursery are essential for its operation.
In the U.S., Hawaii is leading the way with its views on sustainable aquaculture and the role it will play as we set the table of the future of food. Hawaiians understand the need to adapt in order to fight the serious issues that face our ocean today. This new generation understands the enormous opportunity of linking the present and the future together. They are helping to reignite the innovative spirit that was embodied in K’ula’s first fishpond. It is the inspiration needed to plot a path to modern aquaculture in the state. A role that the rest of the U.S. can benefit from.
What’s species are you considering?
RAS or open water system?
Will you need a grant or funding?
provide entrepreneurs and business startups professional support and world class facilities to develop their aquaculture ideas.
Contact us today to see how we can help turn your aquaculture idea into a reality.
Though their approaches are diverse, what all of these women have in common are leadership styles that are anything but traditional.
BY LYNN FANTOM
Pick a region from Alaska to Maine— or somewhere smack dab in between—and there are women CEOs, founders, and lifelong sea farmers proving that the benefits of aquaculture, from restoring the oceans to creating jobs, can earn the industry the social license to operate.
A certain boldness was on display, for example, at a recent panel at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. Four women leaders in seaweed and shellfish aquaculture were asked to share their views on successes and challenges. “They don’t shy away from challenges because they know they have to tackle them to move forward,” said Natalie Springuel of Maine Sea Grant, who moderated the panel.
Like many areas in the U.S., Maine has seen increasing public opposition to aquaculture in recent years. The panelists “fully expected that there were going to be some challenges raised today,” Springuel said, and
there were. During the panel, an audience member began reading a long diatribe against the lease application of one panelist. Another person called out, “This can’t be a cheerleading session.”
Other members of the audience, however, chimed in with support. They had been absorbing the messages, as Springuel said, about how to “integrate aquaculture into our working waterfronts in ways that work for our communities while also providing food, jobs, and economic development.”
In a refreshing take on “The Future of Restorative Aquaculture,” which was the title of the panel, Briana Warner, CEO of Atlantic Sea Farms, said, “What drives me is the restoration of hope. When we talk about aquaculture, fear is often brought to the table. But fear is one of the most insidious, problematic positions to take on anything. It will eat you alive. But one thing that will always make you thrive is hope.”
“Good leadership demands empathy and an unrelenting belief in, and support of, people working hard to make the world better.” - Briana Warner, Atlantic Sea Farms
Warner has probably done more than any single individual in the U.S. to raise the profile of farmed seaweed as something good for people, the planet, and the pockets of Maine lobstermen (and women).
Whether the platform has been Eating Well, CBS This Morning, or the World Economic Forum, she has told the story of kelp’s climate contributions as a carbon sponge and personal health benefits as a delicious food. “People won’t eat it if it doesn’t taste good,” she has often said.
An expert in economic development and former diplomat, Warner relishes the impact her company can have for Maine families, starting with Atlantic Sea Farms’ network of 27 independent “partner farmers” who harvested almost one million pounds of kelp this year on 100 acres up and down the coast. By growing seaweed during lobstering’s off-season, they are avoiding the risks of an income stream based on a monoculture.
As Warner talks about hope for the future, however, she fights misinformation like a boxer with a stunning left jab. Strong on facts, she can deftly summarize the economic dynamics of lobstering and counter-punch the fear tactics of anti-aquaculture activists.
She also easily engages audiences. Take the objection of opponents who have attempted to “fight industrial aquaculture” by urging municipalities to adopt moratoriums on leases larger than five acres.
At the recent Bar Harbor panel, Warner met this objection head on. She reminded the audience that Maine has more coastline than California. “Now I want to see a raise of hand of anyone here who thinks the Portland Jetport is a huge airport,” she asked. When no hands went up, she said, “All aquaculture in Maine, including finfish, could fit into one and a half Portland Jetports.”
In a recent email, Warner noted that “good leadership demands empathy and an unrelenting belief in, and support of, people working hard to make the world better.”
She shares this philosophy of empowerment with Sylvia Wulf, the CEO of AquaBounty, a first-mover in the production of genetically engineered salmon in recirculating aquaculture systems. The Massachusetts-headquartered company is currently harvesting salmon on Prince Edward Island in Canada and in Indiana, with plans in the works for a 10,000 metric ton farm in Ohio.
