Aquaculture Magazine December 2019-January 2020 Vol. 45 No. 6

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DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

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INDEX

Aquaculture Magazine Volume 45 Number 6 December 2019 - January 2020

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EDITOR´S COMMENTS

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INDUSTRY NEWS

13 NAA NOTES

National Aquaculture Association Notes.

17 AQUACULTURE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL News from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.

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NEWS FROM THE AADAP

cover Genetic Variation in Disease Resistance Against White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV)

in Litopenaeus vannamei

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News from the Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Partnership.

32 NEWS ARTICLE

The Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) has received a £10 million, five-year funding package.

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on the

ARTICLE

Scanning of Genetic Variants and Genetic Mapping of Phenotypic Traits in Gilthead Sea Bream Through ddRAD Sequencing.

Volume 45 Number 6 December 2019 - January 2020

Editor and Publisher Salvador Meza info@dpinternationalinc.com

Editor in Chief Greg Lutz editorinchief@dpinternationalinc.com

Editorial Assistant Lucía Araiza editorial@dpinternationalinc.com

Editorial Design Francisco Cibrián

42 LATIN AMERICA REPORT Recent News and Events.

Designer Perla Neri design@design-publications.com

Sales & Marketing Coordinator Juan Carlos Elizalde crm@dpinternationalinc.com

44 AFRICA REPORT

Recent News and Events

76 URNER BARRY

TILAPIA, PANGASIUS AND CHANNEL CATFISH. SHRIMP.

EVENTS 80 UPCOMING ADVERTISERS INDEX 2 »

Business Operations Manager Adriana Zayas administracion@design-publications.com

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DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

COLUMNS

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OUT AND ABOUT

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AQUAFEED

Digital transformation in aquaculture.

By: Salvador Meza *

Recent news from around the globe by Aquafeed.com

By Suzi Dominy

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POST-HARVEST

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AQUACULTURE ECONOMICS, MANAGEMENT, AND MARKETING

Maintaining Raw Seafood Quality through Freezing.

By: Evelyn Watts

Budgeting for Startup Aquaculture and Aquaponics Businesses.

By: Ph.D. Carole R. Engle

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SALMONIDS

Breeding programmes and genetic improvement in salmon and trout.

By Asbjørn Bergheim

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TECHNICAL GURU

72

GENETICS

Just keep skimming…

By Amy Stone

Genetics and Breeding.

C. G. Lutz / Louisiana State University Agricultural Center

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Missing ingredients…

By C. Greg Lutz* Louisiana State University Agricultural Center

When one considers the fact that most of the future growth in aquaculture will take place in developing, under-developed and lowincome food deficit countries, the necessary ingredients for building successful industries cannot be taken for granted.

O

ver the past 4 decades, many governments and organizations have made tremendous efforts to analyze the potential and constraints for development of aquaculture in various parts of the world. Some of these exercises are incorporated into strategic planning activities, with the goal of jump-starting industry development and growth. In other cases, these initiatives can take the form of an in-depth examination of local or regional factors that seem to prevent the adoption of aquaculture production.

Most countries have tried to adopt policies that encourage the establishment or expansion of aquaculture enterprises. Some have embraced the idea wholeheartedly, while others have merely gone through the motions due to indifference, unfamiliarity or widespread corruption. In many countries 4 »

with limited public resources, the potential for aquaculture development has been pursued through distinctly different approaches. The first involves a focus on large numbers of small- to medium-sized farms, with direct societal benefits that impact a large portion of the population. The other approach involves attracting foreign investors to develop industrial operations, usually targeting export markets. Although these businesses also produce positive economic impacts for neighboring communities, apart from direct employment most of these benefits are diluted as wages trickle through local economies.

In either case, a number of ‘ingredients’ are required to come up with a recipe for success. Industrial operations usually are planned and developed to incorporate all of these components in an integrated manner, but

when the goal is to develop an extensive industry with large numbers of producers these factors become critical considerations. They have been cited again and again in analyses of constraints to industry development in places as widely dispersed as South Asia, Central America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe. The same missing ingredients are holding widescale aquaculture back in many parts of the world. Let’s examine some.

Feed This ‘ingredient,’ perhaps more than any other, embodies the “Catch 22” of regional aquaculture development in many parts of the world. Farmers cannot operate efficiently without suitable and reliable sources of feed, so few if any operations can be established in the absence of feed mills and distribution infrastructure. On DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

the other hand, feed manufacturers have little incentive to establish facilities that, initially at least, will have no local market for the product. In some cases, the perceived future market demand (based on analysis of other factors that could support industry development) is sufficient to convince feed companies, often with incentives from regional or national governments, to establish manufacturing facilities. In many cases, once feed becomes available farms begin to be established and distribution channels are developed. But a lack of local sources of good quality feed is one of the primary constraints to establishing aquaculture industries throughout the world.

Seed Aquaculture producers throughout the world are concerned with the DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

quality and reliability of the fingerlings, post-larvae or spat they have to work with, but this factor is of critical concern for producers in less-developed nations. Seed is often only available from suppliers that are some distance away and it’s not uncommon in some parts of the world for growers to have to stock fingerlings that have travelled some 10 to 12 hours prior to arriving at their destination. In addition, growers in many underdeveloped regions often have to deal with inconsistent availability and missed deliveries due to poor roads and difficulty communicating with suppliers.

As is also the case in many developed countries, producers in developing regions subscribe to a perception that the genetic background of what seed is available is generally poor. Not unlike the situation with chickens, the industrial vs. rustic aspect of fish ge-

netics becomes apparent for many rural fish farmers. Available lines of fish may reflect many generations of inbreeding, with poor reproductive or growth performance. But on the other hand, just as one would not necessarily expect a modern commercial laying hen to thrive in the back yard of a subsistence farmer, the availability of ill-adapted ‘improved’ lines of fish from government hatcheries or commercial distributors has not always resulted in improved yields.

Infrastructure Inadequate road systems cause problems not only for deliveries of fingerlings, PL’s or spat, but also feed, chemicals, equipment and other supplies. The movement of finished product from farms to markets also depends on adequate roads. This ‘ingredient’ is somewhat problematic. »

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EDITOR´S RESEARCHCOMMENTS REPORT

Many governments may find it difficult to calculate the cost/benefit ratio for such investments, making them reluctant to use scarce funds for projects that may not have demonstrable returns to society. Furthermore, a fragmented network of small-scale producers (and potential producers) may lack the political clout to even communicate the need for industrysupporting infrastructure projects.

In contrast, development of roadways and reliable electricity supplies are often a negotiating point when governments try to entice investors to establish industrial operations.

Capital Even in situations where forward thinking governments may wish to encourage the development of aquaculture… it takes money. Access to capital has been a major impediment to aquaculture development throughout the world, and this constraint continues to keep aquaculture beyond the reach of many small producers in low-income nations.

While some micro-credit schemes have been shown to produce results under certain circumstances, there are numerous examples of

well-meaning organizations dumping large sums of money to promote aquaculture in various regions only to walk away, leaving would-be producers with no way to obtain operating capital. Without this key ingredient, others will soon be lacking, as fingerling suppliers and feed distributors disappear due to lack of cash flow.

Reliable Electricity and Communications Electricity and communications grids are also lacking in many areas where

Land tenure / site availability Farming aquatic organisms implies ownership. But how can a small producer own his or her inventory if he or she doesn’t own the land it is growing on? Questions regarding land tenure are very real constraints for aquaculture development in many parts of the world. In many areas aquaculture producers must operate on publicly-owned lands that are also used by fishermen, foresters or cattle grazers. But while these other activities are based on a framework of legal definitions and permits – no such standing is available for aquaculturists.

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Policy issues Any number of policy issues can impact aquaculture development, including: • Recognition of aquaculture production as a legitimate land use • Import/export policies relating to feed ingredients, equipment or competitive fishery products • Tax incentives and access to microcredit programs • Gender issues Technical support Information is more widely available through the internet today – but so is misinformation. The typical fragmentation of the industry over wide rural areas, coupled with poor roads and a general lack of resources makes it difficult for many governments in the developing world to provide growers with one-on-one technical support on a regular basis. The lack of reliable communication networks in some regions has hampered efforts to use cell phones as a delivery method for technical support, but this method is being used successfully in many locations.

The technical divide Globally, aquaculture is still a handson practical form of scraping out a living through farming, especially for the vast majority of the 19 million – plus producers around the world.

As developed nations focus on more aquaculture could develop rapidly if duction, consumers of aquaculture RAS and automated monitoring, aerthey were present. These resources products are increasingly removed ation and feeding, the technology gap are crucial for both production and from producing communities. The is widening. If one reflects on the marketing operations. A lack of reli- implications are numerous – produc- list of ‘ingredients’ discussed here, able electricity means generators (and ers will require middle-men to trans- it becomes apparent that none can regular deliveries of fuel – there’s that port their product to end consumers, be missing if developing countries road access thing again…) will be re- middle-men can pit producers against around the world are going to proquired for aeration and pumping if each other and force them to reduce mote aquaculture as a livelihood. anything more than low-input subsis- profit margins in exchange for market tence level production is to take place. access, quality may be reduced (and therefor consumer acceptance and Dr. C. Greg Lutz has a B.A. in Biology and Spanish by the demand) if middle-men do not conCold chain / markets Earlham College at Richmond, Indiana, a M.S. in Fisheries and a Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science by the LouiA significant population shift from cern themselves with how the prodsiana State University. His interests include recirculating rural regions to urban centers is un- uct is handled, and adequacy of road system technology and population dynamics, quantitative genetics and multivariate analyses and the use of web derway in many countries. While ru- systems again comes into question. based technology for result-demonstration methods. ral areas might be well-suited for proProfessor and Specialist with the LSU AgCenter.

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INDUSTRY RESEARCHNEWS REPORT

Norwegian salmon ranked most sustainable among world’s largest protein producers Norwegian aquaculture companies hold 4 out of the top 10 spots in the 2019 Coller FAIRR Protein Index, which ranks 60 of the world’s largest publicly-listed protein producers on how they perform on sustainability. The Index looked at how the world’s largest producers of meat, dairy and seafood perform on various risk factors relating to sustainability. The world’s largest salmon producer, MOWI, is ranked number one in this year’s index, closely followed by Lerøy in 3rd, (ranked number one in 2018). With Grieg Seafood in 6th place and Salmar in 9th, all of the Norwegian salmon producers included on the list are among the top 10.

The Norwegian Seafood Council states that the results leave little doubt that Norwegian aquaculture is among the most sustainable food production there is. “Eating more seafood is a good way to reduce climate emissions, and Norwegian salmon companies are leading the way in sustainable protein production,” says Renate Larsen, Managing Director of the Norwegian Seafood Council.

“We know consumers increasingly want to know where their food comes from, and this report clearly show that Norwegian salmon is a good choice for conscious consumers,” Larsen added.

The index ranks companies based on their disclosure and management of material, environmental and social risks, and is the world’s only benchmark dedicated to profiling animal protein producers and showcasing critical gaps and areas of best practice. The main purpose of the report is to enable and support well-informed investment decisions in the protein sector.

In the report, the Norwegian aquaculture companies perform well against most risk factors, which include food safety, waste and pollution, working conditions, fresh water use, antibiotics, animal wel-

fare, greenhouse gas emission and deforestation and biodiversity loss.

Norwegian aquaculture is particularly highlighted for best practices when it comes to antibiotics use and fish welfare. “This index highlights how important it is for large food producers to show transparency and continuous efforts to improve and document their sustainability credentials,” says Larsen.

The full FAIRR 2019 Protein Producer Index can be accessed at https://www.fairr.org/article/ coller-fairr-protein-producer-index-2019/

Alltech Coppens recognizes Tropic Ribarstvo as Tech Innovator Tropic Ribarstvo has created an innovative peracetic acid dispenser for trout farms. Gill disease is a major threat for trout farming companies, but it can be treated with peracetic acid and a similar medical supplement. Zoran Tepic, managing director of Tropic and his team invented a device that allows farmers to safely apply the medication to tanks and raceways while minimizing the stress of the fish simultaneously.

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“Traditionally, the flow in the fish tank is stopped and the peracetic acid is manually applied to the water — this can cause additional stress on the fish and uneven distribution of the therapeutic,” Pat Charlton, CEO of Alltech Coppens said. “This invention is an extremely efficient method of treating fish in a way that ensures safe and stable dosing while minimising stress to fish stock during the process.”

The recognition was announced at the recent Aqua InDepth Conference in Eindhoven. Tropic Ribarstvo won €2,000 worth of Alltech Coppens feed and the support of Alltech’s Innovation team to help encourage adoption of the invention across the trout aquaculture industry.

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BIOMAR accelerates next generation of feed solutions for RAS Building upon decades of research with feed for recirculation, BioMar has now chosen to increase focus on feed solutions for this segment. BioMar states that land-based farming can improve efficiency and operational stability using even more advanced feed solutions. BioMar has for decades been one of the driving forces behind the development of products for recirculation. As a response to the increased focus on how land-based farming impacted the water quality of creeks and rivers, BioMar started the development of the product range ORBIT back in the late 1980’s. Today, this product range embraces furthermore highperforming products for land-based salmon farming.

“RAS for land-based salmon farming is an emerging segment

within the aquaculture industry, and there is still a potential to be realized.

The highly advanced technologies being used require highly advanced feed solutions and farming practices to enable a strong performance”, states Carlos Diaz, CEO of BioMar Group and continues: “As a strategic initiative, we have brought all of our RAS-specialists into a global task force. They are working together with global as well as local customers accelerating the next generation of feed solutions for RAS. We are building upon a very strong foundation being a leader within the RAS segment for many years, but the future requires that we can bring even more specialized products to the market, supported across geographies”.

“We will very soon present new products to the market. This task

force has as one of the main objectives to ensure we contribute to release the full potential of land-based farming. In order to create a sustainable food future, we need together as an industry to enable a doubling of our production capacity without increasing pressure on the environment, wild fish and agriculture. That is a challenge, we need to address together. We all have a responsibility for adding resources and increasing collaboration”, concludes Diaz. All members of the task force have been selected based upon local as well as global results within RAS. They are all recognized for their expertise have 15-25 years of experience working within Aquaculture as products developers and trusted advisors for customers across the globe.

Hellenic Aquaculture Producers Organization (HAPO) progressing with Fish from Greece Certification The privately owned, nonprofit Hellenic Aquaculture Producers Organization was established in 2016 with the primary aim of fostering the growth and development of its members. Representing approximately 80% of the Greek aquaculture industry, HAPO is self-financed through the contributions and donations of its members, to whom it provides a wide range of active support in terms of collaboration, development, advice, problem-solving, networking, training, liaison with authorities and more.

The organization’s mission is to firmly establish the Greek identity and highlight the exceptional characteristics and competitive advantage of the fresh Greek fish branded “Fish from Greece”, raised with the utmost care

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

by its Members in the most ideal locations of the country’s unspoiled seas.

The certification of HAPO’s 21 member-fisheries with the Private Certification Protocol “Fish from Greece”, which allows their products to be tagged “Fish from Greece” (the collective brand introduced by HAPO last year), marks the beginning of an era of extroversion for HAPO.

In a press conference held in Athens last month, HAPO’s President, Apostolos Touralias, announced the launch of an ambitious promotional initiative for 2019-2020, that focuses on both local Greek markets and also the Italian market. Italy absorbs a significant percentage of HAPO members’ exports.

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INDUSTRY RESEARCHNEWS REPORT

Longer leases delivered for the South Australia aquaculture sector South Australia’s aquaculture sector is set to benefit from extensions to aquaculture lease terms following the passage of changes to the Aquaculture Act 2001 through parliament in September. Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Tim Whetstone said with the reform the Liberal Government has delivered on its election commitment to strengthen the aquaculture sector.

“At the last election we committed to the state’s aquaculture farmers we would increase the maximum term for an aquaculture production lease from 20 to 30 years,” said Minister Whetstone. “The extension to aquaculture lease terms will make aquaculture leases more attractive for financial institutions and provide current lease holders an opportunity to borrow against their leases in an effort to unlock the huge potential that exists within this industry. Once these new measures come into effect, current holders of production leases will have an opportunity to apply for an extension of

the terms of their leases to a term not exceeding 30 years from the day their lease was granted or renewed.” Minister Whetstone said, as part of the latest amendments, written notification of the intention to cancel a lease must now also be provided to a third party, if they have been formally noted on the public register.

“These new third-party notification arrangements will provide an

opportunity for investors to work with lease holders to explore options towards avoiding cancellation,” said Minister Whetstone, adding “these latest changes to the Aquaculture Act are the result of concerted and extensive engagement and collaboration with the aquaculture sector and are part of our agenda to grow the state’s economy.”

Cargill’s Motiv™ bioactive protein debuts in Ecuador Global shrimp production is projected to increase at a 5.7 percent CAGR from 2017 to 2020 according to Global Aquaculture Alliance’s GOAL 2018 survey. With disease management as one of the most significant concerns, shrimp farmers are more vigilant than ever about maintaining optimal health of their stocks. Motiv™, a new bioactive protein feed ingredient, can reduce stress and minimize disease impact while increasing their overall growth, vitality and enhanced color, according to Cargill.

Motiv is a fermented feed ingredient solution developed to create a healthier “gut environment” in shrimp. As a result, shrimp should be able to better utilize the nutrients of the whole diet, increasing their 10 »

energy and accelerating their growth, weight gain and resistance to disease, including Early Mortality Syndrome.

Because Motiv is a plant-based ingredient, shrimp farmers have the potential to increase their output to meet the growing global demand without the depletion of natural resources.

“We created Motiv to specifically address issues being faced by shrimp farmers and believe this will be a welcome tool to help manage

disease while improving growth,” stated Eric Bell, Cargill’s Aqua Product Line Lead. Motiv was unveiled in Ecuador on October 21 at Aqua Expo, a conference focused specifically on sustainable production practices for Ecuadorian shrimp. Dr. Nguyen Duy Hoa, Global Technical Director for Cargill’s Branded Feed Group, presented key considerations in farm management and health nutrients for healthier shrimp at the conference.

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Aquaculture 2.0: RAS Is Driving Change – LandBased Farming Is Set to Disrupt Salmon Rabobank sees the tide turning for recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and sees potential for this emerging technology to change the aquaculture game over the next decade, according to the latest RaboResearch report, ‘Aquaculture 2.0: RAS Is Driving Change – LandBased Farming Is Set to Disrupt Salmon.’

“An increasing number of proposed RAS projects, particularly for salmon-farming, are in the process of building a platform for future

success,” says Beyhan de Jong, Analyst – Animal Protein. “So far, we have identified more than 50 RAS proposed projects (and counting) to farm salmon on land. The total estimated production of these announced projects up to 2030 is equal to 25% of total current salmon production.”

