May | Jun 2015 International Aquafeed magazine

I N C O R P O R AT I N G F I S H FA R M I N G T E C H N O L O G Y

Sodium Butyrate - Alternatives to achieve the sustainability challenge in shrimp production

Zebra fish - Nutrition for the new laboratory rat

Antarctic Krill - Lifeblood of the Southern Ocean

Immune response - Dietary protease improves immune responses in Pacific White Shrimp

VIV - Aquatic Asia review Volume 18 Issue 3 - MAY | JUNE 2015

Editor Professor Simon Davies Email: simond@aquafeed.co.uk Associate Editors Dr Albert Tacon Email: albertt@perendale.co.uk Dr Yu Yu Email: yuy@perendale.co.uk Dr Kangsen Mai (Chinese edition) Email: mai@perendale.co.uk Editorial Advisory Panel • Abdel-Fattah M. El-Sayed (Egypt) • Dr Albert Tacon (USA) • Professor António Gouveia (Portugal) • Professor Charles Bai (Korea) • Colin Mair (UK) • Dr Daniel Merrifield (UK) • Dr Dominique Bureau (Canada) • Dr Elizabeth Sweetman (Greece) • Dr Kim Jauncey (UK) • Eric De Muylder (Belgium) • Dr Pedro Encarnação (Singapore) • Dr Mohammad R Hasan (Italy) Editorial executive Olivia Holden Email: oliviah@perendale.co.uk Editorial assistance Malachi Stone Email: malachis@perendale.co.uk Editor - Asia Pacific Roy Palmer Email: royp@perendale.com Circulation & Events Manager Tuti Tan Email: tutit@aquafeed.co.uk Design Manager James Taylor Email: jamest@perendale.co.uk International marketing team (UK) Darren Parris Email: darrenp@aquafeed.co.uk Tom Blacker Email: tomb@perendale.co.uk Latin America Ivàn Marquetti Email: ivanm@perendale.com Pablo Porcel de Peralta Email: pablop@perendale.com India Raj Kapoor Email: rajk@perendale.com Africa Nathan Nwosu Email: nathann@perendale.com More information: International Aquafeed 7 St George's Terrace, St James' Square Cheltenham, GL50 3PT, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1242 267706 Website: www.aquafeed.co.uk

CONTENTS Volume 18 / Issue 3 / May-June 2015 / © Copyright Perendale Publishers Ltd 2015 / All rights reserved

REGULAR ITEMS

FEATURES

3-9 INDUSTRY NEWS 4 THE AQUACULTURISTS 28 PHOTOSHOOT 36 EXPERT TOPIC - CARP 44 INDUSTRY EVENTS 52 THE MARKET PLACE 54 THE AQUAFEED INTERVIEW 56 INDUSTRY FACES

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Mycotoxins and other hazards controlled by the use of FSP

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Sodium Butyrate - Alternatives to achieve the sustainability challenge in shrimp production

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UK Aquaculture

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Zebra Fish - Nutrition for the new laboratory rat

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Antarctic Krill

52

Immune responses in Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

FISH FARMING TECHNOLOGY SUPPLEMENT 002 Farming the reservoirs - Indigenous techniques for freshwater prawn catching in the reservoirs of Telangana, India

International Aquafeed is published six times a year by Perendale Publishers Ltd of the United Kingdom.

All data is published in good faith, based on information received, and while every care is taken to prevent inaccuracies, the publishers accept no liability for any errors or omissions or for the consequences of action taken on the basis of information published. ©Copyright 2015 Perendale Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior permission of the copyright owner. Printed by Perendale Publishers Ltd. ISSN: 1464-0058

Don’t expect to see International Aquafeed print edition diminish in page numbers or frequency anytime soon. In fact, quite the opposite is happening.

I must point out that it is with the support of our advertisers that gives us the resources needed to bring you this meaningful and informative package, jam-packed with technical content essential to the development of your business. Enjoy the edition and I look forward to receiving your reactions to our editorial line up, if you would be so kind to send me a note - by email!

In this issue

Professor Simon Davies

Creoso - welcome

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t’s my pleasure to write this edition’s Editorial and introduce you to a magazine with a wide variety of stories and features that will keep anyone working in the aquaculture business occupied for some time!

That sounds like a bold boast, but there are many different contributors - myself included - of whom I cannot list all here, but suffice to say I can highlight one or two that have made me stop and think about what we are trying to achieve.

Our print magazine

I’m often asked if online magazines and information online is undermining our print publications. The quote I often get is that all the information needed is available online. Well it might be so. But it is located on many and diverse servers and under many different search criteria and firewalls. If you had the time to search out this information I’d like to suggest you undertake the task as part of a university course, because along the way - and from the extended time invested - you will become qualified in the field under review!

But seriously, print magazines have a place in our industry and society in general. By their very nature they pull together, in a meaningful manner, and condense information into readable formats, ready for digestion.

Our experience shows that print numbers are forever increasing while our online content is sought out for specific purposes by readers.

What caught my imagination from the following pages this month included the following: • The range of contributors to our columns, from The Aquaculture View by Dominique Bureau to Aquaculture without Frontiers by Roy Palmer and our GMP+ writer Els van der Boon; covering topics from insect farming for protein sources to the selfless contribution made by Paula Kantor who was killed in Afghanistan while trying to improve food sources for poorly served people, and the importance of food safety when we make our foodstuffs available to consumers • The review of UK Aquaculture from the perspective of East-meets-West • Learning more about Arctic Krill, which might well be essential for us if we are to manage this resource in the future - our industry has to be more knowledgeable about these species and their lifecycle • Biomin research and development occupies our Photoshoot (and the following two pages) which delve into the work this company is doing on additives to address fish health issues and to combat the impact of threats such as mycotoxins and diseases • Our Fish Farming Technology supplement looks a farmers operating in reservoirs • And Cobia is our Expert Topic this month!

• My final favourite is our show report from VIV Asia 2015, which hosted a dedicated ‘Aquatic Asia’ exhibition area which proved highly successful and reflected the growing interest in those supporting intensification of livestock production to now include aquaculture. A job well done!

I hope you will enjoy this edition and continue to find us an invaluable source of information in the future. Thank you

Meet the Aquafeed team at upcoming international events

09-11 June - FIAAP, VICTAM & GRAPAS International, Germany Stand G014

29-31 July - Indo Livestock 2015 Expo & Forum, Indonesia Stand A23

18-21 August - Aqua Nor 2015, Norway Stand (TBA)

NEWS

Wenger enters agreement with SafetyChain Software

Statins versus fish

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enger, the market leader in premium extrusion, drying and process control systems for the food, pet food and aquatic feed industries, is excited to announce that it has entered into a reseller partnership agreement with SafetyChain Software, leader in food safety chain management systems that automate, streamline and improve Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA)™ for the food and beverage industry.

Under the agreement, Wenger will offer the entire SafetyChain for food suite, including stand-alone or integrated modules for FSQA Supplier Compliance, Food Safety Management, Food Quality Management, Regulatory and GFSI Compliance/Audit Readiness and SafetyChain mobile apps to current and planned Wenger customers. The two companies will also deliver prebuilt integration points between the SafetyChain and Wenger systems for a seamless experience for Wenger customers leveraging SafetyChain for Food’s ability to integrate data from production equipment to become part of the entire FSQA process and record.

“We are very excited about entering into this agreement with SafetyChain, fur thering our commitment in helping our customers be best-in-class when it comes to food safety and quality,” said Lafe Bailey, Co-CEO of Wenger.

“Our customers will benefit by having a back-end solution that leverages data from Wenger process control systems to make that data actionable within the larger SafetyChain suite.

Customers will gain additional value by working with two industry leaders to deploy a comprehensive suite of leading FSQA automation solutions to support all of their safety and quality goals,” Bailey added.

“Wenger continues to redefine the extrusion industry standard, not just with their benchmark equipment and services, but also because they provide food safety plans and services to help their customers achieve FSQA excellence. By now offering a full automation suite to execute on food safety and quality initiatives at all points in a company’s supply chain, Wenger will further differentiate itself as a trusted partner to its customers,” commented Barbara Levin, SafetyChain SVP and co-founder.

“Additionally, due to its global reputation and reach, we’re also very excited to work with Wenger as we continue to expand our global marketing and distribution outside of North America,” Levin continued.

Wenger will be marketing the full SafetyChain suite, preliminarily named the ‘Wenger APM Food Safety Chain Management System, powered by SafetyChain.’ The partnership became effective on April 22, 2015, and will have a soft launch at Wenger’s exhibits at the 2015 Petfood Forum in Kansas City, MO.

Number crunching – Carp 1975 - The year aquaculture research with cobia was first reported (in the US). By 1997 Taiwan was producing juvenile fish for grow-out, mostly in nearshore cage systems 80.6 - Percentage of the world's total farmed cobia produced in China in 2004. The rest was in Taiwan 36.2 - Total value, in millions of US dollars, of the global production of cobia in 2004.

Ioannis Zabetakis, assistant professor of food chemistry, university of Athens, Greece

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ince the study of the seven countries, some unanswered questions still remain as to why cohorts in Greece and Italy had coronary heart disease (CHD) at low frequencies but high levels of serum cholesterol. Although preventable, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the top global cause of death and stroke. For this reason, the prevention of atherosclerosis is a major objective of modern medical and biochemical investigations into the mechanism of atherosclerosis and how the structure of food components determines their role in the mechanism(s) involved.

• Is cholesterol involved (and how?) in atherosclerosis and CVDs? • Are people with high cholesterol but also high HDL (high density lipoprotein) in their blood in higher risk for developing CVDs? These two questions remain partly unanswered although we do know today that taking statins to lower cholesterol is not a sufficient medical approach against CVDs. The reason is that statins do have many side effects, with the most notable one the onset of type 2 diabetes. In a very recent study [1], published in “Diabetologia”, it was found that statins were associated with an almost 50 percent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, even after adjusting for other factors. The study followed up 8749 men aged 45 to 73 years for an average of 5.9 years. They were randomly selected from the population of Kuopio, eastern Finland, and none had diabetes at baseline. The results showed that men taking statins (n=2142) had a 46 percent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (adjusted hazard ratio 1.46 (95 percent confidence interval 1.22 to 1.74) over the follow-up period. Statins appear to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in several ways: one is that the drugs can increase a person's insulin resistance, and the other is that the cholesterol-lowering drugs seem to impair the ability of the pancreas to secrete insulin, according to the study. Diabetes risk increased with the dosage taken of the statin drugs simvastatin (Zocor) and atorvastatin (Lipitor), the researchers said. The investigators found that statins decreased insulin sensitivity by 24 percent, and insulin secretion by 12 percent. The more simvastatin and atorvastatin that people took, the more their ability to use and produce insulin suffered.

Taking a different approach, numerous studies have shown that food polar lipids and in fact fish polar lipids do have a strong cardioprotective effect without any side effects that statins have. We know now that fish contains polar lipids that can inhibit the onset of atherosclerosis and therefore the development of CVDs [2]. So, why are we taking statins if we can just barbeque a sea bream or sauté a juicy salmon fillet? izabet@chem.uoa.gr @yanzabet Further reading [1] Increased risk of diabetes with statin treatment is associated with impaired insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion: a six year follow-up study of the METSIM cohort. Diabetologia, 2015, http://link.springer.com/article/ 10.1007%2Fs00125-015-3528-5 [2] Food security and cardioprotection: the polar lipid link. Journal of Food Science, 2013, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23957417

(Source: FAO) May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 3

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NEWS

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The Aquaculturists

A regular look inside the aquaculture industry The Alltech REBELation concludes with a challenge Challenging the audience to “never say never,” Alltech founder and president Dr. Pearse Lyons concluded the Alltech REBELation, an international conference exploring innovation, inspiration and world-changing ideas. bit.ly/1domAh7

Angling for gender equality in the seafood industry: New FAO report traces fisheries’ glass ceiling While women are estimated to make up nearly half of all people in the fisheries sector, their work often goes unrecognized and underpaid, their access to opportunities and resources remains limited and their representation in positions of leadership trails far behind other industries. bit.ly/1Hm6ID6

ADM to construct feed plant in China Archer Daniels Midland Company has announced that it is building a new feed-premix plant in the city of Zhangzhou, in southern China, bringing to four the number of plants in the company’s premix network in the country. bit.ly/1Aj7V0N

Biting wit: great white's unofficial Twitter feed gains 44,000 followers An organisation studying great white sharks is enjoying some welcome attention after one of the creatures it has been monitoring started gaining a loyal social media following, The Guardian reports. bit.ly/1HyRCzm

www.theaquaculturists .blogspot.com

Aquasense International and Gamma Seafood sign letter of intent to distribute first saltwater-farmed tilapia product

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quasense International C o r p o r a t i o n (‘Aquasense’), the US holding company of the affiliate aquaculture company, Aquasense Panamá, S de RL (‘Aquasense Panama’), signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Miami-based, Gamma Seafood Corporation (‘Gamma Seafood’), a division of the Alfa Gamma Group, to market and distribute the seafood industry’s first ever farm-raised, saltwater red tilapia products in the USA market.

Under this LOI, Aquasense Panama will supply the Alfa

MEPs vote for sustainable fishing in the Baltic Sea

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multiannual plan for managing Baltic cod, sprat and herring stocks was approved by Parliament on Tuesday. This is the first such plan under the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), which took effect in 2014. Long-run management, rather than yearon-year planning, should make life more predictable for fishermen.

Multiannual management, and the fact that these three interacting species will now be managed through a single plan, should also make fishing in the Baltic more sustainable.

“The plan is a long-awaited pioneer proposal. It should help to ensure the balanced, sustainable exploitation of the stocks concerned and hence protect the livelihoods of fishermen. The multispecies approach should achieve this far more effectively than single species management. At the same time, the

Gamma Group, on an exclusive basis an estimated annual 500 tons of ocean farmed tilapia to be distributed to high-end US retailers, gourmet chefs and cruise ships, starting as early as next year. By the end of the first project phase, it will supply an annual 6000 tons. All products will consist of sustainably farmraised red tilapia, grown in openocean and eco-friendly production systems, located in pristine waters off the Pacific coast of the Republic of Panama. The product will be offered only fresh, whole and filleted.

Aquasense Panama is an early stage aquaculture company with the mission to contribute to meeting the rising food needs of a growing world population in a sustainable manner. In 2007, it set out to change the paradigm of fish farming, by bringing their fish farming operations to the pristine waters surrounding Panama. Considered a non-traditional farming method for

tilapia, their preliminary research showed that when tilapia are reared in the full salinity of the open ocean and fed nutritious feeds, the result is a very much improved fish product, in terms of taste and texture.

The Alfa Gamma Group owns and operates SQF and BRC certified facilities and fishing fleets in Panamá, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Suriname and Mexico. Alfa Gamma’s headquar ter s are located in Miami, FL within five miles of the Miami International Airport and 12 miles from the Por t of Miami. Alfa Gamma’s 85,000 square foot headquarters include an SQF Level 3 modern processing facility that receives and processes 20 to 50 thousand pounds of fresh seafood per day, includes a 5 million pound freezer storage facility and is staffed with an experienced and dedicated sales and logistic force servicing customers in North America and abroad.

plan should also ensure that management measures reflect the most up-to-date scientific advice on stock status, interactions between species and ecological needs,” said rappor teur Jarosław Wałęsa (EPP, PL).

to be covered. The present plan replaces the existing one.

The stocks concerned are interdependent. For example, cod eat sprats, and to a lesser extent, herring, while herring and sprat sometimes feed on cod eggs. So cod fishing management can have an impact on sprat and herring fishing oppor tunities, and vice versa.

Multiannual stock management plans aim to keep stock sizes within safe biological limits. They lay down maximum catches and a range of technical measures, taking due account of the characteristics of each stock and the fisheries in which it is found (species targeted, gear used, status of target stocks) and the economic impact of the measures on the fisheries concerned.

Sustainable fishing: reformed CFP key aims must be met

MEPs ensured that the stocks must be restored and maintained “above” biomass levels that can produce the maximum sustainable yield (MSY), thus reflecting the language of the CFP regulation. MSY means catching no more than a given stock can reproduce in a given year, a key concept made mandatory by the reformed CFP. The plan also has provisions for enforcing other key parts the new CFP, such as the landing obligation (‘discard’ ban) and regional management (see background note on the new CFP).

Background

A Baltic cod stock management plan has been in place since 2008, but herring and sprat had yet

4 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

Next steps

The Council has of Ministers approved its ‘General Approach’ on 20 April. Parliament and Council negotiators will now star t talks, helped by the European Commission, with a view to reaching a first reading agreement on the plan.

NEWS

AQUACULTURE

by Dominique P Bureau, member of the IAF Editorial Panel

Insects as Food and Feed Sources: Going against the Grain

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ntomophagy, or “insects as a food sources” appears to be a very popular topic these days. Many global stakeholders are now identifying this practice as a future cornerstone of food security. For example, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has identified edible insects as a subject of priority for investigation. In 2013, former US President Bill Clinton awarded the Hult prize to a social enterprise, Aspire, created by McGill University students, that aims to “develop and distribute affordable and sustainable insect farming technologies and increasing access to highly nutritious edible insects amongst the poorest, and therefore neediest, members of society”.

Frankly, I am always a bit uneasy when people present a food production activity (farming) with such lofty narrative. However, who am I to argue against motherhood and apple pie?

One of the key selling aspects for entomophagy is the high efficiency of insects converting a variety of feed resources and the high nutritive value of insects, hence the emphasis on positioning insect farming or ranching as part of long term global food security. In that optic, the questions I have are the following: 1) Are insects as nutritious as they are assumed to be?

2) Is insect farming truly highly efficient?

3) Aren’t there any other ways to provide nutrients in a cost-effective and sustainable fashion?

Let me attempt to contribute to answering some of these questions but through what I know best, fish nutrition and feed formulation.

The nutritive value of insect biomass to fish

The use of insects in aquaculture is also a hot topic. An increasing large number of ventures have been established around the world to produce insect biomass on a commercial scale and the aquaculture feed industry is clearly one of the markets that these ventures are targeting. This seems to be a natural fit since insects are a major component of the natural diet for many fish species. Insects are usually rich in protein (40-70 percent on a dry matter basis) and lipids (up to 50 percent on a dry matter basis) and generally have relatively good essential amino acid and fatty acid profiles. They may therefore be valuable feed ingredients in formulated feeds for aquaculture species and this issue deserves to be seriously investigated.

I am aware of a significant number of research trials on this topic that were recently completed or in the pipeline. My research team, for one, recently completed a feeding trial with Super Worm Meal (SWM), a low chitin, high protein (~ 40 percent) and lipids (~40 percent) ingredients produced by grinding of the larvae of the tropical darkling beetle (Zophobas morio).