Sometimes described as transformational, Wulf’s leadership style is, by definition, an approach in which leaders and their teams raise one another to higher levels of motivation and achievement.
During a recent podcast with Maryam Farag, editor of Aquaculture North America, Wulf articulated her company’s mission: “We want to feed the planet in a safe, secure, and sustainable way by using technology to change aquaculture. So, when talented people come to AquaBounty, that’s what they’re excited about. And then my role is to make sure that they can achieve their full potential.”
Explaining how that might work, she said, “We practice lean and continuous improvement. Those closest to the work are the ones that are looking at how to make what they do better. And it allows them to contribute in ways that typical top-down hierarchical structures don’t.” In other words, it’s different from the carrot-and-stick approach.
Wulf, who is based in Arkansas, has also boldly sought partners among those who have been opponents. She looks for common ground. “We’ve engaged with environmental NGOs because we both recognize that we need to take the pressure off the ocean where climate
“We want to feed the planet in a safe, secure, and sustainable way by using technology to change aquaculture,” -Sylvia Wulf, AquaBounty
is having a tremendous impact on wild fish. AquaBounty’s genetically engineered fish require 25 percent less feed—another impact on the planet. So, we can produce more of a healthy protein using less of a scarce resource.”
Kelp farming is in its infancy in Alaska. The 49th state, which is separated from the other continental North American states by about 500 miles of British Columbia, only began issuing kelp farming permits in 2016. It’s a critical moment. “At this stage, everyone’s success benefits the industry,” said Lexa Meyer.
She is co-owner of Alaska Ocean Farms, which grows kelp on 120 acres (and will start farming oysters next year, with a lease for 40 more pending).
The customer for her kelp is San Francisco-based Blue Evolution—for which she serves as mariculture manager. (Alaskans tend to use the term “mariculture” instead
of “aquaculture”). In that role, she oversees hatchery operations and processing every spring on Kodiak Island. Lexa is the company’s most senior representative in Alaska.
erck Animal Health helps aquaculture producers and conservationists cultivate and maintain healthy and sustainable aquatic ecosystems. Our industry leading biopharmaceutical and technology solutions monitor for insight, optimize with precision, and benchmark for performance.
Boise, Idaho is home to our North America Aquaculture Team, but Merck Animal Health supports aquaculture welfare globally with biopharma brands – like AQUAFLOR®, SLICE®, AQUI-S®, and AQUAVAC® – as well as technology solutions including individual identification from Biomark®, DNA TraceBack® traceability, Vaki® fish handling equipment, Falcon® sea lice detection, and the newest release in aquatic gas optimization, Hyper InfusiO2n™.
In our journey to ensure the welfare and sustainability of aquatic species, Merck Animal Health partnered with leading experts to create the AQUA CARE365® training platform. This tool provides training on proper fish behavior, fish handling and fish care techniques, and was designed to complement and help fulfill the animal care requirements of seafood certification and stewardship programs for aquaculture. We partnered with Jennifer Wiper, Corporate Sustainability Manager at Cooke Aquaculture in Canada, as we developed the training lessons. She is a key role model for women in, or looking to enter, the aquaculture industry.
Beyond quality products, Merck Animal Health has a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are proud to partner with Women in North American Aquaculture to share stories about influential women in aquaculture and inspire others.
Women in all facets of our aquaculture business make it what it is, and while more women are graduating in aquaculture from higher education institutes and gender parity has been achieved in some cases, women are still more commonly seen participating in small-scale aquaculture production, post-harvest industrial and artisanal processing, value addition, marketing, and sales. Few women are senior staff, owners, managers, and executives in the larger enterprises. We hope to change that through our internal efforts and our partnership with Aquaculture North America.
For more information please visit: https://www.merck-animal-health.com/ species/aquaculture/
“Right now, we need to talk. We need to share. And, so, when people call me up, I like to tell them about all of my failures,” - Lexa Meyer, Alaska Ocean Farms
“We have had some pushback from the community here in Kodiak and other parts of the state of Alaska. People are just concerned: Will these aquaculture operations take up too much space near towns? Will they impact vessel traffic areas of traditional fishing and recreation? The best way to address concerns is through education. So, my phone is always on,” she said.