“Although the RAS concept is still under development and the future holds uncertainties, in our view the future of RAS operations is positive,” continues de Jong. “If

the risks within RAS operations are managed effectively, in our view, RAS will disrupt aquaculture trade flows, supply chains, and the marketing of salmon within the next decade. For those in the salmon industry and other aquaculture valuechain operations, now is the time to decide if they should invest in RAS or invest to ensure they stay ahead of RAS, as this technology matures, grows, and disrupts the market.”

SYLFEED Consortium Achieves New Milestone as Atlantic Salmon Trial Successfully Demonstrates Efficacy of Novel Alternative Protein for Aquafeed Arbiom, an agricultural-biotechnology company developing solutions to convert wood into food, recently announced a completed scientific study evaluating SylPro®, its alternative protein ingredient, for juvenile Atlantic salmon feed.

The study, conducted by Matis Icelandic Food & Biotech R&D as part of the SYLFEED project, was designed to demonstrate the nutritional performance of SylPro® in comparison with conventional plant and animal protein sources.

“These findings indicate that SylPro can be used to replace fish meal or plant-based proteins in feed for juvenile Atlantic salmon, a crucial developmental stage, and deliver equivalent nutritional performance as conventional protein sources up to 20 percent inclusion level,” said Alexandra Leeper, PhD candidate from Matis.

In the study, Atlantic salmon feeds were formulated with Arbiom’s ingredient as a complement to or replacement for fishmeal and plant-based proteins at various inclusion rates. The study was deDECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

signed to evaluate the product’s nutritional performance in terms of body weight gain as well as its effects on the gut microbiome, which researchers measured over the course of a five-week trial period.

“SylPro represents a scientifically-backed new protein source for aquaculture feed producers and farmers, which outperforms current commercial protein sources”, said Dr. Jon Arnason, Senior Animal Nutritionist from Matis. The study results showed no statistical difference in body weight gain for SylPro compared to the control diet up to the 20 percent inclusion level. Ad-

ditionally, there were no differences in fish mortality across treatments.

These results supported those from previous trials evaluating SylPro for use in hybrid striped bass.

SylPro is produced from wood through Arbiom’s process, which integrates fractionation and bioconversion technologies to efficiently convert wood residues into fermentable substrates for microorganism production through pretreatment and fermentation processes. The final product is a dried yeast, which is a nutritional protein source for use in aquafeed and other animal feeds. » 11

INDUSTRY RESEARCHNEWS REPORT

Congressional Research Service Releases Offshore Aquaculture Analysis The United States Congressional Research Service (CRS) has released a report titled “U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Regulation and Development,” authored by Natural Resource Policy Analyst Harold F. Upton.

As pointed out in the document summary, regulatory uncertainty has been identified as one of the main barriers to offshore aquaculture development in the U.S. Because there is no explicit statutory authority for permitting and developing offshore aquaculture in federal waters, many industry proponents have emphasized that congressional action will likely be necessary to define a regulatory framework that can allow for investment and development.

Upton’s report explains the roles of various government agencies as they relate to aquaculture activities.

It also reviews a history of legislation pertaining to the topic, with a detailed review of the 115th and 116th Congresses. Previous congressional focus has concentrated on • providing institutional support for aquaculture, such as planning, research, and technology transfer; • identifying a lead agency to administer and coordinate aquaculture development and regulation; • establishing and streamlining permit and consultation requirements to improve the efficiency of the permitting process; • developing processes to consult and communicate with other stakeholders to reduce user conflicts; and

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• minimizing environmental harm and addressing environmental concerns through planning and monitoring.

Comprehensive offshore aquaculture bills were introduced in the 109th, 110th, 111th, 112th, and 115th Congresses, but none were enacted.

In the 115th Congress, the “Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture Act” (AQUAA; S. 3138 and H.R. 6966) was introduced. Had it been enacted, AQUAA would have established a regulatory framework for aquaculture development in federal waters.

Since the 109th Congress, bills have also been introduced that would constrain or prohibit the permitting of aquaculture in the EEZ. The Keep Finfish Free Act of 2019 (H.R. 2467), introduced in the 116th Con-

gress, would prohibit the issuance of permits to conduct finfish aquaculture in the EEZ until a law is enacted that allows such action.

The document contains several important conclusions, most notably: “Development of marine offshore aquaculture would likely require a new regulatory framework for establishing offshore aquaculture in federal waters. A regulatory framework potentially could provide the industry with clear requirements for its development while minimizing potential environmental harm. It remains an open question whether legislation could be crafted to achieve a balance between providing the certainty sought by potential commercial developers of aquaculture and satisfying environmental and other concerns of stakeholders such as environmentalists and fishermen.”

The CRS serves as nonpartisan, shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress.

The CRS operates at the behest of and under the direction of Congress, so information in a CRS Report should not be relied on for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress. The report can be accessed at https://crsreports.congress.gov/ product/pdf/R/R45952 DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

NAA NOTES

National Aquaculture Association Notes USDA Issues Federal Order to Prevent Additional Introduction of Tilapia Lake Virus to the United States The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has responded to a request by the National Aquaculture Association and is issuing a Federal Order to prevent the entry or introduction of Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) into the United States.

This Federal Order requires that imported shipments of all live fish, fertilized eggs and gametes from TiLV-susceptible species now have a USDA import permit, official health certificate and veterinary inspection.

The TiLV–susceptible species are: • Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) • Commercial hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus x Oreochromis aureus) • Red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) and • Wild tilapia (Sarotherodon galilaeus) TiLV is a deadly disease of farmed and wild tilapia, and it poses a serious threat to U.S. aquaculture. TiLV does not affect humans, nor is it a food safety concern. Signs of the disease in tilapia include cloudy or bulging eyes, skin lesions such as darkening, bruising, ulcers or protrusion of the gills, and abdominal swelling. Fish may be slow-moving and off feed. There are no treatments or vaccines for the disease at this time.

TiLV was first detected in the United States in March 2019. The disease was quickly contained and eradicated.

The Federal order may be viewed at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_ health/downloads/import/tilv-federal-order.pdf and becomes effective DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

December 12, 2019. For more information regarding the Federal Order, please contact Dr. Alicia Marston, Staff Veterinary Medical Officer, at 301-851-3361 or Alicia.R.Marston@ usda.gov. For information concerning the NAA’s request for TiLV import control, please contact the NAA Office at 850-216-2400 or naa@thenaa. net.

tively encouraging the development and expansion of shellfish aquaculture; however, the landscape facing the industry can be confusing and complicated. In “Law on the Half Shell,” NSGLC attorneys delve into the “who, what, where and why” of shellfish aquaculture, as well as the many legal challenges that can impede domestic aquaculture development.

NSGLC has Launched Shellfish Aquaculture Podcast The National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) at the University of Mississippi School of Law has launched a shellfish aquaculture podcast.

The eight-episode “Law on the Half Shell” podcast is part of a National Sea Grant College Programfunded collaboration to examine impediments to shellfish aquaculture across the United States. A student in the UM School of Journalism and New Media provided editorial and production assistance for the podcast.

The shellfish industry is growing in coastal areas, with many states ac» 13

NAA NOTES

Podcast guests include James Gledhill, a graduate student in the Department of Biomolecular Science at Ole Miss, who discusses shellfish biology and the role that shellfish play in the ecosystem, and Sam Chan, statewide aquatic invasive species specialist with Oregon Sea Grant, who discusses the impact of invasive species on farms.

The following episodes will be released on Tuesday of each week: • Episode 1 (released Nov. 5): The Basics – who does it, where it occurs, who regulates it and where the farmed shellfish go • Episode 2: Shellfish 101 – shellfish biology and the role that shellfish play in the ecosystem • Episode 3: Leasing – the leasing and permitting process for shellfish aquaculture operations • Episode 4: Freshwater – the impact of freshwater quality and quantity on shellfish aquaculture • Episode 5: Impact of Storms and Other Disasters – impact of storms and other disasters on shellfish aquaculture operations, including resources available to assist in recovery • Episode 6: Invaders – the impact of invasive species and other unwanted guests on shellfish farms • Episode 7: Zoning – shellfish aquaculture at the local level and an exploration of the impact of local land-use decisions • Episode 8: Bonus episode – interesting facts about shellfish aquaculture.

For more information and links to the episodes, visit http://nsglc.olemiss.edu/lawonthehalfshell/.

aquaculture ranging from workforce development to recirculating aquaculture systems. For more information and a draft agenda, please visit: https://umaine.edu/aquaculture/ event/maine-aquaculture-rd-education-forum/. Please contact Meggan Dwyer with your questions at meggan. dwyer@maine.edu or 207-745-0834.

Seafood on the Agenda for Animal Rights Activists (by Hannah Thompson-Weem, Vice President for Communications, Animal Agriculture Alliance).

Animal rights and vegan activists have been aggressively targeting animal agriculture for years, launching coordinated campaigns against the beef, dairy, poultry, pork and egg industries.

Unfortunately, it appears that seafood may be the next protein in the activist crosshairs, and the aquaculture and fishing industries should prepare accordingly. A salmon hatchery was recently targeted by Compassion Over Killing, an extreme animal rights activist group, with an “undercover video” campaign. Now is the time for all involved in seafood production to become familiar with the animal rights movement and prepare for additional activist campaigns.

The 2019 National Animal Rights Conference was held in the Washington DC area over the summer, and several sessions focused on fish (a no-

ticeable increase in discussion of fish over previous years). In a session titled “Abuse of Aquatic Animals,” speakers from activist organizations Compassion Over Killing and Fish Feel said fish are “the largest category of exploited vertebrate animals.” Commercial fishing was described as “cruel” and “incredibly wasteful” and people were encouraged to go vegetarian in order to save fish from dying. The speaker from Fish Feels called for more activism on behalf of fish, saying “aquatic animals suffer the most out of all farmed animals and receive the least amount of recognition from both the animal rights and animal welfare communities.”

In another session titled, “Fighting for Fishes,” speakers from Fish Feel and United Poultry Concerns said that fish are “misunderstood and abused.” Both fishing and aquaculture were criticized, with speakers claiming that we are overfishing the oceans and farmed fish are abused and skinned alive. The session closed with a call to action for audience members to go vegan, spread the word about how amazing fish are and post comments online about the cruelties of fishing and aquaculture.

These quotes make it clear that animal rights and vegan activist organizations are coming after seafood consumption, and we’re already seeing examples of this in addition to

Maine Research, Development and Education Forum Announced The 4th Maine Aquaculture Research, Development and Education Forum will be held at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center in Belfast, Maine on January 17th, 2020. Hosted by the University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute and the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, the R&D&E Forum will include sessions, posters, and technical workshops focused on emerging topics in Maine 14 »

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

the recent campaign by Compassion Over Killing. Groups like Mercy for Animals have released “undercover video” campaigns targeting fishing, and extreme organization Direct Action Everywhere included aquatic imagery in a recent protest. These tactics will only increase as the activist movement continues to attempt to erode consumer confidence in eating seafood. The Open Philanthropy Project, a grant-providing organization funded by one of the founders of Facebook, has awarded considerable funds to groups who want to target seafood, including $250,000 to Compassion Over Killing for “investigations.”

The aquaculture and fishing industries can learn from prior experiences of the animal agriculture industry and prepare for the following tactics to be employed.

• Undercover video campaigns. Activist groups will pay people to get hired on farms or fishing operations to capture footage that can be used against the industry. They may take imagery out of context to create images that look alarming to the untrained eye, or if they witness any actual mishandling they won’t stop or report it immediately.

• Legislative efforts. State legislative measures dictating animal care are often lobbied for by activist organizations and have the potential to impact your ability to provide safe, nutritious and affordable seafood for all. While these measures may sound appealing to consumers or lawmakers without experience in the industry, they usually are not actually beneficial to animal health and wellbeing and are solely intended to drive up costs of production (and therefore food costs, reducing consumers’ ability to purchase animal products).

• Restaurant/ retail pressure. In addition to pushing for legislation, activist groups will pressure food brands to adopt certain supply chain policies with the same goal of making production less efficient and incrementally moving toward veganism. Your restaurant and retail customers may be DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

targeted with social media campaigns, petitions, advertisements, lawsuits and more.

• Protests/ trespassing. Activists will trespass to “rescue” animals, or will hold large and disruptive protests outside of farms and facilities.

The Animal Agriculture Alliance is a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the communication gap between farm and fork with growing membership from the aquaculture and fishing sectors. The Alliance strongly recommends that companies involved in farming or catching fish adopt strong security measures. Recommended preparations include installation of gates, fencing, cameras, motion-sensor lighting and locks; implementation of a thorough hiring process including reference checks; procedures for handling unauthorized visitors; and policies for responding to protests.

For advice on security and mitigating the threat of animal rights activism, contact the Alliance at 703-562-5160 or info@animalagalliance.org or the National Aquaculture Association at 850-216-2400 or naa@thenaa.net.

National Sea Grant Law Center to Lead Two Major Marine Aquaculture Projects The National Sea Grant Program recently awarded $16 million for 42 research projects nationwide for collaborative aquaculture projects. The National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) will lead two of the new aquaculture initiatives and contribute to one additional project aimed at advancing sustainable aquaculture in the

United States. The two projects that will be led by NSGLC are: • Improvement in the understanding of the property-related legal barriers to the development of offshore aquaculture in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the identification of potential approaches to help overcome those legal barriers. A lack of a comprehensive federal framework for the long-term authorization of offshore aquaculture operations, including the right to physically occupy space, is a significant barrier to the expansion of aquaculture offshore into federal waters of the U.S. EEZ. The NSGLC will assess the current state of the debate regarding security of tenure for offshore aquaculture operations in the U.S. EEZ and convene a collaborative learning workshop to engage stakeholders in discussions of policy preferences, legal frameworks, and needs associated with providing security of tenure for offshore aquaculture. The National Sea Grant Law Center will lead the project, receive $97,129 in federal funds and partner with the National Aquaculture Association and Fearless Fund.

• Development of a model law, regulation, or guidance document for use by states for the sale of seaweed in its whole form as a food. The National Sea Grant Law Center will lead the project, supported by $212,977 in federal funds, and will partner with Connecticut Sea Grant. The project seeks to overcome a main obstacle to the expansion of the seaweed industry in the United States: the lack of a federal framework for its regulation as a food

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NAA NOTES

source in its whole form. Without this framework, states are unsure how to structure regulations for this emerging industry, impeding the growth of this potentially important food source.

The project that NSGLC will contribute to is: • Establishment of a National Sea Grant Seaweed Hub with $1.1 million in federal funds. The hub will serve as a central clearinghouse for sciencebased, practical resources about seaweed aquaculture research and extension efforts. The hub will provide information for planning and outreach efforts for federal and state agencies as well as seaweed growers and other stakeholders in both the culinary and non-food sectors. This project is led

by Aquaculture Extension Specialist and Extension Educator Anoushka Concepcion, Connecticut Sea Grant.

For more information, contact Stephanie Showalter Otts, National Sea Grant Law Center Director, at sshowalt@olemiss.edu or 662-9157775.

“We recognize there are federal processes in place for affected producers to manage protected avian predators. However, these processes are often insufficient to adequately address the problem,” members wrote in the letter.

Some predatory birds protected under the MBTA, such as doublecrested cormorants, black vultures and ravens, can inflict serious harm upon livestock and fish. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates double-crested cormorants cause more than $25 million in damage annually for the aquaculture industry. USDA has also reported that black vultures are responsible for 10 percent of all calves lost to predators. While producers are permitted to use certain methods to protect their animals against these birds, the current permitting process is onerous for farmers and is often not enough to prevent loss or deter further predation.

“With populations of each species numbering well in the millions, they are thriving and face no immediate or foreseeable threat of extinction. It is incumbent upon the FWS to consider the growing economic losses inflicted upon livestock and aquaculture producers by these birds,” members wrote.

To read, download the letter and share the letter with your Senator or Representative if they have not signed on, visit Senator Boozman’s webpage.

Boozman, Bishop Urge FWS to Better Protect Aquaculture from Avian Predators U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) and U.S. Representative Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (D-GA) led a bicameral letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) urging the agency to streamline the permitting process to allow livestock and aquaculture producers greater flexibility in protecting their animals from avian predators shielded Food Editors Want to Know More under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act about Aquaculture!

(MBTA).

The National Aquaculture Asso-

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ciation (NAA) and New York Sea Grant participated in the annual meeting of the International Foodservice Editorial Council in Madison, Wisconsin in October. The group represents publications including Nation’s Restaurant News, Progressive Grocer, Grocery Business, and Plate that reach foodservice and retail businesses nationwide. We had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with editors and familiarize them with the materials produced by NAA and Sea Grant, establish channels of communication, and supply editors with industry contacts. Some writers have already made connections. Those industry contacts play a critical role in telling the story of American aquaculture and changing attitudes about farm-raised fish and shellfish.

This year, there was more interest than ever in aquaculture. A number of writers requested follow-up information and contacts. Some have even requested additional desk meetings. Everyone had a positive attitude toward our industry and felt that farmed seafood was the wave of the future. Because the event was held in the Midwest, we developed a short press release about local fish and “foodie” events like fish fries and shellfish boils. A second release focused on the importance of developing offshore aquaculture in U.S. waters.

If you haven’t already completed our on-line grower survey, we urge you to do it. The information is used to inform growers of promotional opportunities, better represent the industry and help to develop an enabling atmosphere for the full development of U.S. aquaculture. A number of companies have already taken advantage of the opportunity to promote their companies at trade shows with no cost other than the mailing of materials and the cost of product. We invite growers to complete the survey at: https://bit.ly/2RgiHmE .

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

AQUACULTURE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL

News from the

Aquaculture Stewardship Council ASC Response to Report on Feed Used in Aquaculture On October 15, ASC responded to a report from the Changing Markets Foundation about the impacts of some feed used in aquaculture.

ASC standards include requirements to minimise the environmental impacts of the sourcing and use of feed. This is such an important area for the industry, ASC has set requirements for the traceability of the components used in feed and continues to advance the sustainability of the raw materials over time. This year ASC will release a standalone Feed Standard that will encompass all ingredients, whether land-based or from the sea, and will require ASC certified farms to source feed from ASC certified feed mills.

The new ASC Feed Standard will require ongoing improvements from feed mills until their marine ingredients are only sourced from fisheries that are certified against the Marine Stewardship Council or equivalent.

However, only focusing on marine ingredients risks oversimplifying the impacts of highly complex supply chains that go far beyond the aquaculture industry. For example, the impacts of terrestrial crop ingredients, such as soy, corn, rice, and palm oil, can be just as significant if not handled responsibly. For this reason, the ASC Feed Standard also covers the responsible sourcing of terrestrial DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

ingredients with regards to deforestation/ conversion-free production.