The results of our 12-week feeding trial with rainbow trout indicated that, overall, the nutritive value of SWM was rather comparable

to that of other ingredients commonly used in salmonid fish feeds (corn gluten meal, poultry by-products meal, soybean meal, etc.).

While we were able to obtain good performance with levels up to about 15 percent of SWM, the high content in saturated fatty acids and the limiting levels of lysine, histidine and valine appear to limit the potential of this ingredients to be incorporated at high levels in salmonid fish feeds. Moreover, the cost of this type of ingredient is still very high and generally not truly competitive with that of other common fish feed ingredients, including fishmeal.

Insects as feed ingredient for food and feed sources may sound really good but so far, from my perspective, from nutritional and economical perspectives we are coming a bit short. So to try to answer my initial questions: 1) Yes insects are nutritious but may be not the “super food” many assume them to be.

2) If we simply base ourselves on the “economics”, insect farming still appears to have a way to go before becoming a highly efficient “food and feed production” activity.

In my opinion, insect production makes sense if they are used

Entomophagy: The way of the future?

to convert very low value resources (crop residues, refuses from agro-industrial process, manure, etc) that cannot be efficiently or safely used as feed resources. In a recent paper, Lundy and Parella (2015) indicated the same thing: “identifying regionally scalable waste substrates of sufficient quality to produce crickets that have no direct competition from existing protein production systems might be the most promising path for producing crickets economically, with minimal ecological impact, and at a scale of relevance to the global protein supply.”

Insects cannot make proteins and amino acids out of elemental N sources like primary producers (plant and algae) can. There is always a certain inefficiency of conversion when an animal feeds and metabolises nutrients.

Commercial aquaculture feeds are now composed mixtures of common plant commodities or co-products (grains, oilseed meals, grain milling by-products, etc) representing now 80-90 percent of the weight of the finished feed. I would not bet against soybean, corn, rapeseed, sunflower, rice and potato production as a means of ensuring global food security, and feeding of the aquaculture feed industry for years to come.

Agree or disagree? Let me know. dbureau@uoguelph.ca Cited Reference: Mark E. Lundy and Michael P. Parrella. 2015. Crickets Are Not a Free Lunch: Protein Capture from Scalable Organic Side-Streams via High-Density Populations of Acheta domesticus. PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0118785.

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 5

NEWS

New hires at Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre will step up business engagement and innovation

J

ason Cleaversmith and James Deverill join the SAIC, bringing extensive commercial and research experience The Scottish Aquaculture In n ov atio n Ce n tr e (S AIC ) has appointed two new key staff members. Both will work with the Scottish aquaculture industry and research communities to prepare the industr y for the future and boost its long-term value to the Scottish economy.

Dr Jason Cleaversmith is to take on the role of Director of Business Development at SAIC. Jason will build strategic par tnerships and relationships in the global aquaculture sector, and execute SAIC’s long-term plan for growing the revenues and reputa-

tion of the aquaculture industry in Scotland.

Also joining the SAIC team is Dr James Deverill, as Director of Research and Innovation. James will steer the delivery of innovative research projects supported

by SAIC, including the two major cleaner fish projects announced in late March. Working with him will be Dr Corinne Critchlow-Watton, SAIC’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Manager.

Between them, Jason, James and Corinne will suppor t the SAIC mission of driving industry success through research par tnerships. They will also help Scottish research bodies and companies to access UK and EU grant funding programmes.

Both Jason Cleaversmith and

James Deverill have extensive experience of working in innovation and entrepreneurship, and operating at the industryresearch interface. This experience will support SAIC’s role of developing closer connections between industry and academia, and supporting industry-relevant collaboration.

Jason Cleaversmith was most recently Head of Aqua Health PEI at Novartis Animal Health in Canada. He has a PhD in marine geochemistry from the University of Edinburgh and an MBA from the University of Glasgow.

James Deverill worked in the Scottish aquaculture industr y before leading and growing an award-winning technical SME. He is a Fellow of the Society of

NOAA announces novel feeder for juvenile and larval fishes

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OAA Fisheries researchers have developed a fish feeder that allows fish farmers to automatically feed young fish on a recurrent basis while protecting the feed from oxidation and clumping. The patent-pending Microparticulate Feeder for Lar val and Juvenile Fish was developed at NOAA’s Nor thwest Fisheries Science Centre in Seattle, Washington and is now available for licensing by a qualified US company.

As a mission-based science agency, NOAA Fisheries labs conduct research and development in aquaculture to support the missions of seafood sustainability and resiliency of coastal communities. NOAA scientists and engineers routinely develop innovative solutions to intractable problems in the lab. Sometimes these solutions result in an innovation that has some market potential.

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Aquaculturists

Federal technology transfer legislation allows NOAA (and other federal R&D agencies) to transfer the technology to U.S. industry under license. These arrangements minimize the risk to the company taking on a new product or service, while maximizing the benefits of public R&D dollars.

In this case, the Microparticulate Feeder was developed to solve specific problems with raising larval and juvenile fish on a dry food diet. According to Tom Scott, who developed the device for his lab, “juvenile and larval fish have ver y demanding feeding schedules and the diet required for these fish consists of very fine particles, which are highly susceptible to oxidation, and clumping due to excess moisture in the fish farm environment. We couldn’t find a device on the market that was meeting all our needs, so I was asked to build one.”

The device itself combines off-

the-shelf solenoids and controller software with an innovative dispensing unit that uses forced nitrogen gas to both deliver the feed and keep the environment free from oxygen and moisture.

The feeder can deliver small (ca.

20 mg), precise doses of microparticulate (ca. 100 µm diameter) feed to selected locations.

Gravity carries feed into a firing chamber from the hopper above.

A small vibrating device aids in settling the feed into the chamber.

The precision of the feeder allows for very small doses, as well as adjustments for specific diet characteristics such as dr y weight equivalence and particle density.

Plus, the basic controller software allows the operator to control the system and receive any warnings directly on their cell phone.

“While I was pretty sure the device would work for our R&D needs,” said Mr Scott, “we were shocked to see such consistency

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Try our daily online news service. www.theaquaculturists.blogspot.com 6 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

Biology, and holds a PhD in aquaculture from the University of Stirling.

Heather Jones, Chief Executive of the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre, stated: “We are delighted to welcome Jason Cleaversmith and James Deverill to SAIC . With their strong commercial and academic backgrounds, they will enrich SAIC’s work to accelerate the growth of a more sustainable and profitable aquaculture sector in Scotland.”

over the course of many feeding runs of 100 accumulated doses.

At that point, my lab director said we should call in the Technology Partnerships Office to talk about taking this to industry.”

The NOAA Micro-Par ticulate Fish Feeder is now patent pending and is ready for licensing by a qualified US company. The NOAA Technology Partnerships Office has the flexibility to structure a variety of licensing agreements, based on the needs of the licensee. The goal for NOAA is to facilitate a US company in quickly getting the product to market.

To learn more about the NOAA Micropar ticulate Fish Feeder, please see the licensing opportunity page for the device on the Technology Partnerships Office website.

To learn more about the NOAA Fisheries Service, the Northwest Fisheries Science Centre and Office of Aquaculture, please visit their websites.

NEWS Saluting the ladies and Korea comes on board Roy Palmer, director, Aquaculture without Frontiers

Latest research results offer economic boost for shrimp production

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arly Mortality Syndrome (EMS) is still a big problem in shrimp production in South-East Asia as well as in Latin America causing enormous economic losses in shrimp farming. The biggest impact was felt in 2013 when Thailand, until then the second largest producer after China, saw its shrimp production drop by more than half in 2013 as a result of EMS. EMS experts know that classical approaches like antibiotics and chemical disinfection are no solution.

Dr Eckel was one of the first European feed additive producers who expanded its business to aquaculture and aquafeed industries. Hence, the target was to develop a functional feed additive that has positive effects on growth and immune defence of Pacific White Shrimp. After two years of research and development Dr Eckel is proud to reap the fruits of its labours. In 2014 research partners of the renowned Aquaculture Business Research Centre at Kasetsar t University in Bangkok repor ted a breakthrough.

The tested phytogenic feed additive Anta®Phyt Aqua proved to have positive effects on growth, survival and immune response of shrimp when challenged with Vibrio spp., one of the main causes of EMS. During the experiments, special emphasis was put on immunological effects as one of the target mechanism of the novel feed additive.

Anta®Phyt Aqua improved shrimp immune response, which led to higher survival rates in the challenge experiment.

In the course of their immunological studies the researchers measured the ratio of hemocytes cells that do phagocytosis to the total number of hemocytes. Phagocytosis is the central and terminal mechanism of the immune system to seek and destroy pathogenic bacteria or infected cells. The share of hemocytes that perform phagocytosis was significantly larger in the Anta®Phyt group (23 percent) than in the control group (17 percent). Additionally, shrimp in the treatment group had twice as much hemocytes compared to shrimp of the control group (4.4 x 106 versus 1.9 x 106 cells/ml).

When the researchers examined the hepatopancreas of the challenged animals they discovered a spectacular histopathological pattern: Shrimp from the Anta®Phyt Aqua-group had less cell necrosis in the hepatopancreas compared to control (Figure). That means that Anta®Phyt Aqua from Dr Eckel took a cell-protective effect in the hepatopancreas of shrimp. This caused shrimp survival rates to increase by 20 percent (from 60 percent to 80 percent).

The result is an improvement in shrimp health and welfare, which is also reflected in the animal‘s performance: shrimp feed conversion rates increased by 20 percent and their final weights were 15 percent higher.

With Anta®Phyt Aqua Dr Eckel delivers a natural and powerful tool that assures high production and low mortality in intensive shrimp production.

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onstantly we hear of people who not only contribute their skills to making the world a better place but also, sadly put their lives at risk.

One such person was gender and development specialist Paula Kantor. Paula, who worked with CIMMYT International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, died on May 13, 2015 in the aftermath of an attack on the hotel where she was staying in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Thomas Lumpkin, CIMMYT’s director general, said “Paula’s desire to help people and make lasting change in their lives often led her into challenging settings. Her dedication and bravery was much admired by those who knew her and she leaves a lasting legacy upon which future research on gender and food security should build."

Paula had joined CIMMYT as a senior scientist (gender and development specialist) in February 2015 to lead an ambitious new project aimed at empowering and improving the livelihoods of women, men and youth in important wheat-growing areas of Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Pakistan.

At the time of her death at age 46, Paula had many years of experience in the area of gender and social development. She was an established and respected professional and prolific writer, having published more than a dozen peer-reviewed academic publications, some 10 peer-reviewed monographs and briefs, 15 other publications and 10 conference papers during her lifetime.

Such a tragic, shocking waste of a remarkable talent and our condolences go to Paula’s family.

On a better note, the end of May sees 2015 World Aquaculture Jeju (WA2015) event, which will be an exciting time for Aquaculture Without Frontiers.

We will be launching AwF Korea.

The launch will be part of the impor-

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 7

tant “Jeju Flounder Day” to promote Jeju flounder aquaculture. The Jeju Flounder day is organised by the Bureau of Ocean and Fisheries of Jeju Provincial Government, Jeju Fish Farming Coop., and local representatives from abalone farming and sea cucumber farming industries.

The Jeju Flounder day events include special lecture, flounder cook-off contest, and the dinner reception. During the flounder day, the Flounder Farming Coop. is going to serve “flounder fish burger” to advertise Jeju flounder and promote flounder industry.

Professor Charles Bai and Dr Kang, the president of KOSFAS, co-host of 2015 WA with WAS, proposed to their Korean colleagues to establish a chapter of Aquaculture Without Frontiers (AWF) in Korea. Dr Kang was very impressed the activities of AWF when he was attending 2015 WA American Chapter meeting in New Orleans in February. KOSFAS along with the Jeju Flounder Farming Coop will establish AFW in Korea and a ceremony for the establishment of AFW Korea will take place on May 28th.

To celebrate and encourage the chapter, several distinguished guests will attend and give congratulatory address, including the director of NFRDI the CEO of Jeju Seawater Fish Culture Coop, and President of KOSFAS, etc.

WA 2015 Jeju will also see presentations by AwF for Women of the Month Awards specifically Dr Jennifer Cobcroft, Dr T.V. Anna Mercy, May Myat Noe Lwin, Dr. Flower Ezekiel Msuya (will not be in attendance) and Ass Professor Arlyn Mandas.

The presentations are being organised to follow the Women in Aquaculture/Fisheries session where WAS-APC/AwF Travel Grant awardees Nantaporn Sutthi, Gladys Ludevese Pascual, Mya Zin Oo will be involved in a panel session with Katherine Hawes, Jennifer Cobcroft, Maymyat Noelwin and others.

NEWS

BioMar joins forces with Tongwei in China and South East Asia

T

he BioMar Group has today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese Tongwei Co. Ltd to establish a joint venture dedicated to producing and selling high performance feed for aquaculture in China. The target of the joint venture is to become one of the leading suppliers of high performance feed to the Chinese aqua-

the BioMar Group, Carlos Diaz, a part of a global expansion strategy initiated a few years back with the establishment of a feed production unit in Costa Rica and which most recently has resulted in the construction of a new factory in Turkey.

Carlos Diaz explained that BioMar and Tongwei complement each other extremely well

feeds for marine and fresh water species such as sea bass, sea bream, cobia, turbot, bass, grouper, trout, sturgeon, tilapia, eel, and shrimp.

While BioMar will directly apply feed recipes and product ranges for some species, Carlos Diaz underlines that BioMar also brings a well proven approach in product development securing highly effi-

of BioMar: “In this scenario with water becoming an increasingly scarce resource BioMar can contribute with a huge amount of knowledge in environmental management, reduction of emissions from aquaculture to the aquatic environment, and especially with highly specialised diets developed for intensive fish production in recirculation aquaculture systems with very limited water consumption. BioMar has over the years through a proactive research effort and collaboration with farmers, authorities, and research institutions achieved a leading position in this field. This knowledge will be very important in the future development of aquaculture in China as well as the rest of Asia,” he said.

BioMar and Tongwei will each hold 50 percent of the new Joint Venture.

culture sector and in a second step to expand further to other Asian markets.

The two companies have agreed to start building a feed factory with an annual capacity over 100,000 metric tons in China, scheduled to start operation in 2016. In the next stage BioMar and Tongwei target to expand with three - five new factories of a similar or larger scale in China and to expand with production and sales in other countries in Asia.

BioMar’s entry into the Chinese market is according to the CEO of

in terms of product ranges and market access: “China is the world largest aquaculture market and Tongwei holds the leading position as a feed supplier to the aquaculture industry in China. BioMar will as a leading global supplier of specialised larval and fry diets as well as high performance grower diets and functional feeds contribute with know-how and product ranges for the fast growing production of high value fish species in China.” The product range for the new Joint Venture factor y will include star ter and grower

cient, safe, and sustainable diets: “We have in the salmon segment as well as in other species built a model for feed development, which will be of great value in the development of feed for the new species which are gaining importance in aquaculture across Southeast Asia.”

Referring to recent repor ts pointing to the lack of clean water as one of the greatest challenges for the expansion of aquaculture production in China and the rest of Southeast Asia Carlos Diaz pointed to another key strength

Evonik added to Morgan Stanley Capital International Indexes

S

hares of the specialty chemicals company Evonik Industries AG will be added to the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World and Germany Indexes effective June 1, 2015. MSCI announced the results of the May 2015 Annual

Index Review yesterday night. The inclusion follows the recent placements of shares by a major shareholder of Evonik.

MSCI offers a family of consistent and comparable indexes, which comprise the world’s largest companies and are broadly used

by investors around the world to develop and benchmark their global equity portfolios.

Ute Wolf, CFO of Evonik, comments: “Evonik’s inclusion to the MSCI Indexes enhances our presence in the most important indexes globally. This means

8 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

Tongwei Co. Ltd is a leading Chinese feed producer listed at the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and a part of the Tongwei Group.

Tongwei operates nationwide in China as well as in Southeast Asia with over 100 branches and subsidiar y companies. In 2014 Tongwei produced around 4,000,000 tons of feed of which 2,500,000 tons were aquaculture feeds. This makes Tongwei the world’s largest aquafeed manufacturer as well as a major livestock and poultry feed producer.

It has held the leading position in the Chinese aquafeed industry for the last consecutive 22 years and it is continuing a rapid expansion within aquaculture research, aquaculture, animal health care, and food processing. The annual sales revenue of Tongwei is exceeding RMB 10 billion.

greater visibility for Evonik at the international financial markets and will further increase the high level of interest from global investors in our share. Even more motivated by the MSCI inclusion, we will continue our capital market oriented approach and fur ther intensify our dialogue with international investors.”

NEWS

Yara approves dividend and share buy-back program and elects new vice chair

T

he Yara International ASA Annual General Meeting yesterday approved a dividend of NOK 13.00 (US$1.74 at time of writing) per share and a new Power of attorney to the Board regarding acquisition of own shares. Maria Moræus Hanssen was elected as new Board member.

The dividend of NOK 13.00 per share will be paid on May 21, 2015 to shareholders as of May 11, 2015, and the Yara share will be traded ex dividend from May 12, 2015.

American Depository Receipts (ADRs) will also be traded ex dividend from 12 May 2015, with a dividend payment date of 29 May 2015.

Maria Moræus Hanssen was elected as new Board member for a period of one year. After the general meeting, the Board elected Ms Moræus Hanssen as its new vice chair.

The Annual General Meeting approved the cancellation of 730,000 of the Company’s own shares and the redemption of 414,406 shares owned by the Norwegian State. The number of shares in the company will consequently be reduced to 275,083,369.

The Annual General Meeting approved a new power of attorney to the Board regarding acquisition of own shares.

The Board is thereby given authorisation to acquire up to five percent of Yara’s shares before the next Annual General Meeting.Yara has renewed its agreement with the Norwegian State according to which the State’s shares will be redeemed on a pro-rata basis to ensure that the State’s ownership is unchanged in the event repurchased shares are cancelled.

Yara writes down Lifeco investment by USD 112 million

Due to the worsening security outlook in Libya, Yara sees a high likelihood of a further deterioration in 2015 of the operating ability of the Lifeco joint venture plants. Given an already challenging feedstock and financial situation for the joint venture, Yara has therefore decided to write down the value of its Lifeco investment by USD 112 million, leaving a remaining book value of USD 18 million.

The political and security situation in Libya has worsened rapidly, and may deteriorate further over the next year. In light of this, Yara is evaluating the operation of the plants on an on-going basis in cooperation with the other partners, in order to protect the employees as well as the assets.

Yara will continue participating in the governance of Lifeco, with the aim of resuming full production once real improvements are seen in the security and political situation in Libya, creating a sustainable improved operating outlook for Lifeco.