Meyer has given talks in the community, too, which she approaches as both an entrepreneur and a marine biologist. She works on joint projects with scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, where Blue Evolution produces commercial seed under a cooperative research agreement. Together, for example, they are examining the effects of ocean acidification on kelp development. Meyer is exemplary in the humility she brings to her work. “Right now, we need to talk. We need to share. And, so, when people call me up, I like to tell them about all of my failures,” she declared. “I think those are some of the most
important things that I have to offer right now because I don’t want people to make the same mistakes. That will cost time and money and will discourage them from continuing.”
Diani Taylor dug clams during low tide at night up until the day she was born – or, rather, her pregnant mother did.
That was at Washington State’s Taylor Shellfish Company, the largest producer of aquaculture shellfish in the US. As a fifth-generation shellfish farmer, Taylor later worked at the family business in different capacities, including farming, permitting, and public affairs. She eventually became general counsel. Today, she is an attorney at Plauché & Carr, a firm focused on issues related to natural resources, and still supports the legal needs of Taylor Shellfish. She decided to become a lawyer, she said, to get additional skills “to help my family address some of the regulatory challenges that have be-
Water quality is one issue that is essential to shellfish farmers. It is particularly challenging because it can involve so many stakeholders: regulators, scientists, politicians, coastal residents and businesses, and, of course, all the growers who are dependent upon clean water. Climate change has brought urgency to certain situations.
Yet Taylor favors collaboration over lawsuits. “It’s much better to work together on solutions and to find common ground,” she said.
“I really try to understand where other people are coming from, and I value transparency. It’s particularly important in having a conversation with folks you might not agree with.”
Taylor commends the fact that more diverse voices are engaged in aquaculture today. She points to the value of listening to more experienced people and those with totally different opinions. “I love when I walk into a meeting and can say, ‘A rainbow of opinions is represented here today.’”
And that rainbow promises to get even brighter. In her father’s generation, he and two of her uncles have led the company. But in Diani Taylor’s generation, eight individuals are involved with the company – and seven of
COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION SAY HELLO TO A FEW OF OUR AQUA SPECIES COLLEAGUES FROM NORTH AMERICA
From pulling fish lines, to working in laboratories, women are making a noticeable impact in aquaculture, but are their benefits equal to their male counterparts?
BY JULIA HOLLISTER
Louisiana Department of Fish and Wildlife Fisheries offers an overview:
“There is Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave for qualified employees and Maternity Leave for employees that don’t qualify for FMLA leave,” said Carolina Bourque, oyster program manager. “This is 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave.”
Employees are required to use their accrued sick and annual leave so that they are
paid. To qualify for FMLA, an employee has to be employed for at least 12 months and have worked 1,250 hours or more during that time. Employees who do not meet this criteria, qualify for Maternity Leave.
Maternity Leave provides up to six weeks of unpaid maternity leave for employees who do not meet the criteria for FMLA leave. Employees are required to use their accrued sick and annual leave so that they are paid. Also, under this law, employees can take up to four months off if there is a disabling pregnancy. This covers those who run out of FMLA leave as well.
Bourque said there are other benefits. “Under federal law, we are required to provide reasonable break times for an employee to express breast milk for up to one year after the birth of the baby and to have a dedicated, private, and secure place for the mother to do so,” she said. “The only other benefit that I can think of is insurance companies are mandated by federal law to waive co-pays or co-insurance for annual wellness visits. This is the same as for men though, so not sure if that counts.”
Sandra E. Shumway, PhD at the Department of Marine Science at the University
PHOTO: BRYAN COLLIER
of Connecticut, admits she didn’t grow up around aquaculture, but because of summers on the water in Rhode Island and science fair projects that carried through high school, a decision to go into marine science was pretty much a given.
“I don’t think anyone was surprised, the challenge in 1970 was finding the right school – or any school,” she said. “I enrolled at the fairly new campus of Long Island University, Southampton College, which was at the time the only school that offered a degree in marine science. I went from there to the University College of North Wales as a Marshall Scholar to do a PhD.”
She focused on environmental physiology of marine invertebrates and used lots of mol luscs as test organisms. From there, she spent a couple of years in New Zealand – more molluscs (and lots of other invertebrates). At the Maine Department of Marine Resources, Shumway joined forces with a small group who were just getting shellfish aquaculture off the ground.
“I was able to switch some of my research focus to questions of direct application to the industry issues and I have never looked back,” she said. “While I have pursued what many would label ‘basic science’ over my entire career, I have been fortunate to work with shellfish culturists globally on issues related to feeding, siting, biofouling, harmful algal blooms, and public outreach.”