All food production creates environmental and social impacts if not done in a responsible manner. We believe the solution to these complex issues is not simply removing certain types of ingredients, but ensuring that those farms and feed mills that are acting responsibly can demonstrate this to consumers. The ASC logo provides this demonstration, and is only awarded after an independent audit by third-party auditors.

The many and varied impacts of all food production mean it can be overwhelming for consumers to know where to look for responsibly sourced food. Fortunately, the ASC label for farmed fish covers not only the responsible sourcing of fish feed and fish oil, but also the responsible behaviour of the farms themselves – including environmental impacts such as minimising medications and chemicals, and social impacts such as treating staff and neighbours fairly.  17

AQUACULTURE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL

First ASC Labelled Seabream on Sale in Germany and Switzerland It has only been a few months since farms could apply for certification against the ASC Seabass, Seabream, and Meagre Standard, and already the first ASC labeled products have hit the shelves in Germany and Switzerland.

Two retailers, Migros in Switzerland and Lidl in Germany, have been the first to launch ASC certified seabream products in the second half of September. Lidl Germany began offering whole-fish packs of fresh ASC seabream in their stores in Southern Germany in the week beginning September 16. Migros started selling ASC labelled seabream in their certified fresh fish counters in the very same week, and has switched its entire product range of seabream to ASC. In addition, all of Migros’ sea bass products were switched to ASC beginning in November.

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“The ASC programme is about rewarding and encouraging responsible aquaculture by allowing consumers and retailers to choose certified products that they know they can trust,” said Barbara Janker, ASC

Commercial Marketing Manager for Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

“So it is great to see a big demand for ASC labelled seabream. It takes work from not only the farm but the whole supply chain to get ASC certified seabream into the shelves. We’d like to congratulate Migros and Lidl Germany for sourcing these products so quickly, and we know that this is just the beginning, with more retailers around Europe set to follow suit.”

The new standard launched in 2018, and farms were able to apply for certification following a sixmonth effective period that ended in March this year. The first farms to be ASC certified achieved this in June, and many more have followed with over 20 farms now certified in Turkey, Greece, Croatia and Albania.

For a product to carry the ASC label, it must come from an ASC certified farm, but that’s not all. Any company involved in the processing, packaging or sale of the product must have Chain of Custody (CoC) certification. This provides assurance that the product is kept separate from non-certified products throughout the entire supply chain, giving consumers confidence that fish with an ASC label really comes from a responsibly managed farm.

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Japan Celebrates Responsible Seafood Production in Truly Unique Style Celebrities, cooking classes, and a fish face competition: just some of the ingredients of another fun, educational and truly unique Sustainable Seafood Week in Japan, which took place in October.

This was the sixth annual event in Japan, run jointly by ASC and MSC to raise awareness of responsible seafood production and featuring events for all ages around the country.

“Every year this event grows and it’s great to see more and more people learning about responsible seafood,” said Koji Yamamoto, ASC Japan General Manager. “There was a real variety of events throughout the campaign, but they all had the same intention: to make people as passionate about responsible seafood as we are, so hopefully they will share that passion with others. At every event we wanted to let people find out the importance of these issues, and how they can do something about it by looking for the ASC and MSC logos, while making sure they also had a lot of fun.”

The opening event took place at Kasai Rinkai Aquarium on October 8, and set the tone with a high energy day featuring popular entertainers getting the assembled audience and

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journalists enthused with fun activities about a hugely important topic.

Popular entertainer Naoki Tanaka from Yoshimoto Kogyo was among the guests, learning about marine resources and responsible seafood in a quiz, and taking part in a fish face selfie competition.

There was too much to squeeze into just one week, with workshops and activities taking place around the country over the following weeks.

These were targeted at seafood lovers of all ages: a class of elementary

school students learned about seafood and environmental issues at one event. At another, high school students took part in seafood cooking classes. Having learned about the importance of responsible seafood, the participants were then lucky enough to learn how to best prepare some delicious ASC and MSC certified ingredients.

Gift bags including souvenirs, stationary from ASC, MSC and just a few of the 77 corporate sponsors and supporters of the campaign, were

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AQUACULTURE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL

handed out at events to give consumers something to help remember the important issues around environmentally sustainable seafood.

As a significant producer and consumer of seafood, Japan can play an important role in helping to spread responsible practices in the industry.

ASC has a growing presence in the country, and as well as a number of certified farms, an increasing number of retailers and restaurants are embracing the ASC logo. Next year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics will also be serving both ASC and MSC seafood.

Korean Seaweed Farm Becomes First of its Kind to Achieve ASCMSC Certification A farm cultivating seaweed at sea in the Republic of Korea has become the first of its kind to be certified against the ASC-MSC Seaweed Standard.

The farm is operated by Gijang Sustainable Seaweed Network, based in Gijang County in the Republic of Korea. The farm cultivates wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) at sea, which is dried and processed, and sold for human consumption around the world, including to buyers in China, Japan, the United States, Germany, Scandinavia and the UK. 20 »

Gijang is the second producer to be certified against the ASC-MSC Seaweed Standard, after Euglena Co in Japan, and is the first farm cultivating at sea to achieve the certification.

Wakame is cultivated on ropes at sea, and harvested manually. To achieve certification, the farm has demonstrated a minimal impact on the environment, including local habitats, ecosystems and endangered species. The seaweed is grown from spores produced by the farm, with no reliance on wild harvested seaweed. Wakame cultivated in Gijang is a well-known quality seaweed product in the Korean domestic market.

“We are delighted to achieve ASCMSC certification to demonstrate our responsible farming practices,” said Minsu Kim from Gijang Sustainable Seaweed Network. “Our seaweed is sold to customers around the world, and we want to give them the assurance that our products have been produced with minimal environmental and social impacts.”

“Congratulations to Gijang on achieving ASC-MSC certification,” said Patricia Bianchi, Seaweed Account Manager for ASC and MSC. “The certification confirms the sustainable environmental practices of

the operation, and their safeguarding of nearby marine ecosystems, and also ensures the good labour conditions of the hardworking employees, and positive impacts for local communities.

“This certification is an exciting development because it means consumers in Europe and Asia will be able to enjoy the health benefits of seaweed that has been responsibly produced.

As seaweed products increase in popularity it will become more important than ever to ensure they are farmed or harvested responsibly, and the ASCMSC Seaweed Standard provides that assurance.”

The certification was marked with a ceremony at the Busan International Fisheries & Seafood Expo in South Korea on Wednesday 6 November.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from ASC, MSC, WWF South Korea, the Norwegian Embassy and Ikea.

The certified farm produces Undaria pinnatifida, a popular edible seaweed known as Wakame. Wakame has been farmed for over 1,000 years, and has long been used in a number of popular dishes in Korea and Japan such as Miyeok Guk and miso soups – as well as being the main ingredients of seaweed salads, popular in sushi restaurants around the world. Its low calorie and high nutrient content mean it is considered by many to be a superfood.

Building on each other’s expertise in standard setting and seafood certification, the ASC and MSC worked together for over two years to develop a standard for environmentally sustainable and socially responsible farming and wild harvest of seaweed and algae.

The standard brings together expertise in sustainable fishing and responsible aquaculture, and is the first joint ASC-MSC standard. Launched in February 2018, it will help to protect marine environments and secure the livelihoods of those who depend on them by recognising and rewarding sustainable and socially responsible seaweed and algae production.

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

NEWS FROM THE AADAP

News from the Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Partnership Antibiotic Use in Finfish Fact Sheet: Take a look at the newly-posted NOAA, AVMA, AADAP, AFWA

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

Antibiotic Use in Finfish Fact Sheet, which provides information for those considering the use of approved finfish antibiotics. It can also be accessed

through the website: https://www. fws.gov/fisheries/aadap/aadap_update.html

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NEWS FROM THE AADAP

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DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

Special Session at Aquaculture America 2020: AADAP is planning to co-host a special session with the AFWA Drug Approval Working Group (DAWG) at Aquaculture America 2020, to be held in Honolulu, HI from February 9th-12th, 2020. The tentative session title is “Aquaculture Drug Updates”. If you’re interested in being a part of this session, please contact Julie Schroeter at: julie_schroeter@ fws.gov for more information.

New INAD Available: AADAP recently received FDA authorization to open the Ovaplant-L INAD #13-298 for participation.

Ovaplant-L is the liquid formulation of the Ovaplant pellet spawning aid, and Syndel is optimistic that it will have a good chance at receiving the potential label claims. Syndel will phase the pellet formulation out over the next few years. The web fact page for Ovaplant-L is https:// www.fws.gov/fisheries/aadap/inads/sGnRHa-INAD-13-298.html and the INAD is ready for enrollment through the online database.

Please contact bonnie_johnson@ fws.gov for more information.

AADAP needs your help!: Check out the AADAP website for a list of AADAP’s current research priorities/needs for efficacy studies.

If you’re aware of any facilities that may be able to help us, please have Technical Section Complete them contact Guppy Blair. for Terramycin®200 for Fish (TM200) Medicated Feed!: Approved Aquaculture Drug In fall 2018, AADAP worked with staff at Richloam State Fish HatchFact: Did you know Florfenicol is ap- ery to conduct a pivotal effectiveproved for use in freshwater-reared ness study in channel catfish insalmonids for the control of mortal- fected with columnaris disease (F. ity due to furunculosis (Aeromonas columnare). AADAP recently received salmonicida) and coldwater disease word that the study was accepted by (Flavobacterium psychrophilum)? It’s the FDA-CVM Aquaculture Team, also approved for use in freshwater- and that the data generated in the reared finfish to control mortality study helped complete the effecdue to columnaris disease (Flavobac- tiveness technical section for the terium columnare). In addition, it’s ap- use of TM200 to control mortality proved for use in catfish to control due to columnaris in all freshwater mortality due to enteric septicemia finfish. With this technical section (Edwardsiella ictaluri) and in fresh- complete, Phibro Animal Health water-reared warm water finfish to can begin to pursue expanding the control mortality due to streptococ- approved product label beyond raincal septicemia (Streptococcus iniae). For bow trout to include all freshwater more information on dosing, limita- finfish. We’d like to thank the staff tions, and treatment calculations, re- at Richloam SFH for their time and fer to AADAP’s Quick Desk Refer- effort in moving the drug approval ence Guide to Approved Drugs for process forward!

Use in Aquaculture.

Save the Date!: The 26th Annual Aquaculture Drug Approval Coordination Workshop is scheduled for July 27th-30th, 2020 in Bozeman, MT. Stay tuned to the AADAP Update for more details later this winter!

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

Aquaculture Magazine

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ARTICLE

Genetic Variation in Disease Resistance Against White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV)

in Litopenaeus vannamei

Litopenaeus vannamei is the main species for the shrimp aquaculture sector due to its advantageous biological features and the availability of genetically improved shrimp lines. Nevertheless, in recent years viral diseases such as Taura syndrome virus (TSV), white spot By: Trinh Thi Trang, Nguyen Huu Hung, Nguyen Huu Ninh, Wayne Knibb and Nguyen Hong Nguyen*

W

SSV is one of the most adverse pathogens in shrimp farming. Infection of WSSV on Whiteleg shrimp is characterized by rapid mortality, up to 100% within 7–10 days. In growout culture, shrimp at all ages and sizes are sensitive to WSSV. The highest mortality 24 »

syndrome virus (WSSV) and yellow head virus have caused significant economic losses for the shrimp sector. rate is usually recorded 1–2 months after stocking. To date, measures to control WSSV include improving environmental rearing conditions and management practices or using specialized formulated diets to boost shrimps’ immune systems, as well using ‘vaccines.’ However, none of these methods are cost-effective and

practically feasible. Therefore, the development of highly WSSV resistant lines of L. vannamei through conventional selective breeding approaches has been initiated as a first step in a long-term genetic improvement program for this species to promote sustainable development of the shrimp sector world-wide.

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The aims of this study were to estimate the heritability for WSSV resistance and its genetic correlations with body weights during the early juvenile stage and at harvest.

Additionally, the study analyzed WSSV titer to understand pathogenic differences between high and low WSSV resistant families.

Materials and Methods Shrimp used in this study originated from the third generation of a Whiteleg shrimp population selected for high growth. The founder population included eight stocks from Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, United States of America (three populations), Thailand, and Indonesia. In 2014, a partial diallel cross was carried out to form a base population (G0) for selection. Selection for growth was practiced from 2015 through 2017. In 2017, a total of 150 full- and half-sib families were produced, from which 200 representatives of each family were randomly sampled for this study.

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ARTICLE

When shrimp reached an average size of 2 g at about 50– 70 days post hatching, they were collected for PCR screening for four pathogens (IHHNV, YHV, TSV, and AHPNV) to ensure that they were disease-free for tagging. A total of 200 shrimp per family were then tagged on family level basis using Visible Implant Elastomers, VIE (Northwest Marine Technology). Two different colored tags among five color options (red, orange, green, yellow, and pink) were inserted at the first left and sixth right abdominal segments. Totally 30,000

shrimp from 150 families were tagged and measured for body weight and length. A total of 15,000 shrimp (100 individuals per family × 150 families) were used for challenge test experiments and the other half (15,000 individuals) were kept in bio-secure rearing systems as a back-up population.

Shrimp diagnosed with WSSV infection were collected from grow out shrimp ponds in Ben Tre province, Vietnam and confirmed by PCR/ RT-PCR for WSSV infection and other pathogenic absence. Prepara-

tion for virus aliquots was made as follows: the exoskeleton (5 g) of a frozen, naturally diseased Whiteleg shrimp that had positive WSSV diagnostic was extracted with 10 ml PBS (8 g NaCl, 0.2 g KCl, 1.44 g Na2HPO4, 0.24 g K2HPO4, pH adjusted to 7.4, and dH2O added to 1 L) supplemented by a vigorous vortex and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min at 4ºC. The supernatant was filtered through a 0.45 µm membrane. Number of viral copies (or viral titer, viral load) was quantified using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR).

Figure 1 Survival trend over 15 days period after the challenge test in the highest and lowest resistance families.

The development of highly WSSV

resistant lines of L. vannamei through conventional selective breeding approaches has been initiated as a first step in a long-term genetic improvement program for this species to promote sustainable development of the shrimp sector world-wide.

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DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

In this study, WSSV resistance was measured as survival rate at different experimental periods. Survival traits in the challenge experiment were treated as binary variables in which dead shrimp were designated as zero, and live animals at the end of the test were assigned a number one.

Figure 2 Survival trend over 15 days period after the challenge test in the highest and lowest resistance families.

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The challenge test was carried out by communal rearing of families in five 10 m3 tanks in two replicates (10 individuals/family × 150 families per tank in each replicate) over a 15 day experimental period. Water-borne infection was applied by placing shrimp in WSSV-infected water containing viral copy concentration of 2 × 104 WSSV copies/ml in the first day and then the shrimp were moved to a new tank which contained uninfected filtered seawater for the remaining experimental period. The experimental shrimp were fed with a commercial diet containing 40% protein, three times a day.

To understand pathogenic differences between the high- and lowresistance families (mean survival = 49.5 vs. 30.1%, respectively), WSSV titer was analyzed using quantitativereal time PCR (qPCR). The moribund shrimp from the challenge test were collected and stored in Ethanol 70o. DNA from five moribund shrimp from each family (10 mg pleopods per each sample) were extracted with a Qiagen Dneasy Kit. DNA concentration was measured by spectrophotometer at a measuring length of 260 nm. Quantification of WSSV viral copy number in infected » 27

ARTICLE Table 1 WSSV viral load (in log10 scale) in low resistant and high resistant families.

The amount of viral load was

significantly lower in high than Table 2

low resistant shrimp families,

Number of observations (n), mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum survivals over six different experimental periods.

suggesting that resistance mechanism in shrimp was likely to diminish viral transmission and proliferation in the high resistant families.

Table 3 Heritability (h ± s.e.) for WSSV resistance, and h and common full-sib effects (c ± s.e.) for body traits.

2

2

2

Table 4 Phenotypic (above) and genetic (below the diagonal) correlation among survival traits.

shrimp samples was conducted on family pool samples, using qPCR protocols.

Dead and moribund shrimp were collected every hour during the challenge test in the first three days.

Subsequently the number of dead/ moribund shrimp was recorded three times a day until the experiment was completed. Data recording was stopped when the population showed 50% mortality, at about 15 days artificial post-test. In this study, WSSV 28 »

resistance was measured as survival rate at different experimental periods. Survival traits in the challenge experiment were treated as binary variables in which dead shrimp were designated as zero, and live animals at the end of the test were assigned a number one. The survival data was calculated for six different times during the challenge experiment, from the commencement of the test to day 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, and 15 (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, and S6, respectively).

Preliminary analysis using general linear model was first used to calculate basic statistics and identify survival trends in the high- and lowresistance families, using SPSS v.24.

The viral copy number in infected shrimp samples was calculated by using qPCR and analyzed on software Rotor-Gene 2.1.0.9. Pathogenic differences as measured by the viral copy number (or viral load/ viral titer) between the high and low resistance families were examined using Kaplan– Meier estimator (SPSS v.24).

To estimate the heritability for WSSV resistance, two different approaches were used (1) a linear mixed model (LMM) and (2) a threshold logistic generalized mixed model (TLGM) in ASREML 3.0 software.

The initial LMM model included the random effects of the additive genetics of individual shrimp and the common full-sib groups (c2) together with all possible fixed effects of spawning time and age from birth to the challenge test. The effect of spawning time was not statistically significant (P > 0.05) and not included in the final model. Logarithmic Likelihood Ratio Test (LRT) indicated that the random effects of common full-sib groups were not significant for WSSV resistance. Nevertheless, it was also DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

included in the model to avoid any possible bias in genetic parameter estimates.

Results Shrimp artificially infected with WSSV showed typical clinical signs of white spot syndrome disease. After 48 h infection, the tested shrimp showed apathetic behavior near the tank edge, slow movement, dis-orientation and body discoloration. The first deaths were recorded on the third day of infection. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) in WSSV viral load between the high resistant and low resistant families (Table 1). The amount of viral load was significantly lower in high than low resistant shrimp families, suggesting that resistance mechanism in shrimp was likely to diminish viral transmission and proliferation in the high resistant families.

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In the challenge test period of 15 days, the mean survival rate of 150 full- and half-sib families was 42.8%, ranging from 16 to 50% (Table 2). Based on the analysis of three successive intervals, the lowest survival rate was about 84.6% in the period of day 3 and 5, while the highest value of 94.5% was observed during day 7–9. For growth traits (body weight and length) that were measured on individually tested shrimp prior to the experiment, the mean value was 2.2 ± 0.31 g and 63.5 ± 2.9 mm, respectively, after 15 days (Table 2). After 50 days of grow-out in biosecure systems, the siblings reached 24.0 ± 5.64 g at time of harvest in December 2017.