The impairment will be reported as part of Yara’s firstquarter EBIT and EBITDA, under ‘Share of net income in equity-accounted investees’.

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American Shrimp Processors Association agrees with shrimp report

M

embers of the American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA), who account for the vast majority of domestic, US production of warm-water shrimp from Gulf and South Atlantic waters, agree with the findings of the Shrimp Report released on May 1 by Consumer Reports.

"We are not surprised with these findings.The potential problems with antibiotics and health concerns found in imported shrimp are widely known in the seafood industry and government circles," says David Veal, PhD, Executive Director of ASPA. "ASPA has long been an advocate for enhanced inspection, in an effort to help protect public health."

The Consumer Reports study tested 342 samples of frozen shrimp and found harmful bacteria and illegal antibiotic residues in a small percentage. All samples were tested for bacteria including salmonella, vibrio, staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and listeria.

"While the bacteria and antibiotics were not widespread throughout all samples, even a single risk for the consumer is one too many," says Dr Veal.

The report points out that Americans eat, on average, almost four pounds of shrimp per year and that shrimp have surpassed tuna in popularity. It also points out that about 94 percent of shrimp consumed in the US come from abroad.

A Consumer Reports press release states, "However, if shrimp isn't raised, caught, and handled properly, this popular seafood item can pose some potential risks to consumers and the environment."

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which tested less than one percent of the shrimp imports last year, does not approve of antibiotics in shrimp farming. The report points out that had antibiotics been found in one sample of imported shrimp, the entire shipment would have been refused entry into the US. The report identified three key recommendations, which are consistent with ongoing positions of the American Shrimp Processors and Wild American Shrimp: • Consumers should always be aware of public health concerns related to imported, farmed shrimp.

• The FDA needs to increase inspection at US ports and overseas shrimp farms.

• Consumers should buy responsibly caught US wild shrimp when possible.

Additionally, consumers in restaurants should insist on knowing the origin of the shrimp they consume.

Jonathan McLendon, Vice President of ASPA and President of Wild American Shrimp, Inc, states, "Our members are committed to responsible, sustainable harvesting and processing of fresh shrimp caught in American waters. We strongly encourage consumers and business-to-business customers to read their packaging labels closely and also to question the origin of their shrimp when they dine out. We take great pride in making sure our members' product labels clearly identify that their products are wild-caught in US waters."

Dr Veal states, "Our shrimp are caught in American waters and are local to the US. They are produced by hard-working Americans who strive every day to deliver quality shrimp to the market. Buying Wild American shrimp can be compared to buying from your uncle, your grandfather's farm or your local farmer's market. They are never injected with chemicals or antibiotics."

McLendon adds that ASPA members, whose real, American stories are chronicled on the association's website americanshrimp.com, strive to promote true Gulf and South Atlantic shrimp that are verifiable in origin.

"Reports like this validate our long-standing position that by asking for wild-caught shrimp and reading labels carefully, consumers and buyers can make sure they are getting quality shrimp that are free from antibiotics and disease."

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 9

FEATURE

Mycotoxins and other hazards controlled by the use of FSP

by Els van der Boon, GMP+

"Safe feed and food starts with secure risk management. For this, GMP+ International offers knowledge and information through the Feed Support Products (FSP). The Feed Support Products are intended to support all (future) GMP+ certified companies when setting up their company-specific HACCP system"

Your benefits

FSP provides ease of use, a uniform source of relevant data, linking of relevant files and efficient searching. The benefits of use are: • up-to-date knowledge of risks of feed materials • up to date knowledge of undesirable substances; • assessed by independent experts; • uniform source of knowledge; • automatically linking of all relevant files.

Core values

T

he responsibility for use and implementation remains with the GMP+ certified companies, the Feed Support Products can offer support in this process. The FSP is also intended as a reference for the auditors within the framework of GMP+ certification.

Products of FSP

and adverse effects; Severity of the hazard; Standards; Analysis methods and Control measures. The company making specific risk analyses can use the information. Fact sheets are available for several mycotoxins and other undesirable substances (hazards) in the Risk Assessments and for processing aids.

2. Generic Risk Assessments This section of FSP contains about 200 risk assessments of feed materials for Food-producing animals (including goats, poultry, cattle, sheep and pigs, but also horses and rabbits). Farmed fish will be included. The risk assessments in the FSP database are of a generic nature and represent a worst-case scenario. The risk assessment gives information about a production process and the resulting possible hazards.

3. Product list This list gives a short summary of all products available. The products (about 600) on the list may be used as a feed material in the GMP+ Feed Certification scheme.

4. Product standards Standards with maximum permitted levels have been issued by legislation and by GMP+ International for many hazards in order to be able to determine if a feed material is safe. All the standards are a part of the GMP+ FC scheme, GMP+ BA1 Product Standards. Also the standards for mycotoxins are included.

5. GMP+ Monitoring database A service from GMP+ International is the GMP+ Monitoring database. Companies can put their analysis into the database and can share these results with a group of companies or with the GMP+ community. Sharing is an option, not a requirement.

Monitoring results can be used to assess the likely occurrence of a hazard.

The GMP+ Monitoring database is an easy tool for storing and sharing analysis results. You can easily check if the products meet the standards.

6. Guidances

At the beginning of 2014, the first GMP+ guidance about implementation of a Feed Safety System in accordance with the GMP+ Feed Certification scheme had been launched. The D1.2 GMP+ Guidance contains all needed information and steps and can be ordered via the web shop of GMP+ International.

The following products are a part of FSP: 1. Fact Sheets The fact sheets show background details regarding the hazards and the (explanation of the) severity of the risk to animals and humans. The content of the fact sheets is as follows: Nature, history and prevalence; Transmission to the environment, plants, animals and humans; Diagnosis of poisoning; Potential hazards

The Feed Support Products operates from four core values: 1. Practical information The information in FSP about processing, possible hazards, risk assessments and monitoring data is received from GMP+ companies 2. Science based The (generic) risk assessments of feed materials fully comply with the requirements referred to in the HACCP manual for the animal feed sector (2008).

To substantiate potential adverse effects of a hazard, the information is published in fact sheets for both undesirable substances and technical processing aids. The severity of hazards indicated in fact sheets and risk assessments has been evaluated by scientists of RI-KILT.

10 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

FEATURE 3. Independency Independent committees review the policy and technical aspects of FSP; these are the International Expert Committee Animal Feed (IEC Animal Feed) and the Technical Committee FSP (TC FSP). TC FSP acts as a HACCP team for the FSP. The TC FSP has members who are representatives of different subsectors and knowledge areas (chemical and microbiological).

The meeting of TC FSP will at least take place 2 times a year.

Besides the regular members of the TC FSP ‘advisors’ can be invited to TC meetings. These advisors are either laboratory representatives, representatives of the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, or scientists (eg. Rikilt). Also, independent advisors from certification bodies or consultancy agencies can be invited to (parts of) the TC. 4. Transparency GMP+ uses transparent communication to all stakeholders as well as transparent working methods. Procedures for changes are described. Every change is communicated to the GMP+ community via the FSP newsletters.

What do we do to have the FSP up to date?

The content of the different products continuously changes due to new feed legislation, regulations, emerging risks and new scientific information. Changes include new feed materials/products, hazards, new “product-hazard combinations” and new standards (legislation). GMP+ International within FSP periodically processes these changes by a maintenance procedure.

Changes in hazards (severity, effect) are processed in factsheets and/ or risk assessments. If needed, changes in risk assessments, factsheets, GMP+ standards or monitoring program, are discussed within the TC FSP. Reasons for changes can be (among others):

In general: • New feed legislation; • Early Warning System (EWS) from GMP+ • Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF); • Feed Crises; • New scientific information/new hazards (eg. from TNO, Rikilt, EFSA); • Practical experiences from companies Some Information must be evaluated immediately when immediate action is required, for instance in the case of a newly emerging risk.

Other types of information, for instance scientific information, can be processed at a later stage and will be filed for planned maintenance of FSP information (annually).

If new non-conformities related to food and feed safety occur there must be a short-term evaluation about the consequence for feed (if it is a non-conformity from food) and the consequences for FSP. New hazards can be communicated in a short term to the feed sector.

GMP+ certified companies are being informed of changes in risk assessments and/or fact-sheets by means of newsletters. All newsletters can be found on the GMP+ portal www.gmpplus.org (under “In the Spotlight”).

Do you want to be informed about the changes?

Take a free subscription to the GMP+ newsletters: http://www2.gmpplus.org/en/newsletter.php The complete document with the FSP working principles can be found on the GMP+ portal: https://www.gmpplus.org/pagina/4981/working-principles-of-the -gmp-feed-support-products-fsp-.aspx

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May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 11

www.andritz.com

FEATURE

Alternatives to achieve the sustainability challenge in shrimp production:

Sodium Butyrate

by Alvaro Ortiz, Aquaculture Product Manager, Norel SA, Spain

A

lthough aquaculture is always referred to as the future solution to feed the nine billion people estimated in world population by 2050, there are still many complications to overcome.

half of the last year in the international shrimp market increased by five to six percent compared with the same time period in 2013. In terms of farmed shrimp production, positive trends have been posted so far in Ecuador, Indonesia, Vietnam and India.

Shrimp production plays a key role in aquaculture. Diseases such as Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome (AHPNS) and related outbreaks recently reported in India, together with raw material prices volatility are two major problems that need prompt solutions if we do not want to succumb achieving the sustainability challenge.

Despite this, the outlook is positive.

Although China, Mexico and Thailand are reporting lower productions than forecasted for 2014, the volume traded during the first

Forecast in India

The official forecast in India suggests that farmed shrimp production, dominated by Vannamei, may increase by 10 to 20 percent during the current fiscal year (April 2014-March 2015), and Brazil farmed shrimp production is expected to grow 18 percent (Intrafish, and FAO Globefish).

Pathologies are going to be present throughout this year and fish meal/oil prices are not going to help to create an idyllic scenario; in early December 2014, IMARPE confirmed its recommendation after a second

Table 1: Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for each pathogen Pathogen V. anguillarum

Species

Butiric

Propionic

Valerianic

Salmonids

22.2 mM

33.3 mM

33.3 mM

V. vulnificus

Shrimp

22.2 mM

33.3 mM

33.3 mM

V. harveyi

Shrimp

22.2 mM

22.2 mM

33.3 mM

V. parahaemolyticus

Shrimp

22.2 mM

22.2 mM

33.3 mM

V. alginolyticus

Shrimp

22.2 mM

22.2 mM

33.3 mM

A. hydrophila

Tropical

22.2 mM

33.3 mM

33.3 mM

Tropical

22.2 mM

33.3 mM

33.3 mM

Salmonids

22.2 mM

22.2 mM

33.3 mM

Tropical

22.2 mM

22.2 mM

33.3 mM

Salmonids

33.3 mM

33.3 mM

50 mM

A. caviae A. salmonicida F. columnare Y. ruckeri

12 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

survey that there should be no quota issued for the second fishing season.

Antibiotics growth promoters, AGP’s are under surveillance because of suspicions they create resistance to pathologic bacteria creating “superbugs” causing 25,000 deaths per year in Europe, 38,000 deaths in Thailand and 23,000 deaths per year in the EEUU. The overall impact cost is estimated to be US$ 35 billion in the EEUU (sources: ECDC 2007, Pumart et al 2012, US CDC 2013) To overcome all these challenges, a new generation of additives is being thoroughly studied: the natural growth promoters (NGPs). Also termed non-antibiotic growth promoters, NGPs are feed additives contemplating different categories as salts of organic acids, probiotics, prebiotics, phytogenic or yeast. In addition to the beneficial effects in terms of health status and performance, NGPs supplementation does not usually bear any risk regarding bacterial resistance or undesired residues in the edible fish product.

Several publications have addressed the effects of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and their salts on the health and performance of fish. These SCFA are commonly known by their specific antimicrobial activity. However the effects of SCFA go beyond modification of gut microflora. Other benefits such as: improved digestive enzyme activity, increased pancreatic secretion, enhanced development of intestinal epithelium and intestinal barrier integrity, or anti-inflammatory properties (Gálfi and Bokori 1990; Le Gall et al. 2009), have been described and attributed to likely causes of

FEATURE V. parahaemolyticus, microorganism suspect of causing AHPNS.

In another study

enhanced performance, particularly when supplementing butyric acid in its sodium salt form.

Butyric acid is naturally produced and present within the intestine of both carnivores and herbivores fish (Holben et al.

2002; Mountfort 2002). It is very well known how the anti-inflammatory effect of butyric acid can prevent the presence of enteritis in salmon when part of the dietary fishmeal is substituted by soybean meal. This additive could therefore be useful to help reducing the diet costs when fishmeal prices or availability become unpractical, facilitating a higher inclu-

sion of vegetable raw materials, by means of increasing their digestibility and counteracting anti-nutritional effects.

Regarding its pathogen inhibition capabilities, in a recent study conducted by Katsetsart University (Thailand) and Norel S.A. different compounds were tested to assess its inhibition and bactericidal activity against marine shrimp pathogenic bacteria.

Gustor Aqua (Sodium Butyrate) was tested in this study against V. parahaemolyticus.

A strong inhibitory effect was found for Gustor Aqua both at pH=5 and pH=6 against

In another study, butyric acid was compared against the most common SCFA exhibiting a greater inhibition capacity (University of Santiago and Norel SA), less quantity of butyric was needed to inhibit the same concentration of pathogens.

Knowing that sodium butyrate might be of great help in the important shrimp farming industry, Norel wanted to test the additive on-the-field and a trial was conducted in a commercial shrimp farm in Honduras.

Gustor Aqua (protected sodium butyrate) was tested to determine the effect of the additive in performance parameters. The initial density was around 31 shrimp/m2. Ponds supplemented with Gustor Aqua completed the fattening period with 35 percent more biomass, the final yield (kg/ha) in those ponds was 26 percent higher. Feed conversion ratio was also influenced by adding the additive, being 2,033 in the control ponds and 1,590 in the sodium butyrate supplemented group.

Gustor Aqua positively influenced animals’ performance and in addition, their health status is boosted as the higher survival rate reflects. The combination of both variables yields better economic results. www.norel.es

Gustor Aqua®

A powerful non-medicated growth promoter

• Antimicrobial activity

• Immunological properties:

• Trophic effect on intestinal epithelium

Anti-inflammatory Reinforce of the intestinal defence barrier

• Improves performance

Providing proficient tools to achieve cost-effective and sustainable aquaculture practices

T. +34 91 501 40 41 · info@norel.net · www.norel.net May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 13

FEATURE

UK Aquaculture Planning on the move in

by Roy Palmer, Aquaculture Without Frontiers, Australia

That aquaculture has a philosophical base in the East and a scientific base in the West has farreaching implications.

In the East, it is culture, it is life: culture to improve life by providing food and employment. It is embedded in the social and economic infrastructure.

All that science can and must do is to make this culture more effective.

In the West, aquaculture is science and technology, embodied in industry and providing profits: money. It has no social infrastructure.

In this, the West has much to learn from the East

Elizabeth Mann Borgese (1918-2002), Seafarm, The Story of Aquaculture, 1980

Nothing explains the differences between Asian countries and Western countries and the way they interact with aquaculture better than this quote.

Looking at Aquaculture in UK these points come through very strongly because whilst there can be no doubting that governance is important you get to appreciate how complex it can make business. It is like the wagon has put itself ahead of the horse and, of course, the more complicated you make things the harder it is for people to achieve.

Aquaculture policy in the UK is a devolved matter, with the separate administrations of Wales, England, Northern Ireland and Scotland responsible for its collective oversight. This governance arrangement means that the elements of the UK approach reflected in the Multiannual National Plan will vary to reflect differences in priorities and policy approaches.

The UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) created the ‘United Kingdom Multiannual National Plan for the Development of Sustainable Aquaculture’ last year. This plan identifies that Aquaculture is one of the UK’s key strategic food production sectors acknowledging that it helps to underpin sustainable economic growth, both in rural and coastal communities and in the wider economy. It highlights that the UK is committed to continue supporting industryled sustainable growth of aquaculture.

Additionally to this Plan Seafish Authority have commenced an aquaculture review to investigate the services provided by Seafish in relation to the UK aquaculture market to show how the role of Seafish has changed and 14 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

developed over the years, to make recommendations on where Seafish should/could be focusing on aquaculture (both domestic and imported); make recommendations on how Seafish could most appropriately invest in aquaculture technical and information needs and assess potential gains from such investments.

The outcomes are to be fed into the discussions on the new Seafish Corporate Plan, which will run from April 2015 to March 2018, and will detail how the Seafish levy should be spent. The Seafish panels agreed that aquaculture should be included in the new Corporate Plan and the review has highlighted that most of the levy for this sector comes from imported warm water prawns. It was also identified that Seafish should focus on the development of the domestic sector through supporting national strategies.

Seafish has now just appointed an aquaculture manager, Lee Cocker, to help support the growth of the industry in the UK. Aquaculture within England, Northern Ireland and Wales differs significantly from Scotland both in terms of scale of production and species cultivated. Scotland is undoubtedly the major player in the production of farmed Atlantic salmon (over 95 percent) which dominates the UK finfish production figures.

Although primarily marine based, Scotland’s industry also incorporates a significant freshwater production sector. Collectively the English, Northern Irish and Welsh industries place greater emphasis on shellfish and trout production.

England

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the UK government department responsible for policy and regula-

FEATURE

the lead on aquaculture development, there is no lead in England and no reference point.

Additionally, the industry has been complaining about the aquaculture regulatory burdens. The industry regards itself as overregulated and the fact that certain reports have not been published restricts the implementation of an English development plan;

tions on the environment, food and rural affairs and hence is the major agency for aquaculture.

Industry have had concerns for some time that agreed plans have not been acted upon and this is holding back potential for aquaculture growth in England. The issue here is that unlike Scotland, where Government does take

the regulatory background is fundamental and if this is seen to be onerous it will limit investment. It has been mentioned that this regulatory burden exercise is more to do with allowing those who want to engage with the regulator to do so as there is no clear route for engagement.

Whilst volumes are not large by world

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I N C O R P O R AT I N G F I S H FA R M I N G T E C H N O L O G Y

Prevalence of mycotoxins in aquafeed ingredients:

Fine particle filtration in aquaculture

Understanding ammonia in aquaculture ponds

– an update

Pellet distribution modelling: New functional fish feeds to reduce cardiovascular disease

IAF13.06.indd 1

EXPERT TOPIC – Salmon

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S E P T E M B E R | O C TO B E R

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Profitable aquafeed moisture control

– in European aquafeeds

– one of the key B vitamins for sustaining healthy fish growth and production

EXPERT TOPIC

Ultraviolet water disinfection for fish farms and hatcheries

J U LY | A U G U S T

VO L U M E 1 6 I S S U E 3 2 0 1 3 -

24/07/2013 14:33

Chicken viscera for fish feed formulation

Nutritional benefits of processed animal proteins

Niacin

– as growth promoter for adult Nile tilapia

– channel catfish

N OV E M B E R | D E C E M B E R

I N C O R P O R AT I N G F I S H FA R M I N G T E C H N O L O G Y

Transforming aquaculture production using oxygenation systems

Controlling mycotoxins with binders

Effect of probiotic, Hydroyeast Aquaculture

AquaNor event review

– a tool for improved feed delivery in sea cages

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FEATURE standards the main species grown in England are Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Salmon, Carp, Tilapia, Catfish, Turbot, Native Oysters, Pacific Oysters, Mussels, Clams and Cockles.