When asked if women were available for advice, Shumway didn’t hesitate:
“Not really, but does it matter? I have always been a strong believer in the best person for the job. As a guy told me decades ago: ‘Shellfish work was hard and dirty and most women chose not to pursue it.’ I never had a
sense that they were intentionally excluded.”
There are more women going into marine-related field and aquaculture today than a couple of years ago.
“When I taught undergraduates at Southampton College, we were always cognizant of the fact that more than half of the students were women,” she said. “I think the field has been welcoming and open and there are many successful women working in aquaculture internationally.”
Melynda Dodds is a fulltime captain of the “Flying A”, a sport fishing charter boat at San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf. She’s been in the industry for six seasons, starting as a ‘pinhead’ deckhand.
“When I was a little girl, my stepdad taught me how to catch small freshwater fish,” she said. “When I moved to the Bay Area, I fell in love with chasing king salmon. That led to a curiosity in the charter boats and how they work and operate. Once my kids both started school, I was able to work again and pursue a new career.”
Everyone said she was crazy. Training was unpaid on the job from a senior deckhand.
There was an amazing woman who owned her own operation and captained her own boat for about 40 years. She was an incredible force who was a silent mentor to Dodds. The limited interaction was surface level but always very encouraging.
71st Annual NW Fish Culture Concepts December 6 – 8, 2022 Portland, Oregon
Organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Fish Culture Section of the American Fisheries Society, this year’s NW Fish Culture Concepts will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland 1000 NE Multnomah Street, Portland, OR 97232
Conference information: Contact Jesse Rivera at 360-604-2541 or Jeremy Voeltz at 623-670-2854
Trade show/Vendor information: Contact Bob Turik at 509-538-2755 or Hayley Muir at 231-233-4761
Hotel Information: Call 503-281-6111
https://www.fws.gov/event/northwest-fish-culture-concepts-71st-annual-meeting https://fishculture.fisheries.org/northwest-fish-culture-concepts/upcoming-nwfcc-workshop/
Dodds is adamant in her answer about more women going into aquaculture today than a couple of years ago.
“The answer is no,” she said. “It is a tough sell – hard work with little pay, no benefits, and the Wild West cast of characters. I would like to label these characters as a group of guys that are as passionate about the fishing as I am. They have various experiences and many live, eat and breathe fishing.”
Dodds said prejudice does exist against women in her field. There are also old timers that aren’t pleased that she is a woman and do not treat her with respect. They see that gender does not play a role in being a great captain, it’s the hard work and dedication. Sick leave and maternity leave are not available for women; but it isn’t available for men either. Most are contract workers than employees: 1099 vs. W-2.
“It’s hard for me to convey the opportunities, struggles, and characters that create this environment. There are long hours, danger, bad weather but there is a way for women to make a living in aquaculture,” Dodds said. “Be tough – you are tougher than you think – and pick a good mentor.”
“Moreover, I don’t advertise often that I’m a female in the industry because I want people to take me seriously. I want people to go fishing for the sake of fishing, not to be deterred by a female captain or deckhand.” said Dodds.
BY MATT JONES
As with most seafood, the majority of shrimp consumed in the United States is from overseas. Almost 750,000 tonnes of shrimp valued at $6.5 billion was imported in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
There are few shrimp farmers in North America because they are unable to compete with cheap imports, and farmed shrimp is dogged by complex diseases.
recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). The 23,054-square-feet facility features an on-site nursery and more than 50 grow-out tanks, largely comprised on heavy duty, above-ground swimming pools. It produces roughly 25,300 pounds of 18-25 count shrimp annually.
A holder of a biochemical engineering degree from the University of Southern California, Chen established TOFA while he was working at a chemical
Utilizing years of research from our R&D centers along with proof of performance from customers worldwide, EWOS now offers revolutionary RAS hatchery transfer feeds that address water quality, biofilter efficiency, and most importantly, performance.
“Aquaculture is the next frontier, kind of how the internet changed society,” said Chen. “Sustainably raising shrimp and fish inland will be at the forefront in the coming years. There’s a lot of need for this kind of stuff.”
Chen acknowledged there’s plenty of cheap imports in the market, but there’s a place for local producers like him, he says.