There was significant variation (P < 0.001) in WSSV resistance among 150 challenged shrimp families over the entire experimental period (Fig-

WSSV resistance was heritable in this population of L. vannamei, suggesting that genetic improvement in WSSV resistance can be achieved via selective breeding.

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ARTICLE

ure 1). The greatest variation in the survival rate was observed in the period of day 9 and 12 (from 60 to 97%). A similar trend was also observed for S1–S5 (P < 0.05– 0.01). For example, the survival rate ranged from 64 to 100% for S1. The survival trend also differed significantly (Kaplan–Meier estimator and log-rank test, P < 0.001) between the highest and lowest resistant families (Figure 2). In both groups, mortality did not occur in the first 2 days. After the challenge test, mortality occurred earlier and at a faster rate in the low than high resistance families.

Heritability was estimated from two different statistical models: LMM (model 1) and logistic threshold mixed model (model 2). Across the models, heritability for WSSV resistance in this shrimp population was moderate in the early experimental periods (S1–S4), while a low h2 estimate was observed 12 and 15 days after the challenge test (Table

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Table 5 Genetic (rG ) correlation between body weight and survival rate.

3). The value of heritability estimated for day 12th and 15th from both models were close to zero (the h2 = 0.06 ± 0.02 and 0.01 ± 0.01, respectively). The common full-sib effect (c2) based on logarithmic LRT was not significant for WSSV resistance in this study. The LogL value did not change when the full or reduced model was used. The c2 effect explained less than 3% of total variance for WSSV resistance and only 2% of the total variance for body traits in this population (Table 3).

The estimates of phenotypic and genetic correlations between survival traits are shown in Table 4.

The phenotypic correlations ranged from 0.31 ± 0.01 to 0.85 ± 0.01. The genetic correlations were high and approaching one (0.80 ± 0.05–0.97 ± 0.01). Both phenotypic and genetic correlations between successive challenge phases were greater than those that were further apart.

As described above, all the survival traits examined here included mortality of previous periods and hence,

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the phenotypic and genetic correlations should be interpreted in this context.

The heritability estimates for survival rate in the first three measurements were higher than those obtained in the later periods (0.36–0.20 for 3 days, 5 days vs. 0.04– 0.14 for 9, 12, and 15 days). This decelerating trend of heritability was also observed when statistical analysis was conducted separately for six different time intervals from day 1 to 3 (S1–3), 3–5 (S3–5) and 12–15 (S12–15).

Earlier studies reported heritability for WSSV resistance during a grow-out phase in Whiteleg shrimp.

One study showed that the heritability for WSSV resistance to a natural disease outbreak in L. vannamei reared in ponds to harvestable size was low (0.06 and 0.02), and a similar estimate was obtained in a different shrimp population. In other reports the heritability for WSSV resistance in adult shrimp populations was low (<10%).

The higher estimate of heritability for WSSV resistance in our study especially during the first five days of infection than the published information can be explained because our experiment was carried out during the juvenile rearing stage.

Collectively, it is suggested that selection for high growth may not have detrimental effect on disease risk of the population. Selection for high growth will reduce production time and hence, reducing exposure to the pathogen and risk of infection. However, when more data is accumulated, further analysis should be conducted to confirm the genetic correlations between WSSV resistance and body weights in this population of L. vannamei.

WSSV resistance was heritable in this population of L. vannamei, suggesting that genetic improvement in WSSV resistance can be achieved via selective breeding.

Genetic correlations of WSSV resistance between different infection times were high and hence, selection can be practiced early, e.g., 3–5 days after challenge test to save costs associated with feeding and rearing; thereby increasing the efficiency of selective breeding programs.

Due to a single generation data records for traits examined here, continuing collection of more data is needed to better understand genetic relationships between body weight, viral titer and WSSV resistance in the present population of Whiteleg shrimp. Examination of the effect of genotype by environment interaction on these traits also merits further study to assist the design and conduct of genetic improvement programs for L. vannamei.

Trinh Thi Trang1,2 *, Nguyen Huu Hung3, Nguyen Huu Ninh3, Wayne Knibb2 and Nguyen Hong Nguyen2* 1 Faculty of Science, Health, Education and engineering, GeneCology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia; 2 Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Gia Lâm, Vietnam; 3 Research Institute for Aquaculture No. 3, Nha Trang, Vietnam.

Adapted (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) from Frontiers in Genetics, doi: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00264, © the authors.

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NEWS ARTICLE

The Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) has received a £10 million, five-year funding package By: Staff / Aquaculture Magazine *

The investment, provided by the Scottish Funding Council, Scottish

Enterprise, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, is expected to be supplemented by an additional £3.5 million secured from third parties, ranging from competitive grants to income generated through services.

T

he funds are targeted to support the sustainable growth of the sector and re-affirm Scotland’s position as a global leader in innovation and seafood production. During its first five-year phase, SAIC turned its initial project funding package of £6.75 million into a portfolio valued at £42.6 million, spread across 47 initiatives. Of the total figure invested, £33.8 million came from industry and other partners – leading to the creation of more than 200 jobs, largely in rural areas. SAIC also supported 32 »

the development of the aquaculture talent pool by funding the studies of 92 MSc and PhD students.

SAIC played a key role in the development of the Aquaculture Growth to 2030 strategy, the industry’s plan to sustainably double the sector’s economic contribution from £1.8 billion in 2016 to £3.6 billion by 2030. The innovation centre has also brokered relationships between the industry and its stakeholders, particularly through the establishment of the Aquaculture Industry Leadership Group (AILG).

Richard Lochhead, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, said: “Scotland’s Innovation Centres have the potential to have a transformational effect on our economy. The Government is working hard to ensure the aquaculture industry continues to thrive, and today’s announcement means the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre will remain a catalyst for growth in a key national industry which enjoys international success, securing future jobs and sustainable economic growth.”

David Gregory, Chairman of SAIC, said: “SAIC was built to do things differently. We have sought to act as a fulcrum for industry, the public sector, and academia, bringing together everyone with an interest in aquaculture for the good of the Scottish economy. We have also helped the industry deal with some of its biggest challenges – which individual businesses, or even groups of companies, wouldn’t have been able to tackle on their own – through access to academic expertise and applied research.”

In its Phase 2 strategy for the next five years, SAIC said it plans to: • Drive innovation by leveraging new sources of funding and bringing together multiple partners from across the UK. • Develop aquaculture skills and talent across Scotland through a focused programme.

• Share innovation throughout the industry by organising workshops, conferences, and disseminating information in new ways over the next five years.

Gregory added: “Over the next five years, we will build on Scottish aquaculture’s existing foundations to establish a low-carbon, hi-tech, datarich, and cutting-edge sector that is led by pioneering research aligned with genuine industry need.”

More information about SAIC is available at: https://www.scottishaquaculture.com/

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ARTICLE

Scanning of Genetic Variants and Genetic Mapping

of Phenotypic Traits in Gilthead Sea Bream Through ddRAD Sequencing By: Dimitrios Kyriakis, Alexandros Kanterakis, Tereza Manousaki, Alexandros Tsakogiannis, Michalis Tsagris, Ioannis Tsamardinos, Leonidas Papaharisis, Dimitris Chatziplis, George Potamias and Costas S. Tsigenopoulos*

T

he gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata (Linnaeus, 1758), is a teleost fish of great economic importance for the Mediterranean aquaculture industry. It ranks first among other aquacultured species in South Mediterranean with total production of

The aquaculture industry shows a growing interest in the application of genetic methods that can locate phenotypeâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;genotype associations with high economic impact. Through selective breeding, the aquaculture industry can exploit this information to maximize the financial yield.

160,563 tons for 2016 (FEAP, 2017).

Recently, the genome of sea bream has been sequenced and analysed offering a backbone for conducting genomic analyses on the species.

One of the main avenues to genetically improve cultured stock is to identify associations between genetic

variants and traits of interest, such as growth, disease resistance, and fat content. Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) offer one way to accomplish this by comparing the genotypes of individuals having varying phenotypes for a specific trait of interest. GWAS have boosted the field

Sparus aurata.

34 Âť

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of human genetics as well as plant and livestock breeding, leading to higher selection accuracies of animal breeding programmes, which in turn lead to lower costs and greater yield.

To conduct a GWAS experiment in nonmodel species, genome-wide sampling of genetic variants is required. Application of double digest Random Amplified DNA (ddRAD) leads to thousands of polymorphic loci that require sophisticated strategies for data analysis and is widely used for GWAS studies. Various methods have been developed to solve such complicated problems, such as feature selection. Feature selection (FS) is used to identify the important, predictive genetic variants by removing the noise propagated by redundant features, i.e., markers that have the same genotypic profile across all samples. Several FS algorithms have been developed like Orthogonal Matching Pursuit (OMP) and Statistically Equivalent Signature

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(SES), differing mainly in the approach to discover associations and the computational efficiency.

In aquaculture breeding programs, these features-markers can be used for marker assisted selection (MAS). However, genome-wide variants can also be used to directly evaluate breeders, the so-called genomic selection (GS) method. Genomic selection is a breeding value estimation methodology that aims to increase the rate of genetic gain, leading to improvement of certain phenotypes via genetic marker utilization. Genetic markers associated with production traits are used to predict breeding values with high accuracy, and some genetic markers that are also associated with production traits could further increase the accuracy of breeding value estimation and allow for the inclusion of inheritance other than additivebased inheritance in genetic evaluation procedures.

Genomic selection based on specific traits such as fat, weight, and disease resistance can have great effects on the productivity and profitability of several aquaculture species. In this study, we sought to identify genetic markers associated with important phenotypes in sea bream. We used ddRAD sequencing to identify and genotype genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in multiple sea bream families. We performed both GWAS and FS to test the association among a combination of loci and the phenotypes of fat, weight, tag weight, and length/width. Finally, genomic prediction of the phenotypes was tested, using the selected polymorphisms, to evaluate its potential in selection for improved phenotypic traits like weight in sea bream. Our ultimate goal was to construct a signatureâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a combination of genetic markersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that will lead to maximizing sea bream aquaculture efficiency by improving the selected phenotypic traits.

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ARTICLE

Materials and Methods The fish used in this study were a subset of a larger experiment with progeny from 66 male and 35 female brooders constituting 73 different full sib families from the breeding program of a commercial aquaculture company (Nireus Aquaculture S.A.). From those 73 full sib families, 14 families originating from 13 males and 11 females were selected (selective genotyping), based on their within-family variation of bodyweight at harvest, for genotyping with microsatellite markers in order to perform a QTL confirmation experiment.

Seven male and six female brooders with 105 progeny in total, constituting six full sib families and one maternal half sib family (10 progeny on average per family), were used for ddRAD library preparation and sequencing. These seven families were those exhibiting the greatest family variation of bodyweight at harvest out of the 14 families included in the QTL verification experiment.

All progeny were reared in commercial conditions, and after PIT tagging, they were transferred to sea cages at 220 Days Post Hatching (DPH) for the growth period. For all progeny, the weight at tagging (g) (205 DPH), weight at harvest (g) (750 DPH), percentage (%) of fat at harvest (as measured in terms of body electrical conductivity, 692 Distell), the total length at harvest (cm) (750 DPH), and the width at harvest (cm) (750 DPH) were measured.

Individual DNA library preparation and sequencing of the samples, which were extracted using a modified salt-based extraction protocol and treated with RNase to remove residual RNA, were performed. We used FastQC v.0.11.5 software to check the quality control of the raw sequence data. To recover the reads belonging to each individual, we then cleaned and demultiplexed the raw data using Process radtags program from STACKS v.1.46 software. The annotated reference genome of gilthead sea bream has been provided by 36 »

Figure 1 (A) Distribution of each examined trait in our samples. (B) Manhattan plot demonstrating the locations across the chromosomes of the sea bream genome (horizontal axis) versus the –log (p-values) of the association between the genetic variants and phenotype (vertical axis). The higher the dots, the stronger the genetic association. The significance threshold was set to 10–4, in order to correct for multiple testing (dashed line). The different colors represent the different chromosomes. (C) Quantile–quantile (QQ) plot of the data shown in the Manhattan plot. The grey area represents the 95% simultaneous confidence bands. Red line is the diagonal (Y = X) or else how the observed data should be placed if they were normally distributed.

Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (H.C.M.R.) (Accession Numbers: SRR6244977-SRR6244982). To align our samples to the reference genome, we used Bowtie2 v.2.3.0 with the following parameters: {end-to-end {sensitive {no-unal. Then, we removed multi-aligned reads, reads with >3 mismatches, and reads with mapping quality lower than 20 with Samtools.

Genotypes of each sample were constructed using STACKS pipeline.

A catalogue of loci was construct-

ed using only the parental reads on cstacks program, using default parameters. To match the data of each offspring separately against the respective catalogue, we used sstacks program with --aligned parameter. To check family relationship and indicate possible pedigree errors, we used KING v.2.1 software. Kinship coefficient is a measurement of kinship between two individuals; 1 means homozygous twins, 0 means unrelated.

Finally, to see the genetic distances of DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

studied individuals, we performed a Principal Components analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical clustering, using Euclidean distance. Both PCA and Hierarchical clustering were implemented in R using prcomp and hclust functions, respectively.

We used lmer in order to create a linear mixed model for each phenotype. This model includes family id as a random effect. To correct for multiple testing, we set the significance threshold to 10â&#x20AC;&#x201C;4, which is the typical significance level a = 0.05 divided to the number of independent SNPs (497) based on linkage disequilibrium (LD). We considered SNPs as variables that describe a certain phenotype. We then applied methods that seek the optimum subset of variables with which we can construct a predictive model for a trait of interest (e.g., Weight). This approach is called Variable selection, or Feature Selection (FS). Solving the FS problem has numerous advantages. Features in biol-

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ogy (e.g., SNPs and gene expressions) are commonly found to be expensive to measure, store, and process. By reducing the number of measurable markers-loci via FS, one can reduce this cost. A high-quality FS algorithm improves the predictive performance of the resulting model by removing the noise propagated by redundant features. For our study, we used two different FS algorithms: The first is the statistically equivalent signature (SES) algorithm, and the second is the Orthogonal Matching Pursuit (OMP) algorithm.

Commonly, FS algorithms aim to find a single group of features that has the highest predictive power. On the contrary, an SES algorithm attempts to identify multiple signatures (feature subsets) whose performances are statistically equivalent. SES produces several signatures of the same size and predictive power regardless of the limited sample size or high collinearity of the data. SES is specially en-

gineered for small sample sizes. Here, we used an adaptation of the SES algorithm that accommodates repeated measurements. Orthogonal Matching Pursuit is an iterative algorithm, and its major advantage compared with other alternative methods is its simplicity and fast implementation. The selection of the appropriate algorithm for each dataset is a challenging task. To compare the algorithms and select the best model (including algorithm and parameters), we performed cross validation by using all but one sample as a training set and the remaining sample as test set iterating over all samples, the so-called LeaveOne-Out cross validation method.

To identify potential genes that might be affected by the retrieved SNPs, we searched the reference genome and classified the SNPs to those falling within a genic region (located within or in a window of 10Kb upstream or downstream of an annotated gene) and those that do not.

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ARTICLE Figure 2 Comparison of different algorithms predicting the traits of interest, based on median squared error, after leave one out cross validation. SES algorithm tested for different thresholds (Threshold equal to 0.01 or 0.05) and for different numbers of SNPs as condition set (k = 2, 3, 4, 5). OMP algorithm tested for different thresholds as stop criterion (Threshold = 2 or 4 units in BIC score).

Results In this study, the SNP catalogue was built using solely parental data. Thus, the discovered SNPs are within the expected range given the following ddRAD protocol. Variants with allele frequency lower than 0.05 (n = 2,065) were filtered out. From the remaining 13,168, we filtered out the SNPs with call rate lower than 90% (n = 7,882).

From the remaining 5,286 SNPs,

3,028 had at least one missing value and 2,258 had no missing values.

To verify the family identity of any studied individual, we used three different methods: King kinship, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Hierarchical clustering. All three resulted in similar results, and they confirmed the tagging family id, except for two samples, one placed in different family and one that was

Table 1 Selected SNPs from GWAs analysis using linear mixed models, with significance threshold equal to 10–4.

Table 2 Selected SNPs from SES algorithm with significance threshold equal to 0.05 (best method based on median squared error score).

38 »

not placed in any family. These two samples were not included in downstream analyses.

In total, we found five SNPs associated with Weight, four SNPs with Tag Weight, and none for Fat and Length/Width. Five SNPs associated with weight at harvest have been retrieved from the typical GWAS analysis. The first was found in chromosome 1 (chr1:16636968) on “ethanolamine phosphate cytidylyltransferase-like” gene and the second (chr6:12617755) in a conserved region upstream of “myosin-7-like” gene. The third (chr16:2232897) was located on two overlapping genes acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase-like and LBH-like isoform X1. Another two SNPs were found in chromosome 1. The first (chr1.6970078) located downstream of “lymphoid enhancerbinding factor 1” and the second (chr1:20827142) located upstream of “mucin-5AC-like isoform X1”. Finally, four SNPs (in chromosomes 2, 13, and 22) were associated with weight at tagging. Two were found at “RNAbinding 27 isoform X1” gene (chr13 :20975921,chr13:20975924), the third upstream from “Tetratricopeptide repeat 36” gene (Chr2:2623351), and the fourth upstream from “tectonin beta-propeller repeat-containing 2” gene (chr22:18343985).

Feature selection methods generate groups of SNPs that are associated with a phenotype en masse.

Therefore, FS is a valuable family of methods for association analysis. We performed FS with 10 models (8 variants of SES and 2 variants of OMP), and from each model, we extracted the median squared error as an evaluation metric. All OMP models were inferior to SES. The best models for Fat and Weight have been constructed by SES algorithm (significance threshold equal to 0.01; number of condition set equal to three).

The best model for Tag weight and Length/Width ratio prediction was the model constructed by variables retrieved from SES with size of condition set equal to two.

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Figure 3 The effect of each of the selected SES SNPs associated with fat content. (A-C) Boxplots of selected SNPs. (A) chr8:1385781, (B) chr13:1098152, (C) chr21:19924408.

Figure 4 The effect of each of the selected SES SNPs associated with weight at harvest. (A-D) Boxplots of selected SNPs. (A) chr1:16636968, (B) chr6:12617755, (C) chr8:11613979, (D) chr16:2232897

The selected variables/SNPs associated with Fat content (%) at harvest, retrieved from SES algorithm (threshold 0.01), recovered DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

three SNPs, out of which two were located within or proximal to an annotated gene (Table 2). The first annotated SNP is located within

“telomeres 1 (POT1)” gene (chromosome 8), a region found conserved in other species as well (Medaka, Asian swamp, Asian sea bass).

The second SNP was located within the “Rho family GTP-binding” gene (chr13:1098152). However, when lowering the significance threshold to 0.05, the number of SNPs increased to six.