Scotland

Marine Scotland is the directorate of Scottish Government responsible for marine and fisheries issues in Scotland.

Aquaculture is a major employer and one of Scotland's most important exporters with industry worth being more than £430 million to the Scottish economy.

The Crown Estate manage virtually all the seabed around the UK out to the 12nm limit, so fish farming operations specifically require a Crown Estate lease. They manage the seabed, but are not a regulator of and have no statutory function in relation to the fish farming industry but they take much interest in Scotland because of the volume of business. The Crown Estate also continued to work with government to create a detailed and up-to-date web-based overview of the Scottish industry for the general public and stakeholders.

The bulk of marine aquaculture is in Scotland and is mainly salmon and shellfish, chiefly mussel production. Experimental cultivation of farmed salmon began in 1969 and has since developed into a substantial rural industry, with an estimated 8,000 jobs provided by salmon farming and related support industries, mainly in remote locations where alternative sources of employment are scarce. Virtually all production takes place in the inshore waters of the west coast and the Western and Northern Isles, where the most favourable conditions for aquaculture are to be found. Alternative species, such as cod and halibut, are being grown in commercial quantities and organic farming is also on the increase.

There is also commercial potential in seaweed around Scotland and research in line with the Scottish Government's draft National Marine Plan is aligned to a commercial production pilot project. A macro-algae forum has been established to assist co-ordination and dissemination of information on all macro-algae related work to industry and other key stakeholders.

The Scottish Government supports Scotland’s aquaculture industry to achieve sustainable growth targets, with due regard to the marine environment, by 2020. The targets are to increase: Marine finfish production sustainably to 210,000 tonnes (In 2013, it was 165,256 tonnes - 163,234 salmon, 1,964 Marine rainbow trout, 56 Halibut an 2 Sea trout) Shellfish production (especially mussels) to 13,000 tonnes (In 2013, it was 6,757 tonnes).

Wales

The Welsh Assembly Government is responsible for the licensing of fish farms in Wales.

Wales has invested in regionally distinct, sustainable aquaculture technologies with positive commercial outcomes according to Government presentations. This has involved a structured discussion between stakeholders and government over a circa 10 year period, involving the production of several strategy documents. Sizeable public (EU) investments have been required to kick start new aquaculture developments in Wales via Fisheries instruments and Structural funding.

In a quick snapshot of the Welsh Aquaculture Industry it is recognised as having a long established “traditional” fish farming sector (trout for table / stocking / recreational fisheries) and seabed shellfish cultivation. Recent industry growth via companies engaged in systems design and manufacture; land-based production of high value marine species; extensive cultivation of blue mussels (largest such industry in the UK); development and production of specialty aqua-feeds; breeding technologies for warm water finfish and specialist consultancy services

Northern Ireland

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Ireland Fisheries Division is responsible for the licensing of fish farms in Northern Ireland.

The Aquaculture Industry in Northern Ireland continues to develop and at present there are 80 licensed fish farms (covering 90 sites), of which 48 are licensed for the cultivation of shellfish (47 marine and 1 land-based) and 32 for the cultivation of finfish (30 inland and 2 marine).

The main shellfish species cultivated are mussels (Mytilus edulis) and Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) although a small quantity of Native oysters (Ostrea edulis) and clams (Venerupis semi-decussata) are also grown.

The main finfish species cultivated are salmon (Salmo salar), rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus gorbuscha) and brown trout (Salmo trutta).

In 2012 the aquaculture sector produced 4920 tonnes of shellfish valued at £4.53 million and over 946 tonnes of finfish valued at £4.12 million. In total the aquaculture sector directly employs 73 full time and 40 part time employees.

A lot of time and effort has been going into research on Oysters as since the 1990’s, massive mortalities of Crassostrea gigas (Pacific oyster) were related to a combination of environmental factors, such as the state of the oyster and the presence of pathogens in the sea. The recently detected variant OsHV-1 μvar is the major pathogen associated with 16 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

the massive mortalities that have hit oysters since 2008.

Characteristics that differentiate these mortalities from previous summer mortalities are their recurrence in the last five years, ubiquitously around the French coast, and at a high degree of intensity. Mortalities also affect seed more than juveniles and to a lesser degree, adults. They occur in waves during the summer, following the south - north temperature increase and begin once temperatures reach 16˚C. Mortalities were also reported in many other production countries. The Island of Ireland and the UK are also affected, but to a far lesser extent.

It is suspected that these differences in mortality are caused by colder sea temperatures, a lower degree of intensification of oyster farming and the implementation of appropriate sanitary measures to contain the spread of OsHV-1 μvar. International research into the causes of these massive mortalities allowed a better understanding of the virus and how it affects the oysters.

It has been suggested that remote setting techniques could be developed in Northern Ireland, to locally produce seed on artificial collectors, this would have the advantage of reducing shellfish movements and the spread of diseases. More specific to the Island of Ireland, this technique could compensate for the shortage of hatchery seed experienced by producers situated in “disease free” compartment areas. This is seen as a massive market opportunity to grow market sized oysters for the French market and also to produce oyster seed and juveniles at the best cost rate in the “disease free” compartments. For these reasons, this may be the right time for Northern Ireland to further develop and invest in the oyster industry.

The market for bulk oysters is also very good as a result of French production losses averaging 50,000 tonnes. The only commercial hatcheries situated in “disease free” compartment are situated in the UK and are running under capacity so they cannot supply every oyster farmers situated in bays with similar sanitary status. A report has been created to give a good understanding to Northern Irish oyster farmers about the French situation. An overview of research carried out about the disease in France has also been given, following a path of progression from the first records of mortalities, the summer mortalities and the massive mortality outbreak since 2008. Then, from what was learned in France, the report looks at what practices or aquaculture technology can be used to reduce the impact of mortalities in Northern Ireland.

As is often the case that as one market struggles another prospers from the same issue.

References available on request

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 17

FEATURE

Nutrition for the new laboratory rat

by Peter H. Bowyer, Plymouth University, UK and Marc Tye, University of Minnesota, USA

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are a small freshwater fish belonging to the cyprinid family (Spence, 2006).

The species is native to warm water streams in the Ganges and Brahmaptura River basins located in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal (Barman, 1991; Laale, 1977). They are thought to be an annual species that breeds during the monsoon season, when food such as aquatic insects are most plentiful (Spence, 2006). Zebrafish are considered to be omnivorous having been observed feeding throughout the water column, from the surface to the benthos, on a varied diet (Spence et al 2008).

Z

ebrafish have and continue to be a popular aquarium fish thanks to their hardiness and low-cost but in recent years the species has become of interest as a model organism for biomedical, pharmaceutical, neurological, eco-toxicological and genetics research. So much so, that zebrafish are often coined as “the new laboratory rat�.

Many biological characteristics have contributed to their popularity such as their high fecundity, short generation time, predictable spawning and low cost of maintenance. Furthermore, approximately 70 percent of the human genome is similar to that of the zebrafish, making it a viable model for human genetics research (Howe et al.

2013). Zebrafish are utilised throughout their life cycle but the early developmental stages are particularly attractive to researchers as, unlike mice, the animals produce an externally fertilised embryo that is transparent, allowing its embryonic development to be observed simply by placing it under a microscope.

Today these fish are cultured in most major biomedical research facilities around the world including the United States (877 institutions), Germany (359), England (180), China (255), France (219), Spain (138), Taiwan (84), to name but a few (Kinth et al. 2013). Estimating the exact numbers of fish used is almost impossible but millions, if not hundreds of millions of zebrafish are now thought to be used in scientific research every year (Reed & Jennings, 2010).

In 2010, the Research Animal Department of the British RSPCA released figures detailing the number of scientific papers using zebrafish published over recent years on the PubMed Database (Reed & Jennings, 2010). Revisiting and elaborating upon these figures it is clear that exponential growth in the use of zebrafish for scientific purposes continues (Figure 1.).

Optimal culture conditions such as water temperature and water chemistry values have been established for zebrafish, but our knowledge on nutrition requirements has drastically lagged behind. Many biomedical researchers are now asking for a standardised diet and open-formulations for this important research animal (Lawrence 2007, Penglase et al. 2012, Watts et al. 2012). This is not a new issue; a standardised diet for rodent models was established almost 40 years ago, followed by standardised diets for other models including guinea pigs, rabbits, primates, and swine. At present zebrafish facilities feed their stock a variety of different dry feeds, alongside live feeds. These include flake intended for use by the aquarium hobbyist, pellet for rearing larvae of marine fish and a select few commercially advertised zebrafish diets.

Zebrafish nutrition

Zebrafish nutrition remains very much in its infancy, being mostly limited to comparisons between commercially prepared feeds or against live feed. Formulating appropriate diets is paramount to guaranteeing zebrafish are nutritionally satisfied and thus a healthy model organism. At present poor nutrition and feeding practices has led to variability among results from human disease, pharmaceutical, toxicology, neurology and reproduction studies using zebrafish.

Meeting individual amino-acid requirements ensures that growth of the animal is not compromised, but its importance extends to the consideration that deficiencies can be of detriment to immune and metabolic status. With some popular commercial zebrafish diets containing up to 60 percent crude protein levels, over-formulation is also of particular concern. Excessive supply of certain amino acids has been suggested to incur similar effects to deficiencies triggering stress responses, toxicity, interference with metabolic function and subsequently depressed growth (Choo, 1991).

However, this excess supply of protein is most likely to be of detri-

18 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

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ment to water chemistry with elevated nitrogenous excretions placing unnecessary strain upon maintaining optimal water quality parameters. Currently, quantitative dietary lysine and arginine requirement research on juvenile and adult zebrafish is being conducted at the University of Minnesota. Preliminary data suggests lysine and arginine requirements are similar to that of common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

108.28 [2750] This research is the first known, albeit belated, quantitative nutritional research to be conducted for zebrafish. With minimal socioeconomic or environmental sustainability considerations for dietary protein provision in zebrafish diets, a wealth of ingredient options seem available.

However, careful consideration will be required to provide sources of protein that are readily available, highly digestible, nutritionally consistent and clean. Fishmeal sources are, for the most part, a great source of high-quality protein for fish; however varying macro and micronutrient profiles could be a threat to the consistency of standardised diets. Plant protein sources are readily available from various sources in various forms, but fluctuating protein contents as well as the presence of anti-nutritional factors may also render them a risk.

Being the natural prey of zebrafish, perhaps one of the most attractive options will be that of the various insect-derived proteins now available. Other avenues such as algae, marine invertebrate and single-cell proteins may also be evaluated.

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Lipid provision

Appropriate lipid provision is also integral to ensuring zebrafish health. Essential fatty acids (EFA) play a crucial role as a metabolic energy source in fish, with deficiencies and ratio imbalances leading to depressed growth (Watanabe 1982). Exceeding requirements can similarly decrease growth and lead to increases in mesenteric lipid deposition (Du et al. 2006), with possible implications on biomedical

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FEATURE

Photos courtesy of ©Peter H. Bowyer and ©Ben Eynon, Plymouth University

Photo Nile Red stereoscopic view courtesy of ©James E. N. Minchin and ©John F. Rawls from the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke University

studies in particular. Inappropriate dietary lipid levels may also lead to disruption of lipostatic and endocrine systems.

But perhaps of most notable interest is the central role of EFA in fecundity and reproduction (Watanabe 1982). As before mentioned, much zebrafish work concentrates on early life stages, requiring high fecundity, consistent spawning and healthy offspring as a solid base of research, therefore health of broodstock is indispensable. Some research has been conducted suggesting low n-3:n-6 fatty acid ratios decrease growth and influence fecundity (Meinelt et al. 1999, Meinelt et al. 2000) but quantitative requirements have yet to be determined.

Once this is achieved, the suitability of the many marine and vegetablederived oils can be assessed. Again of note is the high lipid content of certain insect larvae, which could be an attractive option.

As an omnivorous cyprinid, it can be anticipated that zebrafish are also able to utilise carbohydrates as an energy source relatively efficiently. Although there is likely to be no specific requirement for carbohydrates, evidence of decreased growth with low carbohydrate levels has been demonstrated in the species (Robison et al. 2008). This could be a preliminary indication that plant or algal-derived ingredients should feature in diets to promote health.

Although characterising mineral requirements in fish can be somewhat problematic, efforts in zebrafish are indispensable due to the large influence these micronutrients may have on the fields of research.

Mineral deficiencies can have profound effects on fish by causing, biochemical, structural and functional abnormalities (Zhao 2014). A highlighted area of concern among zebrafish facilities appears to be that

20 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

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FEATURE

Zebrafish Husbandry Association

The Zebrafish Husbandry Association (ZHA) is a non-profit organisation devoted to promoting and developing zebrafish husbandry standards through education, collaboration, and publication. ZHA’s membership is comprised of a wide range of people interested in zebrafish culture; including research and veterinary professionals, facility managers, technicians, fish culturists, aquaculture engineers, and representatives from various aquaculture supply and biomedical companies.

The ZHA was originally created by zebrafish researchers in the Boston area in 2005 and was called the New England Zebrafish Husbandry Association (NEZHA). Membership in the NEZHA began to grow rapidly and included many individuals outside of the New England area so the group changed its name to ZHA in 2007.

Today it has members from around the world who are dedicated to developing zebrafish husbandry standards. The associations first working group project titled “The Effect of Stocking Densities on Reproductive Performance in Laboratory Zebrafish” was published in the journal Zebrafish in 2011. Since then, various working groups are working on subjects such as larval rearing, reproduction and spawning, water quality, health management, welfare, and nutrition.

The ZHA provides valuable information on the latest husbandry methods through its new website (www.zhaonline.og) and from its quarterly webinar series which includes topics ranging from disease treatment and prevention to cryopreservation to expansion of infrastructure. Along with the website, where the latest job opportunities are posted, the ZHA has a presence on social media including a discussion forum on LinkedIn, a Facebook page and a new Twitter handle (@zhaonline) where you can find updates on the latest ZHA news and upcoming events. The quarterly newsletter “Stripes” provides information on the ZHA Board meetings, introduces members to industry vendors, and has a semi-annual “Featured Facility”.

Much of the latest research in the field of zebrafish husbandry is presented at the ZHA annual workshop that is held in conjunction with Aquaculture America. The zebrafish special session has two full-days of oral presentations that range in topics from facility design to zebrafish fertility to the latest nutritional research. The zebrafish special session has been one of the more highly attended sessions at the annual conference, with over 100 people attending many of the lectures in 2014.

The ZHA is an affiliate with the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) as well as the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). This year the ZHA will be hosting its inaugural seminar titled “Zebrafish Husbandry and Veterinary Care: Multiple Perspectives” at the AALAS National Meeting in Phoenix, AZ. ZHA has a presence at many national and international conferences including Aquaculture America, Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science Symposium, International Conference on Zebrafish Development and Genetics, and the European Zebrafish Conference. admin@zhaonline.org

of spinal deformities, such as scoliosis. Ensuring the fish are provided with adequate dietary mineral levels (e.g. calcium, phosphorous, zinc) may help alleviate these occurrences.

On the other hand, excess provision and/or over supplementation can be just as great a threat to fish health by pushing tolerance levels. With regards to macro minerals, high dietary calcium can cause interference with other minerals and impede upon proper digestion, whilst elevated phosphorous becomes an environmental pollutant. Trace mineral excess is also of concern. Fishmeal in particular is known to contain relatively high levels of certain, potentially toxic, minerals, as a consequence of bioaccumulation in the marine food chain. One such example is methylmercury. Being readily available through the gastrointestinal tract, deposition occurs predominantly in the kidney and becomes a potent neurotoxin (Dórea et al. 2008). With negligible cost limiting factors on fishmeal inclusion, potential mineral toxicity or interference should be acknowledged when formulating diets.

Overall, it is clear that varying or even unknown dietary mineral concentrations could be jeopardising the consistency of research findings, particularly from ecotoxicology, neurology, developmental, and mineral metabolism studies.

Adequate dietary provision

As fish are not able to synthesise vitamins, ensuring adequate dietary provision is also indispensable to animal health. Vitamin requirements in fish are well documented and provide a good basis from which to begin defining those of zebrafish. The merits of vitamin supplementation, to extend beyond basic requirements, may also be considered in this case given the objectives of zebrafish culture and the limited risk of exceeding requirement.

For example, it is well documented that ascorbic acid (vitamin C) supplementation can provide significant benefits to growth, reproduction, stress response, immunity and bone integrity (Li and Robinson, 2008); all pertinent topics in optimising zebrafish culture.

Overall, it is clear that inappropriate or inconsistent dietary nutrient levels may be of severe detriment to the solidity of findings from research using zebrafish as a model organism. Due to our distinct lack of knowledge on nutrition, the harsh reality is that unsuitable diets are being fed extensively to these fish in facilities around the world.

These animals are then used in studies seemingly at the forefront of increasing our scientific knowledge of human health, genetics.

The key goal in zebrafish nutrition at this stage is to define nutrient requirements so that we can move towards standardising diets.

Priority should be placed upon consistent, clean, quality ingredients so that requirements and optimum animal health standards can be reliably met. Due to the low feed consumption of zebrafish, this can be achieved irrespective of feed cost, unlike commercial finfish.

Achieving these criteria will allow researchers to use zebrafish as a robust model in confidence, for the benefit of the scientific community and general public alike.

Zebrafish nutritional research is unique in that it is of interest to several different scientific fields that traditionally do not collaborate.

The biomedical, ecotoxicology and pharmacology fields are particularly interested because they want a standardised diet to limit variation in research. Those involved in veterinary medicine also have an interest as it is their responsibility to care for and enforce health standards of zebrafish at research facilities. The aquaculture sector may also play a part through the potential of using the zebrafish as a model for food or ornamental species. This diverse community means that funding for research could be accessed from many avenues. It is time for fish nutritionists to take up the challenge and utilise their expertise, in order to contribute to scientific knowledge, rigor and integrity in scientific research outside of aquaculture.