“If someone’s says: ‘I want cheaper shrimp,’ I can’t offer
that,” said Chen. “But those willing to pay my price will taste the big difference. That’s all I want them to see. Local grocery stores selling imported shrimp will always be there. I’m not going to be able to displace them. But at the same time, people are starting to know there’s a big difference in the taste and texture.”
Chen said it was a process to get to people to this level of understanding. He recalled the
time when he sold his first 40 lbs of shrimp at the local farmer’s market. “It freaked people out,” he said, because they weren’t used to seeing shrimp sold with the head intact. He particularly remembers a teenager who thought that shrimp grew on bushes.
He says some people view the idea of growing shrimp on land less favorably than growing them in the ocean. But Chen asks: “Is the ocean really that clean? I was
were “freaked out” at seeing shrimp being sold with the head intact, says farmer, Ashtyn Chen.
in charge of a chemical plant in Maryland that made the compound that allows paint to stick to surfaces. The effluent from that is allowed by the EPA (into the oceans). And we have seen some states that have higher standards and others, not so much.”
Aside from the farmers market, Chen sells his shrimp to through wholesalers, a retail store and restaurants owned by Chen’s family. In December 2021, he opened a new restaurant called Ashtyn’s Seafood House. He says other seafood farmers in the area benefit by selling their produce directly to the restaurant and cutting out the middleman.
“It’s truly farm to table. We’re sourcing all from local farmers. For things we can’t find locally, for example lobster, it’s U.S. sourced.”
BY RON HILL
One of the biggest challenges in aquaculture development is siting production near the largest urban markets. Producing seafood in non-coastal areas is becoming more viable as technology advances, but expansion and development for flowthrough farmers and lake net-pen farmers is limited.
There are many regulatory hurdles to overcome, as well as political and public sentiment to be won. Recirculating aquaculture farms are starting to appear near inland urban centers, but the industry is still developing and overall product contribution to the market is negligible so far. Most production remains coastal, and most products need to be shipped a good distance.
Canadian aquaculture startup, Izumi Aquaculture, has overcome it all. Cited in the MacMilliam gravel pit near Cambridge, Ont., the company has developed its own concept rainbow trout (Oncorhychus mykiss) farm for six years, improving the technology and methods to raise rainbow trout with a unique method in a unique location.
Gravel pits are created when gravel is excavated from the earth with machinery and removed for human use. Aggregate companies dig out as much gravel as they can within their lease, using pumps and specialized equipment to work below the water table to extract all the gravel. Once the gravel is depleted, the large pit fills with ground water, creating a “lake.” Municipalities are not fond of these gravel pits, viewing them as limited-use ponds, unfit for any development or further commercial operation.
The aggregate companies are obligated to rehabilitate the land, to create an aquatic and shoreline ecosystem. This is usually accomplished by fertilizing the lake and slowly adding plants around the shoreline. Once the lake has been established, the value of the land is still marginal. The land is rarely desirable for further development, even if it is lakefront, and is often surrounded by other active gravel pit operations.
The lakes themselves remain largely sterile with low nutrient levels, slowing vegetation growth. Rocky or gravelly geomorphology without soft rich sediment leaves few viable places for establishing a rich ecosystem that won’t require a high level of intervention and investment.
But Izumi Aquaculture identified the huge potential for fish farms in these “limited-use ponds.”
“We have a great partnership with the aggregate companies because we have established a solid, mutually beneficial relationship,” CEO Ryan Smith explains. “Our farms allow for advanced rehabilitation of gravel pits, transforming them into vibrant ecosystems while at the same time, the farms run as a viable and sustainable food business.”
By establishing a floating farm on a gravel pit lake, rehabilitation is sped up through the infusion of “clean” nutrients. Instead of using traditional lake fertilization methods (applying fertilizer over a series of years to stimulate plankton growth) nutrients are provided to the lake in the form of fish waste.
Vegetation and plankton benefit from the nutrients provided by the fish farm, boosting growth. Instead of multiple years to establish an ecosystem, the fish farm allows for more advanced ecosystem establishment in a fraction of the time, including aquatic vegetation and fish populations. After initial ground work , the fish farm is added.
“The farm is sized specifically to the volume of the lake,” says Smith. “We monitor the nutrient levels every day to make sure the lake chemistry is stable.”