Four selected variables associated with weight at harvest (800 g average weight at harvest) have been retrieved from SES algorithm with number of condition set equal to three. The first was found in chromosome 1 (chr1:16636968) on “ethanolamine phosphate cytidylyltransferase-like” gene, the second (chr6:12617755) in a conserved region upstream of “myosin-7-like” gene, the third (chr8:11613979) was located in “semaphorin-3A” gene (Conserved in Asian sea bass, Asian swamp eel) and upstream of ‘Piccolo’ gene, and another one (chr16:2232897) and the fourth on two overlapping genes acetylserotonin O-methyltransferaselike and LBH-like isoform X1. When lowering the significance threshold to 0.05, four SNPs were added to the signatures, retrieving two more annotated genes (Table 3).

Five SNPs were associated with Tag Weight, as retrieved from SES » 39

ARTICLE Figure 5 The effect of each of the selected SES SNPs associated with tag weight. (A-E) Boxplots of selected SNPs. (A) chr2:2623351, (B) chr13:20883924, (C) chr13:20975921, (D) chr22:18343985, (E) scaffold4139:36071.

algorithm (Table 4). The first was found at “RNA-binding 27 isoform X1” gene (chr13:20975921), the second upstream from “Tetratricopeptide repeat 36” gene (Chr2:2623351), the third at “DNA repair RAD50” gene (chr13:20883924), the fourth upstream from “tectonin beta-propeller repeat-containing 2” gene (chr22:18343985), and the fifth (scaffold4139:36071) was not in an annotated region. Lowering the significance threshold to 0.05, four annotated SNPs were added to the discovered signatures (Table 4).

Finally, five SNPs were associated with Length/Width ratio (at 750 DPH) as retrieved from SES algorithm (Table 5). The first SNP (chr6:23799286) 40 »

was located on the “phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 3D-like.” The second SNP (chr16:2232897) was located in two genes “acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase-like” and LBH-like isoform X1. The third SNP (chr13:9665394) was located in “ATPdependent RNA helicase DHX33,” the next one in “A-kinase anchor 9 isoform X3,” and the last one (scaffold13177:8369) downstream of phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 3C.

Discussion The application of these methods on seven families, each measured on four phenotypes, revealed several genetic signatures that may be used for genomic selection. Various QTL

affecting growth, morphology, and stress-related traits have been detected using microsatellite markers in gilthead sea bream. Some of those QTL have been verified in genetically unrelated populations. However, no association study using SNP markers was available for production traits in sea bream except one prior study on pasteurelosis. Our study fills this gap enabling for the first time a genomic scan for SNPs that are linked to important traits.

Overall, SES seems to be performing well in smaller datasets, while OMP is known to perform better in larger datasets. A known limitation in every GWA study is that the power to detect small QTL DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

Figure 6 The effect of each of the selected SES SNPs associated with length/width. (A-E) Boxplots of selected SNPs. (A) chr1:20827142, (B) chr3:9671223, (C) chr6:23799286, (D) chr13:9665394, (E) scaffold5661:35982.

effects is limited by the number of samples. An underpowered GWA study may fail to detect some associations, whereas the detected signals might be inaccurate in terms of location and/or biological interpretation. The sample size of our study (N = 103) might indeed produce some artifacts of this kind. Nevertheless, the analysis pipeline that we applied (SES) is specially tailored for small or moderate sample sizes in order to detect statistically significant QTLs. Regarding the loci associated with weight and tag weight, we identified 15 genes in total. Interestingly, although those two traits represent the same trait at different stages, we found no gene associated with DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

both. There are many possible reasons for such a result. One reason may be due to the low power of the experiment and the differences in variation in the weight of the fish at different ages. Another reason may be because different genes are affecting growth at different stages of development. A third reason is that the gene action may not be only additive and/or epistatic. In any case, all these scenarios should be further investigated in a more powerful experiment, which would be necessary in any case.

When more dense SNP markers would be available (i.e., SNPchip) for the species and more families from more populations are genotyped (i.e., increase LD), then the

application of Genomic Selection will be more feasible and cost effective in terms of any selection accuracy benefits. Nevertheless, our study presents, in a small scale example, the feasibility of GS application as well as the availability of the tools necessary before its application (i.e., GWAS using SNP markers) in gilthead sea bream.

Adapted under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) from Kyriakis D, Kanterakis A, Manousaki T, Tsakogiannis A, Tsagris M, Tsamardinos I, Papaharisis L, Chatziplis D, Potamias G and Tsigenopoulos CS (2019) Scanning of Genetic Variants and Genetic Mapping of Phenotypic Traits in Gilthead Sea Bream Through ddRAD Sequencing. Front. Genet.

10:675. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00675

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LATIN AMERICA REPORT

Latin America Report: Recent News and Events Hannover Fairs brings World Seafood Industry 2020 to Mexico Mexico is a world-recognized producer of seafood products from fisheries and aquaculture such as: octopus, tuna, shrimp, tilapia and various marine fish species farmed offshore. This country ranks fourth in North and Latin America in the fishing industry, producing approximately 1.8 million tons of seafood a year with a value of more than 1.4 billion US dollars. In the last 6 years, Mexico’s fishing and aquaculture sector has grown by 13%, equivalent to twice the world average.

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To enhance Mexico’s commercial relations with Germany in particular, but also on a general international level, the government from the state of Jalisco, Mexico and Deutsche Messe in collaboration with Hannover Fairs, have jointly announced the event “World Seafood Industry” that will take place in the city of Guadalajara on September 23rd – 25th 2020.

WSI is a showcase for leading retailers and wholesalers in segments ranging from technology, fishing and aquaculture equipment to food preparation and packaging processes,

distribution and logistics, wholesale seafood products, sustainability and general services. The event organizers expect to gather over 100 fishing and aquaculture exhibitors from across international markets, with an attendance of over 5,000 professionals from different sectors of the industry.

More information about this event can be found at: http://www. worldseafoodindustry.mx/en/

Chilean students come up with a solution to harmful algal blooms A multidisciplinary team of students of different Engineering sectors of the Universidad Austral de Chile (FCI UACh) is working on the project “Hab Texobot” that aims to solve the early detection of harmful algal blooms by analyzing samples of the concentration and components of potential algal blooms using specialized software.

The system consists of a buoy immersed in the ocean that constantly takes samples of the marine envi-

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ronment, and is based on machine learning technology, which allows observation of real time features of a potentially harmful algal bloom.

The current status of the project is focused in developing a functional prototype, for which the expenses are being covered by the recent award of public capital through the Los Ríos Seed Development Initiative Program of Chile.

Ecuador will participate in future import fairs in China Recently in Shanghai at the Chinese International Import Exposition, the Vice-Minister of Aquaculture and Fisheries from Ecuador, Roberto Viteri mentioned that “every year, Ecuador will be present at the exhibition, because these spaces are very important to promote our products and brands in other countries and markets. China is one of our main commercial partners, and shrimp is our main non-oil based export product. For Ecuador, the Chinese market represents around 50% or more of the export volume.”

Events like the Chinese International Import Exposition are platforms of entrance to other potential Asian markets for Latin-American products, due to the amount of visitors that attend the event and are interested in the sector. More about these events and the participating sectors and countries can be found at: https://www.ciie.nl/

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Taiwanese seafood wholesalers establish agreements with producers from Nicaragua Recently, the Embassy of the Republic of China and the Council for the Development of Foreign Trade

of Taiwan, with the spirit of promoting trade between Taiwan and Nicaragua, jointly organized the 3rd Taiwanese Seafood Purchase Mission in which 7 wholesale buyers visited Nicaragua to learn about the local production and develop a Business Roundtable with Nicaraguan suppliers.

Attracted by the quality of unique products such as: lobster, sea and farmed shrimp and sea cucumber, among others, Taiwanese buyers visited processing plants in Puerto Cabezas, including the Blue Sea Group, Moskitia Pride and Copescharly. The event was very successful, and the completed business agreements that resulted from the visit were estimated in the order of US $ 7.45 million. » 43

Africa Report: Recent News and Events By: Staff / Aquaculture Magazine

Skretting brings together over 100 stakeholders for first AquaForum in Nigeria Skretting has brought together leaders in the Nigerian industry to set the course for a more productive development at the recently concluded Skretting AquaForum. The event was held in Lagos, Nigeria on 8-9 October and was arguably the first event of its kind in the country.

The forum was opened by Skretting CEO Therese Log Bergjord, and formed a platform for networking and intense deliberation, with over 90 of Nigeria’s largest aquaculture producers present. Other attendees included government representatives and industry experts.

These key stakeholders in the aquaculture industry gathered to discuss issues including best practices, professionalism, market analysis, value addition and government policies amongst others.

The first day of the event included a culinary session, where participants were assigned to a culinary group and took part in the preparation of the different catfish and tilapia recipes. The session increased participant awareness of value adding. On the second day, eight industry leaders were invited to partake in a panel discussion. Various members gave insights in their struggles, solutions and efforts in the industry. These leaders were Raju Samtani, CEO of Triton Group, Njoku Moses, CEO of St Mosco Feed the Nation Limited, Govinda Raju Sid44 »

dagangaiah, Aquaculture Specialist at Premium Aquaculture Limited, Ibukun Sorionla, Executive Director at Shaldag Limited, Carl Alakija, Executive Director at Durante Fish Industry Limited, Jonathan Okele, Managing Director at Okele Farms, Chika Ikeogu, Head of Fisheries and Aquaculture Department at Nnamdi Azikwe University and Rob Kiers, Managing Director Nutreco Africa and Skretting Asia. The session was moderated by Bisi Sofunde, CEO Agrimart Retail.

General Manager Skretting Nigeria, Seyi Adeleke-Ige, highlighted the development of the company in Nigeria over the past five years. She also emphasized the importance of the forum in bringing leaders in the industry and expressed the certainty of value addition, improved practices and growth to be experienced in the industry as a result of the event.

Despite local aquaculture produc-

tion, the majority of consumed fish is imported into Nigeria. A spike in aquaculture production would make way for product development and value adding. It is also anticipated that with an increase in supply and a decrease in cost, Nigeria would no longer import as much fish for consumption.

Skretting’s commitment to fish farming in Nigeria and Africa at large was reiterated by Rob Kiers.

“We need to feed the fast growing global population with the limited resources that we have available on our planet. The solution for providing enough food for Nigeria is to increase aquaculture production in Nigeria itself.” The company stated in a press release about the forum “Aquaculture plays an important role in strengthening livelihoods and enhancing food and nutritional security. The United Nations High Level Panel of Experts on Food DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

Security and Nutrition (HLPE) recently concluded that fish is “crucial to any debate and action to reduce poverty and improve food security and nutrition,” a message emphasized at the Skretting AquaForum.”

During the event Dutch Consul General in Lagos, Jan van Weijen shared his views on the importance of aquaculture. “I started 25 years ago in Nigeria, and there were 140 million people then. Nowadays Nigeria has over 200 million mouths to feed. Aquaculture is vital in providing enough protein to feed the country.” Skretting wants to help achieve food security in Africa. “Skretting Nigeria believes that only by working together we can truly strengthen the industry further and accelerate the needed growth of aquaculture in Nigeria,” says Seyi Adeleke-Ige. “During AquaForum there was a strong focus on the industry as a whole being ‘partners for growth.’

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Only by working together can Nigeria grow the aquaculture industry.”

The 1st Annual International Conference & Exposition of the African Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (AFRAQ2020) The venue for AFRAQ2020 will be the famous Bibliotheca Alexandrina, one of the most fascinating touristic and cultural attractions in the world.

Egypt is the biggest aquaculture producer on the African continent, and both local and international aquaculture delegates are expected to con-

verge for this event in the beautiful City of Alexandria, the Pride of the Mediterranean Sea. The conference offers a great opportunity for aquaculture researchers, practitioners, decision makers and other stake holders to meet, network and discuss all aspects of aquaculture in Africa. Exhibitors from all over the globe are expected to showcase their products in the amazing exhibition Center. Visits to the most famous touristic attractions in Egypt will be arranged. Special visits will also be arranged to nearby fish farms, fish feed mills and local research facilities.

The AFRAQ2020 technical program will aim to cover developmental issues including latest research on aquaculture in Africa. The thematic plenary and technical parallel sessions will comprise both oral and poster presentations. AFRAQ2020 will feature an international trade exhibition, industry forums, student sessions and activities, satellite workshops (and training sessions) and various meetings/ forums on aquaculture development in Egypt and Africa. The theme for this inaugural event will be “Sustainable Aquaculture - Feeding Africa.”

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Rhodes University academics kick-off international project for sustainable aquaculture Rhodes University academics, international researchers and project industry partners recently met at Morgan Bay Hotel to develop work plans and prototypes for advancing sustainable aquaculture technologies that reduce the carbon footprint of fish farming practices.

“While much of the workshop is focused on work plans and plans for prototypes, we also aim to make more stakeholders aware of this work and its impact,” explained Professor Cliff Jones, Head of Rhodes University’s Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science (DIFS).

The workshop, which took place The organizers encourage the over three days, brought together submission of high quality oral and AquaVitae project stakeholders from poster presentations. Authors are France Haliotis (Brittany, France), strongly encouraged to consider University of Las Palmas de Gran poster presentations because poster Canary (Canary Islands), Alfed Wesessions will be an integral part of gener Institute (Germany) and varithe program. Papers submitted for ous local role players including Wild“oral presentation only” may not be coast Abalone, Aqunion, Marifeed, accepted as oral presentations due Coastal and Environmental Services, to the limited number of available University of Fort Hare, and Rhodes time slots. English is encouraged, University academics and students. but 2 official languages (English or French) will be accepted.

AFRAQ2020 will feature a special international trade exhibition, where Egyptian and international companies will present their latest technologies, products and services.

Organizers are willing to provide meeting points for industry associations, organization/ industry panels or B2B meetings, as well as platforms for satellite workshops of African aquaculture projects and other events. Organization/ industry panel meetings will take place around the trade exhibition, and technical tours will be organized.

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The three case studies Prof Jones’ team will be focusing on include: Land Based Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), Sea Based IMTA and Sea Cucumber Aquaculture. IMTA is a process that farms several species together using waste from one species as feed for another.

“One of our focus areas will be abalone, as it is the largest aquaculture industry in South Africa,” said Prof Jones.

Prof Jones and his team will be observing how abalone respond when placed in tanks with sea-cucumbers that feed off their solid waste and macro-algae that remove dissolved nutrients from the abalone effluent.

“We have seen that the overall health of abalone improves if their tanks are kept free of their own waste. The inclusion of sea-cucumber and algae in the abalone production system may also reduce the need for manual labor to clean the tanks and this could lower the stress levels of the abalone if the tanks don’t have to be handled as often.”

Furthermore, the mature sea cucumbers, which are considered a delicacy in China, can be exported, and

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

the algae can be fed back to the abalone making the process even more sustainable. During the workshop, attendees visited Wildcoast Abalone’s premises, so they could see how this kind of sustainable IMTA is done.

Prof Jones’ team includes Rhodes University’s Professor of DIFS Peter Britz, and Associate Professor of Zoology at the University of Fort Hare Niall Vine, as well as several of their students. In all, 36 research and industry partners from across 16 countries, most of which border the Atlantic Ocean, are involved in the AquaVitae project. It includes nine work packages and 13 case studies focused on developing sustainable aquaculture technology innovation and implementation, with a total budget of eight-million euros (ca. R130-million).

“All of the work will be carried out in collaboration with the different partner countries,” explained Prof Jones.

This EU-funded project forms part of the Horizon 2020 programme, and is due for completion in 2023. The full project consortium includes partners from Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Faroe Islands, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Namibia, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States.

Investments Limited has revealed that various tilapia farms along the Volta Lake are experiencing severe declines in survival trends. Fish survival rate figures from the survey averaged 38 percent in 2019, comparing unfavorably with the 53 percent and 59 percent recorded in 2018 and 2017 respectively.

It is for this reason that Ms. Safo is calling on authorities to see to it that such unwholesome fish are not allowed into the country in order to protect the local industry and reduce the rate of depletion.

“Rogue players who act illegally to pursue short-term profit must be identified and driven out of the industry. We are requesting swift action to resolve this problem so as to establish a level playing field based on clear standards; and everyone involved in the sector must follow the correct procedures,” she said in a petition made on the floor of parliament.

She further added that the Fisheries Ministry should ensure vaccines are available at subsidized rates so farmers are enabled to revamp their businesses and bounce back, and that vaccination teams are made available to assist

farmers to handle vaccination properly. Again, the group also petitioned the minister to resource the Fisheries Enforcement Unit with human capital and logistics to carry out its mandate.

Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Francis Kingsley Ato Cudjoe, assured the group that government is aware of challenges the sector is going through and is keen to revamp it. To this effect, it has developed a programme called Aquaculture for Food and Jobs with the view of tripling output within a short time.

“We have had our own challenges, but next year, we hope to be able to boost production and encourage more young people to take up fish-farming” the Deputy Minister stated. “To do so, we need to address the concerns of practitioners who are already in this business so that we can learn and address concerns that will come our way as we try to expand and improve aquaculture farming in Ghana.” He added “Concerns will be noted, don’t have fears; we are committed to cleaning up the sector and we are committed to making sure that it becomes a profitable venture to the Ghanaian especially.”

The Ghana Aquaculture Stakeholders (GAS) appeals for government to place restrictions on tilapia imports GAS has appealed for government to place restrictions and enforce standards on the kind of tilapia imported into the country, as some of them have introduced diseases to local farms – thereby resulting in high mortality rates.

According to the Founder and Convener of the interest group, Patricia Safo, a survey conducted by JCS DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

» 47

OUT AND ABOUT

Digital transformation

in aquaculture The phenomenon of digital transformation in aquaculture appears to be a process much more related to cultural barriers, paradigms, and rejection and fear of change rather than to the actual usage of information technologies

By: Salvador Meza *

L

ast year (2018), while I visited AquaExpo Guayaquil in Ecuador, I observed a tendency among the biggest companies that took part in the commercial exhibit. Most of them were feed manufacturers and providers, and they had as a common objective for this exhibition to promote their digital apps for data optimization in fish farming. This marketing focus

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was more prominent than the one oriented towards their own products and services. Some of the companies even had their full team of software developers and designers in their booths, all brought in from their different corporate headquarters in faraway countries, in order to provide specialized digital consultancy to aquaculturists and “digitalize” them and their businesses.

Potential customers for these digital developments observed with disbelief the promised features of those apps and technological advancements, paying attention to the onsite demonstrations with a certain degree of disdain, even. The system functionalities to introduce data from the fish farming operations and the developed algorithms that allowed analyzing data in an “easier”

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The system functionalities to

introduce data from the fish farming operations and the developed algorithms that allowed analyzing data in an “easier” way seemed pretty foreign to producers.

way seemed pretty foreign to producers.