References available on request

22 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

FEATURE

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May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 23

Antarctic Krill

FEATURE

Lifeblood of the Southern Ocean

K

rill are small crustaceans, like shrimp. The Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, live in large schools in the cold, pristine waters of Antarctica. The Southern Ocean is home to thousands of different marine life species, all dependent on each other in a vulnerable ecosystem.

The Southern Ocean surrounds Antarctica, which is the coldest, driest and windiest continent on earth.

We find the Antarctic krill in the middle of the food chain between the microscopic plants and animals and the larger animals. Krill are food for humpback wales, fish and penguins. Krill are feed for fish. Krill for aquafeed is a growth accelerator and efficiency driver.

"Antarctic krill is a bountiful, but not

Photo courtesy of ©Kjell Rune Venaas

unlimited, resource"

Did you know that?

• Antarctica is the highest continent in the world? The average elevation is 2,300 meters because of the thickness of its ice sheet.

• Antarctica is one-and-a-half times the size of the United States?

• Antarctica has the world’s largest desert?

Antarctic krill is a bountiful, but not unlimited, resource. When exploratory krill fishing began in the 1960s, the catch levels were low.

In the 1980s commercial fisheries caught more than half a million tons of krill. This raised serious concerns that the fisheries were depleting local krill stock, causing an irreversible damage to the ecosystem and threatening predators such as fish, whales and penguins.

"Krill is the lifeblood of the Southern Ocean and supports important Antarctic wildlife such as whales, seals and penguins. It is crucial that krill fishing is done in a responsible and sustainable way,” said Bob Zuur, Manager of WWF’s Antarctic program in a press release.

International Convention regulates and caps the catch

The Convention of the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) protects the ecosystem. This international treaty oversees krill fishing, with 25 members including six countries that fish for krill. In advance of each season, CCAMLR requires vessels to notify their fishing area and potential catch. There are hundreds of million tons of Antarctic krill in the Southern Ocean. The majority of the krill industry operates in Area 48. In Area 48, the industry is allowed to harvest one percent of the estimated 60 million tons of krill. Today, the catch level is about one half of the allowable level.

Responsible business goes beyond sustainable fishing

“Sustainable krill fishing is our licence to operate,” says Sigve Nordrum, Sustainability Director in Aker BioMarine, the biggest krill 24 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

Photo courtesy of ©Kjell Rune Venaas

Photo courtesy of ©Kjell Rune Venaas

FEATURE

company. But responsible business goes beyond the licence to operate in Antarctica. Responsible krill fishing means developing technology that solves today’s problems and asking right questions gather the latest data and close the knowledge gaps about the region.

underwater during the entire operation. This reduces the interactions between the net and the krill surface predators (especially birds and seals) as the net is not hauled and shot. The mesh opening of the net excludes unwanted by-catch.

Third parties certify the fisheries

Scientific data gathering

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), an international non-profit organisation with an independent certifying body and a public assessment process, has developed sustainable fishing and seafood traceability standards. In 2012 Accenture ranked it as the leading eco-label for seafood products. In 2015 MSC re-certified Aker BioMarine as sustainable and 100 percent traceable, allowing the fishery to carry the distinct blue eco-label on its products.

Technology reduces by-catch

In addition to its third party certification, new technology is continuously developed, limiting the impact of krill fishing on the ecosystem in the Antarctic. Aker BioMarine’s vessels, Antarctic Sea and Saga Sea, use Pelagic trawls with its Eco-Harvesting system. The system’s hose (between the trawl and the vessel) allows the fishing net to stay

It is only possible to change what is known. Scientific data gathering and research are focus areas for the fisheries active in Antarctic. With the harsh conditions, the scientific vessels are only present in Antarctic for a short period of time every year. As the krill fishing vessels operate on the fishing grounds for most of the year and are well positioned to the collect the data, the Association of Responsible Krill (ARK) Fishing Companies, has encouraged krill fishing vessels to host scientists and collect scientific data. This provides updated information on the krill stocks and expands the industry’s knowledge on stock dynamics.

Krill populations vary in size from year to year. And in extreme circumstances, krill shortages have affected the breeding of seals and penguins. In other areas of the Antarctic, it has been difficult to link the krill population fluctuation with the health of the seal and penguin population. The current assessment process does not include seasonal

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 25

Photo courtesy of ©Kjell Rune Venaas

changes in stock size, natural fluctuations in krill abundance and the effect of climate change (for example, warmer and more acidic oceans) on krill. The main challenge is to get a synoptic survey of the Antarctic krill. These data points need to be collected to better understand the ecosystem and protect it.

But there is still so much that is unknown about the Antarctic’s ecosystem. And there is still so much data missing. The knowledge gap is still big.

Cooperation and research needed to go above and beyond

“Responsibility is a shared commitment for our shared future.

Operating sustainably within a complex ecosystem like the Antarctic is not a solo effort. It requires a team from multiple disciplines. This requires collaboration beyond the fisheries’ networks, close partnerships between the fisheries and environmental non-governmental organisations and contact with leading scientists on Antarctic conservation and research,” says Aker BioMarine’s Sigve Nordrum.

Establishing The Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund

In January 2015, scientists, businesses and environmental organisations joined forces to address a shared concern: Too little is known about the Antarctic Wildlife and ecosystem. Representatives from the non-governmental organisations Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) WWF-Norway and Aker BioMarine established an independent research foundation: the Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund (AWR) The research fund will finance much needed ecosystem research and monitoring activities to increase the data and knowledge around the Antarctic ecosystem.

Photo courtesy of ©Kjell Rune Venaas

Photo courtesy of ©Kjell Rune Venaas

FEATURE

"I am particularly pleased to see the launch of this research fund as I believe it shows a real commitment from the fishing industry to engage in sustainable practices that are built upon the solid foundation of scientific evidence. Not only will this fund help build a sound basis for management, but it will hopefully also help foster closer collaboration between scientists from many different nations,” said Dr Phil Trathan, Chair of the AWR Science Advisory Group in a press release.

On March 16, 2015 2015 AWR issued its first call for proposals, inviting applications from scientific researchers who can aid in determining the impact of the krill fishing industry on the Antarctic marine ecosystem. The research will serve to ensure ecosystem protection, while improving the management basis for the fishery. The call for proposals will close June 16, 2015.

"The establishment of the Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund is an opportunity to continue monitoring the impacts of krill fishing and to conduct further ecological research on this important species,” said Bob Zuur, Manager of WWF’s Antarctic program in the press release announcing the establishment of the Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund.

The science advisory group will identify and prioritise the research to be conducted. In turn, AWR will grant research funding and publish the research. The independent scientific experts and their data will fill the critical gaps in research and monitoring.

This data is not only meant for the fisheries, but also to raise aware-

26 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

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ness through the general public. AWR will have several campaigns to increase the general knowledge on krill as a key part of the Antarctic BTR Bierhefe Bierhefe ® W60 ecosystem and the importance of sustainable Mannan® krill fishery. Therefore a separate website and social media channels have been established to ensure that the message reaches the general public.

"The creation of the Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund is crucial to expanding our knowledge of krill in the Southern Ocean. Through the work of the AWR, we hope to ensure that adequate protections and management are put in place, and a healthy ecosystem is kept in place not just for krill, but for all of the Antarctic species which depend on it," said Mark Epstein, AWR Chair and Executive Director of The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition in a press release.

“Such collaborations, including with NGOs and industry, are critical if we are to tackle some of the real challenges that face us in managing marine ecosystems as they cope with the combined pressures of climate change and increasing human demands. This fund should be an exemplar for other industries elsewhere in the world," concluded Dr Phil Trathan, Chair of the AWR Science Advisory Group in the release to the media.

The Science advisory group consists of: • Dr Phil Trathan, Chair, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK • Dr Polly Penhale, National Science Foundations, US • Dr Javier Arata, Instituto Antárctico, Chile, CCAMLR • Dr Gennadi Milinevsky, National University of Kiev, Ukraine • Dr Taro Ichii, National Research Institute. of Far Sea Fisheries, Japan • Dr Andrew Lowther, Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway • Dr Slava Bizikov, Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries, Russia • Dr So Kawaguchi, Australian Antarctic Division, Tasmania, Australia • Scientific Advisor to the AWR is Dr. Rodolfo Werner, who is a Senior Advisor to The Pew Charitable Trusts and ASOC – The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition

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May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 27 Produktanzeige Beta-S 90 x 270 International Aqua Feed ohne Messehinweis.indd 1

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PHOTOSHOOT

Aquaculture days

Biomin ‘Aquaculture Days’

What better way to start Biomin ‘Aquaculture Days’ in mid-April than with a visit to a restaurant on top of an aquarium.

However, this was an aquarium with a difference. This II-World War anti-aircraft gun emplacement and battle tower, one of three built in Vienna and this one right in the heart of the city, was converted in 1957 into the role it has today as an aquarium, attracting over 350,000 visitors a year and becoming the second most visited privately-operated sightseeing site in the country.

The dinner was proceeded with an introduction and welcome to the event by marketing director of Biomin, Herbert Kneissl.

28 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

TECHNOLOGY

SUPPLEMENT

FISH FARMING

FARMING THE RESERVOIRS Indigenous techniques for freshwater prawn catching in the reservoirs of Telangana, India

SUPPLEMENT

FISH FARMING TECHNOLOGY

FARMING THE RESERVOIRS Indigenous techniques for freshwater prawn catching in the reservoirs of Telangana, India

by B. Laxmappa, Fisheries Development Officer, Department of Fisheries, India

Reservoirs are the large water bodies and potential source for the development of fisheries in India. In many of the reservoirs, cultivable fishes are being stocked to enhance production. Culture of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium malcolmsonii along with carps has been carried out successfully in some reservoirs of Telangana since the start of the last decade in India. Ramanpad reservoir is one of them for freshwater prawn culture.

R

amanpad is one of the medium size irrigation projects in the Telangana area. It has 305 hectares water spread area and was constructed in 1972 across Peddavagu, which is the tributary of river Krishna. It is located at Ramanpad village, Kothakota Mandal of Mahabubnagar district in Telangana. It is about 145 Kilometres away from Hyderabad city. The main purpose of the construction of this reservoir was to protect the economically backward areas of the district and also to eliminate the scarcity of 002 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | Fish Farming Technology

FISH FARMING TECHNOLOGY

food grains and water problems. Though the Ramanpad Reservoir was constructed primarily for irrigation and later became the major supply of drinking water to Mahabubnagar town including many villages in the district, fishery has evolved as the secondary activity.

Every water body has its unique pattern of craft and gear. It also gives indication about the economic condition of the fishermen community where they use locally available, less costly materials to make substances of technological delight giving maximum return. In case of the reservoirs, details about gears used in prawn catching varies from reservoir to reservoir.

Freshwater prawn has become an important component of global aquaculture both in terms of quantity and value. The fishermen of Ramanpad reservoir made attempts and stocked freshwater prawn seed of natural collection from Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh during 2004. Seed grew well and good production of prawn ensued. This encouraged the fishermen, resulting in regular stocking of seed in July and August and allowed them to grow on natural feed in the reservoir up to February. This was the turning point for these reservoir fishermen to get additional income from prawn in addition to regular fish catching.

Catching of prawn from the reservoirs is difficult due to the vastness of the area and great depth. In the first year fishermen used gill nets for prawn catching and faced many difficulties while catching of prawn due

Fish Farming Technology | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 003

FISH FARMING TECHNOLOGY

height of the trap was made to be used as an entrance for the prawns. The sticks used to make this valve were thinner and knitted with nylon rope. The trap was kept in vertical position under the water. A float made of thermocol/cork was tied with the trap with rope to help in locating the place of the trap.

Benefits of Box traps

to full water level and great depth of the reservoir. Later the fishermen learnt to use the rectangular framed box traps for prawn catching.

Since 2005 onwards they have been using indigenous made box traps to catch prawn in the reservoir besides using gill nets and cast nets. The gear used for fish catching is gill nets and for prawn catching box traps along with small mesh size gill nets and cast nets.

Indigenous Gear: Box trap

Among different fishing gears, box trap was one of the major gears used in prawn fishery in Ramanpad reservoir. Box trap was a cube shaped trap made of bamboo sticks knitted with some durable creepers. A bicuspid non-returning uni-directional vertical valve along the

The rectangular framed box traps (length 1.75 by height 1.5 by width 1.5 feet size) are made of splinter sticks of bamboos. These traps consist of only one-way entrance slits from both opposite sides and there is no way from inner to outside. These entrance slits allow organisms to enter inside and closes sticks automatically. These traps are cheap and made with locally available materials. Each trap costs about 150 Rupees, which is roughly three US Dollars and durability is about three-four months for regular use in the water. About 80 percent of prawn catching is with the help of box traps only and the remaining 20 percent is carried out with cast nets and gill nets in the reservoir.

Indigenous Technology

Fishermen are engaging in prawn catching activity regularly in the reservoir with box traps. Each fisherman uses 50-60 traps every day to catch prawn in the reservoir. These traps are set in the reservoir with floaters for identification round the clock for prawn catch. Generally, dried coconut pieces’ hang to metal wire inside the trap, used as bait

004 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | Fish Farming Technology

FISH FARMING TECHNOLOGY

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FISH FARMING TECHNOLOGY

to lure the prawns. The prawn enters into these traps from both sides of one-way entrance slits and there is no way to escape from the trap after entering.

In general, one prawn was caught in unit effort but two to three prawns were also observed in the catch of a trap. The fishermen collect the trapped prawn from these traps daily in the early morning and evening. On average, each fisherman can catch about one to three kilograms per day. Though mostly prawns were being caught by it, sometimes other fishes like Notopterus, Etroplus, minor carps etc also enter into the traps.

The fishermen catch the grown prawn continually for three-five months i.e. from February to June every year along with fish catches.

The peak prawn catch is from March to May and the minimum is in the

months of February and June. But the fish catch continues round the year by fishermen from the vicinity villages except for a few days in the rainy season. The prawns caught from the reservoirs fetch a premium price and are in great demand because of its natural culture and because they are free from any fertilisers/chemicals. Every year, the fishermen will harvest about 12-14 tonnes of prawn from this reservoir.

Considering the high export potential, the fresh water prawn enjoys immense potential for culture in the reservoirs of Telangana.

This achievement is only due to the management practices like good seed stocking, collective harvesting and control of poaching by the reservoir fishermen regularly. Moreover, the uses of indigenously made rectangular traps are more economical and cost effective in prawn catching in reservoirs.

006 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | Fish Farming Technology

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Innovations for a better world.

Over the next two days the group of more than 40 aqua industry professionals from 14 countries heard 13 presentations and visited numerous laboratories. The focus of the twodays of visits and lectures was to look at the detail behind research and development being carried out

by Biomin into areas of fish nutrition that provide farmers and processors with financial benefits in both yield and quality.

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 29

PHOTOSHOOT + Microscopic life aquatic - improving animal performance

by Barbara Weber, Microbiologist Responsible for Aqua-related Activities, Biomin

Aquaculture days Day One

Biomin research and development facilities, the BIOMIN Research Center, are integral in the research university campus at Tulln in Lower Austria, but which is some 50km north-west of Vienna on the Danube River.

The first day saw the group visiting Biomin’s laboratories throughout the university, that were dedicated to plant biotechnology, mycotoxin strategies, disease challenges, phytogenics and pathogen control all centred on aquaculture and aquatic species.

It was clear from the facilities dedicated to this research into products to counter the impact of mycotoxin on fish species, in particular, that aquaculture nutrition and sustainability is at the forefront of this company’s developments when it comes to new products.

The day was rounded off with discussions and a visit to the Göttweig Abbey, a further 30km west along the Danube River, and near the town of Krems.

Day Two

The venue for a series of lectures was held at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna the following day. The half-day seminar was introduced by Professor Mansour El-Marbouti, who heads the Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health and who has published 137 papers on topics relating to this discipline and has expertise in fish diseases, fish bacteriology, fish virology and fish mycologoy.

Brief lectures covered topics from ‘Probiotics as modulators of the gastro intestinal tract’, delivered by invited PhD student Benedict Standen of Plymouth University in the UK: A presentation International Aquafeed will be reporting on in an upcoming edition.

Biomin researchers explored the research behind several of its aquatic products including the ‘Effective beneficial bacteria in aquaculture’ delivered through its product AquaStar and presented by Jutta Zwielehner.

The ‘Importance of phytogenic supplementation in aquafeeds’, by Otavio Castro was another well-received presentation. And Pedro Encarnacao Biomin’s aquaculture technical director based in Singapore, summarised the morning session for delegates.

We should not overlook the presentation made by Jorge Dias on the ‘Trends in feed formulation and feed technology’ and the impact this will have on meeting the growing demand of a world struggling to feed itself adequately; another presentation International Aquafeed will be reporting in more details upon.

The afternoon was taken up with delegates and staff from Biomin touring the fish trials facilities at the University of Veterinary Medicine before the group has one final meeting at the restaurant Viennese Heurigen ‘Weingut am Reisenberg’ overlooking the city of Vienna.

Overview

This was a most valuable visit with a balance of research explained, industry issues addressed and a close look at the trials and tribulations that go into product development. It also gave visitors time to network among themselves and exchange knowledge and points-of-view, but overall it brought home the message that aquaculture needs companies to commit to research and development at this level if industry is to supply a cost-effective food protein at affordable prices and in a consistent, safe and efficient manner.

Many thanks to Biomin for its ongoing initiative to engage with the aquaculture industry at this level and in this depth.

The main task of our microbiology research team is to analyze and develop new, innovative microbial feed additives for different livestock species to improve animal performance and health.

Through years of research we have gained sound expertise in the development of multispecies or multi-strain combinations of beneficial bacteria, or probiotics.

These additives offer a good alternative to antibiotics or other treatments without the apparent associated drawbacks.

Over time we have established a large strain collection with plenty well-characterised probiotic strains, as well as a plethora of livestock-specific and livestock-relevant pathogens. The ultimate goal is to find strains that complement each other in their unique actions.

In our research we combine techniques from classical microbiology with modern state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques to identify the best suitable probiotic strains for a distinct purpose.

To obtain a safe and acceptable biological feed supplement, the development process covers all steps from in vitro (isolation, identification, safety evaluation, characterization and assessment for specific properties) to in vivo (alterations in host gene expression or microbial composition in the gut).

For aquaculture probiotics we focus on two different applications: 1) feed application to improve animal health via gut health and 2) pond application to improve water quality and indirectly aid animal health.

For both applications, stability of probiotic strains under changing environmental conditions is a prerequisite.

Thus, our in vitro work includes tests for pH, salt, bile, temperature tolerance and combinations thereof.

For feed application the main goal is to identify strains that antagonize a broad spectrum of different pathogens.

Antagonism would ideally occur not only through classical mechanisms, such as bacteriocin or acid production, but also through alternative mechanisms, such as quorum quenching, that can reduce a pathogen’s virulence.