By sizing the farm correctly, the vegetation in and around the lake has the capacity to use up the nutrients from the fish farm, preventing eutrophication. The lake at the concept farm currently has a healthy population of minnows (Cyprinid species) and bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) and is surrounded by lush shoreline habitat.
Because the lakes are private and there is no water
exchange with natural water bodies, licensing is less complicated. There is no risk of escapes or disease transfer to or from wild fish. Being former aggregate extraction sites, the land is cleared and there is power to the site or easily connected. There are no home owners up-in-arms or public outcry. On the contrary, municipalities are overwhelmingly in favor of developing these lakes in any productive way they can.
Instead of one to two years, the time to be fully licensed in a gravel pit is a couple months.
“One of the biggest advantages to farming in gravel pits is proximity to markets. Here, we are
less than an hour from the Greater Toronto Area. Because of the abundance of these gravel pits, we can keep transport costs down by establishing sites close to our customers as we grow,”says Smith.
Instead of a square or round pen, Izumi Aquaculture’s floating raceway is 12 feet across and 100 feet long. The walls of the raceway are made of a solid material, not netting. When water is pumped in at one end of the raceway, the pressure from the flow pushes out the sides of the liner to create flush walls and semicircular channel. The soft walls minimize damage from rubbing that can be seen in concrete raceways. Water flows down the length of the raceway past the fish into a baffle system where solids deposit before effluent flows into the lake. This fish waste is collected daily to control the nutrient release into the lake and is used as a resource.
Water is supplied from the lake through an uplift system. There are no pumps onsite, only a series of blowers that provide uplifted water to the head of the raceway.
In the summer months, the surface water temperature of the lake begins to rise and the lake stratifies. As the surface water rises to uncomfortable levels for trout, the airlift can be adjusted to draw water from deeper in the lake. Tempering the surface water with deeper water allows for optimal growing temperature in the raceways for most of the year.
Several different prototypes were tested in the last six years, before the current sized raceway was settled on as the standard.
“Our new systems are made from interlocking docks that slide together, allowing for easy setup and manipulation. Like Lego blocks, we just add the right number of raceways and click them together. Our whole operation is built on low infrastructure costs and our farms are easy to put in and remove.”
There are no buildings on site, instead shipping containers are converted into buildings to house equipment, an office, and the blowers.
“Everything here can be removed within a couple months,” says Smith. “Our company can come to a site and setup a farm to stimulate the rehabilitation of the lake and operate a viable fish farm. If the pit owners are only looking for rehabilitation and have their own plans for lake development, our company can come in, run a farm for a few years to boost the ecosystem, and then be removed so the lake can be developed.”
By designing the floating raceway to allow solid waste collection, Izumi Aquaculture has focused on turning fish waste into a resource.
“We are creating a solid fertilizer and liquid fertilizer that we are currently testing,” explains Smith. A large tomato garden outside the office showed strong early results with the liquid fertilizer.
Izumi recently participated in the Circular Meal Program with the City of Guelph. Fish waste from Izumi was applied to potato crops. Spent grain from a brewer and waste yeast from a baker was fed to insects at an insect farm. Insects were also incorporated into fish feed at Izumi. Chefs used these foods, all created from waste, to construct three creative menus.
Izumi has also started its first trails adding aquaponics to their raceways, experimenting with floating rafts with vegetable and edible flowers.
“Our trout are already found on store shelves in Ontario and there is a huge demand for more. We have a great partnership with Longo’s grocery store chain,” said Smith. After six years of running the concept farm, Izumi Aquaculture is ready to scale.
The first expansion of four farms is on schedule for 2022 with 10 more scheduled to open in 2023. A concentration of new farms is being planned around the current farm outside of Cambridge to meet established local demand. Further farms are opening east of Toronto, the Ottawa area, as well as two in Northern Pennsylvania.
To supply fingerlings, Izumi Aquaculture recently purchased Linwood Acres Trout Farm near Port Hope, Ont. and began adapting it into a fingerling production hatchery to meet their growing need. With a low capital expense and opreations expense model, and a solid partnership with large aggregate companies with gravel pits across North America, Izumi Aquaculture is poised to explode into the aquaculture market. The ability to rehabilitate nature and establish ecosystems through a viable aquaculture business creates the kind of social license and goodwill that most aquaculture operations only dream of.
Garware Technical Fibres in Chile have launched The Star V4 polyethylene nets are that can be painted with traditional water-based antifouling paints.