This year instead (2019), back in Guayaquil at the annual AquaExpo event, I realized that the exhibition booths of these aquaculture feed companies no longer had information related to digital apps and technologies. There were no more giant phone screens showing the way the systems can be used for data management in aquaculture farming.

There were also no more software developers and foreign engineers explaining to aquaculturists how and why they should use these digital tools. Nobody was, in fact, talking about that anymore. This year all the attention was again focused on this or that feed, on the improvement of a certain process in pellet manufacturing, on the addition of a new ingredient in the diet formulations, or even maybe on the promotion of a completely new product.

But nobody was talking anymore about information technologies and software development to make the aquaculture farming process more efficient and predictable.

So I wonder, what happened?

What caused this sudden change of direction in the marketing efforts from those companies? What happened to all the investment made last DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

year in the development and promotion of these digital platforms for aquaculture management?

It is not hard to imagine that in the attempt of proposing and developing a different way to execute processes within the aquaculture industry, these companies have had to reconsider new strategies to bring on the digital transformation to this industry in a more efficient and objective way.

Anyone who has tried to bring new ideas into the aquaculture industry knows all too well the amount of barriers that have to be faced in order to succeed. It seems like every producer has developed their manual and their own know how since the

industry is “young.” Every operations manager has their own different way of coming to the expected result. And even, sometimes, it is not easy for them to explain how something was done, since there is no documentation to back up the trials.

Usually there are no systematized manuals across the industry.

This, on one hand makes digital transformation for productive processes harder, and on the other hand sort of becomes a personal competition between the technician who has developed the process and the app that will execute it faster, more precisely and with continual improvement. This manifests itself as a resistance to incorporate technology into » 49

OUT AND ABOUT

Anyone who has tried to

bring new ideas into the aquaculture industry knows all too well the amount of barriers that have to be faced in order to succeed.

50 Âť

the daily work of many technicians.

If in addition to this, we consider the generational succession in the production positions of aquaculture farms, where the average age of managers and operators is currently between 45 and 50 years, we can assume that adoption of digital apps and technologies in management and data analysis will be deficient and expensive for the time being.

Nonetheless digital transformation is here to stay. It is pretty much impossible to imagine a world now without the help and support of digital apps and our smart phones.

But beyond those quotidian services digital transformation could indeed help the aquaculture industry to be much safer in terms of sanitary risks, by allowing faster and/or remote diagnosis of diseases to implement precise and effective treatments in a timely manner.

Digital transformation could also allow aquaculture producers and managers to always have real time information from the farms and in this way support decision making in production and sales based upon production costs, logistics, and status of the production process.

With digital transformation aquaculture will grow, it will standardize processes, reduce costs and risks, and become a predictable and replicable activity that will bring employment and wealth. It is only a matter of figuring out the paradigms and fears that are preventing the current generation of producers and technicians to implement information technologies into aquaculture. A current generation that is also beginning to be replaced.

Salvador Meza is Editor & Publisher of Aquaculture Magazine, and of the Spanish language industry magazine Panorama Acuicola.

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

AQUAFEED

Recent news from around the globe

by Aquafeed.com

By Suzi Dominy*

A sea change needed in aquafeed development “We need to design systems that utilize sunlight for primary production in the upper plankton layers of the oceans through production of feeds through phytoplankton, micro- and macro-algae, zooplankton and marine bacteria”, says Árni M. Mathiesen, Assistant Director-General, FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. Addressing delegates at the 40-year anniversary of Aqua-Nor in Trondheim, Norway, Mr. Mathiesen

pointed out the vast potential of the oceans and fresh-water bodies, which cover more than two thirds of the globe.

Mathiesen also says aquaculture needs to reduce and eventually eliminate its reliance on terrestrial agriculture for a large part of its feed, pointing out that the general state of terrestrial soils is poor and these are essentially resources that can be used to feed people. It makes sense that we should be looking to the oceans to feed aquaculture. After all, every-

thing that comes from the ocean has been fed by the ocean: you don’t see too many fish chomping their way through fields of corn. However, this may prove to be even trickier than relinquishing fishmeal.

To understand why we do things the way we do, we need to realize that the aquafeed industry has been built on the shoulders of the animal feed industry, which itself developed to utilize flour milling and oilseed crushing byproducts. Compare an animal feedmill with an aquaculture feedmill and you will see a striking similarity in machinery, processes and many of the ingredients. Processing physically different, ocean-derived ingredients is going to require new technology and a new approach to feed manufacture.

Today the aquafeed industry is heavily dependent on terrestrial plant sources, in particular soy, which is a major protein source, and one that has been touted as a sustainable alternative to fishmeal. This is in part a legacy of animal feed production, but not entirely. The development of intensive fish farming around the world – especially in Asia – has, to a substantial degree, been enabled by support and training from the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), as a means of creating and sustaining demand for U.S. soybeans and soybean products. It has been an extraordinarily successful marketing strategy.

For almost 30 years, U.S. soybean farmers have been obliged by the U.S. government to contribute a percentage of their sales to the check off program. Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the $100 million plus/year program facilitates market growth and creation by funding and directing marketing, research and commercialization programs.

Aquaculture nutrition scientists have been grateful recipients of significant funding. Research has been ongoing and so far, according to the United Soybean Board, has resulted in soybeans being fed to 56 species.

Árni M. Mathiesen, Assistant Director-General, FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture.

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

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AQUAFEED

Mathiesen also said we need to move down the marine food pyramid, for energy efficiency, and in this regard come closer to the terrestrial food pyramid and concentrate more on low-input systems and herbivorous species. We should even consider non-fed systems that provide additional environmental benefits, in favor of our present preference for top carnivores, ‘the wolves’ at the top of the pyramid.

“If we do these two things, we will have come a long way towards meeting the third challenge of reducing the practice of feeding fish to fish, and not use high quality protein to produce high quality protein”, Mathiesen said.

Feeding those ‘wolves’ at the top of the pyramid without fish is the

focus of the third Future of Fish Feed contest (F3). “F3 Challenge – Carnivore Edition” —opened at the beginning of September to companies that produce and sell “fish-free” feed for farm-raised carnivorous species. The organizers are offering a $35,000 prize in each of three categories—salmonid, shrimp, and other carnivorous species—to the contestant that produces and sells the most feed made without using

any ingredients consisting of or derived from marine animals, including but not limited to, fish, squid, shrimp, or krill. Contest registration is open until April 30, 2020.

“We were told after our first contest that the real challenge was fish-free feeds for carnivorous species,” said Kevin Fitzsimmons, F3 Challenge chair and professor at the University of Arizona. “Fortunately, there’s a lot of great research happening on alternative feed ingredients for carnivores, so we are excited to see what emerges from our third contest.”

Acknowledging that change is not easy, Mathiesen said that looking back and observing the innovations and the advances that have been made in his own lifetime, he was confident they could be achieved. I would argue that, F3 notwithstanding, unless appropriate levels of research dollars are forthcoming to support the vision, to farm and nurture the oceans - to start putting back rather than just taking out and to develop new technologies to produce and utilize ocean-derived feeds, he is being somewhat optimistic.

AQM Editor Greg Lutz conducting USSEC sponsored hands-on hatchery training in Colombia.

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DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

Philippine low-cost feed to boost aquaculture industry in the country The Aquaculture Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC/AQD) has developed low-cost feeds for milkfish and tilapia which were successfully verified through field testing for cages and ponds in various locations across the Philippines in 2019.

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

“We have successfully reduced the cost of feeds by 30% compared to the most efficient commercial feeds available in the market,” said Dr. Roger Edward Mamauag, scientist and head of the Technology Verification and Extension Division. The low-cost feeds by AQD also showed higher growth and weight performance compared to commercial feeds.

The results were presented during the 28th PTAC meeting. The Philippine Technical and Administrative Committee (PTAC) is tasked to coordinate activities between AQD and the Philippine government as host country, and is comprised of representatives from relevant government agencies.

Ret. Commodore Eduardo Gongona, director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), expressed his appreciation for this development and requested AQD move forward with the mass production of the formula, and suggested AQD conduct acceptability studies among aquaculture operators and fish farmers on the newly formulated low-cost feeds.

“By lessening the cost of aquaculture production, we can claim that the next ten years is going to be the game for aquaculture,” added Gongona.

AQD also presented the progress of 49 studies under its departmental and regional programs as well as special projects in collaboration with the Philippine government.

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AQUAFEED

New sources of omega-3 are safe to use in salmon Both humans and fish require the long, marine omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA to maintain good health. What we receive from fish oil derived from wild fish is not enough to meet the needs of a growing 54 Âť

population and aquaculture industry.

Therefore, several sources of marine omega-3 are needed. Some omega-3 is used in health food products, some in animal feed and a large portion in feed for farmed fish. Omega-3 levels in Norwegian farmed salmon have previously fallen and it

is assumed that the lower limit has been reached. This trend can now be stopped by utilizing new sources.

Nofima scientists have tested two new sources of omega-3: canola oil that is extracted from a rapeseed plant which is genetically modified to produce the omega-3 fatty acids DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

DHA and ALA; and Schizochytrium sp., a microalgae that is not genetically modified but naturally rich in DHA. These sources are partially available on a commercial scale.

Feeding trials using canola oil were performed in salmon both in freshwater and seawater land-based DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

fish tanks in Norway. Canola oil was added to the feed in increasing amounts. A parallel feeding trial was performed on juvenile salmon in warmer water in Australia to test canola oil at two different growth rates. Feeding trials adding Schizochytrium to the feed were performed in salmon from 100 grams to slaughter size. Growth, composition, muscle quality and health were tested.

Results showed that both sources provide good performance, quality, composition of fatty acids and health for the salmon. The main findings include: • Canola oil had a favorable fatty acid profile compared to conventional plant oils with high levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid and DHA. Health markers analysis suggested that this is a safe source of oil in salmon feed.

• Canola oil in salmon feed in both freshwater and seawater provided equivalent growth rates as with fish oil, and better skin and muscle color. Environmental pollutants could not be detected in salmon fed with canola oil.

• Schizochytrium sp. is a good source of DHA in the diet of salmon and also contributed to better muscle color. There were no differences in odor and flavor of the fillet compared to salmon fed with fish oil.

“We know that salmon need the fatty acids EPA and DHA in order to maintain good health. This research shows that salmon can utilize these fatty acids both from the new sources of omega-3 and from fish oil in the same way,” said Nofima’s senior scientist, Bente Ruyter.

Access to a greater volume of feed ingredients rich in omega-3 is considered one of the major challenges regarding growth of the aquaculture industry, both in Norway and internationally. “It now looks like there are solutions, but it will also be important in the future to utilize sources of omega-3 in fish as optimally as possible,” said Ruyter.

The assessment of whether oil from genetically modified rapeseed can be permitted for use in feed in Norway depends on government regulations, only then will the industry be able to decide whether to use canola oil. Knowledge gained from this project will contribute to this assessment.

The research project, New omega-3 sources in salmon feed was funded by the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (FHF). The project was established after a joint announcement with the Research Council of Norway.

Suzi Dominy is the founding editor and publisher of aquafeed.com. She brings 25 years of experience in professional feed industry journalism and publishing.

Before starting this company, she was co-publisher of the agri-food division of a major UK-based company, and editor of their major international feed magazine for 13 years. editor@aquafeed.com

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POST-HARVEST

Maintaining Raw Seafood Quality through Freezing By: Evelyn Watts *

Seafood is one of the main sources of protein around the world, and its consumption continues to grow annually. Seafood is recognized to be highly perishable with a relatively short shelf life, because of its high unsaturated lipid composition. In addition, microbial and enzymatic activity also play important roles during fish spoilage.

Appropriate chilling, refrigeration and freezing are key elements to maintain optimum quality of seafood products and are generally used as a preservation method onboard and onshore.

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C

hilling is the process to reduce the fish temperature to 32°F (0°C) (Figure 1).

Chilling upon harvesting of seafood is necessary to slow down the spoilage process and maintain seafood quality. Ice is the most common and effective method of chilling. Fresh fish lasts for a few days refrigerated but it can be stored longer when frozen. Freezing is the process of removing heat from the seafood product to a temperature of -0.4°F (-18.0°C) or below (Figure 1). One of the great benefits of freezing is that it reduces microbial and enzymatic activity. A proper cold chain is required to maintain the benefits of freezing.

If the frozen state is not accurate and continuous, it will result in a reduction of the quality of the product.

Freezing zone The fish tissue contains 75-80% water. The salts and other materials dissolved in the tissue decrease its freezing point below 32°F (0°C). Most water in the seafood will be frozen at -13°F (-25°C). However, much of the freezing and ice crystal formation will happen between 30.2°F (-1°C) and 23°F (-5°C), which is called the freezing zone or critical zone (Figure 1).

The freezing zone needs to be accomplished quickly to obtain small ice-crystals, so that the formation of large ice-crystals and their disruptive effect on the cell walls are avoided.

The ice-crystal formation starts with nucleation followed by the expansion of the crystals. A slow cooling rate results in the formation of a small number of ice nuclei. On the other hand, a rapid cooling rate results in the formation of a large number of nuclei. A greater number of nuclei will allow ice-crystals to remain small, limiting damage to the tissue.

Appropriate chilling of the fish to a temperature around 32°F (0°C) will subsequently allow more efficient freezing. Packaging material also plays an important role to prolong the freezing time. The heat transfer DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

» 57

POST-HARVEST Figure 1 Graphic description of seafood chilling and freezing, including temperature of refrigeration, water freezing, and seafood freezing zone.

coefficient and thickness of the packaging material, as well as air trapped between the packaging material and the food will result in the reduction of cooling rates.

The great advantage of an appropriate and efficient freezing process is the ability to achieve stability without damaging the initial quality of the fish. An efficient freezing process allows processors to achieve temperatures decreasing from 32°F to 23°F (0 -5°C) in the fish thermal center in less than 2 hours. The recommended

Chilling upon harvesting of seafood is necessary to slow down the spoilage process and maintain seafood quality.

Ice is the most common and effective method of chilling.

freezing and frozen storage temperatures for most fish products are -4 to -7.6°F (-20 to -22°C).

Recrystallization The ice crystals formed in the fish tissue are not stable and always tend to grow. During storage, the ice-crystals will tend to change in number, size, shape, and orientation. This phenomenon is known as recrystallization, resulting in small crystals disappearing, large crystals growing, and crystals fusing together.

Fluctuating temperatures greatly enhance the process of recrystallization. Increasing temperature allows the melting of ice-crystals. In the reverse process, nucleation of new crystals is formed and equilibrium is re-established by crystal growth. Recrystallization can be minimized by maintaining a low and constant storage temperature.

Recrystallization also happens during thawing. The thawing process should be done rapidly to avoid undesirable effects of recrystallization.

Freezer burn Excessive water loss during the freez-

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ing process due to the sublimation of water from the outer surface of the product will result in freezer burn.

Freezer burn decreases the quality related with appearance and causes nutrient and quality loss. Freezer burn triggers lipid oxidation by the penetration of oxygen through porous structures. This is irreversible; however various measures can be used to minimize dehydration and freezer burn. Precooling with high humidity air at 39.4-41°F (4-5°C) will minimize dehydration during freezing. Packaging before freezing will also protect the product during the freezing process, however it delays freezing time and is not a correct choice for certain freezing methods.

Another method is the application of a layer of ice on the already-frozen fish. This method is known as Glazing. Glaze can be accomplished by dipping the product in a glazing solution such as water, salt-sugar solutions or by spraying the product. Glazing can retard freezer burn and protect product from oxidation.

Freezer burn is delayed due to the sublimation of the glaze instead of the moisture in the fish tissue.

The amount of glaze picked up by the product will depend on the size and shape of the product, glazing time, temperature of the fish and the glazing solution. Research reports that water uptake during glazing can range between 15% and 20%, which guarantees the final quality of the seafood product.

Freezing methods

Air blast freezing Air blast freezing involves the application of air as the medium for freezing. The air is cooled by an evaporator, then circulated by fans over the product (Figure 2). Air speed should be 4-6 m/s for acceptable heat transfer and to maintain the temperature of the air at -22 to -40°F (-7.6 to -40°C). This freezing method is effective for packed foods. Air blast freezing unpacked fish will result in freezer burn and dehydration.

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

Figure 2 Air blast freezer diagram (Source: Cryosystems).

A proper cold chain is required to maintain the benefits of freezing. If the frozen state is not accurate and continuous, it will result in a reduction of the quality of the product.

Figure 3 Schematic of a Fluidized Bed Freezer (Source: Shahnaz, A., 2017)

The most commonly used type of air blast freezing is tunnel freezing. In this method, the product travels on a belt moving slowly through a tunnel or enclosure containing very cold air in motion. Flow direction can be parallel or in an opposite direction to the movement of the product. The coldest air meets with the product closest to the frozen state and continues on its path through the tunnel. Warmer air at the end of the tunnel returns to the evaporator to be cooled again.

Another air blast freezer method is fluidized bed freezers. In this method, the product is placed on a mesh conveyor exposed to forced air upward through the mesh, sufficient enough to lift or suspend the product DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

particles. Each particle is surrounded by cool air and freezes rapidly and individually (Figure 3). This is a suitable method for individually quick frozen (IQF) product. The product needs to be the same dimension and small enough to take fluidity. The cool air is fed perpendicularly to the belt and meets with the product according to the principle of countercurrents. Heat transfer is improved with the provision of controlled turbulence. This method is recommended for small sized seafood such as fish portions, fillets, shrimp, oysters and prawns. An advantage of this method is that it allows the consumer to meet the exact quantity requirements to be removed from the freezer. Big blocks

of fish or irregular size fish hanging on coils or trolleys can be frozen using this method. However, the major problem of this method is moisture loss from unpacked product.

Indirect contact freezing With this freezing method, the product is separated from the cooling medium (refrigerant) by conducting plates. The plates are often made of steel and equipped with evaporators.

The contact of the product to the plate is important to guarantee the heat transfer. This method is recommended for products with regular geometry (rectangular cartons, slabs, fish sticks and fillets, or flat packages) (Figure 4) which can be placed between plates allowing for rapid freezing on both sides. Plate freezers can be either batch freezer or continuous mode.

Immersion freezing With this method, the product is frozen by immersion or spraying with a freezing agent. The freezing process occurs by the direct contact of the fish with a low freezing-point medium. An important factor to consider is that the solution does not change the texture or taste of the product.

Other factors to consider when using this method are cost, flavor compatibility, safety, and ability to reduce soÂť 59

POST-HARVEST Figure 4 Horizontal batch plate freezer (Sources: N. Göloğlu & P. Yerlikaya, 2015, & Hymel T., 2019).

The great advantage of an appropriate and efficient freezing process is the ability to achieve stability without damaging the initial quality of the fish.

lution freezing point. Propylene glycol, glycerol, and mixtures of salt and sugar are common solutions used for this method. There are also combined solutions of alcohol/water and water/glycerol/alcohol. This method results in rapid freezing which leads to a high quality end product.