For pond application the main goal is to identify strains able to maintain water quality. To do so they need to efficiently degrade organic matter and/or remove toxic waste compounds, such as nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, or hydrogen sulfide.

In the laboratory we have several colorimetric test systems available to define how these strains perform in vitro, especially concerning removal of nitrogen compounds.

30 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

Plant-derived feed for aquaculture - Investigations at the cellular level

Research gathers pace to combat mycotoxins in aquaculture - Turkeys, trout and 1960

by Barbara Novak, Scientist, BIOMIN

by Dieter Moll, Research Team Leader Molecular Biology, BIOMIN

The use of plant-derived feed for aquaculture continues to grow, exposing those species to the risk of mycotoxin contamination.

The year 1960 is commonly regarded as the starting point that led to the discovery and study of mycotoxins. While many in the mycotoxin research community are familiar with the turkey “X” disease that year when turkeys in England died from aflatoxin contamination, few know about the epizootic of hepatoma in trout occurred in California that same year, later found to be caused by aflatoxins.

While previously conducted fish trials have demonstrated numerous negative impacts of mycotoxins on aquaculture species, this information is scarce compared to what is known regarding terrestrial animals, particularly livestock.

One objective of the Biomin Research Center’s cell biology team is to better understand the risks that mycotoxins pose to aquaculture and the effectiveness of detoxification products. The research effort comprises several assays and techniques based on cell cultures.

Working with cell lines is faster and less cost-intensive than working with whole animals, especially when it comes to analyses of different concentrations and combinations of mycotoxins. Ethical considerations further support use of these techniques when possible.

Furthermore, cell culture systems offer a more sensitive and reproducible method for preliminary screening of toxicity of mycotoxins and elucidating their modes of actions.

For example, the adherent cell line RTgill-W1, derived from a primary culture of rainbow trout gill fragments, can be used as suitable cell culture model to test effects of mycotoxins in fish cells.

Cytotoxicity studies with the most abundant and most carcinogenic mycotoxins, DON and AFB1 respectively, showed impaired cell viability with regard to total protein content and lysosomal integrity of the cells.

To investigate the effect of mycotoxins on the intestinal epithelial barrier integrity, an in vitro model has been developed measuring the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), currently using a porcine intestinal cell line.

Decreased TEER values indicate a weakened cell barrier function against pathogens or toxins. This sophisticated cell culture model currently representing the porcine gut will be transferred to a newly-developed fish cell line called RTgutGC, isolated from the intestine of a rainbow trout.

In the near future the team hopes to establish a cell culture model representative of fish gut to gain insight into effects of mycotoxins on the gut permeability and the effects thereof.

At the BIOMIN Research Center, we take advantage of the fact that mycotoxins are natural molecules.

Mycotoxins are degradable in the environment, and a goal of our research is to get natural mycotoxin degradation and detoxification reactions to work in the gastrointestinal tract of animals.

Our molecular biology team has isolated strains of fumonisin-degrading bacteria, and studied the molecular biology and biochemistry of fumonisin degradation in detail. We found that a cluster of genes has been shaped and optimised by evolution over countless years specifically to break down fumonisins and use them for bacterial cellular metabolism.

Transcription of the genes is turned on in the presence, and turned off in the absence of fumonisins, and availability of fumonisins accelerates bacterial growth.

One particular enzyme of the degradation pathway, fumonisin esterase, is now available and registered in the EU as the world’s first mycotoxin degrading feed enzyme, FUMzyme®.

Fumonisin esterase removes two side chains from fumonisins by hydrolytic cleavage.

This cleavage drastically reduces the affinity of the mycotoxin to the eukaryotic target protein, ceramide synthase. An important part of developing FUMzyme® for use as feed enzyme for gastrointestinal fumonisin detoxification was to develop biomarkers of fumonisin exposure and fumonisin effects.

We established sophisticated methods, based on liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, to measure concentrations of fumonisin-derived metabolites, and metabolites involved in ceramide synthase activity in samples from animals.

These methods allow to study dose and effect of fumonisins and of FUMzyme®, and were already used to tune FUMzyme® formulation and dose for pigs and poultry. Aquatic species should be next, and we already know that fumonisin esterase activity at low temperature is still very high.

We have also made microbes for detoxification of zearalenone and deoxynivalenol available as feed additives. Most recently, we isolated a bacterial strain which breaks down ergopeptines, the predominant class of ergot alkaloids.

Aquatic species are sensitive to mycotoxins, and aquaculture is young and open to science and innovation. For these reasons, application of mycotoxin detoxification biotechnology in aquaculture is a particularly interesting challenge for us at Biomin.

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 31

FEATURE

IMMUNE RESPONSE Dietary protease improves immune responses in Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

by Hoongli Song, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China, Yao Liu, Nutritech Solutions Inc., Shanghai, China, Xiao-hui Dong, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China and M. A. Kabir Chowdhury, Jefo Nutrition Inc., Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada

G

lobal farmed crustacean production has been increasing at much faster rate than major farmed species. It is expected to reach 6.8 million metric tons (MMT) in 2015, of which, 69 percent or 4.7 MMT will be from the marine shrimps (Figures 1A, 1B). In the last 15 years, the production increased six-fold driven more by intensification rather than expansion of the area cultivated.

protease is considered to be an important tool for better nutrient utilisation. It is hypothesised that a better nutrient profile and utilisation can compensate poor immune or stress responses. Specially, when high quality ingredients are partially or completely replaced by more economical protein sources, which are often of poor quality.

The study

The study, consisting of five treatments, was conducted at the Guangdong Ocean University of China. The objective of the study was to assess the changes in immune response to low fishmeal diets supplemented with a commercially available dietary protease.

Two diets were prepared: one with 20 percent fishmeal (positive control) and the other with 10 percent fishmeal (negative control). The fishmeal was replaced by increasing peanut meal (16 percent) and soybean meal (28 percent) contents compared to 11 percent and 16 percent, respectively from

the positive control diet for equal amount of crude protein. Another three diets were prepared by adding graded level (125, 150 and 175 ppm) of a commercial protease complex (Jefo Nutrition Inc., Canada) to the mash of the negative control diet.

The activities of acid (ACP) and alkaline (AKP) phosphatases, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and polyphenol oxidase (PO) were analysed in both serum and hepatopancreas of 15 shrimps per dietary treatment.

The malon-di-aldehyde (MDA) content was analysed only in serum. Regression analysis was performed to assess the effects of the intake of dietary protease on these responses.

No differences in enzymatic activities and MDA contents were observed between the shrimps fed the 20 percent fishmeal diets and the 10 percent fishmeal diets supplemented with 175 ppm protease. The results of the regression analysis with protease intake (µg/ shrimp) at 0, 125, 150, 175 ppm of the 10

The development of specific pathogen free (SPF) broodstock of Pacific white shrimp has been the major contributing factor to this intensification, and the accompanied spectacular growth. This has resulted in a much higher demand for compounded feed. The current demand for feed is estimated to be 6.8 MMT or 90 percent of the production. This is about four times higher than 1.75 MMT or 77 percent of the production in 2000 (Tacon and Metian, 2015).

However, the overintensification and improp- Table 1. Regression of the protease intake per shrimp with various immune parameters and 96-h cumulative mortality of er management, the lack shrimps fed graded level of protease of proper knowledge on

Min Max Adj R2 MSE t-value nutritional requirements at Serum Acid phosphatase - ACP (KAU/ml) 2.6 5.9 72% 0.37 6.28*** various stages and over or Alkaline phosphatase - AKP (KAU/ml) 2.6 6.6 70% 0.55 5.9*** under formulation, and the Superoxide dismutase - SOD (U/ml) 345.9 411.1 75% 73.43 6.8*** increasing use of poorly Phenol oxidase - PO (U/ml) 515.7 958.2 60% 8230.00 4.9*** digestible and poorly characterised protein sources Malon Di-Aldehyde - MDA (nmol/ml) 9.1 15.8 60% 2.40 -4.8*** while replacing fishmeal,

Min Max Adj R2 MSE t-value usually cause unwanted Hepato-pancreas Acid phosphatase - ACP (KAU/ml) 55.9 132.9 46% 234.00 3.7*** stress and poor stress Alkaline phosphatase - AKP (KAU/ml) 73.7 170.6 28% 556.00 2.6* responses in the shrimps.

Superoxide dismutase - SOD (U/ml) 4.1 7.3 75% 0.30 6.8*** As a result, occasional disease outbreaks have been Phenol oxidase - PO (U/ml) 657.4 1057.4 52% 8787.00 4.1*** very common creating Cumulative mortality (%) 25% 57% 61% 0.00 -4.9*** considerable economical KAU - King-Armstrong Unit, amount of enzyme that will liberate 1 ml of phenol in 15 min; SOD U - inhibits the rate losses in many countries. of increase in absorbance at 550 nm by 50%; PO U –the change in absorbance per min at 490 nm. For t-values: *** The addition of dietary significant at 0.001; **significant at 0.01, *significant at 0.05.

32 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

FEATURE percent fishmeal diets and their consequences are discussed below.

Better gut health

Phosphatases are lysosomal enzymes playing protective roles during the initial stages of wound healing processes in animals. They are also deemed to be the indicators of the functionality of brush-border membranes.

In this study, ACP and AKP level (KingArmstrong Unit - KAU/ml) in both serum and hepatopancreas increased linearly with the increasing intake of the protease (Table 1). However, the increase of AKP in hepatopancreas was less pronounced than those in serum.

Figure 1. Total farmed crustacean and corresponding feed production (A) and marine farmed crustacean and corresponding feed production (B)

Better immunity

Figure 2. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in serum and hepatopancreas of shrimps fed graded level of a protease

usually increases in response to the pathogen attacks to activate the “pro-phenol-oxidase” (ProPO) system. The activated POs generate highly cytotoxic quinones that help to inactivate the viral pathogens.

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fed 10 percent fish meal diets. However, we observed much higher SOD activity in serum than those observed in the hepatopancreas of shrimps.

In animals, the phenol oxidase (PO) activity

MYCO

The production of superoxide dismutase (SOD) increases naturally in response to photo-oxidative stresses. A similar phenomenon was also observed in animals being starved or under limited nutrient supply.

Enzymes like catalase and SOD are natural anti-oxidative enzymes specific for scavenging superoxide radicals. The higher the SOD activity, the more superoxide radicals need to be reacted.

In this study, SOD activity in both serum and hepatopancreas (Figure 2) of shrimps fed diets supplemented with 175-ppm protease was significantly higher than those in shrimps

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May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 33

FEATURE

Figure 3. The phenol oxidase (PO) activity in serum and hepatopancreas of shrimps fed graded level of a protease

A trend similar to the SOD activity was observed in the PO activity in the serums of shrimps (Figure 3). However, unlike the SOD, where activity in serum was much higher than those found in hepatopancreas, no such difference in the PO activity between the two was observed.

cantly higher in the serum of shrimps fed 10 percent fishmeal diets. The level decreased significantly with increasing dietary protease intake and was the lowest in shrimps fed diets supplemented with 175-ppm protease. The reduction was even much lower than those fed the 20 percent fishmeal diets (Figure 4).

Reduced oxidation of lipids

Disease resistance

Malon-di-aldehyde (MDA) is defined as the marker for tissue damage. High level of MDA in serum indicates high level of lipid peroxidation in tissues.

In this study, the MDA level was signifi-

A challenge test with shrimps fed the test diets was performed against pathogen V. parahaemolyticus. A significant relationship with protease intake and reduction in cumulative mortality was observed.

Figure 5. Regression of cumulative mortality by MDA in serum

34 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

Figure 4. The malon-di-aldehyde (MDA) activity in serum of shrimps fed graded level of a protease.

The reduction in mortality appeared to be closely related to the reduction in the MDA level in shrimps (Adj R2 – 0.55) (Figure 5).

Increasing MDA level in serum corresponded well to the increasing 96-h cumulative mortality in this study.

Supplementation with digestive proteases in animal diets has been shown to improve growth, feed conversion and protein utilisation.

This study showed a significant improvement in immune response parameters in shrimps fed low fish meal diets supplemented with a protease complex compared to those fed the same diets.

These findings also showed why growth performance such as weight gain, feed conversion and protein efficiency are normally better when fed protease supplemented diets.

Results from this study are an early evidence of improved disease resistance when a protease is supplemented to the diets. Further investigations are required to confirm these findings.

Citations: Tacon and Metian, 2015, Rev. Fish. Sci. Aquac. 23(1): 1-10.

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 35

EXPERT Tâ—?PIC

EXPERT TOPIC

COBIA Welcome to Expert Topic. Each issue will take an in-depth look at a particular species and how its feed is managed.

36 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

EXPERT T●PIC

3

2 1

Cobia: is it the next big thing?

by Roy Palmer, Aquaculture Without Frontiers, Australia

E

veryone wants to be in on the next big thing, be that a speculative share, a new technology gadget and yes, even a new fish!

ago but in 2009 production surpassed 30,000 metric tons, with more than 80 percent in China - the world’s largest producer - and Taiwan. A sign that US cobia imports are increasing is that the US International Trade Commission gave cobia an import code (thus being able to differentiate from unspecified finfish).

As much as China has been the leading producer of farmed cobia, many other coun-

The success of salmon has people dreaming of the new discovery that will be salmon’s white fish competitor. There is a definite demand for this. There are a number of species that have potential and one of them is cobia (Rachycentron canadum).

In the wild, cobia is a highly valued seafood species - a very popular game fish well regarded because of its fighting abilities and the delicious taste. Wild cobia are rarely seen in large groups, so only a small quantity is wildcaught and, generally speaking, professional fishermen do not specifically target cobia; they only harvest them incidentally when fishing for other species.

Quality harvested aquaculture cobia doesn't taste fishy. It's white and firm like swordfish. It can be grilled, sautéed or served as sashimi or in a bouillabaisse.

The FAO says worldwide farmed cobia production was less than 2,500 metric tons 10 years

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 37

tries are developing technology to aquaculture cobia, hence global production of cobia is on the rise and it is appearing on menus more and more. Ocean-cage operations are under way in the Bahamas, Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia and a number of Latin American countries including Belize, Ecuador, etc. but this article will look specifically at Brazil, Panama and Australia.

EXPERT Tâ—?PIC

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Brazil

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The difficulty in Brazil with cobia farming was that it was not well recognised as a high-quality food fish in some regions, particularly in the South. However, this scenario is changing, and first farmed cobia productions have been well accepted by local consumers, restaurants and fresh fish markets. The increasing demand for high quality fresh food fish and seafood, combined with the lack of local fish production, has driven up the price of farmed cobia. Currently, the emerging cobia production in Southern Brazil is being sold for US$18-20/kg for whole gutted fish.

With an increasing demand for fresh fish, an increasing production of cobia is expected and for that reason, this promising market has attracted the interest of medium and large entrepreneurs for cobia cage culture. One issue holding these farmers back at present is the lack of high quality commercial diets for marine fish. This continues to be the biggest obstacle to development of cobia aquaculture in Brazil.

In Brazil, there are several promising marine fish species with great aquaculture potential. In the last seven years there has been a strong interest from the government through the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture to promote marine fish culture starting with key species such as cobia. This native species was chosen for several reasons including fast growth rates, good flesh quality, and well-developed husbandry protocol that could easily be adapted to local culture conditions. Therefore, research programs, partnerships and regional hatcheries were created to promote marine fish culture.

Wild cobia is mainly captured on the northeast coast of Brazil, where it is appreciated by consumers in many restaurants. The high water temperatures in this region throughout the year allow a cer-

38 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

EXPERT T●PIC

tain consistency in wild cobia supply. However, wild cobia is rarely caught in southern Brazilian waters, particularly during the winter, as water temperatures drop below the cobia’s requirements. As a result wild cobia is largely unknown in southern markets. For this reason, cobia production was questioned due to its market potential and the challenges of promoting an unknown fish with a nonexistent demand.

Clearly though, having high-quality flesh in a market where there was a lack of fresh marine fish supply and an increasing demand enabled an opening for fresh cobia. It is now well accepted by local consumers, restaurants and fresh fish markets. Maybe not surprisingly, the Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo markets easily and readily absorbed the first farmed cobia productions. Whilst this is still a minor production in comparison with the potential consumer market of these two major centres in southern Brazil, it is a good indicator of the potential of marine fish culture and the demand for fresh fish.

The majority of the production is absorbed by fine Japanese restaurants where cobia is served as sashimi. Due to its high-quality flesh and favorable texture, the Japanese chefs appreciate this species. In addition, other restaurants are serving cobia in a variety of ways to attend the consumer’s needs. The freshness of the final product is important, and therefore having the culture sites close (most farms are located less than three-four hours’ drive away) to the final consumers enables efficient logistics. As a result, a fresh, high-quality product is delivered from farms to the restaurant doors.

The high selling price is working well for the farms as they have to deal with high operational costs including floating cages, nets and particularly feed costs. A lack of commercially available diets for marine fish in Brazil, especially one that meets the specific requirements of

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cobia, is holding back the opportunity but effort is going into research and development.

Farmed cobia has several characteristics that lead to a consistent promising market, including freshness and high-quality flesh being a good source of health-promoting omega 3 fatty acids. To establish a niche market, it requires demand for a specific product, and more importantly a consistent supply of high quality product. Aquaculture exhibits the benefits of controlling the production cycle to meet consumer demands in terms of forecasting production and consistency in size and quality of the final product. In this context, farmed cobia is a potential candidate for a niche market; however, it is important to highlight the necessity of industry support and sustained marketing effort.

Whilst the increasing demand for fresh seafood and marine fish is expected to continue into the future in Brazil, there is still much to be done regarding feeds and farming techniques.

LuĂ­s AndrĂŠ Sampaio from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande is involved in a current study on the performance of juvenile cobia reared in low salinities (three and six percent), with or without alkalinity correction in a RAS. He is presenting at WA2015 in Jeju and will highlight that the survival rate was 100 percent at all treatments, but growth parameters (final weight, weight gain, SRG and feed intake) decreased significantly at salinities of six and three percent when compared with the control. Results suggest that cobia has a limited euryhaline capacity, but they can be reared in low salinity (three and six percent) for six weeks with no mortality. However, when reared in three percent salinity, juvenile cobia can benefit from alkalinity supplementation and the higher pH associated with this, in order to sustain better growth than those reared in the low alkalinity treatment.

Australia

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In Australia, cobia (previously known as black kingfish) are not often seen in the fish markets but are a prized species for tropical recreational fishermen. They generally can be encountered near reefs and other structures from south-western West Australia, around the north of the country and as far south as the central coast of New South Wales. In the wild they can grow to well over 45-50 kg and are strong fighters.

Information was filtering through to Australia from various studies on the species. The information was exciting. The news was that cobia was a very fast growing species - the maximum age recorded for a 1.6m, 50kg+ cobia in the Gulf of Mexico was only 11 years of age.