It maintains all the characteristics of the original raschel nets -knotless- Star, even under aggressive in-situ cleaning conditions. The loss of tensile strength is of the order of 15 per cent, compared to nylon which loses 40 per cent or more in four years. It has high resistance to abrasion in humid conditions, and incorporates anti-UV additives.
“Polyethylene with antifouling does not lose resistance over time, which provides great flexibility in the strategic process of cleaning the nets, since it is possible to migrate from impregnation to cleaning in-situ or vice versa with ease to deliver the better conditions for salmonids, complying with the new regulations required by the sectoral authority,” said Marcos Jofré, business associate at Garware Chile.
It should be noted that in-situ cleaning in Chile is still a complex activity in the aquaculture industry due to logistical aspectsfor which the majority of aquaculture companies prefer to use nets with antifouling, a situation different from the rest of the world where cleaning in-situ prevails, reducing the use of antifouling.
www.garwarefibres.com
Regal Springs, a tilapia producer, has collaborated with aquaculture technology specialists Ace Aquatec to introduce in-water, high welfare stunning solutions into their main processing facilities in the coming months after trials in Mexico.
The white fish producer was looking for a stunning solution to both harvest their tilapia and address the growing demands consumers have for responsibly sourced aquatic foods.
Two years in the making, the project began after Ace Aquatec was awarded £1 million in funding from the Humane Slaughter Association to provide pilot stunning equipment to farms that had no humane harvesting in place for finfish.
Ace Aquatec approached Regal Springs on a trial basis, collaborated with Nautilus Collaboration and The Centre for Responsible Seafood (TCRS), to provide full EEG results to certification bodies, validating the unconsciousness of fish and helping to provide regulators with the evidence to advocate for welfare improvements across the supply chain.
“This is a huge step forward from thermal stunning to a more humane and controlled stunning process, and with this towards better fish welfare. As a side effect also process and quality parameters improved: reduced bruising, better quality of the fillets, better working conditions for staff,” said Emily McGregor, Regal Springs sustainability manager. “This supported Regal Spring’s decision to move from pilot trials to immediate uptake of the equipment, and proliferation across their business.”
The pilot Humane Stunner Universal System for Tilapia allowed Regal Springs to experience first-hand the huge improvements that high welfare in-water stunning of fish can bring.
“We are now working with Barramundi farms in Australia, prawn farms in Europe, and the trout sector in Canada as consumers and regulators insist upon more humane farming processes,” said Nathan Pyne-Cater, CEO of Ace Aquatec. “We’ve been able to demonstrate that when farms take a welfare first approach, they can see real economic gains in their business. This is critical if the mission to see all fish humanely harvested worldwide is to be achieved.”
www.regalsprings.com www.aceaquatec.com
11 am (EST) – Keynote: “Lessons learned from Atlantic Sapphire” with Karl Øystein Øyhaug, Atlantic Sapphire
11:50 am – Panel: “RAS is always greener” moderated by Maddi Badiola, HTH Full Spectrum Aquaculture
12:30 pm – Break
12:45 pm – Panel: “Thinking outside the salmon box” moderated by David Kuhn, Virginia Tech
1:30 pm – Presentation: “How to scale landbased salmon” with Yonathan Zohar, RAS-N 2:15 pm – Break
2:30 pm – Panel: “Investing in RAS around the world” moderated by Jean Ko Din, RAStech Magazine
TO BE A SPONSOR? For sponsorship opportunities, contact: Morgen Balch I mbalch@annexbusinessmedia.com
Aquaculture, Resource Use, and the Environment places aquaculture within the larger context of global population growth, increased demand for sustainable, reliable sources of food, and the responsible use of natural resources. Aquaculture production has grown rapidly in recent decades as over-exploitation and environmental degradation have drastically reduced wild fish stocks. As fish production has increased, questions have persisted about the environmental sustainability of current aquaculture practices.
Providing broad coverage of issues that are essential to the continued development of aquaculture production, Aquaculture, Resource Use, and the Environment will be a vital resource for anyone involved in the field of aquaculture.
The ever-increasing demands on the diets you must produce call for new options. Empyreal 75 is the pure, high-protein concentrate from corn that creates more space in the aquafeed diet. This gives you the freedom to formulate and optimize your diets, by reducing the need for other, more costly forms of protein — so you can create sustainable, higher-value products for your customers.
empyreal 75 .com