The immersion solution remains unfrozen at 32°F and below. A widely used solution is sodium chloride (salt) brine, which freezes at -5.8°F. A disadvantage of a salt brine solution is that the fish absorbs some salt. Brine freezing has been used in large fishing vessels that fish a considerable distance from their home port and stay at sea for long periods of time.

This method is widely used for freezing tuna, shrimp and crab (Figure 5). This method is also commonly known as ‘IQF’ among commercial shrimpers.

Cryogenic freezing Another method that has been successfully applied to seafood products is cryogenic freezing. With this method, the food product is exposed directly to liquid boiling or solid subliming at a very low temperature. Liquefied gases with a very low boiling point are recognized as cryogenic liquids. Most commonly used food grade cryogenic freezing agents are liquid carbon dioxide and liquid nitrogen. The boiling point of liquid 60 »

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

Figure 5 Brine frozen shrimp (Source: Hymel, T. 2019)

Excessive water loss during the freezing process due to the sublimation of water from the outer surface of the product will result in freezer burn. Freezer burn decreases the quality related with appearance and causes nutrient and quality loss.

carbon dioxide is -229°F (-145°C).

Carbon dioxide sublimes at -110.2°F (-79°C) while absorbing 572kJ/kg of heat. On the other hand liquid nitrogen has a boiling temperature of -320.8°F (-196°C) and absorbs 199.8 kJ/kg of heat during vaporization. Liquid nitrogen is a safe food cryogenic compound because it is non-toxic, inert, protects oxygenic reactions, requires no extra cooling equipment, and ensures quick freezing at a very low temperature. In cryogenic freezing, the liquid is sprayed or dribbled on the product while passing through a tunnel on a conveyor belt (Figure 6). Cryogenic technology can be combined with other technol-

ogies such as antimicrobial coating or gamma radiation to reduce Listeria innocua or Salmonella spp.

Key points • Rapid freezing: aAccomplishes a good quality frozen product. aSmall ice-crystals among cells provide physical protection to the cell structure. aCritical temperature zone must be achieved rapidly. aInhibition of microbial degradation.

• Recommended freezing and frozen storage temperatures for fish are -4 to -7.6°F (-20 to -22°C).

• It is recommended to achieve reduction from 32°F to 23°F (0 to -5°C) in the center of the fish in less than 2 hours • Storage temperatures below -40°F (-40°C) allow the fish quality to be maintained for 6-9 months. However, it is not possible due to economical concerns.

Figure 6 Cryogenic tunnel (Source: www.praxairfood.com)

Dr. Evelyn Watts has a Veterinary Medicine degree and a Master’s in Food Safety from the University of San Carlos in Guatemala, and a Doctorate in Food Science from Louisiana State University. She works with seafood processors in Louisiana assisting in regulatory compliance, as well as providing guidance on handling, processing, packaging and storage technologies.

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

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AQUACULTURE ECONOMICS, MANAGEMENT, AND MARKETING

Budgeting for

Startup Aquaculture and Aquaponics Businesses By: Ph.D. Carole R. Engle*

The startup years are particularly challenging for aquaculture and aquaponics businesses. A great deal of capital is typically required to construct facilities, purchase equipment, acquire seedstock, and to raise the first crop. The startup period may last several years during which adequate capital must be available to cover all expenses and to perhaps support a family. Given that the major reason for business failure is that the owners simply run out of cash, careful and thorough planning is needed to prepare to survive the startup years. This column will discuss several key considerations from the perspective of financial requirements but also that of gaining the management experience necessary to be successful in an aquaculture or an aquaponics business.

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evelopment of an aquaculture or aquaponics business begins with construction of the production facility and acquisition of the necessary equipment. Some individuals use their own cash reserves to cover these initial investment costs, while others rely primarily on borrowed capital from financial lenders or investors. There are costs for the use of either owner equity capital or borrowed (debt) capital. Debt capital results in interest costs that must be paid to the lender in periodic installments. Clearly the greater the amount of capital that is borrowed, the greater the interest cost to the business. If the capital used to build facilities and purchase equipment is from the owner, there is an opportunity cost in the form of the returns that could have been received by investing that capital in a different way or of its value as a reserve for emergencies. The operating costs associated with purchase of the seed, feed, water amendments, utilities, and hired employees must also be paid with either cash reserves from the owner or an operating loan.

The most immediate problem for a startup business is the lack of revenue during the startup years. It takes time, often more than anticipated, to get an aquaculture or aquaponics business up and running. For those new to aquaculture and aquaponics, it is advisable to start slowly and not attempt to gear up too quickly to full production levels, to avoid substantial mortalities that often occur due to lack of experience with the animals being raised. The learning curve in aquaculture or aquaponics is quite steep, and it is advisable to invest the time and money to first gain experience on a trial basis with a small unit stocked at a low rate. It may take several crops before the owner is able to tell at a glance whether the animals are doing well or if there is a problem that needs prompt attention.

Another reason to start slowly is that it takes time to build markets, DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

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AQUACULTURE ECONOMICS, MANAGEMENT, AND MARKETING

The learning curve in aquaculture

or aquaponics is quite steep, and it is advisable to invest the time and money to first gain experience on a trial basis with a small unit stocked at a low rate.

even with well-known and preferred species. There are not many new businesses that have people immediately clamoring for their product.

Unlike more mainstream types of agriculture, there is no grain elevator or auction barn where product can be dropped off. Aquaculture and aquaponics farmers must devote time to develop their own markets by searching out prospective buyers, providing samples, conducting active promotional campaigns, and otherwise convincing individuals to purchase their product.

Starting on a small, trial scale, however, also means that costs will be greater due to the economies of scale that exist in aquaculture and aquaponics. Thus, not only are cash flow problems more pronounced during the startup years, but overall costs are higher and profitability lower or nonexistent.

The startup budgets must reflect the realities of higher costs and cash flow deficits. Detailed plans (including planning for contingencies and

un-anticipated emergencies) must be made to acquire and manage levels of capital that are adequate to survive the early years. Table 1 and Figure 1 illustrate the financial challenges of a hypothetical, startup indoor RAS shrimp farm. (For more detailed financial statements for this hypothetical example request further info to the author). Year 0 of the business was the construction year. The farm was assumed to produce and sell at a level equivalent to one-third and twothirds of full production in Years 1 and 2, respectively (Table 1). Only in Year 3 did the farm reach full production with the expectation to receive full revenue.

The financial problems created by the startup realities are evident in Figure 1, that shows a 3- year cash flow budget (quarterly) for this hypotheti-

cal farm. The cash available does not become positive until Year 2, in the second quarter (Y2Q2), but is only marginally positive and remains so for three quarters until becoming substantially negative again in Quarter 4 of Year 3, when annual payments on real estate and equipment loans are due.

(This example assumed that the owner contributed 20% of the real estate and equipment investment capital.)

Thorough and accurate planning will minimize the chances of failure, even with the substantial financial risk of the startup years. Unfortunately, many enterprise budgets do not adequately reflect the realities of the startup years. Most published enterprise budgets reflect a steady-state business that has survived the startup years, moved up the learning curve, and is in full production with full sales.

Figure 1 Cash available, first three years of indoor shrimp farm (Y1Q1 = Year 1, Quarter 1)

Table 1 Annual revenue projected for first three years of hypothetical, Indoor shrip farm producing 15,000 lb a year at full production.

Year 0 1 2 3

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Total revenue for year $0 $73,854 $147,708 $221,562

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Another reason to start slowly is that it takes time to build markets, even with well-known and preferred species. There are not many new businesses that have people immediately clamoring for their product.

The above considerations are, of course, in addition to the many decisions that must be made in terms of system construction and design, and accurate and realistic projections of steady-state production volumes, costs, and sales targets. For Additional Resources that provide additional detail on business planning and preparation of necessary financial statements and analyses, please contact the author and request the information.

Thus, a thorough and accurate business plan will include, in addition to the analyses of the business when in full production, financial projections for each year of the entire startup period.

The projections for the startup period should reflect the following: 1) first and second year sales much lower than those estimated at full production; 2) higher costs due to lower scale of production; and 3) contingency cash reserves to work through

the many un-anticipated problems that will emerge. Such analyses will clarify the cash flow and borrowing needs for the business and provide a solid basis from which to acquire sufficient capital and better position the farm to survive the critical startup years.

Additional Resources available under direct request to the author.

Ph.D. Carole R. Engle*, Engle-Stone Aquatic$ LLC Carole Engle holds a B.A. degree in Biology/Rural Development from Friends World College and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Auburn University where she specialized in aquaculture economics. Dr. Engle is a past-President of the U.S. Aquaculture Society and the International Association of Aquaculture Economics and Management. She is currently a Principal in Engle-Stone Aquatic$ LLC, and can be reached at cengle8523@gmail.com

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

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SALMONIDS

Breeding programmes and genetic improvement

in salmon and trout In the early 1970s, trials demonstrated the large potential of family-

based breeding programmes in salmon farming. In these trials, gametes from salmon were collected from 40 Norwegian rivers and formed the basis of estimation of genetic parameters and the first commercial breeding program. Strains from this and other breeding companies in Norway, UK, Netherlands and Chile dominate global salmon aquaculture today.

By Asbjørn Bergheim*

F

or the first generations of farmed Atlantic salmon in Norway it took 40 months to grow to a weight of 4 kg. Today, the time period has been halved and it has been estimated that a significant part of this improvement is due to systematic breeding over the past 12 generations or so. The Norwegian breeding programme focused on increasing growth rate, with estimates of genetic gain per generation of approximately 15% (see Figure 1). Selection of fast-growing salmon through several generations has also contributed to more efficient utilization of feed nutrients. According to the R&D organisation, Nofima, today’s salmon use 30% less feed for growth.

The high level of genetic gain “may be due to in part to the selection intensity associated with the high fecundity of salmon (several thousand offspring per female) and in part to a very recent domestication history, providing high levels of genetic variability influencing traits of importance for farming” (Houston & Macqueen, 2019). Heritability (h2) for economically important traits, i.e. the degree of variation in a phenotypic trait in a population that is due to genetic variation between individuals in that population, is of medium magnitude (e.g. 0.3 – 0.5 for salmon 66 »

Figure 1 Breeding stair, i.e. a step is the generation interval (4 years and 3 years for salmon and trout, respectively), while the rise is the progress generated by the selection (AquaGen, 2005).

carcass quantity traits). Besides, the rather low generation interval contributes to high yearly genetic gain.

From the 1990s onwards, salmon breeding programs became more advanced and the breeding goals expanded to include traits such as disease resistance, age at sexual maturation and fillet characteristics. Introduction of quantitative trait locus analysis (QTL) explained the vast majority of variation in host resistance to the devastating virus disease IPN. One single gene was found to explain approximately 80% of the genetic variation in resistance.

Consequently, selective breeding resulted in a significantly reduced number of IPN outbreaks. According to the Report on Fish Health 2013, the Norwegian aquaculture industry experienced a 75% reduction in the incidence of the disease from 2010 to 2013. Genomic selection is now considered the state of the art for application of genomics to genetic improvement.

Investments in efficient breeding programs are most cost effective. It has been found that the cost-benefit ratio of such programs in fish can range from 1 to 8 to 1 to 60. Notable DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

Figure 2

Figure 3

Expected progress for individual traits in Atlantic salmon relative to population average (AquaGen, 2005).

Boxplots of individual preference values of the six most important traits for genetic gain in rainbow trout. TGC: thermal growth coefficient, Surv: survival, FCR: feed conversion ratio, CF: condition factor, FIL%: fillet percentage, LMat: late maturation (Sae-Lim et al. 2011, Wageningen University).

expected genetic gains for selected families also include the emphasized diseases furunculosis and ILA (Figure 2), but with less significant progress compared to that for IPN. The estimated progress for growth in freshwater is twice that for growth in the subsequent seawater stage.

Salmon contain many different omega-3 fatty acids. Research has shown that some salmon families have higher levels of the healthy fatty acids in their muscle tissue than others. Based on findings at Nofima, the heritability of DHA is comparatively high (26%), while the other main omega-3 acid, EPA, has low heritabil-

ity. The researchers concluded that there is a great potential in increasing DHA through selective breeding.

The breeding program for trout in Norway is mainly used for production of large sea-running rainbow trout, with a focus on traits such as reduced deformities, age at sexual maturation, body shape, skin and filet colour and growth rate.

Breeding trait preferences will vary depending on commercial products and farming environments. In a study performed at Wageningen University, the Netherlands, questionnaires were distributed to rainbow trout farmers from five continents to rank the most

Photography: Robert Wolcheck, used under creative commons license CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

important traits for genetic improvement (Figure 3). The highest ranked traits were growth rate, survival, feed utilisation, condition factor, fillet percentage and late maturation. However, there were large differences between individual respondents, especially related to temperature conditions (high â&#x20AC;&#x201C; low altitudes) and farm system (flow-through vs. RAS).

Late maturation and fillet percentage were preferred traits for producers of large fish, while improvements in growth and survival were of greater importance to RAS farmers. This is largely due to the fact that high fish densities and feeding rates in RAS result in increased dissolved CO2 concentrations, reducing fish health and growth.

Dr. Asbjørn Bergheim is a consultant at Oxyvision Ltd. in Stavanger. His fields of interest within aquaculture are primarily water quality vs. technology and management in tanks, cages and ponds, among others. asbjorn@oxyvision.com

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TECHNICAL GURU

Just keep skimming…

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by Amy Stone*

As marine aquaculture becomes more prevalent, there is a call for a very useful tool. Protein skimmers or foam fractionators are often used in systems to assist with small particle and protein removal. The column for this issue will focus on how protein skimmers work and their applications.

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oam fractionation is a process in which organic laden water, or system water, enters a tank or a body and inside this body, a pump or pumps inject air bubbles through the column of water. By mixing the air with the culture water, surfactants adsorb to the surface of the air bubbles by their hydrophobic ends. Small amounts of liquid are entrained between these bubbles on the surfactants’ hydrophilic ends. As the process continues, the bubbles coalesce near the top of the water column. Here, the small amounts of water begin to drain, thus allowing the bubbles to adhere together to create the foam waste. As the foam accumulates, it rises into the collection cup where it is removed from the system.

While protein skimmers can work well in both fresh and saltwater applications, we most often see them in brackish or saltwater systems. There is a substantial difference in the surface tension between freshwater and saltwater. Saltwater has a higher specific gravity, (density). In turn, the bubbles produced in this higher specific gravity are denser than their freshwater counterparts. Being denser, we see a larger portion of the bubbles being created sustain their size and structure as they travel up through the reaction chamber and ultimately into the foam collection area at the top of the protein skimmer.

Conversely, freshwater bubbles have a much lower density. This results in bubbles having a tendency to stretch into larger sizes and/or collapse as they travel up through the skimmer towards the collection cup.

To overcome this discrepancy, freshwater protein fractionators must have more available surface area for these bubbles to collect on. More surface area in the collection chambers helps to keep the freshwater bubbles from getting too large and/or bursting. It has also been determined that the usage of ozone inside freshwater protein skimmers helps to flocculate DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

these particles and proteins which we are trying to remove from the water column. In my experience, I would not recommend utilizing a freshwater protein skimmer without pairing it with an ozone generator.

Foam fractionation is a process

in which organic laden water, or system water, enters a tank or a body and inside this body, a pump or pumps inject air bubbles through the column of water.

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

There are many types of protein skimmers that are commercially available. They range from very complicated to very simple as well as a variety of efficiencies. We will review two types of skimmer designs. While there are many variations, these are the two most common design concepts.

Co-Current Systems Co-current is a design where the water and the air are injected at or near the bottom of the vessel and they both travel up the column together.

This is the original design that we saw coming out of Europe. It is the simplest, and still works well. The earliest versions used a limewood air diffuser in the bottom of the vessel. The limewood diffusers can produce very small bubbles at a relatively low cost.

They arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as popular as they were when I first entered the business, but they still exist. Co-current skimmers are mostly seen in the home aquarium industry. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t often see them in production systems.

Aquaculture Magazine

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TECHNICAL GURU

Counter Current Systems Counter current systems are exactly how they sound. By introducing the water at the opposite end as the air source, there are added benefits of shearing and increased contact time.

These are by far the most common skimmers we see in aquaculture. In most cases, the air is introduced at the bottom of the vessel and the water enters near the top.

The internal geometry of the vessel is where most brands differ. It is this geometry that forces the water to take a rigorous path which increases the time that it is in contact with the air bubbles. There is, as usual, a point of diminishing returns in regard to contact time but the average tends to be a 2-minute dwell time.

Effectiveness of a skimmer is based on the ability of bubbles to stay

intact rather than collapsing. Once they collapse, the waste is concentrated which makes it heavier and harder to remove from the vessel. Efficiency is based on how much surface area is created at the air/water interface.

The higher the surface area, the more waste products that can be removed.

Air injection Air injection is one of the most com-

While protein skimmers can work well in both fresh and saltwater applications, we most often see them in brackish or saltwater systems. There is a substantial difference in the surface tension between freshwater and saltwater.

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There are many types of protein skimmers that are

commercially available. They range from very complicated to very simple as well as a variety of efficiencies. mon differentiating features of different brands of skimmers. Air can be introduced using venturis, downdraft columns and pine wheel impeller pumps.

Venturi driven skimmers are most common. A venturi is essentially a device that is installed inline. It is designed to constrict the water flow by narrowing the passageway which then expands quickly to create a vacuum.

Just before the venturi expands there is a small inlet fitting where air, oxygen or ozone is introduced. Because the air is introduced under vacuum, it is broken into small bubbles, which is what is needed for skimmers.

Downdraft skimmers, usually used in smaller applications, introduce air through a column of media, bio balls, brushes or other devices which break up the water particles. One of the challenges to this design is that the media will get clogged over time.

The designs often make it hard if not impossible to remove and clean the media.

In more recent years, manufacturers have been working towards systems driven by pin wheel impeller pumps. These systems use an introduction of air before the pump intake with an impeller that is covered in small pins which will break up the air molecules. The jury is still out on whether this design is actually more efficient than a venturi but it is available. So far, our experience has been that the pumps require more maintenance and often fail prematurely while the venturi is more reliable.

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At the end of the day, skimmers are a useful tool in removing organics and excess nutrients from the system.

I would like to thank Adrian Megay from RK2 Systems for providing pictures and some of the technical validation for this article.

Amy Riedel Stone is President and Owner at Aquatic Equipment and Design, Inc. She was formerly a Manager at Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, and she studied Agriculture at Purdue University.