Juveniles grew to more than 60cm in their first year, and fish a metre long were only around three years old. Females matured in their second year when around 80 to 90cm, while male fish often matured in their first year.

Scientists discovered that cobia spawned between April and September in the northern hemisphere (that region's spring and summer) and in Australia the spawning period occurred September to June. The size at first maturity for 50 percent of male and female cobia in Australia was 78cm, again at about two years of age. Additionally, cobia produce excessive numbers of eggs.

Scientists working in the Gulf of Mexico highlighted that individual cobia spawned a number of times throughout the season. Evidence was that the fish spawned as often as once every five to 12 days. It was not unusual to see larger fish spawning up to 1.5 million eggs per batch, but the average 'batch fecundity' of cobia in Australia was shown to be

40 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

EXPERT T●PIC even higher, at 2.8 million eggs per spawning cycle, with the spawning frequency assessed to be around seven to eight days.

Due to their high energy needs associated with their fast growth, they were not considered prissy feeders. In the wild, dietary studies showed that they are bottom feeders, seemingly enjoying crustaceans, especially crabs.

The Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) created a project on cobia, which aimed to build on previous research

by Queensland aquaculture producer Pacific Reef Fisheries and the Department for Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI).

During this research they discovered that the financial potential for fish farmers is very significant, primarily because cobia can grow up to 10 kilograms within their first year - this is double the speed of barramundi and triple the speed of Atlantic salmon.

Although cobia are not fussy eaters in the wild, things are not the same in captivity, and it was important, just like with any new farmed species, to ensure the diet mix is right.

Other problems thwarted Pacific Reef in the early days. Heavy stock losses due to bird predation caused some angst but this was resolved by installing anti-predator cages for the fish to live in as fingerlings.

Additional issues were created as the fish were being grown in prawn ponds, which was not ideal due to their shallow depth.

The CRC work also planned on developing reliable and robust controlled spawning methods for cobia, utilising hormonal, social and/ or environmental manipulation; production of sufficient fingerlings to enable the on-grow commercial quantities of cobia for market; developing pilot scale cobia fingerling production by the hatchery; formulating diets designed to meet the specific nutritional and energetic requirements of cobia and developing and field testing new farmed cobia product(s) with high market acceptance.

Pacific Reef have shown they have the technical capability and

infrastructure to produce cobia for the marketplace and to target the appropriate market sector (high end restaurants and sashimi) for the product. Recently the company won accolades at the 2015 Sydney Royal Show Fine Food – Aquaculture Awards, taking the awards for Champion Fresh Fish (Classes 7 and 8) Sashimi Grade cobia.

“We want to be Australia’s biggest and largest aquaculture facility growing sustainable product for the Australian and the overseas market,” said Maria Mitris, Operations Manager of her family’s business, Pacific Reef Fisheries.

The company, family-owned and funded, is able to control all aspects of their operation from the high tech hatchery at Guthalungra to the farming operation at Ayr. Their main business is the production of approximately 700 tonnes of black tiger prawns per annum.

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 41

EXPERT T●PIC

Panama

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You cannot mention cobia without involving the name of Brian O’Hanlon.

Some regard Brian O'Hanlon as an overnight success story with his Open Blue cobia from Panama hitting menus in the USA. Typically of such success stories, though, it has taken many long, hard years tackling obstacles head-on to achieve such ‘overnight’ status.

Originally from Long Island, O’Hanlon knew from an early stage in his life that he wanted to be in aquaculture. His father was wholesaling fish, the family had a long history in the industry and the business got into his blood. Even in the early stages of his career he was experimenting with a 2000-gallon tank in his parents' basement, endeavoring to grow red snapper.

Some 17 years ago O’Hanlon met up with Daniel Benetti from the University of Miami and managed to secure a position on one of Benetti’s courses. This helped focus his intentions, but many years of frustration due to prohibitive US regulations that made growth impossible ensured that he would have to work outside the USA if he was to achieve his dream.

It was not until 2009 that O’Hanlon finally moved to Panama where he acquired Pristine Oceans, another deep-ocean cobia farming venture, and created Open Blue.

Benetti is a believer in cobia in that he has often said that they are as close to a perfect species as he has ever seen. This has been a long quest by Benetti and he has been the reason many people have got excited about this species.

Having finally started production in 2012, offshore cobia producer Open Blue has been ramping up its volumes and promoting and marketing the product since then and has been offering product every week of the year. From small beginnings, production is now very commercial, with one seafood wholesaler in New York reportedly selling fillets direct to the public at US$16.95 per pound.

Over the years O’Hanlon has always been strong about not being caught in the commodity business, so he has invested heavily in ensuring that his fish is getting to high-end markets. Logistically, harvesting is organised to link to air transport and ensuring that the quality is consistent.

To further add value, the group have recently completed a brand new hatchery in Panama and are hoping to expand production through value-adding in their new factory. Additionally, they have secured Global GAP certification, and are now considering ISO 90001 and BRC standards.

Open Blue is ambitious: the fish is farmed eight miles from the coast, in cages of 6,400 cubic meters. The cages are submerged 30 feet under the sea surface, and are each anchored to a submerged mooring grid with 40 anchors of 1.5 metric tons each. The anchors reach 220 feet deep. To alert boats of the cages’ presence, the buoys are fitted with lights and transponders which will alert any approaching ships. Each cage can take 50,000 fish, or 130-150t, creating a pen density of 20 kilos per cubic meter.

Benetti and O’Hanlon are to be congratulated for their work on cobia to date, and both of them would rather that they were able to do this in the USA, but due to regulations and bureaucracy this is not

allowed. It is a dilemma facing many so-called developed countries, and whilst many of them talk the talk at various world conventions they have failed to see the opportunity that is being missed. So whilst mining and drilling are seemingly allowed carte blanche, opportunities in the quest for sustainable quality seafood are cast aside.

Benetti and many scientists have argued for the past several years that such open-ocean fish-farming is the environmentally sensitive way of saving the world's seafood demand, because from a food production angle it creates a higher yield with a lower impact.

Feed is an important research element as, like salmon, cobia are predators that need fishmeal in their diet and with cobia being big fish-eating fish there is a need to have a limited impact on the ecosystem. Benetti is experimenting with a fishmeal that is part soy mix part protein. A fact which is often forgotten when people complain about fish feed ratios is that it takes ten pounds of wild fish to produce a pound of large fish in nature, hence aquaculture is many times more sustainable than nature itself.

This is why we are seeing feed organisations like the BioMar Group recently signing a Memorandum of Understanding with leading Chinese feed producer Tongwei Co. Ltd to establish a Joint Venture dedicated to producing and selling high performance feed for aquaculture in China.

The product range for the new Joint Venture factory will include starter and grower feeds for marine and fresh water species such as sea bass, sea bream, cobia, turbot, bass, grouper, trout, sturgeon, tilapia, eel, and shrimp.

The simple question that fish farmers will always ask is about the speed of turning their investment from an output of dollars to an input of dollars, and clearly if you were starting a fish farm and you could raise ten-pound fish in one year, or another fish species that takes two years to grow one pound, the decision is obvious.

Marketing is still the key as the fish is not well known but surely it is the dream of any good chef to find something that’s reliably sourced year-round and grows quickly and sustainably and tastes delicious!

So hopefully it is just a timing issue before it becomes a staple in all restaurants.

One major word of caution - not every venture is going to be successful. In the USA a freshwater facility in Virginia which was producing farmed cobia had to close. Research efforts were not enough to enhance commercial aquaculture of freshwater cobia and demonstrate its technical and economic feasibility. The fish simply did not grow as fast as it should have and the partnership involved closed down the operations.

References Brazil information thanks to Artur N. Rombenso (Centre for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences and Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois 62901, USA), Andre Araújo (Fundação Instituto de Pesca do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Angra dos Reis, Brazil) and Luis A. Sampaio (Laboratory of Marine and Estuarine Fish Culture, Institute of Oceanography, Federal University of Rio Grande, Brazil).

Website: http://www.fishwatch.gov/seafood_profiles /species/cobia/species_pages/cobia.htm Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA_Cn6zIb4E

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INDUSTRY EVENTS EVENT LISTINGS 18 - 21 May 2015

VIV Russia 2015 www.vivrussia.nl/en/Bezoeker.aspx

26 - 30 May 2015

World Aquaculture 2015 www.was.org

09 - 11 June 2015

FIAAP, VICTAM & GRAPAS INTERNATIONAL 2015 www.victam.com

24 - 26 June 2015

Livestock Philippines 2015 Expo www.livestockphilippines.com

29 - 31 July 2015

Indo Livestock 2015 Expo & Forum Indonesia www.indolivestock.com

18 August 2015

GLOBALG.A.P. TOUR 2015 Stop Chile: Aquaculture – organized by DNV GL www.tour2015.org

21September 2015

Offshore Mariculture Conference Mexico www.offshoremariculture.com/mexico

14-16 October 2015

Aqua Fisheries Myanmar 2015 www.myanmar-aquafisheries.com

20-23 October 2015

Aquaculture Europe 2015 www.easonline.org

5-7 November 2015 Expo Pesca & Acuiperu www.thaiscorp.com

16-19 November 2015 Fenacam & Lacqua 2015 http://marevent.com

25-26 May 2016

Aquaculture UK 2016 http://aquacultureuk.com

Find more event stories at the

Aquaculturists NEWS SERVICE

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www.theaquaculturists .blogspot.com

Alltech Young Scientist award winners hope to make ‘a world of difference’

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wo university students received awards in the 10th annual Alltech Young Scientist (AYS) program, the largest global contest of its kind that rewards scientific genius and experimental application in agri-science. Students were challenged to submit research studies that demonstrate a keen awareness of science and its applications for improving the future of the world, specifically through agriculture.

Xiaoqiu (Churchill) Wang, who attends Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, USA, was the graduate winner. Rafal Bialek, a student at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland, won the undergraduate division. Nearly 9000 students from 62 countries had registered for the AYS this year.

Dr Aoife Lyons, director of educational initiatives at Alltech, and Dr Inge Russell, director of the AYS program, presented the awards in the famed Rupp Arena during the Alltech REBELation, an international conference exploring innovation, inspiration and world-changing ideas.

Dr Aoife Lyons (left), director of educational initiatives at Alltech, and Dr Inge Russell (right), director of the Alltech Young Scientist program, present Xiaoqiu (Churchill) Wang with his award as the graduate winner of the 10th annual Alltech Young Scientist program. Mr Wang is a student at Texas A&M University.

“Worldwide recognition of my current research keeps me inspired,” said Mr Wang, adding that his long-term goal is to be an independent scientist “who makes a seminal discovery that makes a world of difference.”

The goal of his AYS research was to solve what he called “the long-time ignored and mysterious role of high levels of fructose during pregnancy.”

“Embryonic mortality is the major constraint to reproductive performance,” said Mr Wang, noting that estimates of embryonic death loss are 20 to 40 percent in sheep, pigs and other ruminants. The long-range goal of his work is to increase pregnancy rates and final outcomes of pregnancy to improve reproductive performance of livestock.

Mr Bialek, the undergraduate winner, said, “I am very glad and proud of getting this award. It means that my work is worth something.”

His topic was using photosynthesis to make solar cells. He developed a method for attaching proteins extracted from purple bacteria to titanium dioxide, a widely used compound (for example, as a white dye in paints). Constructed cells, he said, can be utilised to convert solar energy into a current and can be used as a biosensor to detect environmental threats, such as herbicides in water.

Mr Bialek, whose studies focus on molecular biophysics, selected the topic because he believes that connecting biology (photosynthesis) and physics (solar cells) will benefit science and help preserve the planet. After graduation, he plans to continue his work as a scientist, focusing on biophysical research in the field of photosynthesis.

Dr Aoife Lyons (left), director of educational initiatives at Alltech, and Dr Inge Russell (right), director of the Alltech Young Scientist program, present Rafal Bialek with his award as the undergraduate winner of the 10th annual Alltech Young Scientist program. Mr Bialek is a student at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland.

A panel of agriculture industry leaders selected eight finalists from an initial field of nearly 9000 registrants from 62 countries. The graduate winner received US$10,000, and the undergraduate winner received US$5000. Alltech also recognised 46 regional and local award winners, who received up to US$2000 each.

Students were challenged to pursue solutions in animal health and nutrition, crop science, aquaculture, food science, algae, environmental science and other agri-science related areas.

“This year we encouraged students to push the envelope and to ‘rebel’ in their search for solutions to today’s challenges,” said Dr Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech.

“Once again this group of students did not disappoint. We congratulate these winners for rising to the challenge and demonstrating their potential as scientific leaders.”

REBELation concluded Wednesday, with featured speakers University of Kentucky head basketball coach John Calipari and Lisa Bodell, founder and CEO of futurethink and author of “Kill the Company.” Mr Calipari was presented with the Alltech Humanitarian Award.

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 44

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INDUSTRY EVENTS

LACQUA 2015: Science and industry joining forces to meet seafood demands

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he Latin American and Caribbean bring the message and the Aquaculture C o n f e r e n c e exper tise of well-known (LACQUA´15) this year is being inter national speaker s organised together with the Feira Nacional towards the need and how do Camarão 2015 (FENAC AM´15) and to integrate the knowlthe South American Regional Aquaculture edge base for the chal(SARA´15). Following the successful previous lenges faced by the aquaconferences held in Brazil (World Aquaculture culture sector to maintain 2003, in Salvador, and World Aquaculture its growth through innovative science-based tions can be prepared in Portuguese, Spanish or English (the language used in the summary will 2011, in Natal), the World Aquaculture Society, solutions.

The deadline for abstract submission is June 1, be considered for presentation). its Latin American and Caribbean Chapter www.marevent.com/LAA2015_BRAZIL.html (WAS/LACC) and the Associação Brasileira 2015, via www.was.org. Abstracts and presentaF/Vaqua(A4):2015 19/9/14 09:15 Page 1 de Criadores de Camarão (ABCC) are joining forces to prepare a high quality conference and an updated producer program in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil, during November 16-19, 2015.

The FENACAM15, LACQUA15 and SARA15 will bring together aquaculture farmers, entrepreneurs and experts of the entire Latin American region and the world. In addition to a scientific conference, a strong program dedicated to stakeholders and the industry sector is being organised. Over 150 booths are expected in the international trade show, and parallel symposia will gather the productive sector to discuss the technical and practical advances that are guiding the development of aquaculture and the foundations to overcome their chal9 – 11 JUNE 2015 • COLOGNE EXHIBITION HALLS, COLOGNE, GERMANY lenges.

The organising team, headed by ABCC and the LACC-WAS, expects more than 3000 professionals of the aquaculture sector to be present in the meeting in Fortaleza. The participants will be able to attend several keynote lectures offered by well-known experts from around the world, as well as to exchange research Ingredients Feed Production Machinery ideas and to analyse business options of Nutrition • Additives Ancillary Equipment • Formulation an important array of worldwide companies that will be present.

Specialist conferences: For further information please contact: The FENACAM15, LACQUA15 and Victam International BV Aquafeed Horizons International 2015 PO Box 197, 3860 AD Nijkerk, The Netherlands The FIAAP Conference 2015 SARA15 will congregate LACQUA techT: ++31 (0)33 246 4404 Petfood Forum Europe 2015 nical sessions, the XII International Shrimp F: ++31 (0)33 246 4706 E: expo@victam.com The IFF Feed Conference 2015 Farm Symposium, the XII International Global Milling Conference with Free online visitor registration is available Aquaculture Trade Show, the IX GRAPAS INTERNATIONAL 2015 from 1st January 2015 at: International Aquaculture Symposium, Biomass & Biomass Pelleting 2015 www.fiaap.com GMP+ International 2015 the third Tilapia Economic Forum and a www.victam.com Seafood Festival. In that way, there will Co-located with: See us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ be a get together for everyone involved or scan the QR codes: with the aquaculture sector.

This year´s conference motto: “Science The flour milling and grain processing equipment show and Industr y Joining Forces to Meet Please contact your local consultant: Seafood Demands” will, more than ever,

THE WORLD’S FOREMOST INGREDIENT & PRODUCTION EVENT FOR AQUACULTURE FEEDS

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 45

INDUSTRY EVENTS

ASIA 2015

Aquatic was one of the Special Events at VIV Asia 2015, held from March 11 – 13 2015, in Bangkok, Thailand. This was a special event for the aquaculture sector and featured several companies at the forefront of sustainable fish and shrimp farming.

The dedicated pavilion in the Welcome Hall of the BITEC exhibition venue, put companies active in aquaculture in the spotlight.

The co-organised conference featured topical presentations from parties like Bayer, Addcon and Blue Aqua.

The commitment demonstrated by VIV to aquaculture is a timely one. Aquaculture is now the fastest growing animal based food industry and over half of the seafood eaten in the US is farmed.

Blue Aqua International sponsored a one-day conference entitled ‘Advanced Shrimp Farming’ which was held on March 11, 2015. Dr Farshad Shishehchian (President, Blue Aqua International and World Aquaculture Society – APC President) gave a presentation and chaired the event’s final closing remarks.

Vincent Veelbehr (Sales Manager, VIV) was responsible for organising the Aquatic Pavilion that focussed upon how consumer demand drives sustainable aquaculture. Following the event we spoke with him about his role at VIV and how he envisages aquaculture growing at future VIV worldwide events.

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 46

INDUSTRY EVENTS

A talk with Vincent Veelbehr - Sales Manager for VIV Tell us a little bit about your background in organising exhibitions and how your previous roles have helped you?

My first experience with organising exhibitions has been at VIV Worldwide. I started working at VIV in 2013. Since then, I have been involved in several VIV exhibitions: VIV Asia, VIV China and VIV Europe.

My focus has always been very international. For that reason, I studied Economics and International Management in Utrecht. After graduation, I started an MBA study in Buenos Aires. I returned to the Netherlands to work as a sales manager in the international recruitment market, after which I started working for VIV Worldwide. My international background gives me the ability to connect businesses with markets.

Given the success of Aquatic Asia at the show in Bangkok, does this mean VIV have a firm commitment to aquaculture in the future?

VIV is the global brand of trade shows, conferences and events based on the 'Feed to Meat' supply chain.

The multi-specie event includes the sectors of Poultry, Pig, Cattle and Calves and Aquaculture. VIV is set up according to the Feed to Meat concept, which involves all sectors in the animal protein production chain.

As a result, VIV events are platforms where all participants in meat production can work together to provide the guarantees consumers are demanding.

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 47

INDUSTRY EVENTS Aquaculture is becoming a more and more important part of our exhibitions. Aquatic Asia started in 2011. It has grown to become one of the main sectors of VIV Asia 2015. Our Aquatic events emphasise on the potential for aquaculture to continue to grow regionally and globally in supplying protein to feed the world’s growing human population. Therefore, I can certainly confirm we have a firm commitment to aquaculture.