She can be reached at amy@aquaticed.com

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GENETICS

Genetics and Breeding

You can’t know where you’re headed if you don’t consider where you’ve been, or …how our path up to now has led us to this new frontier

C. G. Lutz / Louisiana State University Agricultural Center

Some 10 or 15 years back, it was fairly easy to discuss the application of traditional animal and plant breeding technology to aquaculture species. Today, molecular methods and biotechnology are advancing so rapidly that by the time one understands the science, it has already evolved.

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onetheless, most advances in genetic improvement can still be understood within a framework of traditional approaches, in particular improvement through selection of superior breeding stock. Current research in aquaculture genetics and genomics involves a great number of topics, ranging from control of phenotypic sex to genomic-based selection to up- and/ or down-regulation of specific genes in response to disease or nutritional conditions. Not to mention the new and occasionally frightening frontier known as Crispr/Cas9.

Identifying distinct populations, strains and individuals To this day, one of the most practical approaches to identifying suitable hatchery stock involves the use of population genetics analyses. Historically, researchers used genetic markers like mitochondrial DNA (found in the energy-producing mitochondria inside each cell, and inherited maternally) and microsatellites (small, variable sequences of bases scattered throughout chromosomes between functional genes) to look for genetic differences between populations, both wild and farmed. An important aspect of using these techniques was the choice of markers, in order 72 »

to properly discriminate between groups.

Population genetics is certainly useful in identifying unique wild populations of species of interest, and in showing how captive populations can diverge over time as a result of selection, inbreeding or genetic drift. Now, however, much of this work involves a molecular technique commonly referred to as GBS, which stands for genotyping by sequencing. And just as early population genetics tools were adapted for use in improvement programs, GBS has that potential as well. GBS is a cheaper way to look at multiple markers simultaneously, but sometimes it relies on reading one

strand of the chromosome’s doublehelix. It’s a numbers game to be sure you aren’t missing something on the other strand, so more is better.

Unfortunately, many industry observers are of the opinion that GBS, while cheaper than more traditional methods, is still far too costly for practical application in selection programs for aquaculture species.

Additionally, large numbers (>1000) of animals are required to make this technique applicable for most species. Luckily, prevailing trends suggest costs will continue to fall over time so hopefully the industry will be poised to adopt this technology when the time is right.

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

Genomics Genomics refers to a wide range of methods, but the fundamental philosophy is to look at how individual genes interact. In the past, researchers were forced to look at individual genes one at a time in spite of the fact that most traits of economic importance in aquaculture are controlled by many genes. The more genes that can be included in a genomic analysis, the clearer the picture becomes as to what is going on within an organism.

Genome sequencing, or deciphering the order of specific nucleotides (A’s, C’s, G’s and T’s) along a strand of DNA, is involved in most genomics studies. In aquaculture species, genome technology is being used to investigate disease resistance, sterility and other important traits.

One example of this approach as applied to the flatfish Cynoglossus semilaevis in China was recently published (Zhou et al. 2019, https://doi. org/10.3389/fgene.2019.01167). The authors used genome-wide association mapping to investigate mechanisms of disease resistance, and found 33 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with disease resistance. The SNP with the strongest association with resistance was found on chromosome 17, near a major quantitative trait locus (see Selection discussion below). Results

Current research in aquaculture genetics and genomics involves a great number of topics, ranging from control of phenotypic sex to genomic-based selection to up- and/or down-regulation of specific genes in response to disease or nutritional conditions.

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

Figure 1 An example of how genetic markers tend to track with important loci. In this example, the chromosome segments in the individual shown in the center of the diagram originated from its Dam and Sire. The segment inherited from the dam was transmitted without crossing over, such that both the blue allele for locus one (L1) and the yellow allele for locus 2 (L2) were inherited together. In contrast, the chromosome segment inherited from the sire is the result of crossing over: the association of the green allele at locus 2 and the blue allele at locus one is altered through a crossing over event, with the individual in question inheriting a new combination of L1 and L2 alleles. Although any number of combinations of alleles from the two loci seems possible with crossing over (the blue allele for L1 occurs with yellow, green and red alleles at L2), the markers are much more closely associated with the alleles at L1, with little possibility of separation due to crossing over of chromosome pairs.

indicated that several other genes also appeared to influence disease resistance, and some appeared to be regulated by epigenetic control (outside factors).

Another recent study involved the use of genomic tools to identify resistance to bonamiosis in European flat oysters (Ostrea edulis) (Vera et al. 2019 https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12832).

They examined three long-term affected oyster beds, comparing them with populations from three naïve beds, and detected a set of 22 SNP markers within a single region of the genome suggesting the presence of a locus with a major quantitative influence over Bonamia resistance. As a bonus, the researchers were also able to identify 84 discriminative markers to differentiate oyster populations.

A more ‘invasive’ form of genomic technology involves literal editing of the nucleotides on a strand of DNA in order to remove or create new gene variants. The most widely recognized method to accomplish this is known as Crispr/Cas9. This can be a somewhat informed process, but it can also involve a “let’s snip this

section and see what happens” technique. Sequencing genomes can shed light on where specific ‘genes’ are located on the chromosomes and how they are written, but this activity also provides a first step in the tinkering process.

In recent years, Crispr/Cas9 has been used to knock out the dead end (dnd) gene in Atlantic salmon in Norway. The dnd gene encodes an RNAbinding protein that is required for migration and survival of primordial germ cells. In the absence of dnd, primordial germ cells in embryos fail to acquire motility, lose specific marker gene expression, and die. So, no germ cells = no reproduction. Crispr/Cas9 has also recently been used to genetically alter the color of Mozambique tilapia in Singapore.The gene that codes for black / golden color (PMEL17) was transformed with an insertion that ultimately inhibited the deposition of skin pigment.

Selection Some genetic attributes are heritable, and transmitted directly from parents to offspring, while others are the re» 73

GENETICS Figure 2 A Manhattan Plot, illustrating the positions and impacts of multiple sites on a series of chromosomes. These plots are widely used for Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). While numerous locations on all chromosomes appear to be related to some degree to the trait in question, only chromosomes 4, 7, 13 and 15 appear to have significant effects, with a number of associated locations on chromosome 13.

sult of specific combinations of parents and cease to exist once chromosome pairs are pulled apart to form gametes. A long-utilized approach to estimating the heritability of traits of interest involves the production of large numbers of families, some with one parent in common and some with both parents in common. This allows a statistical comparison of animals that share only one parent (and therefor the genetic effects transmit-

ted directly from a single individual) and those that share both parents (sharing both the direct effects AND those that result from combinations).

In the old days, we had to use physical markings like tags or cold brands to identify individual fish. Modern molecular methods make it possible to use specific genetic markers that can reliably identify an individual’s parents. This has allowed these types of designs to be conducted without

having to keep track of which animals are from which families, since this can be determined at the end of the study. So, once again, the same concept but with better tools.

The underlying struggle in genetic improvement of aquatic species through selection has always involved the need to determine which animals are actually “superior.” This is because only part of the performance we observe (be it growth,

Genomics refers to a wide range of methods, but the fundamental philosophy is to look at how individual genes interact. In aquaculture species, genome technology is being used to investigate disease resistance, sterility and other important traits.

74 »

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

disease resistance, feed conversion or some other trait of interest) is attributable to the genetic makeup of the organism. The rest is attributable to random effects that are difficult to control, or even quantify. As a result, some truly superior animals may appear to be average at best, while some animals that appear to be superior may not actually possess the genes required to improve the subsequent generation. Over time, animal breeders adopted the use of pedigrees and family information to better predict the genetic worth of livestock and this approach was adopted for aquatic species such as salmon. Accuracy improved, but there was still a lot of ‘noise’ in the assessment of breeding values.

A large portion of the genetic research going on in aquaculture at this time is focused on trying to obtain more accurate assessments of the genetic ‘worth’ of individual animals, in order to improve the efficiency of the selection process. Over the past several decades, a number of approaches have been borrowed from traditional animal and plant breeding to address this issue. One tried and true method is Marker Assisted Selection, or MAS. Marker assisted selection is based on the identification of specific sequences of DNA that are associated with traits of interest.

These markers are physically associated with important genes, in close proximity on the same chromosomes.

All the genes on a chromosome are not inherited as a package and passed down together from parent to offspring. To the contrary, the two chromosomes in a pair can (and do) “cross over,” making contact and subsequently separating while exchanging portions of double-helix in the process. However, the closer two points (two genes, two markers, or a gene and a marker) are on a chromosome, the less likely it is that a random crossover event will occur in between them, so they will tend to be inherited together.

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

Although it may be difficult to isolate the specific genes associated with superior performance for any given trait, it is comparatively easy to identify markers that tend to track with those genes both within populations and across generations. Hence the term MAS, and this approach can be extended to search for Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL’s), specific gene locations on chromosomes (loci), which have significant influence over traits even when a number of other loci are also involved. Once the locations of the markers on the chromosomes are known, researchers can have a general idea of where the important QTL’s are. If the impacts of QTL’s are large, only a handful are needed to greatly accelerate selection programs.

As GBS technology has evolved and costs of genome sequencing and genotyping have gone down, genomic principles have been applied to allow for “genomic selection.” In this method, an evaluation of all (or at least, most) genes influencing a trait can be undertaken, taking into account both the direction (high vs low, better vs worse) and the magnitude of the individual genes in order to estimate a ‘breeding value’ (the projected performance of offspring) for the individual in question. In many species, this approach has been shown to greatly improve the accuracy of predicting the genetic ‘worth’ of an individual. Once more, the underlying principles of selection are unchanged, but the tools available are a significant improvement.

Now, back to Crispr/Cas9. The logical progression from gene editing (discussed above) to practical application involves… yes, you guessed it! selection. A group from the Netherlands recently examined this process (Bastiaansen et al., https://www.jcu. edu.au/international-symposium-ofgenetics-in-aquaculture/our-committee) and reported that if a disease resistance allele could be introduced into a population with only a 1% success rate of genome editing, the fre-

The underlying struggle in genetic improvement of aquatic species through selection has always involved the need to determine which animals are actually “superior.” This is because only part of the performance we observe is attributable to the genetic makeup of the organism.

quency of the new allele would reach a mere 1% if only 6 families were edited. However, with moderate selection for the allele, its frequency would reach almost 100% in the population after 13 generations. This goal could be reached in only 6 generations of selection if all families were initially edited and the success rate was 10%.

This, however, is a simplified example because most traits of importance in aquatic species are controlled by many distinct genes scattered across the chromosomes. And it is for this very reason that, for the foreseeable future, genomics will continue to provide aquaculture with useful tools to advance the identification of key loci and chromosome segments involved in all sorts of commercially important traits.

Dr. C. Greg Lutz is the author of the book Practical Genetics for Aquaculture and the Editor in Chief at Aquaculture Magazine.

Professor and Specialist with the LSU AgCenter editorinchief@dpinternationalinc.com

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URNER BARRY

TILAPIA, PANGASIUS AND CHANNEL CATFISH

UPDATES FROM URNER BARRY By: Lorin Castiglione, Liz Cuozzo *

Tilapia Total tilapia imports for September grew by 9.5 percent, while on a YTD basis overall volume across all categories had fallen 4.6 percent compared to 2018 totals. Fresh categories were imported less this September, while frozen markets saw gains.

Imports of Whole Fish Tilapia As of September, imports of frozen whole fish had increased by 21.1 percent, totaling 10.6 million pounds.

Monthly volume had been increasing month-over-month since March.

On a YTD basis 2019 imports were 5 percent above the same 2018 timeframe, totaling 68.3 million pounds for January through September vol-

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umes. Looking at cyclical behavior of import volume, September 2019 was 54.1 percent above the previous 3-year average for the month of September.

September with the entire year falling under the three-year average.

Fresh Tilapia Fillet Pricing From a replacement cost basis, as well as the adjustments made to the weighted import price per pound (which includes only the top five suppliers), we found that the September figure of $2.67 fell $0.05 per pound from the previous month and was the lowest import price on record since June 2017.

Imports of Frozen Tilapia Fillets September 2019 imports of frozen tilapia fillets gained 7.5 percent from the previous month, totaling 23.2 million pounds. Volume was 1.3 percent above the previous 3-year averImports of Fresh Tilapia Fillets Imports in September diminished age of 22.9 million pounds. Looking again, falling 5 percent from the pre- at YTD totals, 2019 was tracking 7.5 vious month and 12.9 percent from percent below 2018 volumes, by 13.8 the same month last year. Imports million pounds. from Honduras, the largest supplier of this commodity to the U.S. mar- Frozen Tilapia Fillet Pricing ket, were 6.6 percent lower through Replacement prices fell $0.12 in September compared to the same pe- September to the lowest price of riod last year, while Colombia YTD the year, at $1.54 per pound. With volumes fell 17.4 percent. Total im- replacement costs depreciating and ports of this commodity were 6 per- wholesale price strengthening slowcent lower on a YTD basis through ing, the ratio of these two numbers

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

pounds. Compared to the 5-year average, September registers 22 percent below average. On a YTD basis, the January through September total was the lowest on record since 2011.

Shipments in September entered the U.S. with a declared value of $2.32 per pound, falling $0.13 from the previous month, but down by $0.31 cents when compared to the September 2018 value of $2.63. Currently, prices are averaging $4.03 with reports the market could continue to strengthen throughout the end of Q4.

adjusted to 1.35. Wholesale prices are currently at an average of $2.13 per pound.

mained somewhat steady, falling less than 2 percent. However, compared to the same month a year ago, imports fell 72.6 percent, while on a YTD basis 2019 volume tracked 32.3 percent lower. Frozen channel catfish fillet imports fell 25 percent from the previous month, and compared to the same month a year ago, volume was down 54.6 percent.

Frozen Analysis & Other Inputs YTD weighted replacement costs fell $0.03 to $1.69 for January through September timeframe, registering $0.03 lower than the value from this time last year. YTD import volume still falls below previous years and is the lowest on record since 2008 Imports of Frozen Channel Catbrought in 150.9 million pounds for fish (Ictalurus) Fillets the same timeframe.

Imports of frozen channel catfish fillets fell again in September, down 25 percent or 169,525 pounds from Pangasius and Channel Catfish September imports of Pangasius re- the previous month, totaling 507,479

Imports of Frozen Pangasius (Swai) Fillets September imports of frozen pangasius fillets fell slightly from the previous month, down 1.9 percent and totaling 6.7 million pounds. September 2019 was the lowest volume September since 2008. Looking at cyclical behavior of total imports, September fell 66.5 percent below the previous 3-year average for the month (20.1 million pounds). European data still runs through August 2019 recording 12.5 million pounds. On a YTD basis, the U.S. had fallen 33.4%, while Europe was up 4.5 percent compared to 2018. Historically, the U.S. imports more volume of pangasius than Europe, but this trend has switched ever since March of this year.

According to data from the USDOC, replacement prices for September 2019 fell $0.09 per pound from the previous month, recording at $1.49, the lowest price of the year. The replacement cost we publish from the USDOC is not Delivery Duty Paid (DDP); therefore, if we are to properly assess this cost we must add extra to this price per pound. If diminishing demand wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t causing prices to weaken, it was industry players discounting product in order to take advantage of the much lower import prices now being offered overseas. * Liz Cuozzo lcuozzo@urnerbarry.com Lorin Castiglione lcastiglione@urnerbarry.com

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

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URNER BARRY

Shrimp

UPDATES FROM URNER BARRY By: Jim Kenny, Gary Morrison *

U.S. Imports All Types, By Type September imports showed a 1.1 percent decline in total volume, but the nine-month total remained 1.1 percent ahead of Jan-Sep 2018.

Of the U.S.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top seven trade partners, India (+11.4%), Indonesia (+5.6%), Vietnam (+8.2%) and Mexico (+72.9%) shipped more.

Meanwhile, Ecuador (-2.4%), Thailand (-11.1%) and China (-70.4%) sent less shrimp to the U.S. In terms of product form, the U.S. continued to import more headless shell-on, which includes easy peel, (+1.1%) and peeled (+3.6%); but continued to import less cooked (-22.6%) and breaded (-13.1%).

U.S. Shrimp Imports by Country (All Types) India: The relevance of India contin-

78 Âť

ues to increase as their share of total shrimp imports for the month of September widened to over 43 percent. They shipped an additional 11.4 percent compared to the same time last year and as year-over-year gains widen, a new record is within reach.

In fact, year-to-date imports in 2019 were up 13 percent and on pace to smash through 600 million pounds.

Indonesia: For the fifth consecutive month, imports from Indonesia advanced (+5.6%) from last year, narrowing the overall YTD figure, which was still slightly below 2018. Indonesia accounted for nearly 17 percent of the monthly total, a good frame of reference to see how the number one and two importers stack-up.

Ecuador: Imports from Ecuador continued to decline when compared to last year. Products brought in from

this country were 2.4 percent lower and shell-on (-5.1%) and peeled (-7.5%) declined.

Thailand and Vietnam: Monthly imports for September were higher for Vietnam (+8.2%) but lower for Thailand (-11.1%). China saw a very steep decline (-70.4%) as well. This was driven by African Swine Fever related buying in this region.

Shell-On Shrimp Imports, Cyclical & by Count Size Headless Shell-On Imports, including easy peel edged 1.1 percent higher in September than the same month last year. Replacement values (import $/lb.) for HLSO shrimp continued higher as prices overseas have seen significant rises. With China such a heavy buyer of all protein, this is becoming a common theme in the

DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

market. The average for the month was $3.80 per pound, up $0.04 per pound from last month, and $0.18 per pound above last year.

in September increased nearly 16 percent from August, and over 21 percent from last year. The average price also increased to $7.56 per pound.

Value-Added, Peeled Shrimp Imports Peeled and deveined shrimp continued to find support among buyers.

Imports in the month of September were 3.6 percent higher than last year despite falling month-to-month. Replacement values for peeled shrimp also increased by $0.09 per pound to $4.05 for September. Cooked (warm water) imports continued to be pressured lower. September figures declined 22.6 percent from last year, with broad-based losses. India was the only positive country. Breaded imports were also lower, coming in at 13.1 percent below 2018 numbers.

U.S. Shrimp Supply & Gulf Situation Pricing has been quite scattered and largely reflective of an individual companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position in the market, but the averages generally suggest strength and therefore premiums have surfaced throughout the complex. Supplies are limited and replacement pricing is rising. Monthly Gulf Coast landings continued to fall short of year earlier figures. The National Marine Fisheries Service reported September 2019 landings (all species, headless) of 9.041 million lbs. compared to 10.322 million in September 2018. The YTD landings were at 57.4 million pounds, versus 71.1 million pounds in 2018.

Shrimp Price Timelines; Retail Ads Retail: Now that the calendar has turned, there is increased focus on shrimp at retail. Buying opportunities DECEMBER 2019 - JANUARY 2020

* Jim Kenny jkenny@urnerbarry.com Gary Morrison gmorrison@urnerbarry.com

Aquaculture Magazine

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