We know that VIV Asia has traditionally focused on intensive livestock production (pigs, poultry, ruminants), specifically for aquaculture, how many participants were there, and from how many countries?

VIV Asia 2015 counted over 860 exhibitors, from which 65 exhibitors stated they were active in the Aquaculture sector. Of these 65 exhibitors 21 were positioned in the Aquatic Pavilion located in the Welcome Hall. During VIV Asia we welcomed 38,422 visitors from 124 different countries. 19.2 percent indicated that they were interested in Aquatic.

At this year’s Aquatic Asia a one-day seminar was held by the company Addcon regarding the topic, 'Safe Fish'. Blue Aqua held a conference regarding 'Advanced shrimp farming'. Do you plan to have an independent conference as was held in Aquatic China?

After the success of the Aquatic China 2014 and Asia 2015 conferences, we will organise an Aquatic China conference during VIV China 2016. This conference will

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 48

INDUSTRY EVENTS

WORLDWIDE CALENDAR 2015 - 2018 VIV MEA 2016

FEBRUARI 16 - 18, ABU DHABI, U. A. E.

VIV ASIA 2017

MARCH 15 - 17, BANGKOK, THAILAND

VIV EUROPE 2018

JUNE 20 - 22, UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS

VIV RUSSIA 2015

MAY 19 - 21, MOSCOW, RUSSIA

VIV TURKEY 2015

JUNE 11 - 13, ISTANBUL, TURKEY

WWW.VIV.NET May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 49

VIV CHINA 2016

SEPTEMBER 6 - 8, BEIJING, CHINA

INDUSTRY EVENTS

AE2015 Gold Sponsor

easonline.org

Organised by the European Aquaculture Society in cooperation with IMARES Wageningen UR

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 50

Images courtesy of Rotterdam Marketing, the Dutch Mussel Promotion Board and Holland Aqua B.V.

AE2015 JOIN US IN THE NETHERLANDS

INDUSTRY EVENTS be organised in cooperation with Perendale’s International Aqua Feed specialists (publishers of International Aquafeed Magazine). At the moment we are working on the program.

How do you envisage Aquatic Asia will grow when VIV Asia is held again in Bangkok in 2017?

In 2015, the demand for exhibition space in the Aquatic Pavilion exceeded the available space. Therefore, in 2017 the Aquatic pavilion will be located in one of the main halls instead of a separate hall. I also expect more multispecie companies to focus on Aquatic in the next event.

During VIV Asia 2015, there was great interest in aquatic conferences, not only the ones we organised ourselves, but also for the aquatic conferences organised by companies.

We will develop a new and even broader conference program for 2017.

The VIV team at the opening of VIV Asia 2015

See all of our photos from VIV ASIA 2015 on the International Aquafeed Facebook page link: on.fb.me/1FvQQAW

Next Stop: Puerto Varas, Chile 18 August 2015 organized with DNV GL

#GGTOUR2015 | www.tour2015.org

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 51

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Ab Vista

+31 543 473979

+1 204 233 7133

Evonik +49 618 1596785

TSC Silos

+1 785 284 2153

www.gmpplus.org

Conveyors

www.extru-techinc.com

Event organisers Vigan Enginnering

VIV

+32 67 89 50 41

Analysis R-Biopharm +44 141 945 2924 www.r-biopharm.com

Colour sorters B端hler AG

Romer Labs

+41 71 955 11 11

+43 2272 6153310

www.buhlergroup.com

www.romerlabs.com

Amino acids Evonik +49 618 1596785 www.evonik.com

+31 30 295 2772

www.vigan.com

www.viv.net

Extruders Almex +31 575 572666 www.almex.nl

Satake +81 82 420 8560

Amandus Kahl

www.satake-group.com

+49 40 727 710

Computer software

www.akahl.de

Adifo NV

Andritz

+32 50 303 211

+45 72 160300

Cenzone

www.adifo.com

www.andritz.com

+1 760 736 9901

Format International Ltd

www.cenzone.com

Brabender

+44 1483 726081

+49 203 7788 0

www.formatinternational.com

www.brabender.com

Animal Health & Nutrition

Bags Mondi Group

Colour sorters

Buhler AG

+43 1 79013 4917

SEA S.r.l.

www.mondigroup.com

+41 71 955 11 11

+39 054 2361423

www.buhlergroup.com

Bin dischargers Denis +33 2 37 97 66 11 www.denis.fr

Bulk storage

www.seasort.com

Coolers & driers Consergra s.l +34 938 772207 www.consergra.com

Bentall Rowlands

FrigorTec GmbH

+44 1724 282828

+49 7520 91482-0

www.bentallrowlands.com

www.frigortec.com

Chief Industries UK Ltd

Geelen Counterflow

+44 1621 868944

+31 475 592315

www.chief.co.uk

www.geelencounterflow.com

Croston Engineering

Muyang Group

+44 1829 741119

+86 514 87848880

www.croston-engineering.co.uk

www.muyang.com

Silo Construction Engineers +32 51723128 www.sce.be

Elevator buckets Alapala

Coperion GmbH +49 711 897 0 www.coperion.com Dinnissen BV +31 77 467 3555 www.dinnissen.nl Insta-Pro International +1 515 254 1260 www.insta-pro.com Ottevanger +31 79 593 22 21 www.ottevanger.com Wenger Manufacturing +1 785-284-2133 www.wenger.com

+90 212 465 60 40

Zheng Chang

Silos Cordoba

www.alapala.com

+86 21 64188282

+34 957 325 165

Tapco Inc

www.siloscordoba.com

+1 314 739 9191

Symaga

www.tapcoinc.com

+34 91 726 43 04

STIF

www.symaga.com

+33 2 41 72 16 80 www.stifnet.com 52 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

www.zhengchang.com

Palletisers

Feed Aller Aqua +45 70 22 19 10 www.aller-aqua.com SPAROS Tel.: +351 249 435 145 Website: www.sparos.pt Wynveen International B.V.

Obial +90 382 2662120

Ehcolo A/S +45 75 398411

www.obial.com.tr

www.ehcolo.com

MYSILO

PAYPER, S.A.

+90 382 266 2245

+34 973 21 60 40

www.mysilo.com

www.payper.com

Muyang

Pellet binders

+86 514 87848880 www.muyang.com

Akzo Nobel

+31 26 47 90 699

+46 303 850 00

www.wynveen.com

Symaga

www.bredol.com

Hatchery products

+34 91 726 43 04

Borregaard LignoTech

Reed Mariculture

www.symaga.com

+47 69 11 80 00

+1 877 732 3276

www.lignotechfeed.com

Tornum AB

www.reed-mariculture.com

PellTech

+46 512 29100

+47 69 11 80 00

www.tornum.com

Laboratory equipment Bastak +90 312 395 67 87

www.pelltech.org

Pest control

www.bastak.com.tr

Level measurement BinMaster Level Controls +1 402 434 9102

Sensors Aqualabo

Rentokil Pest Control

+33 2 97 89 25 30

+44 0800 917 1987

www.aqualabo.fr

www.rentokil.co.uk

Agromatic

Pipe systems

+41 55 2562100

Jacob Sohne

www.binmaster.com

www.agromatic.com

+49 571 9580 FineTek Co., Ltd +886 2226 96789 www.fine-tek.com

+45 721 755 55 www.dol-sensors.com

Andritz

Vega

Dol Sensors

www.jacob-pipesystems.eu

Used around all industrial Plants sectors.

Fr. Jacob Sรถhne GmbH & Co. KG, Germany Tel. + 49 (0) 571 95580 | www. jacob-pipesystems.eu

Visit us! www.pipe-systems.eu+45

+44 1444 870055

Shrimp feed additives

72 160300

Dishman

www.andritz.com

www.vega.com/uk

+31 318 545 754 www.dishman-netherlands.com

Buhler AG

Moisture analyzers

+41 71 955 11 11 www.buhlergroup.com

CHOPIN Technologies

Training Aqua TT

+33 14 1475045

FAMSUN

+353 1 644 9008

www.chopin.fr

+86 514 87848880

www.aquatt.ie/aquatt-services

Doescher & Doescher GmbH +49 4087976770

www.muyang.com

Probiotics

www.doescher.com

www.hydronix.com

Vacuum

Rolls

www.seedburo.com

Leonhard Brietenbach

Wynveen International B.V.

+49 271 3758 0

+31 26 47 90 699

www.breitenbach.de

www.wynveen.com

OJ Hojtryk

NIR systems

+45 7514 2255

NIR-Online

www.oj-hojtryk.dk

Safety equipment Rembe

Packaging

+49 2961 740 50 CB Packaging +44 7805 092067 www.cbpackaging.com

www.ridgewaybiologicals.co.uk

www.biomin.net

+1 312 738 3700

www.nir-online.de

+44 1635 579516

+43 2782 803 0

Seedburo

+49 6227 732668

Ridgeway Biologicals

Biomin

Hydronix +44 1483 468900

Vaccines

www.rembe.com

Second hand equipment

Weighing equipment Parkerfarm Weighing Systems +44 1246 456729 www.parkerfarm.com

Yeast products Leiber GmbH +49 5461 93030 www.leibergmbh.de

Mondi Group

Sanderson Weatherall

Phileo (Lesaffre animal care)

+43 1 79013 4917

+44 161 259 7054

+33 3 20 81 61 00

www.mondigroup.com

www.sw.co.uk

www.lesaffre.fr

Ugur Makina +90 (364) 235 00 26 www.ugurmakina.com

Silos Kepler Weber Group +55 11 4873-0300 www.kepler.com.br

To include your company in the International Aquafeed market place in print, and a company page on our website contact Tom Blacker. +44 1242 267700 โ ข tomb@perendale.co.uk

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 53

The aquafeed

interview

Leveraging its core expertise in twin-screw technology, Clextral provides its customers with turnkey processing lines that integrate extruders, dryers and ancillary equipment. Its reliable and innovative systems serve three key markets: food and feed, green industries and powder industries. Its global offering includes upstream design and testing of industrial solutions, equipment manufacturing, on-site installation and full maintenance and continuous process improvement services. Based in Firminy (France), Clextral is present in all five continents, providing local support to its customers in 88 countries. Here, Sylvain Provenzano, Area manager gives an overview of recent developments and why Clextral are a unique company.

Clextral is a diverse and international company.

Can you give our readers a good background of Clextral’s heritage in aqua and landbased animal feed processing, as well as the cereal based food production industries?

Since the early 70s, we have provided the food and feed industries with equipment and complete systems to make the wide range of products consumers want. Clextral and its industrial integration partners have installed over 100 fish feed manufacturing plants around the world including machines producing over 30 tons of pellets per hour. We also work closely with research institutes in several countries to develop technology and recipes for aquaculture. Our scope of supply also covers a wide range of extruded food products mainly in the field of the second transformation of cereals: snacks, breakfast cereals, flat bread.

What does South Africa and this region of the world mean in Clextral’s development and growth internationally?

South Africa is the first country in Africa where Clextral has developed its presence. For more then 30 years, twin-screw extrusion systems have been producing breakfast cereals, snacks and other ingredients for the food market. Regarding Aquaculture, there is an average figure of six percent production growth per year throughout the world, and South Africa is considered as a high potential country.

In order to enforce Clextral's development, we have been developing for more than three years a strong relationship with a South African partner, TECOM company who is well known in the country for agro-food business. A local presence, support and feedback are essential for the success of our development here.

What is your team’s area of focus for the different regions of Africa?

Each region of Africa has its own specificity. As an example, Clextral mainly provides couscous and pasta lines in Northern Africa (Maghreb), but Snacks and breakfast cereal markets are now becoming worldwide markets and we receive requests form many growing African countries. Aquaculture is growing a lot also, and Clextral are wishing to be part of new projects in Africa.

What makes Clextral different and unique to the international competition?

Clextral's know-how and knowledge of over 50 years is probably the most valuable offer and service. This includes: process knowledge, metallurgical and welding expertise and 40 years of partnership with major fish feed suppliers and research organisations.

How do Clextral listen to customers’ needs and offer after-sales solutions? What other services such as training, spare parts and support are on offer for an industry that runs 24/7 around the world?

Clextral is always in contact with its customers because due to the large range of products that can be done by extrusion, there are always possibilities for the customers to diversify.

Clextral's process department can help customers to adapt the equipment in order to make new products. The Pilot plant offers the possibility to develop new products that are tailor made for the customer.

Also, Clextral offers after sales services in terms of technical support, spare part offers and upgrading equipments. A technical team is present to give a rapid response through remote control assistance via internet protocols. An important technical team is ready to make service visits throughout the world and also via our subsidiaries present in more than 10 countries.

What does your innovation and Research and Development provide for your customers and end users?

Our R&D department is constantly working on innovations in order to provide new applications with extrusion. Also, our technologies are always being developed to provide energy cost savings, better quality products, and lower carbon footprints.

Process engineers are available to share Clextral know how for the benefit of customers.

Describe the biggest challenges, Clextral’s ambitions and goals for 2015 in aquafeed and other animal feed sectors

Our goals and ambitions are to let a global industry take advantage of our innovation and ability. We wish to further share our knowledge, reduce time between developments and being brought to the market, optimise production costs and continue to be at the forefront of our industry.

54 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015

An extended version of this interview can be found on the Aquaculturists blog.

May-June 2015 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 55

AQUACULTURE

INDUSTRY FACES Svein Tore Holsether appointed new CEO of Yara International

T

he Board of Directors of Yara International ASA has appointed Mr Svein Tore Holsether as the company's new President and Chief Executive Officer. He will succeed acting CEO Torgeir Kvidal

by October 2015. Holsether currently serves as President and CEO of Sapa Group, a position he has held since 2011. Prior to this, he has held a number of management positions in Elkem, Orkla and Sapa. Holsether was born in Norway in 1972 and holds a BSc in Finance from the University of Utah.

"Svein Tore Holsether is a perfect fit for Yara, and the Board of Directors is very satisfied that he has decided to join the company. His extensive background from international industry coupled with his personal capabilities makes him highly qualified for the position of CEO," said Leif Teksum, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Yara.

"I am very pleased to have the opportunity to join Yara. The company performs very well and holds a unique position throughout its global footprint. In a time of many worldwide challenges, I look forward to working on solutions addressing issues of fundamental needs like food security and protection of the environment," said Svein Tore Holsether.

Torgeir Kvidal, who has served as acting CEO since October 2014 will resume his previous position as Chief Financial Officer. At the same time, Thor Giæver, currently acting CFO, will return to his position as Head of Investor Relations.

"Torgeir Kvidal has done an excellent job as acting CEO over the last months, as also recognized by the employees and external stakeholders.

At the same time, the Board of Directors appreciates his wish of returning to the position as CFO, in which he will continue to be a valuable contributor in the management team," said Leif Teksum. Mr Holsether will join Yara by 1st October 2015.

Excellent outcome for 2014 and appointment of a new President

A

s Clextral enters 2015 full of plans and optimism, we can assess the positive outcomes of the previous year. Having dedicated 22 years to leading Clextral, Georges Jobard has decided to retire. On 1st January 2015 he passed the baton to Guillaume Pasquier (right), a member of the Legris-Industries Executive Board to which Clextral has belonged since 2007 and who has followed Clextral’s development ever since. Guillaume Pasquier will rely on the seniority of two Vice-Presidents, namely Georges Hallary and Gilles Maller, to ensure the company’s growth is pursued with an objective of continuity and trust.

Innovation and business development dominated Clextral’s agenda in 2014, although the economic environment did not favor industrial investment. Innovation in 2014 took the form of Evolum+®, a new generation of twin screw extruders, combining high productivity and low energy consumption. Evolum+® has already been chosen by two global food industry leaders.

Innovation was also collaborative, as Clextral partnered with the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Center (Canada) to present how plant-based fibrated protein can be a pleasing substitute to meat protein. On 23rd October Clextral hosted a workshop for 13 companies from 11 different countries, including sampling and tasting of fibrated proteins, whose appearance, texture and taste are identical to meat and fish.

As for international growth, Clextral sold complete production lines in the emerging zone of Central America, in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Clextral’s international market share continues to progress, as the steadily increasing number of foreign visitors to the Firminy plant attests: 730 visitors from 40 countries in 2014. Expertise was another focal point in 2014 for Clextral, as its experts toured the world to conduct conferences and courses, educating professionals on how to apply extrusion technologies, operate couscous lines and DKM pumps.

There are exciting prospects for 2015: on the innovation side, Clextral is continuing to develop EPT™ technology (Extrusion Porosification Technology) in its Australian facilities, making plans to open new facilities on the West Coast of France and working on other projects in Europe.

Clextral will exhibit at around fifteen trade shows around the world, including Ipack Ima in Milan, Italy and Victam in Cologne, Germany. Clextral plans to take on 30 new staff to address the increase in sales.

Looking further ahead, Clextral will continue to invest in the 2020 Ondaine project. Its objective is to transform this historic metal manufacturing area into an innovative manufacturing zone that will renew the local economy.

Terje Knutsen appointed Head of Yara Downstream

Y

ara International ASA has appointed Terje Knutsen as Head of Downstream. He succeeds Egil Hogna, who has submitted his resignation. Knutsen will assume his new position on 1 May 2015. Yara's Downstream business unit manages the company's global sales, marketing and distribution of fertilizers.

Terje Knutsen currently heads Yara's business unit for Downstream activities in North & East Europe. Prior to this, he was Head of Business Unit Asia. Aged 52, Knutsen holds a Master's degree in economics and business administration from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH). Since joining the company in 1987, he has had an extensive international career, working twelve years outside Norway. Knutsen will be part of Yara's executive management team and report to the President and CEO. "Terje Knutsen has extensive experience from Yara, ranging from heading business units abroad to managerial positions at the headquarters.

His competence will be highly valuable as Yara continues its efforts to support a more efficient and climate-smart agricultural sector," said Torgeir Kvidal, acting CEO of Yara International.

Egil Hogna joined the company in 1999, and has been a member of Yara's executive management team since August 2008, first as Chief Financial Officer, and thereafter as Head of Downstream since August 2009. Hogna will be employed by Yara until July 31, 2015.

"I have concluded that the timing is right to seek new challenges, and I look forward to exploring potential opportunities. My tenure in Downstream and Yara has been exciting, and I am particularly proud of our increased efforts and results within safety, marketing and innovation, and the significant acquisitions and company integrations we have carried out, especially in Latin America," said Egil Hogna.

Egil Hogna has been a valuable member of the management team, and I regret that he is leaving. I am grateful for the good and close cooperation we have had during the years and wish him continued success," said Torgeir Kvidal.

56 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | May-June 2015